The days as Kite flew by like a dream sometimes. Mom and Matilda got along a little better but tension was still clear, more of Clockwerk's Cooper Bots began running around Russia, making ten in total so far. Everyone got their Keyblades and for the most part were all adept at them. Overall things were going well, and finally the day came. Time to take Mugshot.
“Alright, time to take down Mugshot.” I said while stretching a bit. “About damn time though…”
"On top of his gang Mugshot also has trained the army and secret service patrolling Mesa right now. Getting in will be the Ultimate test of stealth if we do it without setting off alarms." Matilda said, gathering her gear together.
“So a simple walk in the park right?” I asked simply.
"Don't get too cocky, we may be using Keyblades and other powers of yours on top of what we have so far of the thievius raccoonus, but that doesn't make it automatically easy. If he is using government issue tech and security it will be difficult just to pass the city limits."
“While it is nice to doubt, I doubt they have tech to see through true invisibility.” I said simply. “Nothing like being able to now use my powers and the Cooper techniques to start having some real fun.” I chuckled.
"It's called thermal vision visors."
“Yeah, True Invisibility gets past that and a fuck ton more things.” I said simply. “Magic can do wonders, especially when you're mixing it with natural abilities.” I said honestly. “But while being unseen is one thing, not setting off laser systems is another.”
"I just believe it's best to put more stock in planning over abilities alone."
“Why do you think I’m still here?” I asked simply.
"To show off and be the distraction."
“No, that would be Sly trying to impress Carmalita.” I joked. “But I’m still here cause I know how good a plan is, and also to explain anything that all of you might still not know about for said plans.” I said honestly.
"Well, what are you gonna do? You sound like there is something you wanna add."
“All depends on what everyone else is going to do.” I said simply. “Cause I’d rather not…” I sighed out. “I’d rather not just do my own thing and get everyone hurt...or worse…” I said sadly, knowing that from experience.
"So long as we stick to the plan it should go all well. Come on, Bentley has to have it ready by now."
“Alright.” I nodded while heading off to the debriefing room.
Once there we all took a seat. "Now then, the time has come to head to Mesa City. First things first is the point of entry. Mugshot has beefed security up to twenty, and even with all our new skills and abilities it will be a challenge. First up, there is only one entrance and exit from Mesa City, and that's Highway 907, but thankfully there is another, just as dangerous but undetected way I'm and that is through the desert and over to the ruined bridge that once connected the city to highway 85. Once we arrive, we will have to embark on foot into the city."
“Sounds simple so far.” I nodded.
"Once at the broken bridge we can use the Light Walker Technique to get across to the other side and from there we deal with armed guards, more lasers and cameras than fort Knox, auto turrets, highly trained bite to kill guard dogs and military grade fortifications."
“Like a walk through the park.” I chuckled.
"We'll have to deal with all of this before getting into Mesa City, so begins Operation Battering Ram. Kite, you'll be heading to the main power supply and using those crazy knives of yours to fry out the main power grid for the area. Sly and Carmalita will then Light Walk up to a radio controle room to knock out the guards, it does have a backup generator. Lastly to be fast Matilda and Violet will fly over on gliders to cast large sleep spells to knock everyone else out. Murray and Lana will get the van across with their gliders."
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “I’m gonna have fun with Foudre.”
“Isn’t that french for lightning?” Carmalita asked.
“Yes it is, the naming convention for them was on point.” I said honestly.
"Once the van is across we head on in, and recon out for phase two."
"Sounds about right." I said simply. "But...let's be careful, Clockwerk has been making more Cooper Bots and Mugshot has been doing this crap so that bastard owl gets off his back." I was brought up.
"There haven't been any reported in the states, most are all still located in Russia." Matilda said.
“Key word is ‘most’.” I said simply. “Now I doubt Clockwerk will send any to Mugshot...but I’m paranoid about minor chances.”
"You're paranoid about everything." Sly said with a laugh. "Remember when you were six and swore up and down the island was gonna get hit by a tidal wave when we had that week of storms?"
“And you think that a week-long storm, on an island, wouldn’t cause at least something bad to happen?” I asked.
"Nothing aside from that cold you got from trying to keep at a safe height level by camping up atop the mountain for the whole of it."”
“Not my fault I was prepared.” I said simply. “That’s what we’re supposed to be right? Prepared for anything?”
"There is prepared for anything, then there is self harming paranoia." Matilda stated.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. "So back on topic."
"Well so far that is all. Once inside we can set up shop in one of the many abandoned buildings in town and begin recon to plan out for phase two. And if need be phase three." Bentley finished.
“Alright.” I nodded. “Let’s get going then.”
We drove off up to the destroyed bridge, Matilda and I on gliders removing any road obstacles in the way. Once to the bridge's end Bentley set up the light lasers and we ran across them to the other side. Bentley wasn't joking. The amount of cameras and guards here was ridiculous. Thankfully we slipped by all of them and managed to play our parts properly with the only hiccup being when the radio tower door was locked from the inside. Thankfully my Cane did the trick easy to open it up. With that final part done we were just waiting for Murray and Lana to fly the van over the cavern below.
“Hmm…” I hummed with a frown. “They should have gotten here by now…”
"Who?" Mom asked.
“Murray and Lana, shouldn’t they have come to the rendezvous point after getting the Van in a safe place?” I pointed out.
"The van is heavy and their Gliders should only go so fast when carrying it. Last thing we want is for the van to fall into a Canyon." Bentley said.
“While that’s true, they have done heavy lifting rather fast if it’s the two of them…” I said honestly.
"Ten bucks says they stopped to make out." Carmalita said with a chuckle.
"I'll take that bet." Sly added with his own laugh.
I brought up my binocucom. “Murray, Lana, you two okay or are you sucking face while we’re not looking?” I asked the hippo and russian wolf.
"We're fine Kite, just taking it slow over this ravine. The van is heavier than expected, could use a little help if you'd please." Murray said as they answered.
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” I told them while bringing out my glider. “I’ll be right back, gonna help Murray and Lana real quick.”
I flew up and over to the ravene. Murray and Lana we're about halfway to the other side when I arrived. I used chains of light to wrap around the van and helped them fly it across faster. "Thanks Kite. Darn van ended up being heavier than expected for two gliders." Murray said.
"Thank you for the assist." Lana said.
“No problem. And I wonder why the van’s heavier, normally you two would be able to carry this thing no problem…” I hummed curiously.
"Bently and uncle Jim added some new armor to it, making it like a tank. Heavy like one too." Murray stated.
“Cause when you need your get away van to be bulletproof but also go a couple hundred miles an hour.” I chuckled.
"Let's meet up with the others and head into Mesa City."
I hopped into the van with Muray and Lana and we picked up the rest and began driving into Mesa City. On our way into a tunnel I got a bad feeling, and it came to light when someone jumped in front of the van. A large, massive Cooper Bot, eyes glowing blue as it punched the van all the way back out of the tunnel and onto its side. As we got out and I got a better look at the thing. The Cooper Bots all were generally shaped like their old Bodies. The size of this was made clear.
Robert ‘Ancor’ Cooper, or to Sly and I, Grandpa. Dad's, well, dad, was unlike most other Cooper's, he was built like a machine, famous for brute Force thefts over stealth ones. Clockwerk killed him was dad was just six. And now here he is, his mind and soul stuck in a body he can't control.
“Well I sure hope somebody picks up that phone.” I started.
“What?” Lana started.
“Because I fucking called it.” I frowned as I got out of the Van. “Get the others out of here. I need to have a...heart to heart with grandpa.” I told Murray bluntly as I shifted into my Valor Form, holding Skysplitter and Lunatic at the ready.
"We aren't leaving." Murray said as he got out.
"Not in a million years." Sly said as he and Carmalita got out.
"Always wanted to meet your grandpa." Mom said, pulling Matilda and Lana out.
"I'll stay here." Bentley said.
I shook my head. “Just stay back alright? I lost enough family, I don’t need to lose more…” I said. “Especially given who we’re up again.” I growled as I prepared to fight the cooper bot.
"Well I'm not losing my brother because he's got a hero complex." Sly hissed as he ran up next to me.
“If you say so.” I said while slamming Skysplitter into the ground, the ground cracking as a weirdly shaped spike of earth rushed at the bot.
He tanked it like it was pebbles and began charging. I would have used Lunatic to clash with his fist had Sly not pulled me out if the way, the swing from his fist hitting air making enough force to blast the air, and us, into the wind. "What did uncle M always say about powerful opponents?" Sly asked once we landed.
“Gonna need to be a little specific on that one bro, cause he said a lot of things.” I said honestly.
Sly rolled his eyes. "Observe first, attack later. We need to run, all of us." He said, grabbing hold of my arm tightly to enforce his point. "And research this thing. See if it even has an exploitable weakness. Remember, we are thieves, not heroes. We can choose to run from a fight."
“Why do you think I told you to run?” I frowned as I swapped Skysplitter with Sharpshooter.
"That thing tanked your strongest weapons attack, what will those do?"
“You think that was my strongest attack?” I asked him while firing several arrows at the bot’s joints. “You have a lot to learn still.”
The bolts bounced off the bot. "Yeesh you're overconfident." Sly said, rolling his eyes.
“I shot at its joints…” I frowned while getting out of Sly’s hold. “That’s it, I’m getting really fucking pissed.” I growled as Lunatic glowed brighter as my fur stood on end and crackled with energy.
A pain filled my hands, one I never felt before when using Lunatic. Shit, my body can't stabilize the Lunatic like it did before… why?
“Can’t even use the basic rage this stupid thing gives me?” I asked, only infuriating me more. “So remember when I told you all to start running? What did you think I was going to do? Show off that I could take on a Cooper Bot by myself like an idiot or be smart about this?” I asked them all simply.
"Knowing you, the prior. Remember your first attempt at the Cooper Vault obstacles? And the ninth? And the fiftieth?"
“You mean actually training to better myself?” I frowned. “And to that, I tell you that it’s the latter.” I told him. “But no, I’m only allowed to do things at face value…” I shook my head. “Just get to the rendezvous, I’ll distract him long enough and record what I can, and when you all get to safety I’ll get to you alright?”
"How will you get away from that thing?"”
“We’re thieves, we always have an escape plan.” I said simply.
With that I used their warp ability to move out, Sly sneaking through to gather our family. When I got in close I warped out of his swing and placed a camera in some nearby rubble.
“Alright.” I stretched a little bit. “Let’s see how durable you really are, old man.” I said while equipping Foudre and vanishing from the speed boost I got and swung Graceful Dahlia at the cooper bots legs.
It jumped, nearly swinging at me but with Foudre’s speed I dodged swiftly before rushing back in, taking a swing at it’s torso. It then caught the tip of Graceful Dahlia before impact, pushing it and me backsome before it’s right arm and wrist shifted, looking like it was melting til I saw it was changing form to take shape into a large hook shape. His Cane.
“Well...that’s interesting.” I said while swapping out Graceful Dahlia with my Cane as I twirled it steadily. “Alright grandpa, let’s get on with it.” I said as I spun my Cane faster and faster as balls of lightning spawned from it as I swung my Cane, sending them all towards him.
With his cane arm he swiftly and rapidly caught each ball in his hook, slamming them all down to the ground and making a massive electric based AOE. While it hit, I wasn’t hurt but I heard my earpiece and Binocucom spark out. Shit, he made an EMP.
“Note to self, figure out a way to make these things EMP proof…” I muttered, thankfully the EMP was a short range so it didn’t affect the camera I had hidden. “Alright, punchies it is then.” I said while rushing forward, a ball of fire formed in the center of my cane as I flung it at the ground in front of the bot, before a plume of blue smoke rushed up, distracting the bot even with it’s machinery. ”Thank god Cooper techniques can work with magic.” I thought to myself as I went to the side to try and trip it while it was distracted.
I slid over and hooked it’s ankle, pulling… did nothing… How much does this thing weigh?! It yanked me in then kicked me in the face. I tasted blood and… yup, yup that’s a tooth gone… christ mom and Sly will be hounding me for this. I cast cure, the major damage healing but sadly cure can’t heal missing teeth. I pulled out Eternal Flames. Let’s see if it melts.
“Burn Baby!” I shouted as Eternal Flames spun wildly as the ground erupted in flames, rushing straight to the bot like snakes ready to strike. “Salamanders Rage!” I shouted as pillars of fire erupted underneath the Bot at high enough heat to literally melt rock.
It sunk into the molten earth below it. As it’s head sunk in I took a breath in relief, until it burst back out, seemingly undamaged save for a red hot glow and part of where it’s mouth would be located melted slightly.
"Okay so your not completely fireproof." I started.
As I am still weaker with these things I can’t melt him. I pulled out Frozen Pride, blasting him in an absolute zero ice spell that froze it solid and it’s molten submerged feet, locking it in place.
“So it’s not ice proof.” I muttered thankfully. “But how long it holds is the question.”
As I observed the thing I got a good look at the materials. Making sure I was hiding it from the cameras I scanned the metal it was made from with code in my eye only. The entire body is built with nanobots made from a fusion of Vibranium and Monofilament, but the face is oddly just made from only Adamantium.
“Well that’s...very worrying.” I said worriedly. “I know Nexus was involved but jesus…” I muttered, while looking over the bot more. “Hmm…” I hummed while bringing out my Lexicon. “Telepathy.” I casted the simple mental communication spell. ”Can you hear me?”
"A voice? On top of weapons and skill you have great magics above the norm. Hehehe. Looks like Conner did well."
”Yeah, that’s me Grandpa.” I mentally chuckled. ”Sorry for nearly melting your face and then freezing you, gotta keep you bound so you don’t crack my skull open ya know?”
"It's fine. Not the first time I've fallen in lava and got Frozen solid. Listen, I'm not sure how much longer we have like this, We can control our bodies but only if we are in a complete deadzone. It's Clockwerk that's been controlling these mechanical bodies he shoved us into. Just put us here for torture and his sick twisted amusement. Thankfully this gives us an advantage."
”So Clockwerk has put up control towers to keep his influence over you?” I mentally asked. ”Well...if I figure out what magical or physical links are tethering you and the others to his will then I might be able to reverse it.”
"I dunno the science or magic behind it, but Tennessee Kid Cooper does. Because his mind is nine kinds of crazy he can sometimes gain control from Clockwerk, though they keep tinkering with him to stop that. Last I knew he was gonna be deployed to China to go see Panda King. But that's besides the point, the point is Clockwerk forcing himself to control so far twenty seven bodies is putting one hell of a strain on him. In short, controlling us means he can't move his own body less it breaks the link to us, he's also going quite screwing forcing himself to be in twenty seven bodies. Twenty eight if ya include his own.
”We better get to Tennessee after we kick the crap out of Mugshot. So while Clockwerk is running himself ragged, he’s vulnerable as long as he’s trying to control all of you?”
"Yup. And going mad doing so. If it's to make the Cooper's suffer he'll put himself through hell, and that is how we can finally end him."
”And hell we shall put him through.” I mentally told him. ”So...should I tell the others you’re still kind of sane?”
"If you'd be so kind. Glad to see in our time of need you came along, the Cooper's have always had the-"
There was a sharp noise as suddenly Grandpa's eyes turned red and his voice silenced. "Hello there young Cooper." The robotic demonic voice of Clockwerk came from the body.
“Sup you crotchety old rust bird. How are you doing?” I asked.
"Alive, more than your entire ancestry."
“Says the dipshit that’s been keeping all of them alive with powers outside your control or knowledge for hundreds if not thousands of years.” I frowned. “Seriously...you have no idea who you’re dealing with, either from the one’s your facing, or the one’s that are humoring you.”
"Nexus and I have our agreements, as do you, King of Nothingness. Time Runners while barbaric are useful for information. You are the whole reason Nexus is even on my planet."
"They were here way before Time stopped being a thing." I said honestly. "So my main question is...why?" I asked. "This can't just be because you're jealous of the Coopers right? Your too old and smart for such petty reasons...or did you forget in your blind hatred?"
"One can never forget their true reasons for hatred. Such short lived rodents as yourself could only ever forget, you all forgot the reason I do this, to make you suffer. Hehehe. But soon, all too soon you can hear it from the theaving ancestor who cast my curse upon your family name, and understand why I shall devour your bloodline each generation. Just the one. Question is, I only leave one Cooper spawn, so, who shall I let live? The false Cooper, or the destined one?"
“Okay so you're just a petty bitch, got it.” I said simply. “And you're not going to kill anyways, and I’m going to make damn sure about it.” I growled.
"You couldn't stop me from killing your father, or your mother. And from what I hear, you couldn't stop your first life's parents deaths either. When it comes to family, we are both destined to fail them." Clockwerk said, laughing as the Cooper bot broke free, the shockwave knocking me back against a rolled over car.
“Ow…” I muttered. “But...okay, good to know that you failed a family…” I muttered while bringing out Eternal Flames and my Cane. “Alright, I think time’s up on this shit show.” I said while I threw a fire ball towards the bots feet and created a massive smoke screen as I drank an Ether and teleported to where the Camera was and grabbed it before teleporting out of there.
I arrived back with the others, we found a good hideout for us and rested while Bently looked over the footage.
"You lost a tooth?!" Mom said as she saw my missing Chomper while looking over me.
“I can grow one back, I just need to remember a Regen spell.” I said honestly. “So if you’re wondering why I was just standing in front of a botcicle for a good minute or two it’s because I was talking to Grandpa, thankfully he’s not a gibbering mess mentally like I feared.”
"From what I've read your grandfather was considered the strongest Cooper, mentally and physically." Matilda said.
“And he told me that our next target is literally the craziest of the bunch, Tennessee Kid Cooper.” I said honestly. “Who is currently being sent to China to check up on Panda King.” I was brought up.
"So we better move fast then." Carmalita stated. "Alright, Sly and I will scope out the area while you all rest up for a while." With that Sly and Carmalita rushed out and I took a seat on what I hope is a couch without any lice or bugs that would become a major issue.
"Alright...so onto an important bit." I started. "Clockwerk has 27 bodies, and given he's trying to use them all at once he's running himself so ragged he can't move his original body."
"Meaning he is vulnerable." Mom said. "But heavily guarded obviously."
"Yes he is." I nodded. "But hopefully the other coopers are sane enough to help…”
"How do we get their help if they are being controlled by him?" Lana asked.
"There has to be a recovery in them that takes control away from their brains so Clockwerk can control them. If we can either block it or rip it out they would gain full control." Matilda said.
“Grandpa said Tennessee would know how to deal with it.” I said honestly. “But right now we need to beat Mugshot and take back America.”
"Once Sly, Carmalita and Bentley get back, we will."
It was three hours before Sly, Bentley and Carmalita got back and once they did things prooved as bad as expected. I even recognized this tech as Nexus made, far too advanced for this world. And so a day passed just planning Operating Fire Hydrant.
Thankfully the keys collecting aspect was the same, but just harder. The first area Lana and I took. This area was the one where normally Murray had to run for the key and the player keep them safe via a turret, but here Lana and I are just destroying these goons. While they had heavy firepower and numbers we had raw strength and magic. It was an unfair fight for them.
"With all their numbers and tech, they are still outmatched." I chuckled.
"Magic is good." Lana said, using her cane to slam a large great Dane goon into a wall and out the other side.
“Oh yeah, it is.” I said while a ball lightning shocked another dog as I knocked out the goon.
As we made our way up we found some loot and once up we saw the key.
“Sweet.” I nodded. “One key down.”
As Lana and I snatched the key and we headed back, we ran into one more goon, only this one's attire was Nexus.
“And the fuck are you doing here?” I asked the Nexus grunt, a bit nervous about why there’s one of these bastards here.
"I have one job." The female voice spoke from their visor covered helm. "Examine you." She said. Materializing in her hand was a rifle she began firing. Lana and I went for cover but whatever energy that gun was shooting was eating the rock we were behind.
“Lana, I’m gonna try to distract her, and when you get the chance get back to the others.” I said to the wolf. “Just our luck...first a Cooper bot and now Nexus?” I muttered under my breath.
I jumped out and shot out with Sharp Shooters, the Nexus lady dodging as Lana made a break for it to get help. We kept up our shoot out, each one of us just barely missing the other. Shit, when you aren't overpowered to hell Nexus agents actually are a challenge.
“Why are you working with Clockwerk?” I asked bluntly. “What does this world have that you would want? Cause as far as I know you were here before Time got fucked.”
"Classified." She replied, charging her rifle up more before shooting off a larger bolt of energy. I ducked, the thing flying over me and hitting an old trolly cart and exploding into what looked like an enclosed nuclear explosion.
“You said you were here to examine me, not kill me.” I frowned while firing off a charged shot, flying towards her quickly and bouncing around unpredictably.
"Yes. Examine your corpse. King of Nothingness." She said, shooting off a volley of those Exploding shots.
I used Sharpshooters short range teleportation ability a lot during her volley as the charge shot from before bouncing and nailing her in the leg at least. “There’s got to be more than that. Why hunt little old me when you could be doing something better with your life?”
Her suit held up from that blast, getting up she switched back to her normal shots. Sly and Matilda came around with Lana. The Nexus lady looking between us before running off a cliff edge. We raced to see, but she was gone already. "Who… or what the hell was that?" Sly asked.
“So remember when I mentioned Clockwerk had…’outside help’?” I asked.
"Oh so it's those guys. Shit, whatever gun that was, I want one." Matilda said.
"Yeesh, definitely not something to get shot with." Sly added, looking at the area's damage.
“Yeah, so that’s just one of Nexus’s normal grunts.” I said nervously.
With that we headed back to base. In total we have four keys, and with that were able to get into Mugshots Casino. Security here was half tech, half armed guards, Bentley hacked the turrets and cameras while using the Sleeping touch technique got us to a room in the casino to examine the rest. Mom and Murray managed to find two pages of the Thievius Raccoonus. Page one detailed a technique from Grandpa. Focused Power. Basically with proper mental training Gramps could turn off pain from his body, and force out adrenalin to keep fighting and ignore damage from most physical attacks. Granted, it had its toll, making him starve and even pass out for up to a month depending on how much he did. Have to be careful with this one.
Page two talked about Annabelle Cooper's… Shadow Punch Technique. One of our more magical ancestors, Anabelle could actually use other people's shadows and any cast by buildings to warp her fists out to deliver quote the right and left hook. Apparently she's one of the few siblings in the Cooper family, Tennessee Kid's younger sister actually.
“Huh, well that’s interesting.” I said while testing out the Shadow Punch technique to see how it actually worked.
Punching into my own shadow an almost DTD like portal opened, but small, and by Murray's leg and shadow the other end opened up and I hit him right in the ankle. "Owe!" Murray yelped.
“I didn’t mean to punch you Murray, sorry.” I said nervously.
"It's fine, guess this means I should switch to boots or something rather than sneakers."
"Alright, Lana, Kite, you two rest up. We'll get the last few keys and wake you when it's time to face off against Mugshot." Mom said.
"No, I'm practically the only one who can deal with any of the 'outside help' mugshot is getting."."
"You also did a lot between fighting Robo Gramps and that woman. You need rest Kite. It's just three more keys, we can handle that." Sly stated.
"I know but still…" I said, feeling tired from everything I've done but not wanting to let the others deal with something they don't know.
"If something comes up we'll open a DTL, okay?" Matilda said.
"Alright." I nodded. "Just...be safe okay?"
"Duh." Sly said as they all began heading out. I hit the bed and calmed myself, getting comfortable in the dusty bed.
I haven't actually been to the sleeping worlds as Kite before. This world was still my own, Still Mesa City but far nicer, more like it's hay day.
"Well...this place looks actually nice." I muttered.
Looking around this place was basically Las Vegas but smaller. I saw the Casino Mugshot took over here. Looks like that big fire hydrant was always there. As I was looking around I heard something drop behind me. Turning, I was shocked to see a Shadow Drug Injector.
“Oh no...how the hell?” I muttered worriedly while moving over and looking at the injector.
It was still full, surprisingly. Looking around I saw atop the casino someone standing over the edge, looking down at me.
“I see you…” I muttered as I summoned my Glider and flew up towards the guy on the roof.
Getting a better look and landing on the roof a few feet across from them, they were dressed in a leather cloak, outfitted the hood to look like a mangy stuffed wolf head. "So, been looking into Shadow Drugs then?"
Looking the figure over, they were tall, easy six feet seven inches, and missing an arm from a hollow one arm sleeve hung loosely.
“And are you the mystery maker of the drugs?” I asked simply.
"I am. Been waiting to converse with you for so, so long King. I suppose you have no idea who I am, do you?"
“No, you have been a slippery bastard from what I’ve heard.” I said simply. “So it would only be polite of you to introduce yourself.”
"Oh we have met, not so long ago for you but a lifetime for me. You're proud of your intelligence and perception, let's see how long it takes for you to figure out who I am, and who I am to you."
“Well…” I started while taking a step closer to the being, trying to focus on any detail about them from their voice, posture, and many many other things.
I didn't see or notice anything familier. “Don’t know why but I’m drawing a blank here...you look and sound nothing like someone I know, and I know a lot of people.”
"Oh, you'll remember, sooner or later." They said, turning around to walk away. "I'll give you a hint, you saved me once." With that they walked off behind the fire hydrant, rushing after them they were already gone.
“God damn it…” I grumbled. “Well...might as well tell Ciel and others about this…”
"So many years in hiding and the cocky bastard speaks to you to start a game? Well, aren't you the popular one." Ciel said.
“The luckiest…” I grumbled while sifting through the massive list of people I’ve saved through my life. “And I need to find a needle in a god damn haystack just to figure out who the ‘one I saved’ is, cause there’s a lot of people I saved once.” I frowned.
"Hmm. Perhaps it's how you saved them?" Ciel asked. "Like saving them over their family?"
“I doubt it...I mean, I could look at a list of people that went back to crime after I gave them a second chance.” I said honestly. “Or people that either vanished.”
"That could still be a large list. Was there anything unique about him at all we can go off of?"
“Besides the stuffed Wolf head, no.” I shook my head. “And I didn’t notice anything odd about the wolf head either.
"If it's a wolf head then it means he is likely using it as his symbol, or reminder. Somehow this is so personal to him, they'd wear around someone akin to your image as this reminder."
“It looked nothing like me for starters.” I said. “But besides the wolf head, he had a missing arm, which narrows it down but there’s still like, oh I don’t know.” I started while adding a few things to narrow down the list and I flipped it around to Ciel showing that I still have about say twenty quadrillion people at minimum. “This is what I get for being a hero to dozens, if not hundreds of worlds because of this.” I grumbled.
"Any idea on race? Aside from humanoid?"
“Nope, just a normal one armed human.” I said honestly. “Which...seems a little weird cause the amount of humans I saved that have one arm actually isn’t that many, and he didn’t look, smell, or sound like any of them.” I said honestly. “As a Den Mother, I remember all of those details.”
"Hmm… what if they weren't human before you saved them? Something close to human but not?"
“Well…” I started while going through my searches on who might have changed races in some way, and thankfully that narrowed it down to about...a few hundred...and that number is ever so slowly growing. “Well...it’s a few hundred, with it slowly growing.” I sighed out. “Okay, now time to find out who might have a vendetta against me, cause that’s sure as shit going to be helpful.” I said, knowing these bastards would want to gun for me even after I gave them a second chance at life, and thankfully that narrowed it down to about five...albeit three of the five makes no sense. “What do you mean Delete is a race?” I frowned. “Deletes more of a Template than anything.”
"Huh?" Ciel asked, looking at me confused. "Talking to someone?"
“I’m just complaining.” I shook my head. “Alright...so why does it say that Deletes are their own race? I thought it was more like a Template, like how we have Celestial Creatures, or Half Dragon’s.”
"Hmm. How best to explain it. Well, what makes a race it's own aside from physical aspects also lies in its abilities, magic, or code. For example, you are a Dire wolf but your race comes from a whole other world, can shift to a humanoid and feral form at will and has magic. Compare yourself to the ones from my world that went extinct and all you share is the name. But, strip away the magic, the ability to shift, and strand you on earth in your feral form, you are almost no different, maybe bigger but you'd be my world's Dire Wolf basically."
“That...sounds like a Template though…” I said. “Like...let’s take Spike and Rainbow Dash’s daughter for example, she’s a Half Dragon Pegasus, she is a Pegasus with the Half Dragon Template right?” I asked. “I’m sorry for not really ‘getting it’, but it just seems a little weird…”
"Well, in any case, what were you getting at King?"
“So I narrowed down my list even more, and here’s five people that would personally hate me for some reason or another.” I said while showing Ciel the list. “And there are three that are Delete’s turned normal because of my powers.” I pointed out. ”That’s why I was confused on race and template.”
"Huh. Well this list is a good lead, but the issue here is that most of these kids and such are too young. Shadow Drug has been in the black market for a little over ten years now, even with the childhood rooms, how would they pull this off?"
“Well…” I sighed out. “These kids...most likely the oldest, figured out I...killed their parents.” I sighed out. “Both were Deletes, and both of them didn’t give me a choice in the matter…”
"Revenge is a possibility. If we are dealing with time travel, then it's out of our hands, and falls to the Time Walkers to handle."
“Cause of course.” I frowned. “Well...time to call up the Time Walkers again.”
I called them up and informed them that it seems the maker of Shadow Drugs was a time traveler. This must also mean odds are they… they're family, my own child.
“I’d rather not believe that my own kids would want to hunt me down…” I muttered worriedly. “So...I better check on these five people…”
My first stop was Jackson, a former child delete I saved now works as a cartographer. Explores all sorts of places and maps them to detail.
“Hello?” I called out to Jackson, hoping they were around. “You around here Jackson?”
"One minute." They called out. Their homes was quite the mess, papers and maps, half made and finished scattered and pinned up about the place.
“Jeez, this place is kind of a mess.” I muttered, not entirely sure how to move around without causing papers getting stepped on or falling to the ground.
Jackson came out. They had blue hair, yellow eyes, and a robotic left arm. "Hey dad, what's up?" They asked, arms full of more papers.
“So I was wondering...do you hate me?” I asked honestly. “I know it’s a sudden and random thing to ask but...well I think someone’s doing very illegal shit just to spite me.”
"That is pretty random. Why would I though? You got me out of that shit show in the Void. Besides, not like my life before ending up there was any better, before that place I was working in mines, lost my arm and got thrown into that place."
“I’m just making sure.” I said with a raised hand. “Cause the person I’m hunting down said I saved them once, but just immediately went to doing something outlandishly illegal.”
"Ouch. Well can't all become heroes I guess. Or rather, can't really save them all. Like they say, you can save their life but can't always save their soul."
“I know…” I sighed out. “But how have you been? I see you’re taking cartography rather...seriously.” I said while motioning to the massive mess of papers.
"Heh, well making maps in the void is near impossible and reading them is just as hard. Maps and all that here are far more easier to read and make. It was always so easy for people to get lost in the void."
“That is true.” I said honestly. “The void is a pain to get around if you don’t know what your doing.”
"Pretty much, only the Void Wolves and Void God's can perfectly traverse the void without issue."
“And I still need to find the Void Wolves…” I sighed out. “Just been busy with other things that I haven’t been able to find them…”
"From what I hear a lot is going on and shit is really starting to hit the fan. But that's typically when the best ideas to solve it come into play."
“Oh yeah, that does tend to happen.” I said honestly. “Let’s just hope those idea’s don’t come up too late…”
With that I headed to the next kid, Adam, red hair, green eyes and worked in an animal care shelter. "Hey dad, what brings you here?" Adam asked as I entered, a dog-monkey animal clung to their back.
“Random question, but do you hate me?” I asked.
"Uh, why would I? I get to have pets and only half the animals here will try to kill you, back in the void even the fly's tried to kill you, here a large majority of animals are all friendly and kind. And they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, not just mangy and blood soaked."
“Okay good.” I nodded. “Why I ask that is because...well someone really hates me and even after I saved them they decided to be apart of something very illegal just to spite me.”
"Yeesh. Sounds like a prick."
“They are…” I sighed out, as I was wracking my brain for who might have done this. “Um...question, did you have parents back in the Void?” I asked curiously.
"None I can remember. Died when I was barely a year. Grew up in that shithole you rescued me and the others in. It's amazing how in nor all realities Deletes are extremely dangerous yet in the void are just as hard to survive as everything else.""
"Sounds about right...so...I think I know who might now that I think about it…" I started.
With a sigh I headed off to Jason. The eldest son of the two Deletes I killed long ago, him and his brother were part of the reason I even ended up saving all these others to begin with. His place was back at the castle, he spent his time doing research on Void Artifacts I've collected from the Heroes Tomb. Mostly he finds out how they are made and if Nothingness can be used to craft it's own variation.
“Hey Jason, you around?” I called out.
"Over here." He called out. Jason's lab was filled with cloning jars each having some organ needed for making Void Artifacts, the artifacts themselves, and what I could sense were Nothingness artifact prototypes. He was looking at a PC, left arm not replaced, right one typing while he looked over the data the PC held. "Yes dad?"?”
“Do you hate me?” I asked. “You can be honest…”
"Hmm. Hate, no. In all honesty I've just felt pretty indifferent. I know you saved me and my brother from that Pitt, but even after raising me, giving me a life there's always been something keeping me from actually accepting you. Then I found out of course."
“Found their graves?” I asked, having made two proper graves next to each other for the Knight and Huntress.
"Not quite. But I have, and do visit." He types something on his PC, two videos begin playing, and I fight against them. My perspective of it. "So many praise you for these fights, but no one bothers to remember they had kids, they were a family… they were loved."
“And that’s why I didn’t want to kill them, that’s why, in both fights, I’ve told them to stop and focus on family.” I said while we got to the parts where the two denied it, the Father denying it because of his nature, and the Mother denying it out of rage.
"Deletes are a stubborn bunch, pride and honor fill them much like the void itself. But now we get to the part where you ask me, why Shadow Drugs, and how have I time traveled. You wanna know, right?"
“I would love to know yes...even if you hate me for your parents deaths that were outside my control...why all of this?”
"I don't hate you, like I said, it's an indifference. As for why all this, it's simple really, leverage."
“Leverage? Leverage for what?” I asked.
"You didn't think Shadow Creature Blood was all that was in those vials, did you?"
“That was literally the only thing I was told was in them so I was expecting other things.” I said honestly.
"You should have examined them personally then, you'd have noticed they held a little gift from the person you hate most."
“So you have Leverage over Void Key?” I growled.
"From Void Key, over you. I just need to think it and the 7.9 million Shadow Drug users and comatose former users, become his newest bodies to host. I have one, simple request, and all those lives can be saved."
"And what is that request?" I asked curiously.
"Revive my parents." Jason said simply. "People are one thing, but we both know reviving Deletes would be a whole new field of necromancy and exploration. One as an intellectual I imagine you'd be vastly interested in, but you can discover the full potential of such a field when so many lives are not at risk."
“You do know I’ve been researching that right?” I frowned. “Given all my knowledge I got from Truth, I know how to do it...I just need a little something from you to finish the ritual, and then I’m going to need you to do something for me.”
"Being what?"
“Giving me all your memories on Void Key and this entire incident. You won’t remember ever being a part of Void Key’s plan, and I’ll get a whole host of info on where the fucker is.” I started. “Sure, many people would want to either see you locked up or killed...but I wanted you to have a better life, as well as all those children from the Void, so you’ll have a clean slate, while I can pin this all on Void Key.” I said. “Also, your ‘indifference’ sounds a lot like ‘I royally hate you’ all things considered.”
"You think I know where he is? Heh, sorry to say but I don't. He showed up in my lab shortly after I figured out how to pull Shadow Blood out of the beasts without letting it evaporate. They showed up, asked me if I wanted you to really feel rage, to feel betrayed. They then gave me a vial of their void which I distilled just the smallest drop into each injector and linked them to a trigger I implanted into my head. But, I've yet to explain the how of it, and frankly it's fairly simple. I replicated Fair Game." Jason said, the deck of cards appearing in its base form in his hands. "Was easy actually. And as for your offer, I'll pass. I want everyone to know about this once it's all over."
“Alright alright.” I said while raising up my hands. “Now, onto what I need for the resurrection spell.” I said simply. “Want to know what it is?”
"Blood? It's a common necessity for spells of this nature."
“Oh no, Blood is much too weak.” I shook my head. “While blood is a part of it, I will need something much greater from you.”
"Hmm… hehe. Let me guess, memories?"
“Bingo.” I said honestly. “And only I know what kind of memories will be strong enough. So, let’s go to their graves, cause their items will help with the resurrection.”
"And you have proof this works? I'm not gonna let you go messing around in my head for memories without knowing this isn't a trick or was never going to work."
I brought out my Lexicon and flipped to the proper page of necessary ingredients for the spell and showed him. “If there’s one thing I don’t skip out on, it’s the details. You should know this.” I frowned, the ingredients did indeed have ‘Memories of power equal to those brought back’.
"Hmm." They hummed, placing the paper under a device that scanned it, their PC now running a simulation and calculated 98% chance of success. "The odds are in your favor. But a simulation isn't the real deal. So, how's about a trial run beforehand? Then we can get started."
“Alright, do you have anyone in mind?” I asked curiously. “Or do you want to be the guinea pig?”
"Not exactly." They said, flipping their replica Fair game cards around until one Blue card came up. They then tossed it at me. The image on the card was of a delete, female. "She's no one to you but was someone I once knew. She had no weapon but-" the card then spat out a finger bone. "A piece of her corpse should do well enough."
“Alright, that should be enough.” I said while my Lexicon glowed softly as I put a hand on his head. “Memoir of the Dead.” I muttered as I plucked some key memories from Jason, memories of his Aunt and who she was as it fueled my spell. “Arise, Jessy.” I said as the bone glowed softly, magic and code sparking from it as the single finger bone started to branch out and regrow into the being it originally came from. “Take your new chance at life.” I said as Jessy came back in her full glory, Jason seeing a small wisp flow down into her body and a heart glow in her chest.
"She's human?" He asked.
“Yes, yes she is.” I said while seeing Jessy look over herself after just coming back to life.
"So you bring them back but not as Delete’s. They are without their void."
“I mean...yes, why wouldn’t I?” I asked simply. “I mixed Nothingness into the Spell so they can be brought back as human instead of as a Delete, is that not okay?”
"I should have expected this. How can you bring back something you yourself always undo and erase. You can never understand what void means to a delete."
“You know there’s this mystical thing called ‘talking’ right?” I asked. “It’s really simple, and stops you from threatening seven million people’s lives because you’re ‘indifferent’.” I frowned.
"But then I'd have never Acquired a sample of Void Key's void, or developed the cure for Shadow Drugs, or your edge."
"My edge? And you...made a cure for the Shadow Drugs?” I asked.
"In the world of bio terrorism, making a product without it's counterpart is just bad business. Watch." He said, on screen showed a simple Shadow Creature within a cage. Then a fog of sorts was pumped in, and immediately the Shadow Creature died. Another video popped up, showing a person with Shadow Drug in the cage this time. The same fog was pumped in and their mutated parts began reverting. After a short minute they were human again. "I find gas based dispersals most effective, but liquid or even pill based works just as well."
“Alright...so now the question is...are you actually going to cure these people if I bring your parents back...or do you just hate me that much.” I started.
"I am a man of my word, as are you. Or, Herm of your word, heh. But I figured In case this wasn't enough I'd sweeten the pot. Remember this?" They reached into a drawer, pulling out a vial with a single small strand of Nothingness Thorn, but this variation… this energy… Bravery Nothingness. "The only thing that can harm Void Key, while his help has been appreciated I do find his existence as distasteful as you. So, I created this." A new image appeared on screen. This one was an arm, Nothingness grey colored with a heart beating, taking in Normal Nothingness, and pumping out bravery Nothingness clenched in the arms grip. "I call it the Heart of Justice, tacky but fitting. Unfortunately it can only make so much and it has to be placed in a container lest the Bravery Nothingness break apart and fade, but it can be forged into weapons once enclosed."
“Alright, while I am glad you keep your word...but the main question is still here.” I started. “Do you hate me? Cause while the Bravery testing and the cure I am ever thankful for...working with Void Key and distributing Shadow Drugs to gain something that you could have legit asked me about is...worrying.”
"If I had asked then where would we be now? More than likely it's one of two scenarios. Either their pride gets them imprisoned, or you use that Keyblade on them, and my parents become my younger siblings. We both know my parents, especially mother, will take their first breath back in life with a battlecry."
“Or the third option where you and your parents went back into the Void.” I said simply. “You make it sound like I want the Void to stop existing.”
"Considering everything there and everyone wants you and this reality dead, how could you not?"
“Because without Void I wouldn’t be here.” I deadpanned. “But besides that obvious thing, what do you think will happen when your parents are revived?” I asked, wanting to know what Jason thought would happen when his parents came back. “Either as Deletes or not?”
"Both try and kill you, you imprison them, cover it up, void beings who manage to enter here could sense them in some way, some small mistake, word speeds they are alive and then the neutrals in void chase after them and anyone in between on sole principal."
“So your entire thing...is to get them imprisoned or killed again…” I said slowly. “What?” I asked simply. “Let me ask...how honorable are Deletes? Cause your father seemed pretty honorable while your mother showed the pride of a Delete even in her rage.”
"We are a people of combat and murder. I know, the second they are revived, they'll have targets in their back from now til someone kills them again… But I need to see them again, my brother deserves to know they didn't abandon us."
I shook my head. “I understand...but it’s going to be a bitch and a half for the idea I have…” I sighed out. “No idea where Hollow is...been searching for the bastard for months, as well as John…” I muttered. “So how soon can you release the antidote?”
"It's airborne as well. Once in the air the winds will carry it everywhere."
“Cool.” I nodded. “Alright...so let’s go check on your brother...cause he needs to know about them ‘coming back’.” I started.
To be continued...