Attack Of The Winged Beast

*CRASH!*

Everyone jumped out of the way of the intruder that had broke in through the clock window. It slams right into the burning coals, catching the curtains on fire. The machine regains its bearings and screeches at its targets.

Odette couldn't have been more scared in her life. This thing looked like a pterodactyl with four eyes, and it has a rider.

"Well, well, well." The rider gets off the winged beast, "Little homunculi AND rebel agents? Didn't think I'd be killing two birds with one stone." He says, voice dripping with malice.

A Neo! Malaika realizes. Only Neos would dare have a Chancellor symbol on their armband.

She notices the winged beast heading closer to the dolls. 8 ran over to strike it, only to get knocked down.

The Neo giggles like a sadist. "Your homunculi won't stand a chance against my flying friend, just like you too..." He flicks open a sharp knife, his murderous smile getting wider, "...won't stand a chance against me."

The two girls instinctively take out their own pocket weapons: Retractable metal shields. Once opened the shields are half the girls' size. The three humans don't make a move. Malaika peeks out at the corner of her eye and sees 1 and 8 have managed to escape through a hole in the wall while the rest use the bucket.

But the beast had other plans, and cuts the bucket's rope with it's mouth.

Without hesitation, Odette lets out a battle cry and slams her body and shield into the intruder. The force of it knocks him back a few feet, right next to his winged beast.

Malaika does the same, this time she body-slams her shield right on top of the machine and uses the shield to slice off it's head, disabling it.

"Keep going! I'll find a way down!"

Was that 9? Are the others okay?

Malaika peers down at the hole next to her, and to her relief sees 9,2,5, and 6 safe and sound. 9 just happened to get separated from the others. "Heh, so much for not standing a chance."

"Mala, we gotta get out of here!"

"Right!"

The two girls run out of the burning throne room, leaving the downed Neo, and ignoring the multiple flying shadows on the windows.

*********

The twins can't help but watch helplessly as Cera struggles to get out of bed, 7 fruitlessly trying to stop her. "You can't move around so quickly, you're still healing!" She begs. "Well, better to bleed to death from my healing wounds than to be killed by enemy forces." Cera barks back. After finally getting out of bed, Cera begins to gather her things in her pack; including what's left of Malaika's medical stuff, and a walkie-talkie that Odette left behind for her. Said device starts to spark to life.

*Bzzt* *Bzzt*

"CERA! PLEASE RESPOND!!"

Cera, startled by the sudden loud shout, responds to the device.

"This is Cera, what's going on?"

"Cera, this is Odette. You need to get 7 and the twins out of the building! And don't let the Neos find you!"

"Will do, what about you two?"

"Don't worry about us! You just stay outside while we get the rest of the group-what in the!?"

A sound of laughter is heard. Cera did not recognize that voice.

"Guys? You okay?"

"What's going on?" 7 asks concerned.

"YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ESCAPE ME?!"

That was definitely a Neo!

Soon all Cera could hear was the sound of metal clashing against metal. It must be Malaika doing the fighting because Odette keeps talking.

"J-just do what I told you, and we'll meet you down there later-"

*Crash!*

"-MALA DID YOU JUST THROW THAT GUY OUT THE WINDOW!?"

"Mala did what?!"

"*sigh*. Looks like we're taking a shortcut. Odette out."

*Bzzt*

"What in the world was that?!" 7 demanded as Cera strains to carry her backpack. "I'll explain later," she says, extending her hand to the trio. "Right now we need to get moving."

"Who exactly are the Neos anyway?"

Cera had reached the main hallway just shy away from the main entrance door to freedom when 7 asked her that question. The human wasted no time answering her friend:

"The Neos are a hate group that still follow and believe the ways of the Chancellor, or at least, people who are worse or just as bad as him. They mostly target minorities with the excuse that they caused the machines to rebel, which is SO untrue it's not even funny. Luckily, the group itself is small, and attacks and harassments are very rare-eep!"

Cera stops whatever she was about to say and backs against a wall right next to the main doors.

"Wha-?" "Shh!" Cera silences 7 and points to the doors with her free hand. The warrior peeks at where she was pointing at...and soon realizes why.

There were at least four Neos guarding the doors with no way out. At least to Cera.

To 7? It was a challenge. And she accepts.

7 leaps off Cera's hand and makes her way to the outside without being seen.

3, 4 and the injured woman can do nothing but watch anxiously as 7 climbs up the first Neo guard-without him noticing somehow- and then, upon reaching his collar, slits his exposed throat wide open. Before the Neo on the other side of the door can react, 7 gets off the plummeted corpse, runs to the aforementioned Neo, climbs up her back and slits her throat too, sending her down to the ground as well. The last two guards notice the commotion and march over to see what's going on. But they don't get to see what's going on for long. Like a ninja, 7 rushes up to the two guards and slits their throats one by one.

Cera walks out the door, gawking at the amazing display of strength that 7 showed. 3 and 4 were of course, very impressed, and jump off her hand to hug their kinda-sorta-mom.

"OK, OK, I'll admit, that was awesome." Cera says, setting down her backpack.

7 couldn't help but boast: "HA! Taking those four down was pretty easy!"

"I bet it was. But before we go anywhere-"

Cera holds up a few wet wipes from her pack.

"-let me at LEAST wash off the blood."

By the time she was finished, 7 had begun to notice that the air attack has extended to a certain part of the roof. For she knew, the rest of the humans and stitchpunks are up there.

"I need to get on that roof." She tells Cera bluntly and matter-of-factly. "How far can you throw?" Now it was Cera's turn to feel the need to boast: "Girl, you're looking at a former Minor League baseball player AND all-time baseball fan. I can throw pretty far."

"You seem quite confident in your abilities."

"Yep! Let me guess: you need me to throw you to the top of the Cathedral?"

"As far as you can throw me."

"I'm on it."

Cera grabs hold of 7, gets into position, and pitches her like a ball as hard as she could. While it wasn't high enough to reach the top, it was at least high enough for 7 to grab onto a gargoyle. The human watches as the warrior leaps on top of the statue and disappears into the building.

"And there she goes....what now, twins?"

3 and 4 stare at her with confusion. Even they don't know what to do in a situation like this.

"Well, we have to do something to help out..."

Cera scans the outside area for ideas, and spots a rundown car positioned just right for army forces to hide and attack the large building and its roof. She then remembers the weapons still scattered next to the recently murdered corpses, all four loaded bazookas ready to be used. This gives Cera a idea....

She calls for 3 and 4's attention, "Hey, twins. How would you two like to help me take down some bad guys?"

*********

Malaika absolutely HATED heights.

How she was even convinced to ride a plane in the first place was beyond her! And yet, here she was, giving Odette a bit of a hard time because she had trouble not staring down in fear. "Will it KILL YOU to stop staring at the ground?"

"I can't help it! You KNOW how I am with heights!"

"Then stop staring down and look anywhere else!"

"Easy for you to say!"

Odette gives her a small irritated groan. It was hard enough getting Malaika to walk across the ledge, and even harder getting her to climb on the slightly steep rooftop. But as much as they could argue about this all day, the girls had more important things to worry about. Odette scans her surroundings: There are four enemies on flying machines circling around them like prey, and a fifth one is flying around the other side of the building. There, the remaining dolls are barely seen. This gives her an idea. She stops Malaika in her tracks.

"What is it?"

"Alright, I got a plan."

"Y-yeah? Shoot."

"I'm going down there to help the dolls-"

She than shoves her retractable defense into her friend's arms.

"-while you fight off those four with both our shields."

Malaika stares at the two weapons in bewilderment, "Wait, you want me to do what!?"

But when she looked back up, Odette had already started speed-walking carefully across the roof.

*screech*

Malaika barely had time to move out of the way of the two machines diving toward her.

Then the Neo riders make them fly back up and dive down again in her direction, this time actively trying to stab her with their crooked daggers.

As scared and terrified Malaika was at that moment, she didn't let that stop her from swiftly dodging the beasts, causing them to bump into one another.

"Watch it!"

"YOU watch it! You just nicked me!"

"And YOU bumped my ride!"

"Hey! You two! What's with the hold-up?"

Are they seriously arguing right now? Wait a moment....I can use this!

Brainstormed with her new idea, Malaika quickly puts it to motion. She steadies herself, shield opened, and waits for the next attack.

Sure enough, the duo swing down to strike, but now it's the winged beasts' turn as they both prepare a harpoon-like weapon.

Malaika musters up every bit of gut she's got as....

The harpoons fire!

But Malaika is quicker.

She blocks the harpoons and swiftly grabs the two cables attached. Before the Neos and beasts can react, Malaika pulls the cables as hard as she can, sending the enemies crashing on the roof. The Neos all dazed and the flyers dizzy, but the Muslim doesn't give them time to recover. She opens up Odette's shield and sprints towards the winged beasts. She leaps up, and uses both weapons to hit their necks with the force of a sledgehammer, landing a double decapitation.

"No!" One of the Neos yell in despair for his fallen ride. He locks furious eyes with Malaika, (who retracts her own shield back in her pocket)

and in a desperate move, lunges at her in fury-

*BONG*

-only to be bashed in the head by the metal weapon, causing him to fall off the roof to his death.

Before Malaika could register what she had done, she hears the familiar sound of a knife being unsheathed. She dodges, but then feels a sharp pain on her arm. The Neo barely managed to nick her enough to bleed.

"You're going to pay." He says, each and every word filled with hate.

"Bring it on."

Like his partner before him, the Neo lunges at her, swinging his dagger like a manic.

Without hesitation, Malaika holds Odette's shield like a Frisbee. And once he got close, swings at him like a bat with all her strength, sending it and the Neo flying off the roof and into oblivion.

Breathing heavily, and ignoring the stinging in her bleeding arm, the young woman stares at the last two enemies still circling her. They even look ready to dive down to strike.

Two down, two to go.

The healer expects that this fight will be just like the last.

*Weeeeeeee......BOOM*

What she DIDN'T expect was the sudden fireballs that had started targeting the two riders.

"What the!?"

*********

"Ready.....FIRE!"

The twins launch the bazooka at Cera's command. They watch as it aims at one of the intruders....and hits the rider straight on! The flying machine also takes the hit, practically falling from the sky in pieces.

"Bullseye!" Cera yells in victory. "OK! Load the second one!" She commands, tossing the first one aside. The twins get to work with the next bazooka while Cera watches the Cathedral from her binoculars.

She sees Malaika and the other rider obviously confused at what just happened. Those faces are priceless!

The fifth winged beast is still surrounding the other dolls. Not for long.

*click click*

*click click*

Cera turns her head to see 3 and 4 have finished preparing the second bazooka. "All right, let's prep it up!" Setting her binoculars down, Cera lifts the weapon high enough for her to aim, while 3 and 4 settle for the trigger button. The broken-down car made it quite easier to lean it against the frame, it was also the right angle to aim at the Cathedral.

Cera belts again, "Ready.....FIRE!"

The twins pull the trigger.

*FWOOM!*

*Weeeeeee....BOOM!*

Despite the Neo's frantic flying, it was no match for the bazooka missiles. It hit the winged beast directly, sending them both a downward spiral to the ground where a faint boom is heard.

"YES!" Cera gives a fist pump to the air for another bullseye. 3 and 4 even high-five each other. This was way too easy! "OK, last one!", Cera shouts as she dumps out the second bazooka, "Last one and we're home free!"

As the twins get the last one ready, Cera returns to her binoculars to study the fifth and final enemy. It seemed to have switched formations: it went from circling one small part of the building, to flying around the entire Cathedral.

Ha! Easy target right there! Cera thought.

3 and 4 get her attention once again, letting her know that the last bazooka was ready.

Cera once again positions the weapon-

"Time to slay the last enemy!"

-and gives out the command.

"Ready...….FIRE!"

The twins launch out the bazooka, and watches as it lands on the target.

*BOOM!*

A large cloud of smoke appears.....

but then...

*SCREECH*

Out of the smoke came a completely unharmed winged beast, and the remains of the rider falling to the ground.

3, 4 and Cera are baffled.

"WHAT?! HOW!?"

*********

Thanks to her pilot skills, Odette's sharp eye was able to get a better look at the separated dolls. 5, 6, and 2 are heading towards the crashed plane while 9 is heading towards 1 and 8's direction. From the look of it, 1 must've not watched where he was going and ended up holding on to a piece of the roof for dear life.

8 on the other hand, notices the solo bird creature heading straight for them. As the muscle of the stitchpunks 8 also has the nerves of steel to back it up. Standing his ground, he puts on his faceguard and steadies his hand....waiting for the moment to strike.

And then, as the winged beast gets closer, he aims his scissor blade and throws it at its fan, dispatching it.

Unfortunately, this also forces it to land right in 8's path.

He braces for the impact....and feels nothing.

Nothing but warmth.

"Gotcha!" "Huh?"

It takes 8 a moment to realize that not only did the flying missed him and is still flapping about, but he is also in the warm hands of Odette, who grabbed him out of the way just in time. "Nice throw by the way." The dark-haired human complements him.

8 grunts with pride.

"C'mon!" Meanwhile, 9 manages to get to 1's side and pulls him up. The winged beast flies toward them once again and prepares its harpoon, catching 9's attention. Thinking fast, the zippered stitchpunk pulls up a metal piece, the light reflecting off it and blinding the machine into misfiring into a wall. But because it's still attached to the harpoon, the beast pulls back.

Odette rushes to get out of the way, 8 in tow. She also grabs 1 and 9 once they were in her reach.

Odette slides off the roof and lands on her front near the side of the plane. Hard.

"Oww…"

The dolls were, of course, unscathed thanks to her protection.

But the safety doesn't lasts long when the machine lands right in front of the group. 1, 9 and 8 jump off Odette's arm as she frantically backs up against the plane in fright.

8 draws out his knife in defense.

The beast draws back its own weapon.

Each side waits for the other to make a move.

The one who did make a move, came right out of nowhere.

The group barely noticed 7 until she started running towards the creature and leaping up to slay it. But the winged beast is much more intelligent, and trips her into crashing against the wall. "Let me try that again." 7 says exasperated. She runs towards the winged beast, and it shoots the harpoon on her leg, crashing her to the wall again.

"7!" Odette cries out.

The beast attempts to pull back its prey. 9 quickly grabs 7 and stabs her spear in the metal husk so they can't move.

"The cable! Cut it!" 8 rushes over and cuts it. The rogue cable flew over to a propeller and gets stuck. This causes the plane to tip over.

Odette uses her own grappling hook to latch on to the top part of the plane. 7 holds on to her still stuck spear, 9 held onto the needle still on 7, he grabs 1's staff, whom 1 is holding onto.

Odette can only cringe at the amount of pain 7 must be going through.

Behind the machine, 2, 5 and 6 have landed right on the plane's opened cables.

Seeing the wires, 5 comes up with a quick plan. "Grab the wires." He instructs 2 and 6. The trio bring it to spark up the propeller's cables, jumpstarting it to full speed.

Realizing that it's being pulled towards the fan, the winged beast flew up and grabbed 1's cape with its jaws.

9 could barely hold the staff due to the extra weight.

"Your cape!" He yells. "Let it go!"

"I can't..."

The machine lifts its claws to strike-

"Do it now!"

1 finally obeys and tears off the cape, sending him straight to holding onto 9.

With the cape and staff loose, the fifth and final winged beast falls to its demise, shredded by the propeller.

1 only scoffs at 9, "You owe me a cape." He says as he climbs up off him.

Odette shakes her head at 1's display, but sighs in relief nonetheless.

"Finally....It's over..."