Chapter Twenty-One

Stepping downstairs, Blanche hid her emotions. She was impressed, but her pride told her not to say. The stronghold she now camped in may give them a point of survival. However, finding other resources like food and drink may be much more difficult. She set her thoughts of how she felt about Kyle’s tech aside, and regrouped her focus on whatever he can give to the team.

Kyle showed the three visitors around the inside of his bunker, which to Blanche's surprise was actually very spacious. The first room was a large workshop housing very rough looking inventions. The rest of the rooms appeared to be bedrooms: personal quarters for an oddly large quantity of people.

“This thing is gigantic,” Dede uttered directly behind Blanche, “It’s bigger than the damn house.”

Blanche nodded in agreement, glaring down at her deactivated phone. She put it away and huffed. “So do you think you can create weapons for us to defend ourselves?”

Kyle turned to face the group, nodding and putting his hands in his pockets. "Aye, I even have a few unfinished pieces in my workshop." He then looked directly at Blanche, talking deliberately, "Although I can't say that any of them are elegant."

“Well-- I hope someone can fix that,” Blanche replied, “We have Ametsu on our side.” Dimitri huffed then shook his head, seemingly flustered.

Kyle nodded slowly, "Alright then. You two can choose your rooms and I'll be in the workshop." With that, Kyle walked down the hallway and disappeared into the workshop.

Blanche hummed before heading over to one of the bunkers, she planted her roots on the one closest to the entrance in case of any surprised attacks. As she was settling in, she noticed a message blinking on her watch. She headed over and instructed her brother to open the door for the rest of their team since he hadn’t figured out his room quite yet. He looked reluctant, but he was a decent kid, and since their encounter, his temper neutralized.

***

He was reluctant due to his temper tantrum he made before leaving his peers, but Dimitri no longer wanted his emotions to ruin his reputation, not him. Swallowing his thoughts, he opened the door without hesitance. He saw Sabrina, Ametsu, and Mackenzie respectively, greeting them coldly. “We’re downstairs. We have a safe space to hunker down. Please follow me.” With his ‘warm welcome,’ he stepped away and headed to their new found ‘home.’ The three sets of footsteps gave him comfort, believing that he could be helpful once more, but there was no point of having false hope. He stopped by the entrance of the bunker. “After you all.”

Sabrina was the first to enter, giving a curt nod and a quiet thank you. All of the silence was unsettling and starting to get to him. He also noticed Sabrina squeezing her bag tightly and not looking too closely at anything in particular. With his heart pounding, Dimitri softened once Sabrina passed him by, set aside his thoughts once Mackenzie, and recollecting them once he exchanged eye contact with Amesu. ‘What have I done,’ He thought.

***

As Sabrina passed Dimitri in the hall, she couldn't help squeezing her bag. With how cold he had sounded at the door, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. She quietly hurried to one of the rooms and shut the door behind her, taking Dave out of her bag and putting him on the bed.

"I hope he doesn't stay mad forever, Dave," she whispered to the plush, hugging it tight, "I really do…"

It was a long walk to this place from the lab, and Sabrina had been hoping that Dimitri would have cooled off by now. Seeing him still upset like that though? It was a bitter pill for her to swallow. I'll try to figure something out tonight…

***

Mackenzie’s plan was in full swing; making sure he was trusted by the group. His advantage was the fact that he was lab partners with Dr. Kenneth. However, his disadvantage was that he was against his master’s enemy: the god, Ametsu. Perhaps he could find some sort of flaw-- enough for him to turn her team against her. It would be childish to try now. Evidence for his claim should work, despite the fact that his claims were lies, he could poke some truth into his false claims.

When he was saved by Nyx, he gave complete undivided allegiance towards her. Even if he was so to side with ‘the bad guys’ he would try to find some silver line to help out as best he could for his master.

His bunker was furthest away from the entrance so he could do the least fighting, or at least be so insignificant that they may forget him during their journey.

***

As Kyle worked over his forge, he thought about his new guests. He knew his supplies would last them for a good amount of time, and he could easily make them the weapons they would all need to stay safe. What he didn't know was how well everyone would get along together. He decided he wouldn't worry about it too much and focused on the weapon he was working on: it was the chain-blade from the shelf. He had felt that it was too gruesome to use on humans, but if they were fighting the supernatural it would be ok. This was about survival after all. He had weapons in mind for all of them.

He had a razor whip design in mind for Blanche as well as some type of hi-tech gun; Dimitri would get the chainblade and a dagger; he would trust the rifle to the girl and give her a secondary pistol; and he didn't know about the other two, but felt he could figure something out. Kyle let out a sigh. He probably wasn't going to let himself sleep until these weapons were done.

A set of heavy footprints creeped up behind him “You may need more of these,” A familiar voice called, dropping some feathers on a nearby table for him.

He nodded, recognizing the source. "Thank you Ametsu," he told her, "These should get the job done nicely." Without another word, he heard her footsteps retreat into the corridor, leaving him alone with his work once more. Not long now, Lucy...

***

Scatterbrained, Ametsu attempted to figure out a way to assemble everyone in place. She understood all that had happened in the past few hours. For the second day, the angel’s chaos spread like wildfire. To her, it’s frustrating to know that it’s too late to save what is left of the world she had sworn to protect, but she did promise to keep her team protected.

However there was one idea that crossed her mind several times: She could reunite with Nyx. She can become Valkyrie again. She can become whole once more. For the past millennium she desired for her family to become whole once more. Zander, Nyx, and her Father Terminal. Though her father had already perished, the others are well and alive. Zander had kept company with her, comforting her, keeping her safe-- helping her defend her planet, but her other half refuses to bat an eye for her constantly flooded emotions.

“Tomorrow I’ll assemble everyone. For now, I’ll do night guard duty.” She thought out loud.

She is currently in a mortal-like state. Despite her powers and abilities, she can die. What she needed to do is make sure her team can help her with her endgame, protect her, and rely on her. Though she thinks of herself as the leader, maybe the others would agree that she is. It’s time to defend what is left.

***

The goals of Ametsu’s army were clear. Blanche’s protection of her brother was enough to keep her morale, Sabrina’s hope of survival and restoring her friendship with Dimitri, and perhaps more. Mackenzie’s plan to disable the group’s efforts would help him give approval to his master. Kyle yearned for his daughter to be somehow found and saved. Dimitri would fight for his friends and family. Ametsu’s world was at stake and so were her family’s ties. Who’s to say all will complete their goals. Who’s to say they’ll die trying. Dreams, Hopes, Morale, Willpower. The Dove’s people can and will fight back.