Seeing Red

"But isn't he why Whip attacked us?" Talon takes a step forward trying to understand everything that's happened.

"He's most likely the reason for the first attack, but when your forces were weakened, Whip got official approval to attack, along with the rat." Chase does a ton of hand motions as he goes on.

"The rat was there in that battle?" Talon looks to Skull in a confused manner.

"Not quite. They overheard you talking about a trader and thought their position was compromised. They fled as soon as Herbert was dragged from the woods" chase fills the gaps of detail and tosses Talon a photo of a person covered in bandages and red tinted glasses.

"I don't know who this is." Talon looks at Chase with shifty eyes.

"That's because they don't wear that around you, but it's always on when around us." Chase clenches his fist and gazes away with frustration. "This person was the reason it took me so long to contact you all again." He takes the photo back from Talon and continues their journey across the roofs.

"We're here." Chase stops and a large snake seemingly comes out from beneath him, swallowing him and disappearing back into the building. Both Talon and Aqua are startled by this.

"Talon, make an air cushion." Skull looks off the side of the building.

"It's best we hurry now." Chase reappears on the ground as the snake vanishes into the ground behind him.

With a wrapping and swirling wind, Talon created an air bubble that's so difficult to puncture it has the consistency of rubber. He jumps off the roof and lands safely on it, Skull follows while caring Aqua, upon hitting the bubble Talon is launched back into the air.

The group stands at a large door from a house on the corner of two streets. Chase knocks and they hear a femine voice on the other side. "Just one moment please!" The thumping of footsteps approach the door.

Opening the door is a beautiful pale woman with long curly red hair and wearing a black and white dress. "Aqua!?" She locks her light blue eyes with Aqua.

"Mom!?" They share the same shocked expression, finding the situation to be unreal.

"Wait your important person is Aqua's mom!?" Skull turns towards Chase.

"Uh-"

"Chase, what's going on? Did they find her?" The red haired woman turns to Chase.

"Well-"

"How do you know my mom!?" Aqua turns to Chase.

"So-" He fails to even start making his defense against this confused and agitated trio. "I will answer all your burning questions, but first let us move to a private location." He gestures to the door behind the woman.

"I apologize. Please enter, then we can introduce ourselves." She opens the door and walks inside.

"So mom, these two are Talon and Skull." Aqua introduces the pair behind her, who found themselves in cozy leather seats, they lift their hands up to say hi. "Guys, this is my mom, Rouge Vi." She gestures to the woman, who copies the two's method of saying hello.

Chase stands off to the side with a disappointed expression before stepping forward. "Alright Rouge,these three are members of the revolutionists." He puts a hand on Skull's shoulder.

"Don't tell me you're actually planning on going against the nine." Rouge sets her hands on his arm.

"I have to, my consciousness won't allow me to continue working for them. These guys have proved they got what it takes to beat them, Silver and Whip are no more." He brushes her hand off as he puts space between them. "Each member has been wronged by the nine, they have the needed motivation and choose to fight! I have just one question. Will you fight too?" He holds out his hand to her, she stands speechless.

"No." She quickly rushes into her room leaving everyone in silence.

"I don't understand. She knows we could win, but she refuses to help." Chase sits defeated apon a wooden bench. "Her ability to summon an army of undead would give us a massive advantage." He rests his head into his hands.

"Huh." Aqua looks at Skull finally understanding how she was able to use necromancy.

"I'll try talking to her." Skull stands and Chase is too busy sulking to notice. He walks through the white walled hallway to a dark mahogany door at the end. "Mrs. Rouge, I'd like to chat for just a moment if you'll allow it." He stands patiently as he hears movement on the other side.

"You're the scary armored guy named Skull right?" She opens the door slightly and peeks out.

"Yes."After a small pause he answers, the lack of lighting in the hall gives him a dark and ominous front.

"Well I don't have anything to do with you, and neither does my daughter!" She points into Skull's chest as she angrily pouts.

"The problem is, I'm bound to a contract." He carries his hands in front of himself in defense.

"I don't care, break it. that's what humans do best isn't it!?" She pushes even harder against Skull.

Skull reaches his arms up, she immediately shrinks in fear. "What are you-" as he grabs his helmet she eases up a little from confusion. "-going to … do?"

"I'm not exactly human." He removes his helmet, exposing his identity.

Skull and Rouge sit on a large bed, with a thick quilt, four soft pillows, and a silk canopy draped above them.

"Aqua had summoned me when she was being chased by a goblin."

"And you said you're an Abyss skeleton?" Rouge listens closely, with great interest.

"Yes." He confirms, increasing her amazement.

"I'm very knowledgeable about necromancy. I just never imagined Aqua could use it too, and summon an abyss skeleton no doubt." She fondly gazes at the floor.

Seeing her beauty, Skull nearly chokes up for a moment before getting ahold of himself. "W-well after I killed the goblin, she forced me into a contract." He looks away, her company feels so natural to him, but he's not sure what to do, ever since being awakened he's never felt this close to someone.

Rouge notices his discomfort and attempts to help. "Here's a fun fact, most abyss skeletons used to be powerful people in life. I wonder who you may have been." Skull looks back over to her, remembering his conversation with Talon and the name Chase called him by.

"Apparently, my name was Julius. Chase recognised me by my armor and powers." As Skull breaks eye contact to wonder what he was like in life, Rouge's eyes widen and she is shocked stiff.

"Give me a moment please." Rouge rushes to her feet and bolts out of the room.

"Wait, what's wrong!?" Skull chases after her.

"Chase!" Rouge's booming mother voice startles all three people in the living room.

"Uh, yes ma'am?" He stands as soon as they make eye contact.

"A word, if you will." She grips his shoulder with incredible power.

"Ouch. O-okay." Chase reluctantly follows her out of the house.

"Skull, what happened?" Aqua whips her head towards the helmetless Skull.

"I'm not sure. I told her the name Chase called me by, and she just ran out." Skull watches the door intently.

After a few minutes the pair rentered the house. "Skull, Aqua, I have to tell you two something." Rouge has a menacing aura that causes Aqua to shrink into the chair's cushion, while Skull instinctively reaches for his sword but manages to stop himself.

"Aqua, I figured out exactly how you we're able to summon an abyss skeleton." Aqua's tension lessens, as she becomes curious. "For anyone, who isn't a full necromancer, the only way to summon such a powerful being, is if they used to be a family member." Her words get quieter and she looks away with embarrassment.

Everyone is quiet until they make the connection, then all of their eyes widen.

"Wait, are you saying that Skull is Aqua's father!?" Talon nearly falls out of his chair as he leans forward.

"Y-yes. Julius w-was my husband, a-and well before he died I-I got pregnant with Aqua." She looks away, her face completely red with embarrassment.

Skull is frozen stiff and Aqua is astounded as questions swirl in her head like a vortex "What!? Did you know this!?" She turns to Chase with the same menacing aura as her mother did.

"Huh? N-no! I didn't realize Rouge was even your mother, well until you told me your name on the rooftop. I did know Skull used to be her husband. Did I forget to mention that?" In his defense, Chase begins to frantically monolog.

"And why was his grave on some cliff?" Aqua turns back to Rouge, tears now building up.

"I was never allowed to even know where it could be. The nine didn't want me to bring him back." Rouge defeated seeing Aqua on the verge of crying.

"Then who was the other person I'd sometimes see around his grave?" Talon rubs his forehead from all the confusion. Chance's eyes widen as he realizes who the other person is.

Upon a cliff surrounded by a thick forest, stands a person shrouded by bandages and wearing a mechanical arm and red tinted glasses. As they reach the end of the cliff they find a wooden shaft sticking out of the ground and in front of it, an empty hole.

"So Skull really is the real deal." They begin to break down in chaotic laughter. "I knew it."

"It's the rat! They were in charge to keep an eye on both the revolution and Julius' grave." Chase alerts the group of this problem. "If they've gone back there at any time since Skull's awakening then our plans will be compromised!" Chase bolts it towards the windows, keeping an eye out for guards or other members of the nine.

"With how busy we've been there's no telling if or when they found out. There's no helping it, we have to attack the nine within the next few days." Talon holds his chin as he thinks about the chances of success.

"It would help to know, they're all in the keep right now, and will be for the next few days." Chase glances towards Talon, giving him an affirmative nod.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's round everybody up and go kick some ass!" Skull dons his helmet and waits beside the door. As the group exits, Rouge nervously stays back, unsure of what to do. "It's not safe here anymore. You don't have to fight, but you should come with us for protection." Skull holds his hand out to her.

"Oh. You're as dense as you were in life. I know, despite the front you have, you're also as kind as back then too." She buries her red face into his chest, ignoring the discomfort of the cold metal armor.

"How do you think?" Skull fails to move even an inch.

"Because otherwise you would have left me. What use would I be to you if I don't help you battle?" She looks up to him, tears building up in her eyes.

Without a word Skull embraces her, waiting for the tears to pass away.