Chapter 7 - Resolve

The crew are in the main house fully gathered around the table in the living room. 

"Leon, just how long ago did Piers leave?" Asks Mike.

I would say less than an hour ago. He said he would be back soon. 

"I still can't believe you let him go alone."

"Look Mike he insisted, nothing could have been done."

Karina sits down next to Leon. "So if I insist you go swimming with me right now would you do it?" 

"Sure, as long as you aren't one of those animatronics or lizard people I read about on Zeddit." He says.

The two get up and head out to the pool. Polar sees this and goes to join in but Lena stops him and says "Maybe now isn't swim time." 

Polar looks disappointed and sits down on a chair that is way too small for him. 

"Piers said there would be food if we completed our training," said Reyna. 

"He also left the org credit card on the table. Order whatever you guys want. I'll take the heat for it later." 

"And where are you going?" Reyna asked.

"I am going to sit outside and relax until Piers gets back, then I'm going to go to bed." 

"Boring as ever." Reyna says in a friendly but sarcastic voice. 

Mike heads out to the front porch and sits on a chair. Trying to keep his eyes open. He is exhausted but determined to wait for Piers to return. He hears the front door open and Nathan walks outside. 

"Piers is still gone?"

"Yeah, I'm starting to worry. But I also want to go to bed." 

"If you want I can stay up and wait for him. You can go to bed."

"It's alright, I'm fine. Just beat down. I might go for a run in the morning. See if that helps. How is your training with Youta going?

"According to him, great. He's a harsh mentor but he means well. He says at the rate I'm going, I could even surpass him some day."

"That's great to hear; we are gonna need that." Mike's phone beeps and a text message appears. It's from Piers. "I won't be back tonight, I'm stuck working on some paperwork. Don't wait up for me."

"Who is it?"

"Piers. He says he won't be back today. So with that I'm gonna go to bed."

"Sounds good I should too. Youta will be having me up at 5 a.m. again I bet. "

The two head upstairs as the downstairs bustles with noise. Mike lays his head down and within minutes, is asleep. Before he knows it it's six a.m., and his alarm is blaring. He jumps up, throws on his clothes and heads downstairs. He grabs one water bottle from the fridge and heads out towards the back but doesn't go to the lake. Instead, he heads to a forest trail and begins to walk. Before he can get moving he here's a voice call. 

"Mind if I join?" 

Mike turns to see Lena. Standing at the foot of the deck stairs. "Sure why not? What are you doing up so early though?"

"Well I was asleep and heard a loud screeching noise from the room next to me." 

"Youta."

"Youta." 

"That guy is on full throttle 24/7." 

"I wish I had that kind of energy." 

The two begin to walk the trail around the lake.

"So, how are you holding up?" Asked Lena.

"What do you mean?"

"Well aren't you grieving? You lost somebody close to you, it's normal."

"The time to grieve is later. Right now I have to protect the rest of our group." 

"It's admirable you feel that way but it's human to be upset right now. I've known you for years and you have never been this stern and stone-faced."

"I know, and I'm sorry if I'm acting differently. If I'm being honest I'm just scared. Kazuke is someone I've always admired. This man made him look like he was a civilian. The last thing I want is to lead you guys into a battle we can't win." 

"We will win. We always win. How many missions did we fail with our old team?"

"None, but this isn't the same as stopping random burglars and carjackers. You can't pretend we aren't bound to fail sooner or later." 

"I can. Because I believe in you, I believe in my own ability and I believe in the people back at the house. Let me ask you this. How many times have I saved your ass? You should let me bear the worry about getting everyone out alive!"

"I trust you, I believe in you and everyone in that room too. But this enemy is like nothing we have ever faced."

The two see a creek leading into a small waterfall that runs off the lake and sit down on a large rock next to it.

"You worry too much. I promise I'll help you get everyone out of here alive." 

"If you say so."

"You know what I think?" 

"What's that?"

"Sometimes I think you are so caught up in the planning and worrying you forget to notice what's right in front of you. Look at this lake, the breeze, the weather. There is so much good out there; sometimes you just need to soak it all in."

"Maybe you're right. I guess I have been tunnel-visioned on the plan." 

"Exactly. Now cheer up and don't be a saucehead."

"Weeeeeeeeeee, what are you guys doing?" A voice screams from the distance.

The two turn and see Youta standing there on the trail.

"If you stay still he won't see you," said Mike.

"If you guys are training without inviting me, I must say. I am extremely offended. Six a.m. training is something I don't take lightly." 

"Never, we would never invite you to train. We were just gonna go fishing," said Lena.

"Gross, that's stupid. I have to finish my run." Youta says letting out a bloodcurdling howl.

The strange man takes off down the trail at a speed greater than that of the masked man. 

"That guy is weird," said Lena.

"Isn't most of our group weird?"

"I suppose so."

"We should head back. People might be waking up soon." 

The two head back to the house. Back at the house Nathan is downstairs eating waffles alone. All of a sudden, Youta comes flying into the living room and performs a flying roundhouse kick on Nathan sending him out of his chair. Nathan stumbles to his feet and wipes his mouth. "What the fuck man." 

"Downstairs now. Or I open my final limiter and kick your nuts." 

"Ok fine man let's go." 

Youta once again lets out a horrifying screech as everyone covers their ears.

Upstairs Reyna wakes up to hear the screeching. She walks down the stairs wiping her eyes. "What the fuck?"

Youta continues to howl violently as the house begins to shake.

Youta grabs Nathan and drags him to the elevator. Nathan sobs for the loss of his waffles and rides the elevator down. Once they enter the training room Youta says something loudly.

"Today is the day we unlock your next limiter. Get ready to push past your limits."

"Alright let's do it." 

Youta charges and removes his 4th limiter, and flies towards Nathan. The same as before pummeling him for minutes at a time. Nathan releases the third and is still getting destroyed. After 20 minutes of getting his ass beat Youta goes in for a new attack. This time he flies under Nathan and boots him close to his nuggets. Nathan screams out in pain and falls over. Youta jumps back ready to attack and as he does Nathan staggers to both feet. He looks at Youta and all of a sudden his body starts to contort and a large powerful wind forms around him. He turns red and all of a sudden he disappears. He is now behind Youta and goes to kick him. He guards but it isn't enough. He is sent flying and his headband flies off. He charges Nathan but is blown up. He slides across the floor, and Nathan is giving off an insane aura. He gets ready to charge and Youta wiggles his finger. "You have done it, my student. There it is." 

"This is. Amazing," 

"I can't believe you managed to unlock four out of the five limiters in less than a week. You truly had this in you already, you just needed a nudge to control it."

"When do I learn the final stage?"

"Never, the final stage isn't something you can just turn on. It will activate only under certain parameters. In a life-or-death scenario most likely, I've never felt it myself. Now let's take a break. You have earned it." 

"And one gummy bear, right?"

"No. You get two!"

"How generous." 

The two head upstairs and everyone is there but Piers, Leon, and Karina. As everyone is waking up Leon and Karina walk out of the same room upstairs.

"Did you guys sleep in the same room?" Asked Reyna. 

"No I actually just phased through the wall of my room into his. Yes you clown of course I did." 

"And you called me the easy one." 

"Well it isn't that hard to explain."

"Spare me the details." 

Polar slams the table hard and yells. "Guy, outside." 

"what's outside?" Everyone asks.

"Trees," Polar says.

"Thanks for pointing that out." Mike responded.

Polar nods his head and leans back in his tiny chair.

"Where is piers?" Asked Leon. 

"He texted me last night saying he wouldn't be back until later today," said Mike.

 "weird. He doesn't seem like the type to text. But I've seen stranger things this week so maybe I'm wrong," said Leon. 

"You mean like that animatronic shark over there?" Asked Nathan.

"Polar isn't a robot Nathan, he's a real being with feelings. Not very respectful to say that to him."

"Leon, you have got to be kidding."

*****

Piers wakes up and looks around. He is in a room with metal walls and the only thing he can see is a small table and a man sitting at a desk nearby. The man stands up and looks at Piers. He is an older man with small spectacles, thinning hair, and cold blue eyes. The man saunters over and lowers himself to Piers' gaze. 

"Ah, you're awake. Good." He says. 

"Who the fuck are you?" Asked Piers. 

"My name is Dr. Dubernassi."

"Stupid name. Where the fuck am I?"

"I would not worry about that. Worry about getting out of here alive. This is very very simple. Tell me where your team is located, and you can go free." 

"Over my grave would I ever tell a scumbag like you anything!. You can kill me if you want. I won't say a damn thing." 

"Good, I was hoping it wouldn't be easy." The man rears and punches Piers across the face multiple times. Piers looks up blood dripping from his nose and smiles. "I can make this worse. Tell me where your team is."

"Suck my fucking balls you shitface." 

The doctor goes to the drawer on his desk and this time pulls out a small nightstick. He hits piers across the head with it twice. Piers' head lashes back violently as blood splatters the wall behind him. The doctor turns his head taunting. "How about now?" 

Piers spits on the floor and breathes heavily. "Hasn't changed. Suck my balls. I will die with my honor intact before I give you anything." 

"What good is honor when you are dead?" 

"Beat me all you want. I won't tell you where my friends are. But be warned: When they find out where you are you will be finished." 

"Is that so? I have an insurance policy for that so I'm not too worried." 

Into the room walks the masked man, he walks in casually dragging another chair away from the desk. He sits down next to Piers and laps his legs one over the other leaning back. "Oh good you're awake. Now, Are you gonna spill the beans or what?"

"He said no. He has honor," the doctor said mockingly. 

The man's temper flares as he places his hand on the chair and his head lashes to the doctor. "Shut up, I didn't ask you anything." 

"Good somebody with some sense. I'll tell you what I told him: You can kill me now. I won't say anything," Piers said.

"A lot of people say that Mr. Evans. Even though I do think you are a piece of trash that holds up a broken system, I still hate doing something as vile as torture. Unfortunately, we are gonna need that info one way or another. Doctor. Get the info by any means needed. Just don't mess with his dong." 

"What?" The doctor says confused.

"Don't touch his cock. You don't mess with a man's dick; we are criminals, not savages here."

The masked man leaves the room.

The doctor turns to Piers and smiles. "We are going to be friends for a long time." He pulls out a large drill. "Do you enjoy being able to see Mr. Evans?"

"Do as you will. I'm done talking." 

 The man holds the drill towards Pier's eye and threatens to use it. As he does Piers notices a change in the air behind the man. The light darkens as if a dark mist is creeping in from thin air. A figure materializes. A middle-aged man. Late 20s most likely. With long black hair and all black clothing. As Alex turns to see the man. He makes eye contact with him. The second he does almost as if he's been shot Alex falls to the ground with his mouth and eyes wide open. The mysterious figure kicks the body out of the way and turns his eyes to Piers. He speaks in a dark smoky voice. 

"Hello Piers. You should be happy to see me."

"Oh yeah and why's that?"

"Because I am going to be the reason you get out of here."

"And how's that?" 

"I am willing to make a deal with you. You tell me where your team is located, and I'll tell them where you are in return."

"Not a chance, that's classified info. Not to mention how can I trust you? You could be one of them trying to get info. This could be some sort of trick."

"While I can see how you would feel that way, I can promise you I am the opposite of one of them. You see the way I see it. We have common goals here." "What common goals?"

"Simple enough, to kill the masked man."

"And why do you want to do that?"

"Let's just say I was wronged by this man as well. He wants me dead so it is a great service to have him gone." 

"If he wanted you dead you'd be dead already."

"Perhaps that would be advantageous to him, but the reality is I can kill the masked man myself if I had the chance."

"If you can then why haven't you?" 

"The same reason I can't get you out of here without the help of your team. The man is never alone. He is confident, but not dumb. I could take any single member of his team alone. But in a group I would be outmatched due to the sheer volume of them. So my deal is you help me and I help you. We both get what we want." 

"And why should I trust you?"

The man leans in and whispers something. Piers' face stiffens. 

"Fine deal. But if you try anything,

"Don't worry too much about it, if I betray you the result is the same for you right? You aren't in a position to negotiate." 

"Fine here is where they are." Piers tells the man the address.

"I will be back soon. You can thank me then. Until then I'm afraid I cannot help you any longer."

"Just be quick about it. I'm not sure how long I can last here." The man fades back into a black mist and is gone. "Looks like I'm not dead in the water after all."

******

Back at the house the group sits around and discusses. Leon let's out an out-of-character sigh. "It's getting late, and nothing from Piers. I've called the agency, and they said he hasn't been there."

"I agree it's unlike him to do this," said Mike. 

Polar staring out the window presses his face against the glass lost in a daze. "Man outside." 

"Not now, bear man," said Lena. 

"No. See man in the forest." Yelled Polar. 

"There is nobody there, my friend. Relax." She replied.

"Anyway, what do we -" Mike tries to speak but is interrupted by the yelling of the bear. 

"Man outside. Coming to us."

"Sir, please calm down there is nobody outside." Lena pleaded, her cheer cut short by a voice on the stairs. 

"You should listen to him."

The entire room looks up and a mysterious figure sits in the shadow on the upstairs railing. 

"Animals do tend to have better senses than we do after all."

Mike charges up a crackling lightning shiver. Ready to attack. "Who the fuck are you? And how did you get in here?"

"Relax, I am here to help." 

"Help by sneaking around in the shadows?" Asked Nathan.

"I guess you don't want to know about what happened to your friend Piers."

"What happened to piers? Tell us now!" Leon yells drawing his gun. 

"I just spoke with him. He's been captured by the masked man. I made a deal with him. He tells me your location and I tell you his. So calm down and I will. But first allow me to introduce myself."

The man steps forward into the light as Mike tenses and Leon moves his hand to the trigger. 

"I am Itami Homura." 

Kazuke jumps to his feet grabbing his sheathed sword off the counter. "What are you doing here?"

"Sit down little brother before I make you. Now listen. Friends or not, we have a common goal here. I want the masked man dead, you want the masked man dead. I know where he is and I'm afraid time is ticking on your friend Piers. So make a choice. Simple. Help me kill the masked man, or your friend dies."

The room argues shouting over each other. Mike steps up diffusing his attack.

"And how do you propose we defeat him?"

"I have been following him for a while now. I know that this group is strong enough to beat them with my help. If we strike while he isn't expecting we will be victorious. The reality is, it is unlikely the government will send a Hikari. They don't view the man as the real threat that he is and this town's low crime rate will keep them looking the other way. So it's up to us." 

The room roars and everyone is yelling. Unsure of what's going on. Mike reflects, thinking back to what Lena told him. 

He slams his fist on the table shouting. "Hey! Wait. Everyone listen here. I know we are all worried. This is faster than we expected and we don't get to plan as much as we may have liked, but I believe in the people in this room. Together, we can kill this masked freak. We can save Piers. With all of us."

"How do we know we can trust Itami? I wouldn't!" Yelled Kazuke.

"He knows we can kill him. He can't beat us all at once. If things go waist up i'll deal with him myself." 

"Well said." Itami nodded. 

Leon walks forward. "I stand with you. I'm ready." 

Reyna walks forward. "I trust your judgment. If you say we are ready, we are."

Everyone begins to walk forward declaring they are ready to go. 

Mike puts his hand up in solidarity. "Alright guys. Let's go kill this fucking freak."