There was a slight bit of tension after Moryuu departed. Talon seemed on edge that he couldn’t go before he wound up sighing in resignation as he turned to face the rest of us.
“Alright, here’s the plan,” Ignatius began. “This place is too spacious to stick together. We need to split up to cover more ground. It’s probably best to split into three teams.”
“Two per team then” Senshi commented.
“But there’s seven of us if you count Cordis,” Carlos added, glancing in my direction.
I shook my head subtly before turning my attention back to the caster that seemed a bit too hasty in his planning. He started spouting hypothetical situations of what could’ve been the most viable course of action but none of it seemed favorable seeing how Shadow technically had two hostages.
“So about these teams,” Senshi reminded Ignatius.
“Yes, do tell,” Talon added. “Will I get to play the hero and rescue these ladies in distress?”
Vandal rolled his eyes momentarily. “There’s a time and place. We need approach this wisely. There’s no telling what Shadow has in mind for them or for us for that matter. We’ll need to choose teams carefully.”
“Correct,” the caster exclaimed somewhat impatiently, “and I already have the teams in mind.” He proceeded to point to Carlos and Vandal. “You both can be Team One.” He looked pointed to himself then to Senshi. “We will be Team Two.” He then pointed at Talon and me. “You two will be Team–”
“Imma stop you right there,” I interjected as I glanced at Ignatius. “You’re in a bit of a panic and not thinking calmly at the moment.”
“That’s because Magpie is running out of time!”
“I get it.” I then looked towards the others. “Team One should be Carlos and Senshi.” I held up a hand to wave off any rebuttal from the spitfire. “Carlos knows more about Senshi than anyone so you should be more suited to help her if she passes out. You should also know about her fighting style since she’s been with you before this shitshow meaning you will be the best option to compliment her fighting style. With her given abilities, she would make for a good defensive.” I then gestured towards Vandal and Talon. “They’ve already worked together to some extent.”
“Perhaps but I did work well with Ignatius,” Vandal added.
I shrugged. “Maybe but given the fact that you have projectiles and he can make portals, that can make for an interesting assault combination. Granted that avoiding unnecessary fighting is best, the two of your skills would make for a great offensive.”
“Is that really your reasoning Animae?”
My attention then went back to Ignatius. “I’m not sure that you’re a 100% and I have a hunch you may not pick the best course of action when the time calls for it. No offense but I think it’s better if I go with you for now. We can link back up with everyone and assess teams again when the time comes.”
“What about the pillars?” Carlos asked.
“Moryuu has already started working on them,” I replied as I gestured towards Talon. “If he didn’t want to take his buddy with him, I think it’s safe to assume he can handle them himself; however, if you discover one then it doesn’t hurt to deal a little damage.”
“But rescuing Nuallis and Magpie takes precedence,” Ignatius added.
I simply nodded before turning away. “Of course. If there’s no objections we should head out.”
Talon stepped forward. “I–”
“Great.” I started to walk away. “Ignatius, let’s get going.”
“Would you just wait a moment?” Talon asked somewhat annoyed enough to make me turn. “If we’re going to split up, we’ll need a way of contacting each other.”
“With what, a cellphone?” I questioned. “We don’t have time for me to teach everyone how to use one.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of the dolls,” he corrected snidely.
“So, he was the one passing out those creepy things,” Cordis mused.
“They’ll work the same as before, but we should be able to talk to each other.”
“But to carry multiple dolls?” I asked.
“I can’t fight while holding a doll!” Senshi added.
“Senshi has a point,” I agreed as I folded my arms. “It’s impractical.”
“Don’t bring me problems and no solutions,” he said as he reached into a portal. “That being said – “ Talon pulled out a doll that look similar to myself “ – you’re taking the doll.”
I looked down at the Vandal doll in my grasp before looking at the Senshi doll that Ignatius had. Team Two had my doll and the Carlos doll while Team One had the Ignatius and Talon doll. I stopped looking at either of the toys as their heads turned before looking at Ignatius when he chuckled drily.
“You ok?”
Ignatius glanced at me before giving a nod. “I was just admiring this odd doll.”
“Is that right?” I questioned as I held up the Vandal doll. “I find it unsettling to be honest.”
“How about different?” he suggested.
“Let’s call a spade a spade,” I replied as I looked about the city street. I then turned my attention to the caster as he toyed with the blonde hair on the Senshi doll. “Hey, we’re going to find Magpie, ok?” He forced a bit of a smile. “Say it.”
“We’re going to find her,” he repeated quieter than I’d like.
I simply gave a nod. “That’s right and she’s going to need you to be on you’re A-game. Are you ready?” He seemed a little unsure as I passed him the Vandal doll. “Ok, why don’t you take a break and collect yourself? Maybe have a snack while I’ll go scout ahead for now. We’ve been at this for a few hours now.”
“Jay–”
“I won’t go too far. Alert the others if I take longer than twenty minutes, ok?”
“That was a nice gesture,” Cordis commented as I made my way up the street. “Unnecessary but nice.”
“It’ll be troublesome if he’s not in the right state of mind.”
“If you were that concerned then you would have just left him with one of the others.” I could almost sense the amusement in his next statement. “We could’ve been partnered with the charming banana. The two of you just ooze friendship.”
“No offense but you don’t have the best track record with newcomers.”
“That’s not the main reason you decided against being teamed with Talon,” he replied smugly. “You were hung up on what he told everyone.”
“And I’m sure you know why.”
“You were relatively calm for someone poking holes into information.”
“You were no different,” I replied as I spotted a group of Level Ones skittering into one of the rundown storefronts. “I expected more of an outburst from you but since we’re being civil, let’s compare.”
“You first.”
“Why would Talon need souls if he isn’t a reaper? I never seen him in Central so who does he work for if it isn’t Omega?”
“Maybe he’s just an asshole who doesn’t like to share.”
“That doesn’t answer the question and you’re just saying that because he wouldn’t hand over Cae…”
“Perhaps but I’m interested in the idea of this being a repeating cycle,” he replied. “If what he said is true, how many times have we been through this bullshit? Better yet, how many times–”
“ – has he watched us go through this bullshit?” I finished. “If it’s happened more than once, why is he just now intervening?”
“Maybe he has or, better yet, he didn’t care before?” Cordis suggested.
“Maybe he was apathetic.”
“Or sadistic?” I grimaced at the thought. What about his friend? If he’s with the banana then I doubt he was in the dark about this whole thing? They remember enough to tell us what we’ve been told already so they had to be left out of this loop. That being said, why didn’t they say anything, do anything? Why now? What makes now any different?”
“I doubt we’d get an answer if we asked them outright.”
“Even if we did, would you even trust it?”
I scowled at the idea of it before watching more of the smaller Umbra slink into the surrounding stores. A thought then came to mind.
“Cordis.”
“What now?”
“This city is huge. There’s no way we can cover this whole place, even with Talon teleporting us all over the place. We could miss something.”
“What’s your point?”
“I got a favor to ask.”
“And why do you think I’d be willing to do you a goddamn favor?”
I sighed heavily as stepped through the door. “It would be beneficial to have numbers on our side.”
“Again, why should I do you a favor?”
“Look, don’t you think it’s a bit more beneficial to have Nuallis back in the likelihood you get your ass handed to you by Four?”
“I did not–!”
“You didn’t know where its core was…” I pointed out to be met with silence. “You owe me a favor.”
“You only intervened to save yourself.”
“I saved us, asshole, so you owe me a goddamn favor,” I chided as I swung the scythe out in front of me. “Are you going to do it or not?” I was met with silence. “Cordis.” It remained silent. “Cordis.”
“What do you want?” he finally asked as I walked into a storage room to see several Level Ones gnawing at old bones of who knew what.
“Ask the Umbra to help us find Magpie and Nuallis.”
Cordis snickered, “I’m sorry, what?”
“You heard me,” I said as I pointed the blade at one that had looked my way.
“I’m not asking a One to help find your friends, Animae. If you want those things to help you then you demand it.”
“You said you’d do it.”
“No, I simply asked what you wanted. I didn’t agree to shit,” he corrected, “but I can tell you now that you’re not going to get anything by asking them to do what you want.”
I looked at the rest of the Umbra that were now staring. “What, don’t tell me that you had Gideon and Four ordering them to listen to you.”
“I got them to listen to me with a bit of coercion if you catch my drift,” he clarified as I looked down at the Ones that were starting to growl. “You might want to make your move because not only are you running out of time but they’re debating on eating you now.”
“You can understand them?”
“Unlike some people, I had nothing better to do while in Rift.”
I pointed the scythe before slicing a few of the Umbra that lunged. “Alright, listen up,” I began. “I need your help.” Grating growls filled the room before I had to slice the tongue wrapped around my ankle. “I need you all to help me find my friends!”
Cordis laughed. “That’s not gonna work. It’s eat or be eaten in Rift, Animae.”
“You gotta be joking,” I muttered to receive nothing but laughter. “Cordis–”
“If you want it then take it,” he replied, “and make hell of an impression.”
A tongue latching onto my wrist pulled me from my conversation with Cordis. Swinging the scythe up to lodge it in the ceiling, I grabbed the tongue with my other hand before yanking it towards me. I ignored the burns on my hand before biting down on the Umbra. It let out a piercing screech before I bit down harder to rip it in half. I proceeded to eat part of it as I turned my attention to the remaining Umbra.
“Let me make myself perfectly clear,” I said, “because I ain’t asking. You little bastards are going to help me. You’re gonna round up all your little buddies and search this goddamn city to help me find my friends. If you decline, I’ll just eat you.” I then ate the rest of the Umbra I held before grabbing the scythe as the others let out a quieter growl. “Or I could just cut you all to pieces,” I added as I sliced one in half. “There’s too many of you eyesores anyway.”
I looked down at them to see them shrink back as I stepped towards them. Some averted their eyes before one cautiously slinked forward, growling something. Several others did the same until all the Umbra in that room were present. Grinning to myself, I turned to walk back out to the street.
“Well done, Ani–” I gagged before covering my mouth as I felt like vomiting. “Stop being a goddamn priss. Jeez, and here I almost gave you a compliment,” Cordis chided before snickering. “I’m surprised you ate it alive. Even I hadn’t done that.” I felt sick again before throwing up part of the Umbra. “Priss.”
“Jayden?”
I looked back to see Ignatius rounding the corner. “Oh, hey, Ignatius.” He eyed me warily. “Did twenty minutes pass that quickly?”
His attention then went the oily puddle. “Jay…”
I followed his gaze. “Oh, I just ate something that upset my stomach.” He then pointed at my mouth making me turn to wipe it clean. “Thanks.”
“Can I kill him?”
“No,” I muttered as I turned to face Ignatius. “Ig–”
“Jayden, what exactly did you eat?” he asked as he inspected the puddle.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied before swinging the scythe over my shoulder. “Hey, I found a bit of assistance to aid in our search.”
“Jay–”
I turned towards the store before whistling. “Hey, get out here!”
Ignatius raised an eyebrow before I pointed towards the door. As he turned, he took a step back to see several dozen Umbra filtering out into the street. He took another step back and raised a hand before I lowered it. The rest of the Umbra retreating a few feet before they looked up at us to which I simply smiled.
“How…?”
I glanced at the caster. “They’re gonna help us find Magpie and Nuallis.”
“But how…?”
“How isn’t important,” I replied as I turned my attention back to the Ones. I then gave them a brief description of our missing friends before giving the scythe a twirl. “Alright, go and let me know when you find them.”
“Jayden.”
I smiled at Ignatius. “Let’s go find your friend.”472Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUU0dgPuHk
“Search,” a Level Two uttered as it looked about.
“Ones search,” another clarified as it looked at the Five
“They’re searching,” Gideon mused as he watched a One skitter out of a storm drain. “I see.”
“Stop?”
“Want stop?”
“No, they’re fine for now,” he replied as he turned his attention to the Four sitting on a crumbling staircase of the city hall. “Just… give me a report in a few hours. You’re dismissed.” The suit-clad Umbra then made its way to its companion. “Four.” Aforementioned remained silent. “Four…”
“What?” it growled at the other before tensing as it had its face seized by tentacles. “Gid—”
“Poor Four,” Gideon mused as a tentacle traced the scar marring the Umbra’s eye. He smiled as he noted how tense the other had become. “Your pet’s been busy. I doubt he's wasting much time after your latest escapades.”
“You don’t say?” Four growled quietly as a pale hand traced the scar. “Stop it already so I can go eat him.”
Gideon simply chuckled to himself as he lightly grasped the injured eye, watching as the Four's outline distorted momentarily. “Do you honestly think you could now that he knows where your core is?” The Four glowered before averting its gaze. “Even though you blew your chance, I’m feeling a bit generous.” Gold eyes locked with each other. “I have a task that even you shouldn’t mess up and, who knows, maybe you can devour him after all.”
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