Chereads / Rebirth of Artemis / Chapter 8 - Malfunction

Chapter 8 - Malfunction

Terra and Amala walked up a long trail in the woods. With Amala walking ahead Terra.

Amala: We're close.

Terra: Hey, what's that big pole?

Amala: That's a cell tower.

Terra: What's that?

Amala: Sure. It receives your phone signal. I think. I'm old school. So I don't really know.

Terra: You don't look old school.

Amala: How do you even know what that looks like? You have barely seen society.

Terra: How do you even know?

Amala: Look at you. You're wearing the Artemis armor, have a flip phone, and you carry that book around.

Terra:...

Amala: Everyone needs a backstory. Village destroyed by a crazy negro is a pretty good one.

Terra: ...how did you even know?

Amala: Info spreads like a wildfire if you know where to look.

Terra: That's weird.

Amala: Shut Up.

Amala grabbed Terra and ducked into a nearby bush.

Terra: What are you doing?

Amala pointed up the path. It was one of Beck's soldiers. Amala kept her voice down to a whisper

Amala: For a member of the Chaste, you suck at stealth.

Terra: I'm not with them anymore!

Amala: Shhh!

The soldier heard the commotion and came over to the bush.

Terra: I got this. Sleap minos duinos!

The sleep spell put the lone soldier to sleep. He fell on the ground with a loud thump.

Terra: Hopefully there's no other soldiers around.

Amala: Right. What was that anyway?

Terra: My book that I carry with me has special spells that I can use. Like that sleep spell I just used.

Amala: Quite interesting. I haven't seen many spellbook users in my day.

Terra: You say that as if you're an elder.

Amala: You wouldn't know half of it.

Terra: Haha. What are you talking about?

Amala: Hey, just so ya know. This is a deal. Not a bond.

Terra: Well i'm sorry for making you think it's a bond.

Amala: …Good one kid. Let's go. The base can't be that far away. Be stealthy.

Terra: Leave it to me.

Amala: Sure…

Amala and Terra started to travel up the path. They could see a door that was boarded up with tall vines.

Terra: It doesn't look like that place has been used in decades.

Amala: They make it look like that so people stay away. If they go in, they probably don't come out, Their splattered pieces might come out in a wheelbarrow though.

Terra: That's dark.

Amala: Okay. Grab my hand. I'm going to get us in there with the least noise.

Terra: Okay…

Terra grabbed onto Amala's hand and she channeled some sort of green energy into Terra. They both turned into transparent ghosts.

Terra: What the fuck…

Amala: let's go!

Amala and Terra both phased through the door with their new power.

Amala: They can't see us. Follow.

Terra: Yep.

Terra followed Amala. They went into a room with nobody in it. Amala brought them back into their physical forms. She seemed exhausted.

Terra: What was that like?

Amala: Turning into a ghost is like holding your breath. Add another person. It's like holding your breath while holding a 100 pound weight on your chest.

Terra: So it's really hard.

Amala was still trying to catch her breath.

Amala: Ye….Yeah.

Terra: Hey. I could help us by using my stamina spell. Instead of us having to run through soldiers.

Amala: You have lots of tricks up your sleeve. Use it.

Terra: It makes you more tired later though…

Amala: Luckily I'm not planning on doing anything after this. We can just ghost through some walls and we should make it.

Terra: Alright. Let's do it then.

Terra took out her Artemis book and she recited the spell

Terra: Gios Stamio!

They were both turned back into their ghost counterparts. They walked through some walls, seeing various storing rooms, computer terminals and lots of soldiers of some sorts at computer systems, guarding or storing away stocks. They saw a sign that stood out. "Control room -> "

- - - - - - - -

Soldier: Boss! There were just two foreign lifeforms present on this base! But now their gone!

Erik: How?! There is only one way in and we would know if someone came in that way. This must be some sort of special ability. This will detect anything.

Erik pushed a button and a shockwave came out of the system around them. It didn't affect Erik or any soldiers.

- - - - - - - -

But it did affect Terra and Amala. They just walked into a room with a sign on it. "Managers headquarters"

Terra: We must be-

Terra and Amala were hit by this mysterious shockwave.

Terra: -Almost to the control room!

Amala: Shit.

There were soldiers surrounding Terra and Amala.

Erik (over speaker system): THERE ARE INTRUDERS PRESENT. FIND AND EXECUTE THEM!

Amala grabbed two guys by the shirts and threw them up at the ceiling. Knocking them out cold. Amala knocked out another two guys with two quick punches. A soldier came from behind and tried to hit her with a taser. Amala tanked it and elbowed the guy in the face. Terra took her spear and spun around in a quick circle. Cutting about 5 on their legs and knocking them down. She jumped up and hit a guy with a superman punch followed with a devastating kick right on his knee. Popping it and taking him out of the fight. Amala was grabbed on both arms and was starting to be restrained by the overwhelming amount of men. Terra slid and knocked two of the men on their knees. Allowing Amala to punch the two on her side in the face. Terra took her spear and tripped the two men.

Amala: Where's my blade!?

Soldier: Your blade? I have no idea what you are talking about!

Amala: I know you know! I'll take it outta you!

A monstrous arm came from behind and grabbed Amala by the back of the neck. She was flung the other way and was thrown through automatic doors. Which Erik locked.

Erik: A child did this? How?!

Terra: I'm more formidable than you might think!

Terra took her spear and went for a stab forward at Erik. Erik sidestepped and closed his fist on the spear. Breaking it in half.

Erik: hm. Your weapon is gone.

Terra ran up and jumped up and kicked him in the gut, she stayed airborne and hit him a couple more times before landing on the ground. Erik took this chance to grab Terra and throw her into a wall. She dropped her bag of stuff.

Erik: A book?

Erik pulled out the Artemis book.

Erik: Interesting. This is what the boss wanted destroyed....

Erik ignited some sort of fire powers from his monster arm.

Terra: No!

Terra ran up and kicked the book out of Erik's clutches. But it was too late. It was already on fire. It landed open on one of the blank pages. Amala burst in and occupied Erik. Something odd began to happen to Terra's book. Terra stomped on it to put the flames out. She held it up and saw that there were new pages. Burnt in by the flames.

Terra: Amazing…

Amala began to lure Erik to the control room. He followed her anywhere she went. They fought down the hallway. Amala threw an endless barrage of punches. Erik blocked until he saw an opening to grab Amala's wrist. He pulled her over and punched her through the control room door. Amala saw her sword plunged into the control panel.

Terra: Parika Flamodo!

A bunch of fireballs appeared around Terra and she homed them in on Erik. He was knocked over by the blast. He turned and charged at Terra. But he was slashed in the back by Amala's recaptured soul blade. Erik shed blood. It went in the air and turned black and floated. The blood droplets turned into black needles and went into Erik. He was sent down on his hands and knees from the pain that shook his entire body. Terra kicked him in the face and held her half of her spear in his face.

Terra: Tell us where Beck is!

Erik: You want to know where Beck's station is?! I'd rather die.

Amala took out her sword and stabbed Erik in the chest. Killing him.

Amala: Should've chosen your words more wisely.

Terra: Don't you think killing him is a bit much?

Amala: Much? You mean much needed right?

Terra: No! We were going to get something out of him!

Amala: I have what I need.

Terra: You should think about other people and what they might need!

Amala: ...I don't wanna hear that from you! You were only in this for Beck!

Terra: No. I was helping you too. Think before you act!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra and Amala walked away from Beck's facility.

Amala: Job well done.

Terra: I guess. Is this where our mission ends?

Amala: Yep.

Terra: It was fun working with you. I hope you think about what I said. You act like your old. But I'm not convinced.

Amala: ...I'm old as dirt kid. I'm immortal. Been around since the middle ages.

Terra: Really? That's crazy! Couldn't you have solved so many of the worlds problems by now? You could find the cure to smallpox!

Amala: Already happened.

Terra: By you?

Amala: No.

Terra: I can't believe I met a literal immortal today!

Amala: Yeah I bet.

Terra: Actually could I have your contact?

Amala: Sure. I suppose you could be useful if I get into a pinch. 888-274-4447.

Terra quickly wrote it down and put her phone away, Terra held her hand out for a handshake. Amala hesitated but shook hands with her whilst looking away.

Amala: See ya Terra.

Terra: I'll see you around.

Terra turned around on her own path and looked down the valley and continued on.

- - - - - - - -

Beck: We lost connections to terminals B5- 10!

Jilaya: Haha! This is hilarious watching you get dunked on by a 15 year old.

Beck: Shut up. We should take out one of our heavy hitters.

Jilaya: You mean one of my heavy hitters?

Beck: Shut up. There's no way a child will get in the way of your elite.

Jilaya: Confidence like that gets you killed, you know.

Beck: You really think? Maybe I'll have to kill her myself.

Jilaya laughed.

Jilaya: It will be hilarious if you lose to her.

Beck: Are you trying to challenge me?!

Jilaya: Sure. This will be interesting to get results from.

Beck: Fine. I'll go choke the life out of her. This won't be hard at all.

Jilaya: If you say so.

- - - - - - - -

Beck walked by the base of operations both Terra and Amala were last seen at.

Beck: Damn that woman. She really thinks I would lose to a child? She pisses me off.

???: Wow, talking to yourself. Are you really that lonely?

Beck turned to see Amala standing above him. On top of the door to his base.

Amala: We shut down your base Beck. So suck it! You lost to a teen and a 1,000 year old grandma!

Beck: Why would you work with her?

Amala: Our interests aligned.

Beck: Ah, your soul blade. You aren't even fit to wield it!

Amala: Probably because you lost an arm to a soul blade!

Beck was getting increasingly angry.

Beck: I won't even need a blade to tear your arms off.

Amala: Dark. I like it.

Amala took her blade and jumped straight down at Beck with her sword held towards him. Beck didn't even move. He caught the blade in midair and threw Amala into the door of the now shutdown base. He threw a hard punch right at Amala. So hard that it broke a hole in the door when Amala dodged it. Amala ducked under him and went to stab straight through his stomach. Beck punched down her sword and kicked her right in the face. Amala let herself stumble and went for a clumsy slice at Beck's arm. This hit and drew some blood. Before Beck could attack more he was attacked by his own blood. Amala followed this up with a strong punch to Beck's stomach. She then sliced him right on his back. Beck was angered now. He grabbed Amala by the neck and slammed her on the ground. She dropped her sword. She kicked Beck backwards and went to grab her sword. He grabbed her sword and stabbed it through a tree behind her. Amala blocked a punch from Beck's robotic hand with her own hand. Beck pushed her back. Making her stumble. Beck came up on her. Amala threw a couple punches at his face but it wasn't enough. Beck caught her hand with his own hand. He took his free robotic hand and punched her in the stomach. Sending her flying into the tree and stabbing her through the stomach with her own sword which was stabbed into the tree.

Beck: It won't be long until you die. Where is the girl?

Amala: ...Why do you care...? Is she a threat to you? Is little ol' Beck scared of a little girl?

Beck: I'll find and exterminate her myself. As for you...