Slurping the warm liquid so it'd slide down their throats, the duo of rivals pushed out the heated air swirling in their expanded lungs. Grunting as he felt the tip of a rib sliding out of his heart, suddenly, it snapped out, and he cried out in anguish. Blood leaking from his mouth, Ella's extremities slid through his umbra-shaded locks and pushed his head onto her breasts as a mother would do to her child. Though she could never replace the woman who birthed him, the Justice couldn't help but be soothed by her movements as opposed to her swift powers. August chortled at his rival, the feeling of his younger sister's head on his shoulder and the brief movements of Celine coursing through his unique white curliness... it soothed him to slumber. Ripping her arm out of his chest so it'd phase-out, the blood formed into a solid crystal-like shape as it entered the palm of the Ketsueki's user. Jason smirked and licked his fingers one by one, with everything in order, the coffee table's items evaporated in a cloud of pale light. Pushing hands together so the tips of his fingers would be pressed against one another, the most adolescent Rivera of the original Triplets hunched forward,
"Now, Detective Karlo, tell us what you know about 'Kuno's' master plan,"
Without holding anything back, Karlo informed everyone of the Scientist's huge orchestration he'd been playing ever since the months after his father's unfortunate 'demise.' Repeating the ideology he repeated to them all in the Casino, furthermore, expanding on it with his insight of living with the Doctor ever since he was a wee child. He planned to use a certainly enhanced artifact to create waves of perfected superhumans as an army for his Father, and after that, he would use them to capture August and Ben Rivera for The Author. Sliding his head back, the Emperor pushed out his right palm, glowing with an aura of pale complexity, unusual compared to his normal tan.
"I assume you're the one who stole the Key he intended to use for this project, do you still have it on you?"
Picking through the interior pouches of his black trench coat, Azazel thought back to the past, still controlled by his twisted mental state when he was the insane Crow. Karlo remembered the frightened look on an innocent man's face, and the logo he wore on his uniform. Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead scratching with elongated mechanical claws, flesh drawing from the wounds, he snarled in anger at his alternate persona. Ripping his arm back so he'd halt the damage he was doing to his physical form, August glared at him, and Azazel let out a dispirited exhalation,
"When I was under the enraged influence of the Crow persona, I was hastily trying to get away the Key away from Kuno. It seemed I wasn't worried about the consequences, but I believe... I gave the Key of Hell to a Rivera Manufacturing worker,"
"In what department, do you remember?"
"The memory's... fuzzy, but, it'd make the most sense to give it to one that works with transporting something. So, probably one of those people you assign to moving Konpeki across that secret railroad,"
Widening his eyes at Azazel's information, Ben's older siblings were heard chuckling in the background, dropping the katana sheathed in the cover over his knees, Jason shook his head. There were only three of those 'secret railroads' originating from the Original Headquarters of Rivera Manufacturing to other bases moved away from public perception. All three originated from that HQ in New York, however, they deviated as they all collided into a base in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert in Texas. Then, an order is placed by the CEO or CFO to move the Konpeki across the country for further use, and one of the trains moves to wherever location it's asked for,
"There's no telling which one they could be on, we were running short on the metal, so we should search all three. Even then, since I designed the trains to be invulnerable and impenetrable to get through, we'd just need to find the day the trains leave and follow that one,"
With that decision in mind, August rose from his seat, still pained from the aching of his bones as they creaked unnaturally. Taking another sip of the tea's warm fluids, Karlo glared at his rival, the white aura that previously engulfed his soul fading into the usual green. His white hair hovering with the radiation emitting from his figure, Rivera dug his sharp nails into his palms,
"We'll search them all,"
There was no argument, the Aether had been previously disposed of, however, there was no doubt he was reforming his anatomy at this very moment. The Reaper and Crow dressed for the occasion, a quick infiltration of one of the most secure facilities on planet Earth, seemed easy enough. Their outfits mirrored one another, the brother of the Lovers had been suited with a white turtleneck covered by the buttoned-up dark trench coat similar to Azazel's, and military pants suited with bullet-proof Kevlar plates throughout the softness. Compressing against his soft skin, steam arising into the heat of the room as a mechanical skull mask pushed onto his features, Rivera took a breath and opened his heterochromatic pupils. His white hair fully visible, Karlo attempted to rip the hood he wore around his bed of messy hair before his wrist was grabbed by the former Speedster Priestess. Pushing his palm against his heart, his eyes widened, and he was sent a comforting smile filled to the brim with charm and love. It warmed his shattered heart, and the boy Detective leaned into the blonde's touch of his cheek, moving his head to the right as she whispered to her former lover's child,
"I'll come with you,"
In Texas, where the time is behind one hour from New York, they slithered through the halls like snakes. Spreading open the eye of one of the Company's guards, the Crow of Justice could make out a distinct violet tint enveloping the pupil. There was no doubt about it,
"Kuno's back,"
"Already? And here I thought this would be easy,"
Stated the white-haired Reaper, the duo of rivals turning their heads in unison to witness Garcia's movements. BZZTT! The cameras were shut down, her vibrating movement erasing any clear sign of her face, Ella stretched into the air and stepped over the unconscious humans. Following his godmother, August peered out the front door- no doubt about it, they'd tripped a silent alarm. Luckily, the footage of the events happening had been erased, and they could go all out without having to worry about useless public consequences. Azure lightning coursing through her pale limbs like a stream of power, the Crow unsheathed the created sword made of a poof of darkened smoke, signaling to the blonde woman a simple word,
"Go,"
Just like that, they were off, a thunderclap echoed in the clouds booming through the world as rain threatened to fall, and a shock sent electricity down spines. From the split second, she moved her foot off the metal floor, she had been propelled down the hall, and everyone had been knocked out. Most of them with their necks broken so they couldn't get up. Wolf-whistling in amazement, down the hall, the Priestess pushed a lone golden curl from her eyesight and spun around with a hand on her hip. A short giggle escaped her mouth, and Azazel ripped his mask off his face, with the Reaper following suite, stating,
"What a showoff,"
"Don't act like you don't love that shit,"
Vein threatening to pop from that abrupt statement, Karlo pushed a claw popping from the tip of his left pointer so it'd enter August's flesh. Blood momentarily gushing out and hit the metal platform, Rivera didn't react and just smirked as he listened to his ally's rebuttal,
"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU PRECOCIOUS BRAT!!"
"Move your asses, kids!"
Yelled El out to the duo, and a headbutt was fatally met to Azazel's face causing him to stumble backward, while August ran forward causing Karlo to lay chase. Ella zoomed to the right, thunder continuously roaring through the sky, the metal door was destroyed as she leaped over the bars of the mineral catwalk. Cackling like a psychotic mass murderer, a spear pierced through the throat of a worker attempting to fire bullets at the Infiltrators. Being ripped out the guard's esophagus, the poor male was victim to a slice through his chest, which cut him in half diagonally. Guts and intestines from its interior with inside fluids painting the walls read, the Crow began jumping from each elongated steel bar that protected the catwalk with his blade unprotected by any cover. Smirking as his foot met the backside of a female worker's head, Rivera's dark tendril moved to grab onto her throat and snap her neck like nothing, then being dropped as gore leaked from her lips. Laying in a pool of cool inner fluids, the Crow and Reaper leaped down from the catwalk. Knees cracking as they made their landing, Karlo felt a strong pull in his blood... to the third train cart.
Hand extending out to it, feeling its smooth exterior, there was no doubt. The pull to the Key was stronger there than any before- Konpeki was the strongest metal to ever exist, no way to get in the train until it departed on 'January 14th.' Lifting a wooden clipboard from some bunched-up crates, El nodded- Kuno knew of this too, there was no doubting that part of this scenario. Turning to her younger allies, El gawked at them longingly,
"January 14th, The Day of Fates. That is the day we will all charge to fight the Aether; together. Going alone is strictly prohibited, for now, we return to the Venetian and you two get some sleep,"
But there was nothing he could do but stay awake, as soon as he shut his eyes, he was reminded of the future. Though yet to come, that didn't change the fact that... he couldn't bear it. Staring into the bland greyness of the ceiling, hands on the back of his white hair, Rivera turned his head and reached out his hand to touch the stars. Though he couldn't reach, there was one thing he was able to grab onto- and that was The World. Her hands laid in his own, staring into his eyes, the duo of lovers sat together as their surroundings disappeared. Smoke lifting them off their seated position into nothingness, suddenly- they were together.
The memories of the first time he briefly manifested in this dark plain of existence came back to him, and he was once more brought to tears. Feet splashing away the liquid at his feet as he rose from his spot, August's direction was automatically turned to the light above, shining onto Celi's complexity so she'd shine as bright as the morning sun... or better yet, the Moon. With his very World in front of him, their fingers interlocked, and the memories came as a tsunami hitting a city. Visions of their very first date seemed to appear, he thought back to the cold wind of winter brushing against his face while the snowflakes made their gentle descent creating a white spot on his complexion. Holding her hand covered by a mitten, she dragged him through the forest without any signs of halting her movement.
A gentle breeze moved her platinum locks, and she ripped her hand from my grip gently, twirling in the light of chill belonging to the winter. The feeling of happiness, an emotion I'd hadn't felt in so long; made itself into a wave and brushed over my person. The way she so gracefully moved like a dancer, sliding across the stage without stopping, filled with passion and love for the motion they were creating. I couldn't help but smile as the tears filled up in the corners of my eyelids, and as water replaced snow, we were suddenly on a beach. The water's waves were cold, sending chills up my spine, I shivered from the sensation and crawled backward to Celine's amusement. Popping the lollipop she held in her mouth out, extending it out as an offer of love, we exchanged looks of passion. The way she smiled so brightly, the aura she gave off around her, the way she rubbed her thumb against mine- and the butterflies soared past our sight... my time in the Void was beautiful. I stood with Celine Pierce for January 11th, and as we talked together through the pain, I took a bite of a sandwich we'd decided to share,
"I hate it, ya know... being here, not being able to do anything. To touch anyone, to hug you. I never got to say goodbye to my mother, my father, I never got to see... my brother again. They all just went on without an answer to my soul's leaving. But, seeing how you've grown, how you put away everything for the sake of me, and your admirable golden dream- without hesitation, you helped Azazel through everything... for some reason, it makes me happy. It makes me think that... all the pain was worth it. I got to see you experience what it means to live, August! And even that... though I was unable to influence it in any way, is the greatest gift you could've ever gotten me,"
Her pimples appeared as those lines appearing from every end of her smile, and her eyelids shut over her crimson pupils. I felt the soft swift peck of lips pressing against my nose, it wasn't as if she'd been trying to do so the entire time we were bound together- it was a sign of hope. A sign to continually push through it all without falter, without losing determination, it would continue to dominate my mind through the rest of my days. Unable to rest, I looked out to the setting artificial sun of my soul, and as the sky's colors shifted from the usual bright azure to a mix of orange and pink to form some sort of other tint... I thought it was profoundly beautiful.
It was beautiful... I felt.
His blue eyes couldn't help but stare at the ceiling, it seemed intriguing but so useless and annoyingly bland. How could he continue staring at something so pathetic? That was until, the door was opened by the twisting of a knob to the left, and the Strength entered. Remembering their last auditory encounter, the adolescent Magician looked off to the side and squeezed his hands together. A reaction Edmund made to this was simple, he sat beside his best friend and draped his left arm around his neck so he'd be pressed against his collarbone.
"They told me what you tried to do... Emma saw it after she attempted to kill that galaxy bastard. You went straight to me. The first one, and you called out my name when I went to try blindly attack that piece of shit. I'm... I'm sorry for making you feel the way, you care about me, man. I don't want our friendship to go down the shitter just cuz I was bein' petty,"
Together, they grabbed the other's hands and shared a collective look of Determination fueling their movements. Nothing would stop them, no matter what, they would push through the hardships that Kuno would throw at them- they would bring forth justice. No matter the cost!
"It's okay,"
She'd been buried in the ground, her tombstone reading her name as the thunder and rain made their descent from the heavens. Clouds grey, eyes blue, the blonde woman with electricity flowing through her body placed her hand onto his clothed shoulder- and mutually, they shared a moment of grieving. Kissing his cheek briefly, the Detective was enveloped by her warmth and kindness as they together, parted ways from her grave. And they walked through the valley of souls, movements still to pay homage to bodies long tormented by pain and tortured by their unfortunate pain. Her words were soft, the night was cold, but there was no sense of chill to be found anywhere on his bare skin. The duo kept moving, showing no signs of stopping as they continuously pushed through the present to reach the future. That was until the previous Priestess broke the silence, and presented her lover's offspring with a proposal- an offer, he would be unable to refuse,
"Your mother... I could never replace her. I'm sure she was a wonderful person. I feel some sort of responsibility for Ryder, your father; after all this time, I had no idea you were even... I always wanted children. I'd be open to... adopting you, if that's what you'd like,"
The boon sent a shiver down his spine, but physically, to her, he remained unchanged, all he did was stop. Moving the umbrella that protected the peaks of their heads, so the beauty of the moon could remain apparent to him, Karlo's hands pocketed in the pouches of his trench coat. A spandex butterfly glistening in the radiation of the rays of the moon, his hand pushed out so its tiny legs could perch and rest for a moment. Wings sliding out onto its back, Ella widened her eyes and the usual angry aura that resonated in the depths of his soul had changed with the calm environment of the area they were resting around. Turning so their eyes could meet, and his azure glow could shine as bright as the moon's rays of light, Azazel sent a word that sent the brightest smile to her lips,
"Of course... Mother,"
Through the trees that encased their bodies with a beautiful smell, pushing through the transparency of the clouds, It was reforming. The stars blasted into supernovas, and the moon's gravitational pull shift- the Aether's purple glow radiated as bright as the morning sun. The end was near, and the Reaper felt it crawling up his shoulder- but that didn't change anything...
He was determined- TO END THIS NIGHTMARE!
To Be Continued.