DreamWorld-Inferno Bar
Xander and Tobias are still outside, taking on the neverending horde of D.R.C Agents as Esmeray unlinks with Van.
Esmeray: That's it.
Van: That's it.
Esmeray: Thank you…
Van: You didn't give me much choice…
Esmeray: Still.
Esmeray reaches a hand out to him as Van hesitates as he slowly takes it and shakes it.
Esmeray: Lucifer, round of drinks on me.
Lucifer: Of course.
Esmeray goes to stand but stops as something suddenly materializes beside her, Esmeray looking on as Ash suddenly appears, Ash and Esmeray locking eyes before he quickly slams her head against the table and tosses her out of the booth and halfway across the bar.
Van: Ash!
Ash: Mr. Hirsch.
Van: Untether me now! She has my source code and I need to cut off the link before they can decipher it!
Ash nods and goes to touch his temple but as he does Esmeray stands and opens fire, Ash turning and throwing an arm up as he blocks with a materialized shield as Esmeray walks up on him firing before she goes to land a side kick which Ash quickly blocks and grabs, hurling her across the room again as she hits the bar top hard as she reels as Ash turns to her calmly.
Ash: Stay down. Or your death will feel as painful in here as it will out there.
Esmeray sneers and hops up tossing one of her daggers at him but Ash catches it and throws it down before he rips one of the tables off of it's hinges and tossed it into her Esmeray, who is stuck with such force that she's pinned to the bar as she spits out blood as Ash turns and goes to Untether Van but is stopped as Valencia had grabbed Esmeray's thrown dagger and stabbed it into Ash's back, Ash sneering as the blade almost penetrated a shield he had on his blindside, Ash quickly turning and kicking Valencia so hard that she sails across the room and hits a far end wall, denting it as Tegan and Leon just watch.
Lucifer: Hey. Can you stop ripping up my bar!
Ash: Apologies.
Ash turns as Van looks at Esmeray who was pushing the table off of her.
Van: You need to know something! Xander Halstead is here.
Ash: THE Xander l?
Van: Yes now hurry up you fucking lackey!
Ash sneers as he touches Vans temple, Van dematerializing as Esmeray screams as she charges Ash who kicks who across the face before he flips her onto the table and slams his hand against her throat as he begins choking her. Esmeray gasping as she kicks and gasps as Ash coldly watched her as Esmeray taps her heels against the table and springs a Blade out as she kicks her leg up and aims it at Ash's head as the blade takes aim and fires from her boot, Ash catching it with his other hand but in doing so he let up on her throat and allowed her to spin herself into position and get her other leg wrapped around his head as she reached down and grabs her Pistol, firing it into his face as the bullets tear at a protective shield, Ash lifting Esmeray up and slamming her against the table which causes her to drop the gun but in doing so Valencia runs and slides across the floor as she grabs the gun and turns and fires, Ash being struck in the side of the head and shoulders as Ash let's go of Esmeray and turns to Valencia stalking her as she quickly moves away from his vicious kick ad Esmeray's jumps on his back and begins tabbing at his head and neck, weakening the shield as Ash clicks his heels and jumps up as his boots fire tickets boosters and he slams Esmeray into the roof, causing her to fall to the ground as Valencia stands and dropkicks Ash, but he doesn't budge as he simply punches down and slams Valencia's head against the granite floor, knocking her dizzy as he then grabs Esmeray and steps on Valencia's neck as he adds pressure to his foot pushing down as he holds Esmeray off of the ground.
Ash: Valiant attempt, but once I've killed this pest, I'm gonna enjoy watching you…
Ash is suddenly struck with a rocket launcher missile as he slams into the wall hard, Esmeray dropping next to Valencia who she checks on as she looks up to see Tegan dissipating the rocket launcher.
Tegan: Nothing worse than watching weak women getting worked over by a man.
Esmeray sneers as Ash stands and dusts himself off as he walks over and checks his shield percentage before he thinks of his next move.
Ash: You're strong. A dreamer?
Tegan: What gave it away?
Ash: The wallop of that attack. Evaluating…
Ash scans her as Tegan just puts her hand on her hip and taps her foot as Leon comes and sits at the bar with Lucifer. Lucifer passed him a drink as the two tap glasses.
Ash: I should be able to handle this.
Tegan: That's a fact?
Ash: Try me.
Tegan appears a blade and throws it at Ash's Feet, Ash, quickly throwing his arms up as he blocks the incoming explosion as the blade exploded and sends him flying back as Tegan runs and knees him in the chest knocking him over but he rolls up and grabs her by her neck, tossing her hard into the wall before he materializes a blade and stabs it at her back, Tegan locking a bubble shield around her as the blade bounced off but her quickly rears back and punches his hand through the shield effortlessly to Tegan's surprise. Ash moves his arm out and punched through it again, causing it to burst as he almost lands the attack but Tegan smirks and was suddenly out of his sight as Ash looks about surprised before he turns and watched Tegan slam a giant hammer into her, sending flying as he embeds into the wall as Esmeray and Valencia watch on in surprise.
Reality- Elsewhere
Vade throws another punch but Mario catches it and twists his arm before he headbutts him, Vade falling to a knee as Can is coughing and snorting as he crawls out of the Car.
Mario: Are you okay Board Member Hirsch?
Van: They've...got my source code…
Mario: Do they now?
Mario reaches down and lays at Vade pulling his phone out as Vade smirks as Mario looks to see it 100% downloaded.
Mario: Knowing you, you've got it downloaded to back up and extranets, don't you.
Vade slits blood into his face and nods.
Mario: Difficult as always. No wonder you couldn't hack it in the end.
Mario tears back and hits Vade in the temple, knocking him completely out cold.
Mario throws his phone down as Van grabs at Mario's pistol.
Mario: What are you doing?
Van: I'm blowing this fucking shit's head off.
Mario: Unnecessary.
Van: What!?
Van cocks the hammer but Mario turns and hits Van in the same manner he did to Vade, knocking him out cold as Mario stops Van's body from hitting the ground as he deals him over his shoulder and carries him to his car as Vade lay motionless.
DreamWorld
Tegan stands ready as Ash pulls himself off of the wall as Tegan watches as he cracks his neck and groans as he nods.
Ash: That admittedly hurt. I'd love to stay and teach you some manners. But we got what we came for. And you'll all be dead soon enough. So, if we meet again.
He flashes a smile and then dissipates before dematerializing as Tegan huffs and turns and steps over Valencia and Esmeray as Leon hands her a drink, the two heading back to their table as Esmeray checks Valencia over
Esmeray: You okay?
Valencia: I think so...I've never done that before…
Esmeray: You did well. Thank you.
Valencia nods as Esmeray smiles as she helps her up as Esmeray looks concerned.
Esmeray: Vade...what's going on out there…
Reality
Ash steps out of the car and slams the door shut as Mario comes over to him as Ash looks over at Vade.
Ash: Sparring him?
Mario: He's not worth killing.
Ash: Yeah. Man he used to be so cool.
Mario: Yeah.
Mario sneers as he dials a number and heads towards the Car as Ash was already halfway there.
Mario: Board Member Hirsch is secure. Assailants…
Mario looks at Vade and seems to struggle with whatever he is feeling.
Mario: Taken care of. Not sure. Nobody I know.
Ash shoots him a look as Mario nods at him, Ash shrugging as Mario hangs up and starts the car.
DreamWorld- Final Control Hub
Artur slices an Agent in half as he catches a Grenade and tosses it back, blowing a few Agents into the air before he turns and draws his Rifle firing about with precise headshots as he waltzes into the last room and stops as he holsters his Rifle and draws his sword as he noticed the Two Figures Standing in his way.
Artur: You've been following me from hub to hub. Why step in now?
The Two look at each other as Kami and Blayde take stances as Blayde creates a Staff and Kami appears a katana.
Artur: A dreamer and an Echo. An honor. But if you plan to stand in my way, I hope you understand the consequences that ensue.
Kami: We cannot allow you to take this last code to Xander.
Blayde: And we will do whatever possible to stop that.
Artur nods as he spins his sword and stances himself as the three prepare for a vicious fight.
End of chapter.