After a few hours spent refueling, the GPS had determined only a short amount of time remaining before their rendezvous in Russia. Little did they know, that as the clouds began to separate to show that what laid above the Heavens of the night sky, below, there sat a wide road. Leading to St. Basil's Cathedral, on the grayed pathway leading to this landmark, two stood. One with a black trench coat revealing a muscular chest, straps over his chest, and ripped military pants, the man with the long tied-back ponytail styled hair glared into her icy cold eyes.
Road deserted, cut-up pieces of deceased bystanders riddling their battleground, decapitated heads sliced clean off shoulders clustered this open road. Victims' brain matter dirtied her outfit, snow-tinted strands fused with crimson bloody splashes indented into her hair,
"You don't belong here. Tell Kuno I'm done with him," She coldly declared with a hand gripping her short-sword's handle
"You're wanted in over 100 more nations for infiltrating foreign states. Abaddon Kuno isn't the only one who wishes for your return and imminent execution…" He replied menacingly cleaning the stained portion of his katana, dragging it across his sleeve, and there it went.
Good as new, his dark hand spun around the blade so he could hold it upside down, with the angled tip aimed right at her chest. A certain glisten seen in his eyes, she scoffed in response as she slashed her blade swiftly. Droplets of blood splashing off the near-end, this technique is that with a signature name: 'Chiburi.'
And just like that, they clashed once more, their feet pressuring into the ground so cube-like blocks of debris could enter the air behind their former positions. Smoke clouds forming to their heads' backs, Heidi's arms dragged behind her, aimlessly sprinting without a thought in her head. Just then, with her head slightly tilting upright; she could make out him bursting out from the clouds, spinning around, her icy eyes stood emotionless. Ducking just as he went for an easy decapitation, her nimble figure went to good use as she intentionally spun her sword in her hand.
Snatching the grip and pointing the tip upward, she went to easily puncture his chest. However, he'd prepared for this, and cracked four of her ribs with a simple swat with his leg kicking her right away. Back slamming against the railing protecting them from the water behind the border to her rear, she grits her teeth and turned around. She didn't know how fast he was, as in the specifics, but she knew she had enough time to do the following. Flip right backward so her soles could lock onto the railing, and as he came zooming for her, she weaved out the way.
Palm breaking his face with a simple slap to his features, blood splat out his nostrils, holding his tongue, his discombobulated figure twirled around. Chest over the railing, with her still soaring the other way mere inches away from landing to the ground, her finger simply directed her dagger right at his nape while he was momentarily recovering. Wind guiding its trajectory as it sped through the air right at his nape- the victor had been decided as she landed to her side and watched with a content look in her apathetic stare.
But, just as fate intended, the dagger was shot of its guided way by a stray bullet meeting the metallic sharpness of the weapon. Displaying her first show of emotion ever since this spout began, her head turned upright as if searching for the source of the intervening shot. And there it was, the faint hum of a cloaked engine hidden above the clouds, but, unfortunately, she was smart. Then… smack!
All it took was a simple chop to the neck, eyes rolling to the back of her head, she fell right over to face plant onto the concrete. Now without the plain black jacket over his shoulder, signature disgruntled grey sleeves rolled up to the elbow, Callum stared through his strands down at her unconscious frame. Kneeling over her, he picked up her head and yanked her hair back so he could examine her bloody face,
"Thanks for the help. I alerted her but she said she was busy… then again, I suppose that's your fault, isn't it, Satoru Ryosuke?" Rivers slowly turned his head from gazing upon her features to examining his Samurai friend as he spun around, rubbing his neck, cracking it as he spun from side to side,
"Unfortunately so, Founder Rivers. I managed to dupe her, luckily, she believes I came here on a mission from Japan or maybe even the States under Doctor Kuno's orders," The Samurai replied as the handle clicked against the cover hung over his back.
Clicking his teeth together and flicking his tongue momentarily, as he began to stand, shoving his hands to his pockets, Callum looked at the scenery before him. Blood, scratches, heads, intestines. The works; all scattered around this concrete road,
"Didja have to make such a mess, though? I doubt the Government would be happy if I took in a mass-murdering samurai that killed innocents for my security organization," Callum sarcastically asked with a smug grin painting his scarred lips,
"That was not me, she threw bystanders in my way as a distraction and cut them to attempt to disorient me. She's like a monster," Satoru replied with his arms crossed over his coated chest.
Cal chuckled at the comment, nodding his head with eyes closed, the leaves on the trees surrounding this silent road were all pushed back. Ryosuke turning his head with a hand covering his eyes, the rotors continually spiraling continued their breakneck rotation as Kelly stepped out from the back. Throwing her arm over his neck with a gentle groan as he lifted her unconscious anatomy over his back so her legs would wrap around his stomach,
"Yeah- that's what I'm counting on."
And just like that, as she was loaded into the chopper and Satoru the Swordsman followed suit, before they could even be registered, the chopper fled Russia and returned to the States. All four candidates of the Evolution Frontier had been fully located, now all that remained was the following steps… and after that, the revolution and end of reason in this world as they knew it. And, for one, seated in the back with Ryosuke sharpening his sword across from him, Heidi tied in ropes embedded to the floor to his feet, Callum's sinister smirk never dispersed.
As if anticipating for something to come, that which will inevitably reign down upon them, like an Emperor with an iron fist ruling throughout the land: the Founder laid on the middle of the steps Fate had planted before him. Those steps… that led to his ascension.
Within the Tower of the Evolution Frontier, Harbinger had brought back an overgrown depressed child in the form of their old partner, Azazel Karlo, the Crow assassin. For his design now, he decided to cover his hands up to his palms' centers with bandages, while the rest of his fingers stood exposed. A sleeveless turtleneck over his chest, he flexed his muscles as he examined himself in the mirror, with an impressed chuckle barely exiting his lips. Then clearing his throat, he examined his features laid bare in the reflection, rubbing at his chin, noticing the covers laid over his skin up to his shoulders. Less of defense and more of a style. And it goes without saying; he looked good… if that's even the right word for it.
Debatably though, the more he analyzed his figure and his exposed arms, he thought it back to drag that cloak right over his body. Hiding from the rest of the world, a warm hum discharged out his mouth… much better. Without a care in the world and for once seeming happy, he casually strut out the bathroom- and there it was. Heidi Snow was seated at the table with everyone else too, and just then, her eyebrows furrowed, nostrils flaring.
Their firearms clicked as their duo of pistols flipped out their pockets; both barrels aimed directly and solely at each other's forehead,
"What the fuck are you doing here?" She asked calmly with a glare in her usually apathetic pupils,
"Invited, what about you? Honestly, I don't get why anyone would want a stupid slut like you here, considering all you do is whine about how pathetic and impatient you are," He replied carelessly with the same calm tone,
"You're one to talk. I hear you lost your kid; must be rough, huh? Maybe that's what they get for having someone like you as their father,"
"Maybe so, I've thought that same thing myself, all things considered. And truth be told, there's nothing more I hate than a babbling bitch who doesn't know her place and whines about who's here and who's not like a mentally deficient piece of-" He was interrupted before he could answer back at her, and that was because of Harbinger and the Samurai.
Heidi received a slap on her head's back while Azazel had a hand gently turn his arm down, pointing the gun's barrel to the reflecting platform below. Both were forced to submit. Karlo willingly, Snow defiantly as she struggled within Ryosuke's beefy arms, all the while Callum sat at the far end behind them all… the silence of the room emanating from him was too forceful to bear. Heidi's clamoring calmed, Azazel's head changed from the hung posture, all four of them turned to see him there.
That look in his one eye, red with animosity, fingers rested on a head's side all the while he glared at them all through the snowy strands of his flowing hair. It was indescribable for them all, how he just sat there, unfazed by the actions of those around him. Those with so much more skill and ability, yet remained there, seated. He'd collected Rizia easily, incapacitated Heidi without her registering his presence, and easily had Ryosuke submit without even having to bother to convince him.
It was odd, how such a human presence could command those who have so much physical power over him; each one of them, disregarding their loyalty pledge to him- could easily render him immobile or better yet, deceased. Maybe there was some other force that compelled them all, as their legs moved individually, they took their seats without objection. Kelly stood at his right hand, nervous sweat appearing out of her skin, brown eyes directed down toward him… Cal exhaled,
"Those members of Mankind's Evolution Frontier… welcome. Rizia Kosuke, Kelly Summers, Ryosuke Satoru, Azazel Karlo, Heidi Snow. Each one of you has been chosen for a specific skill set needed for the mission ahead, however, some of you are out of the loop more so than others; so I'll enlighten you on the events that have occurred. As you know, Rizia and I left for Paris and Russia around the same time, on July 22nd. Soon thereafter, we managed to locate your guys' whereabouts and bring you back here, on July 30th. However, a multitude of events that coincide with my scenario has occurred unknown to us while we were busy gathering the rest of the Frontier," Callum informed them all, to which Rizia presented with a simple tap on her wristwatch.
Rivers pushing himself out of his seat, their prying eyes locked onto his figure as he strolled around the circular shape of the table. Arms behind his back, gloved hand scratching at his cheek, he cleared his throat as the projection played for those to watch. This played back what they'd missed ever since July 22nd in the States. The appearance of the Island was left out, of course, most of those here had heard of it. And so, the tape documented everything as follows:
Following the first brigade's assumed failure to establish contact with the Government about a day after entering the Island's range- a rescue group was sent out a second time to locate their bodies.
Unfortunately, two more days passed, and there was nothing to be found. And that leads to the present day, not only has this Island suddenly appeared seemingly out of nowhere- but it's engulfed its invaders without leaving any traces. This was, without a shadow of a doubt, something supernatural, and fortunately for the rest of the world, they could witness it. No longer could the Elite cover this up considering it was broadcast live and even witnessed by those close enough to a beach. With distrust showing and enough people objecting against the Government's choices to likely continuously send more troopers out to risk their lives for the sake of just knowing the truth, it didn't look good.
Protests were spotted right near New York in Manhattan, with more and more appearing all over the States as hatred for the Government became the norm. If you need someone to spell it out for you, this was exactly what led to Texas being effectively bombed by its people that swore to protect them. There was only one thing this spelled out for them, and that was the never-ending cycle of chaos rotating evermore across the world… perpetuated by their very ignorance of the subject.
The hologram shut off and everyone was left confused as if hoping there'd be more. Luckily for them, Cal explained to them the remainder of the situation and spelled it out before their ignorant minds. Each of them fully invested by the way their eyes never faltered directed solely on their Founder, twirling around a knife's edge to spin around the tip of his finger, balancing it without a problem,
"In other words, if we're not careful, another disaster could happen. Of course, they're not gonna nuke the whole population considering the riots are spreading continuously, that'd just be suicide. The alternative is maybe a toxin, effectively killing a populous of people and talk in the responsibility of it entirely than to make another example out of them just like the way they did with Texas, despite not claiming responsibility for it," Cal explained chillingly and casually to the group, leading Heidi to abruptly interject,
"Wait- would they do something so sketchy as take responsibility for a mass murder of their citizens to just make an example out of them?" She asked curiously,
"I doubt it, I'd say the more accurate example is to have an assassin infiltrate a specific state and have them murder a countless amount of innocents just for the sake of a serial killer appearing. That way, people stay inside and don't riot anymore. Fear of death has always kept the masses alert," Azazel replied with a hand resting on his cheek to her,
"Whatever the case, the Government can't afford to do what they did six years ago; the only reason they did is that they were itching to test out that new bomb of theirs," Rizia added on to his deduction,
"That being said, what with the distrust of the Elite in the recent days, they'll be desperate for a conventual way of keeping them in line so they don't have to commit anything drastic again. Knowing them, the toxic plan to eliminate or a serial killer orchestration with the media would be their 'nuclear option' as one would call it…" Ryosuke finally added on to this with his arms crossed over his coated chest.
All of them turning their heads quizzically as the chuckles of their Founder entered their ears, and it finally became apparent to them, as he slid a square-like shape over the table to the center,
"This is…" Heidi whispered.
"Indeed. We've been allowed access to the Island to go and investigate. Depending on whether or not we're successful in returning, they'll choose whatever option is best for them. In the end, it doesn't matter, and there's the singular thing that my mind is thinking about; that being the dimensional barrier protecting it. Recently, it's fractured… and that means that something within it is destined to come pouring out into the outside world. So, without the proper bias, we'd be like the rest, and destroyed without a care in the world," Callum flicked the dagger out his finger for Rizia to capture it in her closed hand,
"You don't mean…" Heidi whispered with a nervous sweat dripping down her head in a stream,
"Indeed I do!" Standing up from his chair at the table's head with a loud declaration, Callum pushed his thumb to his forehead, pointing his index to the ceiling… "Ladies, gentlemen, Harbinger, tomorrow, at 1200 hours, Mankind's Evolution Frontier is heading for the Island!"
To be Continued!