Usha Research CenterSorry I lied. No voting for this. Didn't feel right
9:42 AM
The door to the laboratory was locked and would only open with a key card, preventing
Redhollow from getting him.
A sword slash across the door broke it easily enough.
"You kids have no patience do you?" said a tall man behind a counter. Atop the table
were the parts of a Barra and a Gimard, along with some tools and a small computer.
"I'll be honest: I expected a little panic at that display," retorted Redhollow, calmly
walking into the room, trying to control the situation. "I respect composure, though."
K73SK grunted. "I don't respect intruders. I take it you're an assassin?"
"Normally, yes. But not for this mission."
"Your client wants to see me himself?"
"Yes, actually."
K73SK nodded, but didn't look up from his work. "Well you'll have to wait a little bit.
I'm not ready to die just yet. I've got a few years left."
"No, I have my mission, old man. I'm-" Redhollow took a step forward, right into K73SK's
trap. Two Viguros hiding at the sides of the room rushed in and grabbed the ninja.
K73SK took this time to walk past Redhollow and began to escape the Research Center.
"I suggest you get out of here instead of trying to chase me. This place is no doubt
burning down. I can smell the smoke."
* * *
Damien opened his lab's closet by entering a series of passwords. The doors opened
easily enough, and inside was his most prized creation: a Cyber Seru Sword.
It was a beautiful blade that bore similarities to the Iota and Gilium Seru. It had
a grey handle and a long, purple blade. Yellow veins spread across the blade, utilizing
a new energy source Damien had discovered and utilized for this very weapon. It could
harness powers beyond a regular Cyber Seru, and doubled as an efficient weapon. He
wasn't eager to give it up, but in exchange for K73SK, he was willing to risk it.
The Seru programmer locked it in it's steel case, hidden behind three more passwords.
He calmly made his way to Building Ten: the meeting place in which the trade would occur.
It was time to take down his rival...
* * *
Programmers and scientists were exiting the Center any way they could when Wendy and
Raive arrived. The right wing was burning the most, but the flames moved to the back
and left rather quickly. Raive grabbed the arm of a passing programmer.
"Who's responsible for this?"
The man stuttered, "a-a guy...He's got a sh-shovel....He killed Wedge!"
Raive nodded in thanks and allowed the man to run. He motioned to Wendy to follow.
They found the target they were searching for with ease, thanks to Wendy's being able
to identify him.
"That's definitely him!" said Wendy, drawing her daggers.
Mr. Virus turned around at the sound of her accusation, shoving a bruised and bloodied
assistant to the side. "You're the girl from Ratayu, right? I've been running into you
a lot, lately!"
Raive pushed Wendy to the ground to avoid the sudden shovel swing. He himself rolled
towards Mr. Virus. The pole of his spear struck the man in the side of his head, but
failed to topple him. He prepared to swing again, but Mr. Virus kicked him away.
Wendy followed with careful steps and a few precise cuts along Virus's thighs and
ribs. In response, the brute grabbed her by the throat and prepared to toss her aside.
"Let go of her!" yelled Raive. He smashed his spear into the back of Mr. Virus's own
neck, forcing him to release Wendy.
Mr. Virus regained his balance, smiling. "You two are pretty good. But...this isn't a
fair fight, is it?"
In order to explain himself, Mr. Virus smashed his shovel into the roof, causing the
burning ceiling downwards. Wendy jumped away to avoid the debris, which crashed between
her and Raive and Mr. Virus. She could not reach them this way.
"Raive! I'll find a way around!"
"Just focus on getting people out of here! I'll hold him off!"
* * *
"What the the the the the?!? What's going on?!" said Uthma as he arrived at the Usha Research
Center himself. He had not yet seen the television broadcasts of the fire, and the
scene was a huge shock to him.
"Redhollow...he must've done this..." said Uthma. He drew his sword, Excalibur, and
charged in.
As he made his way through the labs, some burning, some not yet touched, Uthma caught
sight of a well-built man fleeing.
"Do you need help?" called Uthma.
"I wouldn't mind you taking down that ninja," replied the man, never stopping his run.
"Well, well, well," a voice from behind Uthma said. "Look who decided to join the fun."
The mercenary turned around, narrowing his eyes at his rival. "Redhollow."
The ninja nodded. "The one and only. I've gotta say: that fight in Ratayu was a close
one. Thank Tieg for your Seru busting."
Uthma readied himself for battle by getting into his battle stance. Redhollow did the
same.
"But this time it's just us, right? No Seru...no allies...nothing?" asked the ninja.
Uthma nodded. "I don't need them to take you down."
"We'll see."
Redhollow dashed forward, quickly unleashing a flurry of katana strikes aimed at various
parts of Uthma: his head, his arms, and his legs. Uthma blocked each one with his own
smooth strokes, never missing a step.
The two gracefully maneuvered around the empty lab, their swords striking each other
in a desperate melody. Both were so concentrated on their dance that neither of them
spoke during the entire fight.
While Uthma had started on the defensive, he had easily turned that into his own assault,
which Redhollow had no trouble reversing. Back and forth the leads went, neither allowing
the other to push them into certain death.
* * *
Damien had barely had time to place his swordcase on an empty table when he spotted
K73SK outside through the window. He ran outside in anger.
"K!"
K73SK turned around, recognizing the voice. "Damien? Why haven't you fled yet? Come!
The Center is going down!"
But instead of agreeing, Damien grabbed K's throat. The receiver was shocked.
"What...what are you...doing?"
Damien growled and squeezed harder. "You are lauded as the most brilliant Seru programmer
in all of Legaia...yet you have failed to understand this situtation? Fool!"
The answer soon arrived in K's mind.
"You...you hired...the ninja?"
"Yes. No more will you steal MY glory!"
K73SK was beginning to lose conciousness. Luckily for him, a cute redheaded girl was
ready to save him.
The resuce came in the form of a kick to Damien's crotch from behind, instantly releasing
the programmer's grip on his rival.
"Run!" yelled Wendy. She punched Damien in the right jaw and followed K73SK.
* * *
"Master Sise-Neg?"
"What is it?"
"The Seru and bomb are on their way to the Research Center."
"Good," remarked the evil lord. "But remember: Damien needs to escape, alive."
"What about the other two?"
"While I'd like them to survive, they're expendable. Extract Damien Alexander, then drop
the bomb immediately."
"Affirmative."
* * *
Mr. Virus stormed through the hallways, a bit upset that there were no longer any
more programmers inside to kill.
He soon found what he was looking for: Redhollow. Battling Uthma, no less.
"Redhollow!" called Mr. Virus. "We gotta get out, now! Bring Damien!"
"Don't interrupt me!" yelled Redhollow, almost losing his step at the call of his name.
"What's wrong?" Uthma taunted. "You gotta leave before I kick your a**?"
"Redhollow! They're gonna drop a bomb on us!"
This was enough to stop both Uthma and Redhollow. The latter quickly jumped to Mr. Virus
and the two began to flee, but not before he said, "you better live, Uthma! I'm not done
with you yet!"
Uthma, though he was upset at not having finished the fight, knew he had to leave before
he was killed. He sprinted out the nearest exit.
Overhead, a giant machine flew over the Research Center, the belly of it opening slowly.
The pilot inside waited, watching for Damien's exit.
It wasn't long before Redhollow exited, followed by Mr. Virus carrying the body of
Damien. It was good enough.
He pressed the button, and the bomb was dropped.
