Chapter 5: The Fragile Truth

Sector 19

“RUN!!” Keiko screamed out to Durim as she pushed Shotarou’s arm up with a gust of air. Shoutarou was shoved backward and caught his balance on the wall. Using the opportunity Keiko blew a large hole through the back of the building. Her eyes caught Durim cowering in fear beside the couch. She grabbed him by the collar and screamed, “GET OUT OF HERE!” She stood him on his feet and blew another hole connecting the VIP room to the rest of the club before jumping out her original exit. Normally she would have just disappeared, but if she didn’t give chase she risked the capture of Durim and perhaps the other mutants around. Their safety came before her own- not that she enjoyed running for her life away from STAM agents: but she could atleast put up a fight.

“Shou! She’s getting away!!!!!!” Seiji was already following her; his eyes were glued to her back as he chased her, I’ll get you this time black elemental….this time...you’re mine. He threw one of his daggers and grinned as she fell to the ground- the dagger stuck in her calf, “Come on Shou keep up!!!”

Keiko left the dagger in her calf and jumped back up to her feet and kept running, further…I have to lure them further away. She turned to see another dagger coming and blocked with a gust of air before she continued to run.

“Shou! She’s headed for the market! If we lose her in the crowd we will be done for!! Take her out!” Seiji screamed at his partner with his eyes locked on the mutant agent.

Shotarou stopped running and lined up his shot carefully between her shoulder blades, “Yes, yes Seiji…..Fire,” a blue plasma-like bullet rushed through the air and hit Keiko.

Keiko fell to the ground immediately, her body suddenly numb, shit not paralysis…she couldn’t move. She had been shot in the shoulder- but close enough to her spine to immobilize her entire body. If she didn’t regain control soon she would be captured. She felt Seiji’s foot push under her and roll her body over. The dagger still left in her calf pushed deeper against the dead weight of her leg. She could feel her leg begin to go numb from the blood loss.

“Nice shot Shou. Looks like she is paralyzed here for a bit,” Seiji licked his lips as he stared down at her her, “We finally go the elemental….come on, come on 013. The powerful elemental 013 can only do this much? Come on!!!” Seiji stood above her twirling a dagger between his fingers, “Come on Mutant. Beg for your life,”. Keiko glared up at Seiji, begging her fingers to start moving, please please please. I have to..I have to….

“You know the rules Seiji,” Shotarou walked over to her side, “I’ll knock her out,” he pointed his gun at her head again.

Keiko took a deep breath and closed her eyes, yes! She felt a slight twitch in her fingertips as her eyes shot back open. She pushed both of them back with a gust of air and got to her feet slowly as the paralysis still had a tight grip on her.

Seiji and Shotarou were holding tightly to the ground as to not get blown away by the air swirling around 013.

Keiko cursed under her breath at the leg that had become useless as she balanced on her right leg. She took a moment to glare at Seiji before bring the vortex of air around her and using it to carry her off, away from the two STAM agents.

Sector 12

Arisa knocked on the door to the small, isolated house that belonged to Ping, “Hello?”

They could hear footsteps in the house and the door opened slightly to reveal a young boy that held his head down but looked up at them, “Y-yes?”

“I am Agent 00 with MRPA,” Arisa moved her coat to show the crest on her uniform, “We just wanted to stop by and warn you that your identity will be compromised with the next report that comes through. MRPA cannot protect you if you do not try to keep your own-”

“Open the door,” Akumako stood with her arms crossed and glared at Ping. She had seen through the small crack in the door; there was another boy on the couch, his body limp, “00,”

Without hesitating Arisa kicked the door open and Akumako grabbed Ping and restrained him with his arm behind his back, “What is that? Your human friend on Free?” Akumako pointed at the couch with another young man lying on it; his eyes were rolled back in his head and his body twitched softly, “You better hope he doesn’t die…00 search the house,”

Arisa looked for a moment longer at the shock and defeat on Ping’s face, “No wait! Don’t please, if you-”

Akumako pressed her elbow in his back, “Not another word from you,”

Arisa touched the human’s neck softly to make sure he was alive before beginning to search through the bedrooms. She came across the door that lead to the garage and felt her stomach clench in dread. Just in case, she shifted her right arm into a blade and opened the door, “014!!!!” she screamed in disbelief.

“What is it?” Aku called back from the living room.

“We have a problem….we have a big problem….” She looked at the massive amount of boxes in the garage, all of them containing MS, the drug Free. This is a much bigger problem than we thought.