《ESPU:Zero》Chapter 21
Advertisement
Ira stared across the table, watching Alcina gingerly prod at a piece of overly seasoned chicken with her fork. A black tentacle snaked up, almost touching the chicken, before retreating back under the table.
"Alcina. I saw that."
"We didn't touch it."
Arnold sat down, directly opposite of Ira, two seats away from Alcina. He looked at Alcina with disgust. "You are wasting your time with her, Ira. She is a weapon. She doesn't need table manners."
Ira slammed her hands onto the table, her empty plate in front of her shook "You old fucking codger!" she yelled.
Alcina slowly set her fork down, pulling her hands down into her lap.
"It's just the truth. She's more than capable without such things, and you don't need to waste your time with it."
"That's not for you to decide. She's still a child. She has a future ahead of her."
"Why are you so attached?"
Cyrus sat down at the table. Ira followed suit, sliding back down into her seat, tightly shutting her eyes.
"Don't mind me," said Cyrus. "Please, continue your argument."
"It's fine, Cyrus. I don't have anything to say to the pig," Ira answered.
"You keep hurling insults. Attack the idea, not the person, you know?" Arnold pushed a forkful of salad, covered in way too much ranch, into his mouth.
"My insults aren't to argue with you, they are just because I despise you."
"She always goes on like this Cyrus. It's hard to believe you trust her to keep a level head."
"Keep your own position in mind, Arnold," Cyrus said. "You cannot speak so freely to me."
"Ah. Forgive me sir. The atmosphere had just loosened these old lips of mine."
Alcina reached towards her fork again.
"Alcina," said Cyrus. Her hand jumped back as he spoke. "I was meaning to ask you, Where were you the other day?"
"We don't want to say."
"Why not?"
"We don't want to say."
Cyrus narrowed his eyes. "So it's something against our mission."
"We don't want-"
"No need to keep saying that. I get it. I just thought you'd take our goals more seriously."
"We are taking the goals seriously."
"Doesn't look like it."
Ira cut in. "Cyrus I don't think it's good to push on her like this."
"Ira. Alcina is with us as a mutual agreement. We only go so far together as we can trust the other one. Hiding things like this does not help us whatsoever."
Ira slumped her head onto her hands with an angry expression.
"I want an answer, Alcina."
"Our purpose is to get rid of our cursed power. We left to better understand that purpose."
Arnold pushed his half finished salad to the center of the table.
"Will it interfere with my goals?" asked Cyrus.
"No."
"I don't think we can trust her," said Arnold.
Cyrus stood up from the table. "Maybe you are right, but I don't know yet. I need some to think about it."
Advertisement
Arnold smirked at Ira. Alcina sat silently staring at her plate.
"I'll see you all for today's meeting."
Ira gave him a half-hearted wave. Arnold simply watched him disappear behind a corner, leaning onto the table with his elbow. His fingers were spread out, tapping out a tune against the plastic.
"Now little miss Alcina. I'm willing to put in a good word for you. You just have to prove to me that you are with us."
"What are you saying Arnold? Stop this." Ira glared at him, but he ignored the warning.
"We just need to have a private chat. I'm thinking back in my bedroom-"
Ira was next to him faster than he could blink. A knife stabbed between his middle and ring fingers, catching the webbing. He cried out in pain, grabbing onto his wrist as his face contorted. She grabbed him by the top of his head and twisted him around to face her.
"I don't know what you were expecting by saying such useless words, pig. It almost sounded like you were trying to take advantage of someone far younger than yourself, though that wouldn't be anything new for you. Why don't you try apologizing?"
"I'm sorry!" he yelled out, still focusing on the blood dripping from his hand.
She slammed his face against the table, before jumping back away from him. The air shimmered for a moment, and her knife appeared right where her neck had been.
"You just tried to kill me!" she yelled.
"No! That was accidental! It happens when I'm assaulted." Arnold held his hands against his nose, blood dripping down his arm.
The rest of the people milling about in the cafeteria had shuffled away from them. Some just stared at them. Others made their way to the exits. Alcina stood up. She walked away as the two others watched her, leaving her plate of food mostly untouched.
"I'll finish this with you later," Ira said, flicking her fingers from between her eyes to Arnold's face. She ran off after Alcina.
***
"Alcina!"
Ira opened the door to the room, right as Alcina sat down on her bed. A dark blue comforter was spread over it, with aqua sheets underneath it, folding over it right at the white pillows. A metal dresser sat in the corner. It's top was slowly gathering dust.
"Are you okay?" Ira asked.
"We are fine. We just felt... upset."
"Yeah. He really should have watched his tongue. I can't believe he would say-"
"No. We are upset at what happened after. When he tried to hurt you."
"There's no way he'd be able to catch me like that. He's not my match." Ira flexed her arm in front of her chest, slipping a grin across her face.
"We were going to kill him, but that would endanger our situation with Cyrus. We couldn't decide if we should leave him, so we came to think." Alcina grabbed one of her pillows and tightly wrapped her arms around it, burying her chin into it.
Ira's face turned serious. "What do you mean you would have killed him?"
Advertisement
"He wasn't guarding his neck or vitals, we could have easily killed him."
"I mean why."
"He was being a hindrance."
Ira sat down next to her, and she slowly wrapped her arm around Alcina's shoulders. "You don't need to think like that. That's not how you deal with others. You don't kill someone because they inconvenience you."
"But then we will be hurt. Jack is already gone, but it must be done. We still have to do it."
"Jack?"
"The us that Cyrus killed."
"Ah. I shouldn't have forgotten that name so quickly. I'm sorry. I..." Ira trailed off with a sinking feeling in her chest. She still couldn't quite grasp what those words really meant.
"What was he to you? Jack I mean?"
"He lead us through life. He was, is, like a father. He taught us how to carve our existence out of this world."
"That's..." The sinking feeling got heavier. "That's terrible. I can't believe Cyrus and I..." She closed her eyes for a few seconds. "No, I have to take responsibility."
Alcina tilted her head. "What do you mean? Cyrus made the correct choice."
"How can you say that? You just said he was like a father to you."
"He is. We continue to use his guidance. His mortal life was a necessary shackle for us to break, for now we can hopefully find peace."
"I... can't relate. I don't..."
"We know. You are doing enough." Alcina leaned her head against Ira's shoulder.
Ira sat there, holding Alcina close as a few tears fell down her cheek. "I promise I'll help you."
***
Ira sat down next to Alcina. Arnold sat across from them, alone, and Cyrus was at the head of the table. The screens behind him shut off, one by one. He pulled down on a string, bringing down a white sheet in front of them. A projector turned on, shining a giant image directly on to it. Ira recognized it as Dr. Mendele.
"Joseph," Cyrus started, pausing dramatically. "Has been missing for three days now. He is a high priority target. We have very little information on his whereabouts."
Cyrus pointed a remote at the projector, clicking it over to the next slide.
"He was last seen around this area in District 6." The map behind him slowly zoomed in on to a red box, right on the district's railyard.
Arnold adjusted his tie, loosening it a bit. His eyes didn't even meet the image. Ira shifted around, watching Cyrus more intently than the slideshow.
"This is the former base of the Red Claw Gang, the one we destroyed two weeks ago. It's likely that he is recovering material to go on another rampage. If he gets caught this time, we might not be able to break him out. I'm pretty sure the IMB would have upped his danger level from four to five by now."
Cyrus stopped, looking back at the other three. None of them were looking at the presentation. "Is anyone listening?"
"Yes sir," said Arnold, leaning forward as he turned his head towards him.
Ira and Alcina just sat quietly.
"What's gotten into you all?" Cyrus pointed at Ira. "Speak."
"Cyrus. I'd like to motion for removing Arnold from our organization. I'll handle the process."
"Motion denied."
"He tried to kill me!"
"Motion still denied."
Arnold smirked.
"Arnold, Alcina, get out," Cyrus ordered.
Arnold did a double take, then slowly pulled himself out of the chair and backing out of the room. Alcina walked out expressionless. The door shut with a click behind them.
"Ira. I want silence."
A burst of wind spread out from her, right to the edges of the room. "Done."
"What happened?"
"He tried to teleport my knife-"
"No, what did you do to cause it?"
"I threatened him."
"Figures."
"He deserved it this time!"
Cyrus rubbed his temples, kneading his forehead up into wrinkles, before letting them fade back into his skin. "Why did he deserve it?"
"He tried to take advantage of Alcina."
"How?"
"He tried to take her back to his room and-"
"There isn't any way he could do anything to Alcina."
"She's still just a girl!"
"She's much more dangerous than you give her credit for. You've seen it. You should know."
"He tried to-"
"Ira. Report on your progress of developing a bond with the target."
"What-"
"Report."
"Why are you suddenly all business again?"
"Because now you are becoming too emotional. You are getting attached. We can't afford this. The girl is a tool, not because I want her to be, but because I need her to be."
"Is it really worth it? Bringing him back?"
"It's what I owe him, and all the others I've sacrificed. We are so close. We just need Randy to cooperate. It was such a shame that the girl's power can't be forced, but we can make do."
"I can't just sit by when he treats this girl like that. He sickens me. I'd like to be rid of him. She would too, but it's up to you. Please side with me. Please."
"I can't. He's useful. Even the most sick people are needed. Our goal will fix one disease on humanity, bring it closer to being free of suffering. You should know this well. Consider everything you've done yourself. Consider how I found you."
Ira furrowed her brow in anger. She slammed her fist against her thigh.
"If he tries to make a move like that again, I will end him regardless. Communicate it well to him."
Another blast of wind flowed back towards her, ended the discussion.
"You two can come back in now!" Cyrus said.
Alcina stepped in first, with Arnold heaving around in tow.
"For now, I want to talk about how we'll capture Joseph. This time, he isn't useful under his own mind. I'll have to trust you to take control of him, Alcina. He is a high priority target, so we can't just kill him."
Advertisement
- In Serial28 Chapters
Fantasy Royale
Gregory Asbjørnsen is an avid player of a dying game. As his life went downhill, he shut himself away from everything. When the one game he could truly call home is being shut down, he finds himself at a loss. What will he do about his life? When his bullies finally push him over the edge, he lashes out. Losing his job and whatever is left of his sanity, Gregory is consumed by his lust for vengeance. Driven by rage, he gambles everything he owns to get revenge. Will he succumb to his own fury, or will he find peace in the virtual reality he has once called home? Five hundred and forty players enter. Only one can win.
8 100 - In Serial12 Chapters
Fighter's Journey In Pokemon World
A guy who has trained most his life on earth gets transmigrated to the world which he thought was a fantasy. " So the life of training and missions are over. I guess I'll just enjoy this world without any worries" How will the guy who has trained in combat and weapons fare in the world filled with pokemon? Is he going to unravel the secrets of the world? Is he going to come out on top of the world creating legends? Only time will be able to tell the future. The cover image is from the courtesy of google images.
8 250 - In Serial20 Chapters
Frost Iron Forge
A young man is transfered into the fantasy world of his dreams. Now this young plucking adventurer must overcome several obstacles, from figuring out what class he wants to be, to seducing the white haired elf girl he just met, to finally defeating the looming threat of the Demon King himself. Together with a loyal band, this man sets off to accomplish the ultimate power fantasy! 2000 years later, a young rebel rises up against a tyrant as the world falls deeper and deeper into a millenium long ice age. Markus is concerned with only one thing, defeating the Supreme One, and setting people free from his reign. This fiction is a little thought project playground I just write for fun. Warning to any new readers, it's not a typical power fantasy isekai story. Although I do plan on writing power fantasy stuff later in the fiction. I hope atleast a few of you would enjoy my writing. Updates every two days.
8 82 - In Serial16 Chapters
Cries from the Dust (Working title)
A Science Fantasy thriller featuring a group of outsiders coming to earth for their first time. The hide among the humans, cleaning up their messes. As they do, they are fighting against a man that may be thousands of years old, and has been manipulating the time line his whole life. Each of our heroes is blessed with a specific supernatural abilility: Miranda can record anything around her through any of her senses, and upload those recordings from her mind to any inanimate object for others to experiance on touching the object. Peter Dixon can soul jump, allowing him to control others around him. Scott can take others talents. Allowing him to speak any language he comes across, mimic other's fighting paterns, and even temporarily give him the same powers Miranda and Dixon have. But their enemies have these abilities and more. There are a lot of scores to settle, and the stakes have never been higher. This is book three in the series. Really trying to nail the crucial third installment that so often goes wrong. For those just joining, here's what you missed in book one: When four children fall through a mysterious portal, top scientists try to figure out where they are from. As they grow older, they discover incredible abilities within them(Seen above). All while getting a visit from the other side of the portal. If you'd like to get caught up, a free copy is available here: Portals of the Grave Then there is book two: Mists of Affliction. This picks up after the devestating battle between Scott and his friends against his brother, Azurand. Our heroes are painted as the enemies in the battle they never started, but can't seem to get away from. Mists of affliction is currently available in the kindle store here Enjoy!
8 144 - In Serial27 Chapters
America Stranded In A Fantasy World
Ah, the year 2040, the turn of the decade, and what a way to start it off with America, Russia, and China about to go into a three-way brawl over resources and territory... Well, it would have been three-ways if America didn't suddenly get teleported to another world. What is President John meant to do in such a situation? A panicked and scared nation, beset on all sides by potential enemies, only having the once Pacific and Atlantic oceans protecting them... Perhaps his presidential campaign on a pre-emptive war footing was a gift...or a curse. Author Notes/Statements: Being Non-American(Canadian) I apologize ahead of time if I get anything wrong with either government structure or how certain people are supposed to speak/act.Updates for this story will be inconsistent as all hell, however, I will make sure to post 'update chapters' to keep those who are interested in my story in the loop on what's going on should there be a long period with no new chapters. I will only post chapters that I am satisfied with. I now have a Patreon! www.patreon.com/Dr_AssDeer Current status of Chapter 22 "Complete" - Approximate release date: Augest 12th Edited/Proof Read By DelberCrankToggle. Also Available on Scribble Hub: https://www.scribblehub.com/series/390113/america-stranded-in-a-fantasy-world/
8 126 - In Serial38 Chapters
Got7 Imagines
ONGOING Just some Got7 imagines filled with fluff, angst, sweet moments and more. Read to find out. Hope you enjoy!Started November 25, 2019. Completed June 25, 2020. Highest Rank: #1 in got7# 1 in igot7#2 in jb #2 in ahgase#4 in got7fanfic#4 in Yugyeom
8 108