"Elena, Rude! Get out of there, go into the complex. We can't handle losing anyone else," commanded Tseng.
"What about Karia and Reno?" We can't just leave them behind!" yelled Elena frantically as she and Rude took down soldiers who happened to get in their way.
"Just go damnit!" ordered the Wutaian sternly as he came down the stairs from the ramp. Turning around as he heard more screeches he saw Chaos attacking Diego from the air with Chaos Saber. Chaos obviously had an advantage. Both were suffering from wounds, blood was everywhere, though Chaos didn't even seem to notice or be effected in any way by the wounds. In between attacks on Diego, the Chaos beast would swoop down on one of the soldiers scattered around aimlessly and ram it's fist through their chest cavity. Ripping the heart out and crushing it, even Tseng cringed. Perhaps Chaos doesn't share as many wounds as I though, but rather is just covered in others blood, I can't say I would be surprised... It screamed every time it killed and seemed to be more and more satisfied with each death. "Vincent will handle Diego, Elena.." called Tseng as he watched the pair head into the building. Making his own way towards the complex he stopped where Reno was holding a still, yet barely conscious Karia. "What are you going to do..?" Tseng questioned, yet already knew the answer.
"He's going with you," hissed Karia though her teeth as she wiped at some blood by her mouth.
"Like hell I am!" yelled Reno in response to Karia. Looking Tseng's way his expression lightened, "I can't move her any great distance though, not until she heals some more.."
"Just go damnit! I can take care of myself Reno!" growled Karia desperately.
"Quit the bullshit 'Ria, your pride's too damn stubborn sometimes!" he shouted then looked back to Tseng. "We'll be fine, Vincent, or that Chaos thing any way will keep Diego busy, as well as some of the soldiers, I can take care of the rest."
The Wutaian nodded in understanding, then took a materia out of his gun and handed it to Reno. "Watch out for status effects. We'll be back to get you two, hold out until then." With that he set off on a run toward the complex and disappeared.
Karia remained silent as she watched Tseng go then turned her attention towards Chaos and Diego in battle. I can't believe I was so careless.... And Diego is an experiment too, I wonder if those boxes of files have anything on him.. they must.. Argh.. With me down they've lost not only one person from the force, but Reno too, I'm such a fool sometimes.
She felt a warmness go through her body as Reno whisper a cure spell. "Why'd you have to stay Reno.." started Karia, "They need more fighters, I'm down, and with you here that's two they're missing, you should be helping them. I'll be fine."
"Would you just quit it already!" he expressed, "they can manage alright, and you wouldn't be fine by yourself, you'd get killed, you can't defend yourself like this."
Karia knew it was true and closed her eyes, He's right.. but I still feel this is all my fault. "Shield.." she whispered as a green aura surrounded Reno, then repeated herself as another green spell wound itself around her.
"Finally listening to me.. about time," looking up from Karia he noticed a few soldiers looking around dumbfounded. He'd manipulated a few of them when he had the chance before, but it seemed the spell was starting to wear off. "'Ria, my manipulate spells are wearing off on the soldiers, I doubt they'll fall to such again. I'm going to move you over to the wall so you can lean against it while I take care of them."
"I can move, I'll go myself.." expressed Karia as she attempted to move herself away from Reno but as she sat up some she cringed and fell back. "Fuck.." she wiped at her watering eyes, before she could reply the red head picked her up and moved her to the wall.
"Just sit tight.." he said as he got up and started towards the soldiers.
Karia noticed the long cuts down Reno's back from the earlier assault by the black beast creatures. The wounds were bleeding again. "Reno!" she called out before he'd walked very far.
He turned around shocked, then ran up to her to check what was wrong, "what?"
"You're not going to last long with the wounds down your back like that! You're holding back as much as I am.." she expressed as she looked up at him, "Don't lie to me."
"I can handle it," he grinned, "I'm a turk you know!"
"Do you have a multi target limit break?" Karia asked out of the blue.
"Yeah.." he asked in confusion, "I'm not maxed out though.."
"Well I am.." Karia closed her eyes and an orange light emitted from her. Reno fell back from the shock that went through his body.
"Holy shit, what the hell was that!" he asked as Karia opened her eyes.
"Level three limit.. Just like Vincent, you, Rufus and the rest of the Turks I have four powerful limits instead of six semi powerful limits and one powerful one."
Feeling his back Reno noticed that the wounds had totally healed, "why'd ya use that one me and not yourself..?"
"It wouldn't have helped me.. I'll explain later.. It healed you completely, you'll take half damage from elements, you've got a magic and physical barrier plus it maxed your limit gage.."
"I'll be right back then, " he grinned with confidence as he stood and walked a few steps, but then came back and leaned down to Karia.
"What?" she asked.
Leaning forward he kissed her."Sorry for being such a prick before, I'll explain that to you later, don't go dying on me now. The fireworks are for you," he grinned then got up and ran off.
Karia smiled. I never thought I'd be in this position and be so happy, heh. I wonder what he means about fireworks though.. She watched the red head make his way into the midst of the soldiers, he attacked a few but mostly just dodged their attacks. I should've given him Hades and added effect... She suddenly saw Reno surrounded by orange then lightning shot through the solders closest to him, then it continued through the soldiers bodies into the next, and from them into the next. Within minutes most had fallen, some of those at the end of the shock were still able to move and they quickly joined together and ran away.
"Chain lightning.. I have to say, I did like the fireworks," smiled Karia as the red head started back towards her.
Looking past him she saw Diego fall to the ground with Chaos swooping down. She closed her eyes and sighed.
"The hell is this thing!" growled Diego as he quickly rolled away from Chaos' dive attack. However the winged creature slashed him again.
"I'm gonna get killed if I don't get the hell out of here!" Taking another slash he got up and smirked. "Perfect timing." As Chaos decided to attack one of the few living soldiers Diego looked around. He noticed the female he'd attacked before and a red head was talking to her.
"What is it with the freaks around here.. is everyone a goddamn test subject? But nothing beats this flying bastard..." Letting go he hit his limit as the orange glow surrounded him. He grew a pair of wings and turned somewhat felinic, tentacles came from his back. Now's my chance.. he thought then lashed out at Chaos. Cutting the beast across the chest he caught it by surprise, for once it leaked it's own blood instead of his. "Eat that you bitch!" yelled Diego who pulled back for a second to plan another attack. Chaos screamed in rage then pulled back as well and countered by casting Satan slam.
Diego laughed, "sorry chum, death attacks won't harm me!" he continued to laugh. In doing so he didn't realize Chaos smirking in it's own little way. Diego stopped his laughing as the Chaos beast ran itself into him, smashing him down to the ground.
Diego rolled out of the way of Chaos who dropped down to the ground where he'd been laying two seconds before. "So much for breathers!" he cursed then kicked Chaos off it's feet.
The beast rose again quickly, Diego took this time to gain flight again, followed closely by Chaos. "You just don't give up do you!!" Now's my chance. He thought and did a complete backwards flip in the air, now behind Chaos who'd been following him closely before, he rushed the creature and knocked it to the ground. As a follow up he quickly cast his own spell "mirage."
The Chaos beast looked around, several images of Diego were surrounding him, yet it couldn't figure out which was the true one.
Diego smirked, "that's all for today mate," he flew off into the sky.
Chaos shrieked in fury one last time then kneeled as the images faded away and Diego was no where to be found. The creature started to change back, various extra appendages shrunk and disappeared into the body and human form returned, even clothing.
Vincent stood and looked around at the blood bath, seeing Reno and Karia he ran over to the pair.
Reno had his back to the wall and was holding a now unconscious Karia.
"How is she?" Vincent asked as he kneeled down.
"I'm.. not sure... she just faded out of consciousness, and her wound seems to be healing itself... she's whispered something about folders and explaining later.."
"I can only imagine what Hojo altered her body to do.." whispered Vincent as he shook his head.