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TERROR REBORN |
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“Listen up, people!” one soldier said, barking out orders. “I want squads of riflemen in the west and north towers. Shoot that thing down and whatever you do don't let it escape!” “Sir!” another soldier who was sitting in front of a computer console called out to this commander. “There is a sensor breech in the southern sector. Two life signs and moving very fast...!” “Ah, probably just two Zeiramoids that have been running around lately..." he stopped himself and thought for a moment. "Fine, we're not taking any chances. Secure the perimeter and shut down all single-man Transemblers, just in case. No one is let in or out. Be sure to lock all security doors in lower levels A through C too. But our main priority is that Dempedan! Shoot it down!” “Yes, sir...!” the soldier said as he made the announcements over the intercom system... ****** Just a few moments later. Iria slowly crept along the wall, her back hugging it, with her pistol drawn and held down to her side. Kazon was few feet in front of her, peeking around the corner of the building and scanning the area. Iria looked around for a moment, hearing a few spurts of gunfire here and there... “Fujikuro...” She said quietly. “He's probably hating us right about now...” Kazon looked over his shoulder her then swiftly made his way around the corner. Iria caught a glance of him right as he went out of view, then she was quick to follow. “H-Hey!! Wait up!!” Iria caught up with him and gave him a stern look. “You know, this
is the part we're you're supposed to say ‘He'll be Kazon said nothing just looked to an air vent a few stories above them, not saying a word... Iria sighed deeply. “You have a real problem you know that...? What's with you...?!” Kazon pause for a moment before changing the subject. “...security should be tightened around the lower levels of the building so we'll need to head for the higher levels...” Iria just shook her head and gave up, “Whatever you say, Mr. Personality...” Kazon began to get agitated. "Look...you worry about your part in this job and let everyone else deal with theirs," and before Iria could respond, Kazon pulled up the left sleeve of his coat and aimed his fist towards the air vent. Then out of the risen plate of his armor, a grappling hook fired out of it, startling Iria and then the claws latched onto the iron grating of the vent. Kaz jerked his arm back and the grate popped off the wall and fell to the ground, leaving an easy entry for the two Hunters. Iria’s arms folded over her chest as she pouted a little. “Big deal. I could have done that too yanno...” Kaz gave her a quick glance as the hook retracted back into the armor, as he re-aimed and fired into the duct again. This time, it latched on to the inside lining of the vent, the little claws digging deeply into the metal. After Kazon gently pulled the rope a few time to check its security, he held his hand out for Iria... “Huh...?” Iria had this dumbfounded look on her face, she just stared at his gloved hand for the longest time. She was a bit hesitant... “What's she doing ...? Just take it...!” Kazon thought to himself, rather irritated. Iria timidly inched her hand out towards his. “We're wasting time...” A frustrated Kazon thought again as his teeth began to slightly grind together. He then just grabbed her hand and spoke aloud. “Just come on...” “What the--!?” Iria yelled as he was jerked towards him. “Hey!! What are you--!” But before she could finish her sentence, the grappling hook jerked them both upwards in a quick, sudden fashion, and bringing both to them closer to the vent... ****** The Kreeper was sitting in a well hidden spot, covered with limbs and leaves as camouflage Kei was laying out in the back seat of the Kreeper with her hands behind her head, looking up at the blue sky. Her mind was mostly wandering. “Man...all this stuff is happening so quick. First Iria comes home from a job now all this stuff happens? And what's with this Kaz guy...?” She thought then closed her dark blue eyes. “I wonder if they got in...?” She said aloud. "Kei...” Bob's voice rang over the speaker system. Kei quickly snapped to attention. “They're in. Fujikuro is on his way back but he might have some troops on his tail. Are you in a good hiding place?” Kei looked around a bit. “I should be. Fujikuro should have a problem getting here either. Of course, it would all be easier if those two would hurry up inside.” “True...” Bob said. “Which is why I'm going to help them out now. Lay low until I give you the signal....” “Alright, tell 'em I said good luck!” ****** Kazon and Iria inched their way through he air duct on their hands
and knees. Kazon was up front and Iria was a few feet behind him. Iria’s
mind was just like Kei’s, but more of the subject of the man in front
of “I don't understand him...” she though, “...but I think that's just it. He DOESN'T want me to understand him...he's just so untrusting and so completely lacking in compassion it not funny. It's sad actually...” Then she remembered what he had done before they broke into the barrier zone, that little flick of the hairbeads Kazon did. It was textbook Gren... “Hey...Kaz...?” Iria finally spoke up. “I was just wondering, but...when did you start doing that thing you do with your hairbeads?” “What does that have to do with anything...?” Kazon responded, for once. “Well, my brother used to do the same thing...” she added sadly. “Did you know him? His name was Gren...” “Gren...?!” Kazon thought, his eyes widening slightly. “Gren had a sister...? And she’s--....Odd...he never mentioned a sister...” Kazon figured he better not get to into he subject... “I have no idea...” Kaz said softly. “Something as trivial as flick of the hairbeads is pure coincidence and means nothing right now. Concentrate on the job...like I told you before, you better not slow me down...” Iria grinned slightly. “I'd figure that you would say something like that...” With that they continued on their way through the duct. That is until Kazon stopped suddenly as he approached another grate on the underside of the duct. Iria stopped as well and slowly began to creep up closer as Kazon shifted his body into a sitting position with his back against the one of the ducts walls, peering down through the slotted metal. “What is it, Kaz...?” She whispered softly. Kazon held up on gloved gloved hand before he finally looked over to her. He place his finger to his mouth, telling her to remain quiet. Then with same hand, he pointed downwards over the grating. Iria looked over curiously and saw am armed guard standing watch under them. Iria looked back over to Kazon and whispered ever so softly as to not alert the guard. “What now...?” Kazon, with that same blank expression he's had on his face the whole time, calmly made a fist and punched down on the heavy grate, popping it off the duct and right down onto the guard. Iria, after flinching a little from hearing the impact, looked down again and see the guard knocked out cold with the grate on top of him. She shrugged slightly and spoke a little louder. “That'll work...” Kazon carefully lowered himself down through the hole and landed to the side of the fallen guard, his pistol drawn and held with both hands. He glanced around and saw that he was in a long, empty corridor. A few doors were here and there and ran along either side of the hallway. Iria then dropped down, her pistol drawn as well. Her other arm reached up and held it in front of her. “Bob...?” she spoke softly. “We're inside the building now...” “Good...” Bob responded as his AI image was projected. “What level are you on right now?” Iria glanced around for a moment to see if there was a sign around to tell them were they were. After she saw on near on of the doors she read it off to Bob. “Level 4.” "They must have moved most of the guards down below," Kazon added softly. "They wouldn't have suspected us to come in from above. “Alright, you're are going to have to go down from there. The science labs were the Zeiram beacons are supposedly held are in the 3rd Floor Basement Level.” Bob said, obviously had done his studying on the center's structure. “We can't just waltz down there either. Not with all the security down there.” Iria added. “Is there an elevator or a lift near here...?” Kazon asked as he surveyed the area some more. “Yes, there is.” Bob went on as the ‘eye’ of the hologram looked to their left. “There should be one down that way, but you can bet there will be security guarding it.” “No problem!” Iria said arrogantly as Bob's AI faded away. She looked over to Kazon. “Ready...? There's no turning back now yanno.” She flashed him a coy grin. “Whatever...” he though, and he turned and made his way down the hall. Iria just shrugged and followed him. They were soon to approach a cross section in the hallways. Kazon and Iria quickly hugged their backs against the wall as they heard voices from around the corner. Kaz cautiously peeked around the corner and saw three guards standing in front of an unusually large door... “Three of them...they're guarding a large door.” Kaz whispered to Iria. “Is it the elevator?” Iria whispered back. “I believe so.” Bob cut in. “That will take you directly down to the basement. I'll leave you to your work now. I'm going to check on Kei and Fujikuro.” “Alright...” Iria said, returning her pistol to its holster. She turned her attention back up to Kazon and flashed a grin. “So, oh, fearless one, you want to take care of this...?” Kazon went to a small pouch attached to his belt and pulled out a small, greenish colored, glasslike orb. “You just follow my lead...” Meanwhile the three guards were conversing with each other casually, even if they were on high alert. “Hey, do you think they shot down that Dempadan that was snoopin’ around here?” one soldier asked another. “Nah...I bet they let him get away,” the other guard responded. “I overheard that on the radio system that he was heading back towards the barrier zone, so knowing the morons the top-brass are, they probably left him be.” As they continued on with their conversing, they failed to notice the green orb roll between their feet and stop in the middle of the pack. Finally one of the guards caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye... “Hey...?” He said curiously as he looked down, gaining the others attention. They all kneeled down to get a closer look. “What the hell is that...?” Then as soon as the words came from the guards mouth, the orb exploded into a gaseous cloud, sending all three guards reeling backwards and covering their eyes. But as soon as the gas had done it's damage, it gradually evaporated into the air... “What the hell...!?!” One guard said as his dropped his weapon, both hand rubbing away at his eyes. “I can't see!!” “Me neither...!!!” another one called out. “What is this shit...?!” “Go...!” Kazon commanded from around the corner. Then both he and Iria made a dash for the door. Iria was quick to get ahead of Kazon, leaping into the air and taking down one of the guard with a kick to the back of the head. Kazon, meanwhile, gave another one a stiff shoulder tackle, sending the guard flying backwards until he smashed into the wall. Kazon then proceeded to the elevators computer terminal and punched in a few buttons... Iria, landing from her first kick, immediately crouched down and swept the legs out from under the last remaining guard. The guard fell flat on his on his back, the back of his head hitting the hard tile floor. Iria stood up with an arrogant grin as she acted as if she was dusting her hands off. “You're real crafty, Kaz...? This is just too easy...!” “Exactly...” he mumbled softly to himself as he tapped in a few more keys, he still held his gun down his side. “What..?” she eyed him curiously. “What you say...?” “...this is too easy...” he said a little louder this time, as he finally punched in the right string of keys, the sliding doors of the elevator opening slightly. Iria paused for a minute, then gave him a pompous smirk. “Yeah, you're probably right, but hey, atleast I got something out of you just then. Maybe you are lightening up after all.” She looked over to him as she pulled out her pistol again. He had that same cold look on his face, on the virge of sneering even, but, Iria just casually chuckled. “...or maybe not.” “She has no clue,” Kazon thought as he simply shook his head, entering the elevator behind her. Iria propped herself against the wall of the elevator as the doors closed, as if she were taking a break. Kazon pushed the ‘B-3’ button on the pad next to the door. He just stood there quietly as the elevator began to slowly move downwards. Iria kept an eye on him as they decended....and she just couldn't look away from him. Something...if anything, just attracted her towards him, something that she had no clue what it was. He, in her eyes atleast, obviously had a major personality problem, absolutely no sense of humor, and way too serious when it comes to his work, yet still had this defiance towards it....what was it about him that was so appealing to her? After a long and uncomfortable silence, Iria finally left out a soft sigh. “...you're right though,” she said softly, “this is running a lot smoother than I thought it would.” She looked over to Kazon. “Don't tell me you're getting a funny feeling about this....” “Do you have any idea...?” he asked rather quickly, but calmly, which seemed rather uncharacteristic from Iria’s point of view. Iria’s brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean...?” “I mean do you have any idea what might be down there waiting on us...?” “Yeah...I know.” Of course she knew...a lab full of instruments used for the creating and cloning of Zeiramoids and if Dr. Touka was right, Zeiram itself. “I guess that's a ‘yes’ on the funny feeling question then...” Another long silence...but by now Iria couldn't hold it back anymore, the question had been plaguing her since the Sabaku mission and since Kazon removed his helmet in the parking lot of the Outrigger...so she sucked it up, right there in the elevator, as asked him... “Kazon...? Why are you like this....?” Kazon’s body immediately froze still...then he looked over his shoulder to her. “...Bob and Fujikuro told me about those rumors...about you and your partner. Is that it...? Or is there more...?” “Why should you even care...?” he responded in a low voice...almost like he didn’t want to say it. “No reason really...” she said averting her eyes. “I just wanted to know a little bit more about than I do now.” She looked back up to him again. “You’re always like this...aren’t you? To everyone...?” Another long silence....Kazon just stared at her, and she stared right back. This time, however, the stillness was broken by the dinging sound of the elevator. Iria looked up for a split second, seeing the ‘B-3’ displayed above the door, before returning her gaze back to Kazon. ...but he just looked away and held his gun in a two-handed fashion as the doors opened... “You wouldn't understand...” Iria let out a soft, yet irritated sigh as she pushed herself away from the wall, her pistol down by her side. “You'll never know until you tell me,” and she walked right passed him. Kazon’s teeth began to together slightly as he watched her. The fact that, in his eyes, Iria was so nosey just annoyed him. But nevertheless, he held back is expressions and was soon to follow her out of the elevator. They walked into another hallway, this one however was too dark for either of them to see. Almost simultaneously, they both pulled out a pair of inferred goggles and slipped them on. Kazon pushed a button that was on the side of his goggles, making a small red lens slide down in front of his right eye. He looked around a bit seeing nothing or anyone around. Nothing but an eerie silence. His brow furrowed slightly. “Where are all the guards...?” Iria peeked around a corner, she too saw nothing. “No clue. You’d figure this place would be swarming with them.” Iria then remember what Kaz had said earlier on the floor above. “I guess you were right...this is way too easy.” Kaz slowly made his way over to her side, still looking around. “Something isn't right...” Then suddenly a flash of light to the side of them caught both their eyes. Both Hunters quickly turned around, guns drawn and ready to fire, but they saw no one, not even with the enhanced inferred vision. However, down the hallway, a bright light shined through an opened door. Iria looked over to Kazon with a questionive look on her face. Kazon glanced back to her, then to the light, giving a slight nod. Iria let out a soft sigh and they both began to make their way to the source. Kazon removed his goggles as he moved closer to the door. “Wait for my signal...” he whispered to her. Iria removed her goggles as well and nodded. She looked back to the light, seeing that it had a strange green undertone to it. When Kazon got to a few feet from the from the door, he moved closer to the wall with his back hugging it. He gripped his pistol tightly and took a short breath as he looked over to Iria to see if she was ready. A determined looked washed over Iria face as she nodded again. Then, with lightning quickness, they both twirled around to the inside of the door frame, standing side by side with their guns drawn and aimed straight ahead. But what they saw made their seriousness quickly shift into a look of shock. Iria lowered her weapon as she slowly made her way into the lit room with her mouth hanging open. She looked around a few times, not believing what she was seeing. Kazon let his pistol fall down to his side as he too stepped inside. He gazed around for a few seconds...then finally broke the silence. “....Zeiramoids.” And he was right. That green light that illuminated the extremely large, square room was the light coming off of the large tubes which held countless numbers of the creatures that lined the walls. They just floated there, lifelessly, as if suspended in time. There was a large square hole in the floor, and Iria walked over to the railing. She leaned over the side to see that this room had multiple levels of these ‘test tubes’, a total of three levels. “Outrageous...! Bob..?!” She held her arm out as the AI image appeared. “You gotta see this...!” The tiny ‘eye’ panned around for a few moments. “Hmm...I don't know what to make of this...” Bob said finally. “This is obviously more than we bargained for. But they don't seem to look very ‘natural’ in these tubes. More like clones of the clones of Zeiram.” “If that's the case,” Kazon said as he walked over to the railing, “with these ‘clones’ and the ‘real’ Zeiramoids that are being called here from those beacons--” “Then this isn't going to be easy at all...” Iria finished his sentence for him. “Why would Tedan Tippedai do something like this...?!” “Excellent question, my dear....” A familiar, older sounding voice called from behind them. Kazon quickly pivoted around and brought up his pistol. It was aimed only a few inches from the old man's face. Iria turned around as well and her eyes widened at the sight of this man. Her surprise was soon washed away as her eyes narrowed. “...Puttubayh. I should have known.” “Alas, we meet again young lady,” President Puttubayh said, “and with
a new friend it seems.” He seemed rather calm in nature, despite the
fact that there was a gun right in his face. Puttubayh merely shrugged
and gazed around at his ‘collection’. “They're works of art you know.
Each and every one of them, more powerful than the last. This group
has yet to be completed, but once they are finished, oh think of the “You're sick....!” Kazon said his eyes narrowing, the grip on his gun tightening. “How did you find out about this job!?” Iria asked. “Is this why there are no guards around this place?!” “Indeed, my dear,” Puttubayh went on, “and as for my being here, you can thank the good doctor for that...” Kazon pressed the barrel of the gun right up next to his forehead. “What have you done with Touka?” “You needn't worry about him. He will not be harmed...that is...” Puttubayh said as he chuckled nervously, growing a little scared of that cold look in Kazon's eyes. He reached up cautiously with one hand and gently pushed the pistol away, “...that is, he won't be unless you harm me first.” Kazon pulled the gun away quickly, but then placed it right back were it was. The look on his face had drastically changed, now sporting a furious expression. “What are you trying to prove with all of this!?” He screamed out in anger. Iria watched on with look of shock. Kaz showing this much emotion? Puttubayh began to cower down to this furious Hunter. “But, I--Uhh--!” He was about to start moving back, but Kazon’s gloved hand reached out and grabbed him by the collar. “Answer me!” Kaz repeated as he jerked him closer. “This center, the Zeiramoids, Touka, and hell, assuming there is one, the Zeiram Unit itself! What are you trying to prove?!” “Kaz...” Iria thought to herself. “You know that Zeiram can't be controlled by humans!” Kazon yelled in a livid voice, pulling him even closer and keeping the gun pressed to his head. “Why in the hell would you get the idea of trying it again!? Do you have any idea about what you might have done!?” “It worked on that planet didn't it...?” Puttubayh said coyly. Kazon’s face went pale immediately, his eyes widening a great deal. Iria just watched on. “That's right...” Puttubayh added with a chuckle as Kazon's eyes averted. “Zeiram can be controlled, as you witnessed first hand....” “Those rumors? So, they were true...!?” Bob's voice called out. “Wha--...?” Iria mumbled, looking back and forth between Puttubayh and Kazon in confusion.. “If the head of Tedan Tippedai is admitting this, then it must be true!” Bob added. “Four years ago...Hunter Locke?” Puttubayh went on, acting as if he and Kazon were the only two there and ignoring the rest. “You saw it...the ‘controlled’ power of the Zeiram Unit, did you not...?!” “Shut up...” Kazon said quietly, his head hanging low. “‘Survey the planet’...how naive you two were back then. You two were nothing but guenia pigs for the final test! Puppets manipulated by Tedan Tippedai!" Puttubayh said again. “I said shut up...!” Kazon pleaded again, the tone and the anger rising in his voice. “Kaz...don't...!” Iria said quietly but stayed away from him, afraid to interfere. “You were weak back then Hunter Locke, Zeiram manhandled you! Unfortunately...” he put an accent to the word, “...you survived.” Puttubayh then grinned slightly. “Too bad Hunter Ouspi wasn't as lucky, eh...?” “Shut up!!!” Kazon yelled as he looked up with a raging fury in his eyes, and his grip tighten around the trigger. If there was a button not to press on this young man, Puttubayh just smashed it. The look in Kazon’s dark green eyes was the look of that of a madman. “Kaz, don't do it!” both Iria and Bob called out at the same time, but they were to late. Iria closed and covered her eyes as she heard a gun fire, if not a little before...then everything was still and eerily silent. Iria was hesitant to open her eyes but she eventually did as she lowered the arm that was covering her face. Then, she let out a shocked sigh at the site she saw. “P-Puttubayh...!?” Kazon, stood there holding Puttubayh by the collar with his pistol still pressed to his head. Kaz slowly looked down to the President's stomach in amazement, blood was everywhere. Puttubayh was indeed shot...but not by Kazon’s gun. This wound entered the President's body from behind...then Kazon took a deep breath and felt a sharp pain growing in his own body. He looked down to see that the bullet had passed through Puttubayh and caught him as well. Iria watched in fear as Kazon dropped his gun and as his grip on Puttubayh grew shaky. “Who--...?!” Kazon said, gasping for air as he dropped Puttubayh’s limp body and his gun as well. His gloved hands grasped onto his stomach, around the area where his wound was. He looked back up with wincing expression to see exactly who or what did this... The assailant held a pistol out with one gloved hand as the other casually ran through his dirty-blonde hair. This person's lips curled mischievous grin. “Well, now...” the deep, male voice said quietly. “Two-For-One...not bad,” the voice said, chuckling evilly. Iria let out a gasp as the person came into view. “Vice-president Tsutomegi...!?” ***************
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