Radioactive: Chapter Eighteen

Radioactive

Chapter Eighteen

~Bring it Together~

Ing ran down an alley with a mutant close on his tail. He used his segmented arms to propel him forward just out of reach of the raging mutant. The mutant snakelike in nature and could keep up with the young android. Ing swung and jumped out of reach with a carefree attitude. He reached the end of the alley and stood there. Ing crouched down and covered his ears with his hands. The mutant crept closer, ready to deliver its final attack. It screamed its victory before its cry was cut short suddenly by a loud gunshot.

The creature fell into a heap on ground just behind Ing. Fang walked out of the shadows in the alley toward Ing with the gun in his hand. He barely looked down at the creature as he walked passed it and holstered his gun. Fang knelt down by Ing and picked him up.

“I’ve always hated how they scream,” Fang stated as he walked out with Ing.

“I just turn down the excessive noise so that it is more bearable,” Ing said with his arms wrapped around Fang.

Fang looked at him, “We humans can’t do that.”

“Oh,” Ing said, “That is unfortunate.”

Fang suddenly crouched down in the shadows of the alley. Ing kept still and quiet as he waited. Above them, five creatures jumped the gap between buildings to the other side. Fang and Ing were unnoticed. Ing was about to say something but Fang placed a hand over Ing’s mouth. Just a few moment later, another mutant jumped over the gap.

“Their organized,” Fang stated, “They even have a sweeper to check for any stragglers.” Fang looked back down at Ing, “Where are the others?”

Ing scanned the area, “The others are scattered in the area. The group of mutants are headed toward Riu and Duke are. We are only a few streets over from their current location.”

“Let’s go,” Fang stood up. He changed into his wolf form, “Hurry up.”

Ing jumped onto Fang’s back. Fang ran off down the alleyway. He took off through the streets following Ing instruction. The group had been broken apart as they tried to restore order to the chaos that was unraveling before them. In the mess of the scene the group of seven lost track of each other and were only just finding each other now. Fang seemed to fly above the ground. His speed was so fast that it didn’t seem like his paws were touching the ground at all. Ing held on to Fang tightly as to not lose his grip and fly off of Fang’s back.

Fang jumped up and climbed up a fire escape. He reached the roof and leaped from one building to the next. Fang slit to a stop to look over the edge of the building. Riu and Duke were down in the street below taking care of any enemies that charged at them.

Duke was brutal with his large broadsword. The ground quaked every time he smashed the blade into the ground. Large crevasses appeared suddenly causing the attacking mutants to fall into them. With a motion from Duke, the ground closed up again leaving only a small scar where the crevasse used to be. Riu spun around, the blades in her hair, cutting at any mutant that got to close. Electricity flowed through her hair as well, shooting out at nearby mutants and electrocuting those who were cut. She stabbed at mutants with the daggers in her hands including the ones she threw.

The six mutants that Fang and Ing had found lay dead around the deadly duo. Lightning from the sky and earth shakes from the ground kept their attackers at bay. A winged mutant flew in over the buildings and dived onto Duke and Riu. Ing jumped over Fang’s back and jumped onto the mutants back. The mutant fell to the ground because of the added weight. It crashed into a row of crowd of mutants clearing the area.

“Hey there, kid! Where’d you come in from?” Riu looked over her shoulder.

Ing stood up and dusted himself off, “Hey! I came from up there with Fang.”

Fang jumped down in his wolf form. He walked over to the others and looked around briefly, looking for any other mutants nearby. Duke looked propped his sword on his shoulder.

“Where do you think the others are?” Duke asked.

“Who cares,” Riu snapped, “We have enough to worry about right now than where the smug-apartment-breaker is.”

“We’re stronger together,” Fang stated. He looked over at Ing, “Who’s closest to our current location?”

Ing closed his eyes and scanned the area, “The closest one is Jekyll.” Ing pointed in the direction.

“The creepy doctor?” Riu made a face, “He creeps me out…”

“As long as you don’t pull a weapon on him, you should be fine,” Fang stalked off into the direction Ing pointed. He looked over his shoulder, “Let’s go!”

“Okie dokie!” Ing ran after Fang.

“Right behind you,” Duke said as he walked after them.

Riu groaned and followed the others, keeping an eye on their flank. Her complaints were just loud enough to get on the other’s nerves.

Jekyll stood over the bodies of about two dozen dead mutants. He sighed out of boredom and tugged on the rim of his hat. Fighting these creatures was getting more and more predictable making fighting them rather boring. They had no strategy and not enough brawn. Over all they just went down to easily. Jekyll fitted on his gloves. He stopped momentary. He looked over his shoulder as if he sensed something. Thinking it was nothing; he turned back around and started walking down one of the alley ways.

He turned around suddenly and threw a surgical scalpel. It struck something unseen to the eye. It screamed and dropped its cloak with a scalpel in its throat. It fell to the ground, jerked, and died. Again, Jekyll sighed.

“That was a better effort,” Jekyll stated, “but still not good enough.”

He heard sounds of fighting near his location and decided to check it out. Jekyll walked toward the noise down the alley. He came out into a small street and ran into Kiri. She ran past him as she fired a handgun at some mutants that chased after her. Jekyll assisted and took down three of the mutants that chased her. Kiri shot down two with accuracy rivaling only Jekyll’s.

Kiri looked over at her help, “Jekyll, it’s good to someone.”

“You’re all alone?” Jekyll asked, “Did Kaiba ditch you?”

“We got separated when one of the mutants attacked,” Kiri explained, “I am closing in on his position now.”

“I guess I have nothing better to do,” Jekyll shrugged, “Saving Kaiba will at least allow me bragging points.”

Kiri rolled her eyes, “Let’s go!”

“Lead the way,” Jekyll smiled.

They ran down the street and turned around a corner. The street was empty but Kiri slowed down. Kiri stopped and looked around curiously.

“That makes no sense,” she said.

“What did he just disappear?” Jekyll asked.

“My scans read that he is moving faster that he can even run which isn’t possible,” Kiri reported.

Jekyll looked up, “Unless he’s had a little help.”

Kiri turned toward Jekyll, “But why would—”

Kaiba crashed into the ground and an angle as if he had been thrown. He came to a rest, sliding on his back. Kiri ran over to him but he shooed her away, getting to his feet on his own. He was more or less in one piece. A loud roar got their attention. An enormous mutant towered at the end of the street. It bellowed before charging down the street.

“It runs in a straight line!” Kaiba told the others, “Jump to one side!”

The three Fixers scattered as the mutant charged by. Jekyll threw three scalpels at the creatures back but the attack was useless. The sharp weapons didn’t have any effect.

Jekyll smiled, “This will be fun!”

“It hasn’t been so far!” Kaiba called back.

“That’s because you didn’t have me!” Jekyll charged forward.

Kiri ran alongside him, “He seems to have a hard exterior. Any projectiles will not have an effect. I suggest keeping it busy while I try to scan for a weakness.”

“Leave it to me,” Jekyll glanced over at her, “I’m sure Kaiba will help to when he’s finished licking his wounds.”

“I heard that!” Kaiba shouted.

Jekyll sighed, “You were meant to.”

Kiri fell back and Jekyll and Kaiba charged at the massive mutant. A long blade jetted out from Kaiba’s wrist as he tried to attack the mutant while its back was still turned. The creature turned suddenly knocking both men to one side. Kaiba flew into a wall while Jekyll that thrown through a glass shop window. Jekyll winced as a shard of glass cut him on his left side. Kaiba got to his feet just as the creature bellowed. Kiri took that time to jump onto its back and balance herself on its shoulders. She pulled a shot gun from a compartment in her back and fired it at the back of the creature’s head.

The mutant cried with more annoyance than pain, reached up with its massive arms, grabbed her and threw her into the ground like a rag doll. Kaiba looked behind him through the broken window. Jekyll was on his feet and pulled the glass shard out of his side. He held the bloodied glass shard in his hand playfully. Jekyll started laughing hysterically.

He stopped just as suddenly as he started. His hat was tossed aside. He looked at the creature with a cold hearted stare, “You made me bleed. I’ll make sure you live to regret that!”

The glass shards on the floor rose with a strange eerie red tint. The creature bellowed in response as it prepared to charge again. Jekyll smiled and raised a single hand. With a cold crazed stare snapped his finger. The glass shards shot forward, striking the mutant at full force. The mutants charge was stopped as it tried to cover its face from the glass. The glass didn’t stop after one pass. They circled the mutant cutting it repeatedly.

Kaiba ran forward. He cut at the creatures legs, weakening it so that it was forced to its knees. Kaiba quickly changed direction and cut in an upward slash along the creature’s chest throwing the creature to one side. The mutant maintained its balance by putting its weight on one arm. Kaiba jumped onto its back and grabbed the creatures head. The blade emerged from his other wrist and he brought down his arm and slit the creature’s throat. The creature bucked and fell to the ground lifeless.

He got off the creatures back and walked over to Kiri, “Kiri are you okay?”

“Checking for any substantial damage,” Kiri paused and didn’t move as she checked her systems, “Severe damage to right side. Unable to access weapon compartment in right arm. Still have motion capabilities. No other substantial damage is noted.” She raised her left arm for assistance.

Kaiba helped her to her feet, “Can you still be of assistance?”

“We androids are ambidextrous,” Kiri explained, “We may have a preference but using out unfavored arm has no effect on our performance.”

“Good,” Kaiba nodded. He turned around, “Jekyll, are you back?”

Jekyll picked up his hat, “I’ve always been here. If you mean mentally, well, I’m here enough to know not to gut you.” He looked at Kaiba, “I’d be careful though. You never know when I might slip up.”

“Looks like we’ve missed the fun!” Riu complained, her hands were on her hips in disappointment.

Fang shook his head, “You were the one dragging your feet complaining about how we had to find the others.”

Ing jumped off of Fang’s back and ran over to Kiri. He looked at her damaged arm and started to do some minor repairs and alterations; just enough to improve its damaged appearance and maybe help her regain the use of her arm.

“What now?” Duke asked.

Kaiba looked down the street. Apparently they had an audience. A few mutants were watching their titan fall. They were hoping to slip back into the sewers without being noticed.

“I say we go hunt this doctor,” Kaiba stated, “I’m getting tired of fighting his minions.”

“About freaking time!” Fang muttered.

“Oh, heck no!” Riu protested, “Do you know how expensive these kicks are!? There is no way you will have me paradin’ around in no sewer!”

“Fine stay here then,” Kaiba shrugged, “I could care less. Come on, everyone. Let’s get this over with.”