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The Turn: Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Turn

Chapter Twenty-Nine

~Rev Your Engines~

Two Years Before The Turn

Chaud walked into the hideout. Zara looked at him and put her hands on her hips with a look of disappointment on her face.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“We need to get going,” Chaud said without answering her question.

Zara turned as Chaud walked passed her, “What do you mean? We’re just getting everything set up.”

“I mean we need to go now,” Chaud stated, “If we don’t they will catch us before we get down the block.”

Zara stood still a moment, “Did you blow our cover? Chaud, seriously! We don’t have anything prepped! We barely even know where we would be going!”

“I’ve narrowed it down to this area,” Naru stated as he circled an area on a map.

“Not exactly pinpoint,” Deontay looked at the large circle, “Pity there aren’t gas stations in the sky.”

“Okay,” Zara gripped her head in concentration, “We’ll have to make due. Deontay, Vicky!”

“Got it!” Deontay ran toward Vicky and they both grabbed a bag and left the base.

“Let’s go!” Zara called.

Naru and Hina shut down the computers. Chaud grabbed two bags. Zara followed the twins out of the base carrying two bags herself. They reached the surface. Hina looked around for a vehicle. She found a jeep and hotwired it. Naru grabbed the bags that Zara was carrying and headed off to his sister. Chaud and Zara headed off to  a red convertible.

“Seriously?” Zara stated.

“What? If you’re going to ‘borrow’ a car it at least has to look good. And besides, I thought the point was to be fairly obvious,” Chaud pointed at the car, “This looks rather obvious.”

Zara rolled her eyes and threw the bags in the back seat, “This plan had better work.”

Chaud smiled, “It will.”

Zara got in the back seat while Chaud got the car started. She turned on her ear piece.

“Mike check,” she stated.

“Hear you loud and clear,” Deontay said.

“Hello,” Vicky’s voice was quieter.

“Sup,” came Hina’s response.

“What was the plan again?” Naru asked.

Chaud laughed, “This will be interesting.”

Zara was forced to smile, “Do we all know our part?”

Deontay yawned, “Yeah, yeah, you only drilled it into our heads.”

“Anything we should know about the enemy, Chaud?” Hina asked.

Chaud thought a moment as he drove, “They don’t hesitate to use their powers. That’s something to watch for. Oh, and their leader can see a little of the future.”

“That would have been nice to know earlier…” Naru sighed.

Hina groaned, “How do we go against someone like that?”

“My dad told me a little trick that might help,” Chaud said, “He said that if you don’t know what you are about to do beforehand sometimes it messes with a future readers power.”

“But we know what we are about to do,” Vicky sounded confused.

“Just don’t thing about it. Just act I guess I should say. Helped me out this afternoon,” Chaud shrugged.

Zara looked at him, “You are so lucky that you’re driving right now. I could punch you.”

“Lucky me…” Chaud murmured.

“Alright,” Zara looked at her watch, “Time.”

“0-1!” the others said in unison.

“Good,” Zara loaded a sub machine gun, “Keep the time. Let’s get this done.”

 

IOIOIOIOIOI

 

Shadow walked through a wall that he thought interesting. He smiled when he emerged on the other side. Fang was right again as usual. Apparently Chaud had been trying to keep his mind blank when he met Fang and that was giving Fang a hard time. But in a fraction of a second as Chaud flew off, Fang saw a glimpse of Chaud’s immediate future.

Curious, Shadow turned on the computers. He saw some mention of an island and something called the Metamor. With a smile he walked through another wall and appeared by Fang’s side.

Fang looked at him, “Well.”

“They were there,” Shadow reported, “but they aren’t now. Saw something about an island thought. Looked like they were following up on one of their missions and were trying to find out who ratted them out.”

“An island?” Fang asked.

“Huh,” Alister stood a ways away with his arms crossed, “In’t it kinda hard to get to an island wit’out travelin’ by air. I mean I know they ‘ave ferries an’ what not, but if this island was where the bad guys live I don’t think they ‘ave an afternoon ferry.”

“Alister,” Fang stated, “That night have been the smartest thing you’ve said all week.”

“Really?” Shadow looked skeptical, “That’s a cruel joke Fang, don’t get his hopes up like that.”

“I’m being serious,” Fang glared at him, “If you can’t get there by boat how are they getting there.”

“Air?” Shadow answered.

“And where can one find an air vehicle fairly easily without much planning?”

Alister answered, “The airport?”

Very good, Alister,” Fang nodded, “Shadow, you, Raven and Penelope go ahead and see if you can slow them down.

“Whatever you say,” Shadow went to go tell Raven and Penelope.

“Lumin,” Fang called over to the water wielder, “Would you go unlock that car over there?”

Lumin stood up and did as he was told with Arisa at his heels.

“We need to get them before they take to the air,” Fang said quietly.

“‘Specially since we ‘ave no idea where they’re goin’,” Alister sighed.

“You really are on a roll today, Alister,” Fang nodded.

“Fang,” Raven walked up to him, “We’re headed out.”

“Alright,” Fang looked at her, “We’ll catch up with you.”

Raven turned and ran in the direction of the airport. Penelope disappeared and appeared on a nearby roof. She disappeared again and appeared again further away.

Shadow walked to nearby wall. “I’m missing you already, Fang!”

Fang sighed and ignored him.

“Fang, Lumin got the door open!” Arisa called out as she waved out one of the windows. Lumin was trying to keep her quiet since what they were doing was illegal.

“Let’s get this over with so I can get paid,” Fang sighed.

The Turn: Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Turn

Chapter Twenty-Eight

~Someone’s Out There Watching~

Two Years Before The Turn

Chaud stood outside of the hotel where Fang and the others were staying. He smiled as the little smoke bomb that he sent up to one of the rooms, via room service, made its way safely. Chaud watched as the hotel was evacuated. He saw the one named Alister ranting about how it wasn’t his fault and that the food just exploded. The others didn’t seem to believe him. Chaud sighed with relief that he managed to send it to the right room. He had made an educated guess that Fang would have his own room from what he remembered reading about the man. He also did a little digging on the house that they lived in together. Apparently the boys were separated from the girls. After hacking into the hotel’s system he was able to find the three most recent rooms that were occupied. From there he made a reasonable guess.

He watched them carefully and how they interacted with each other. He noticed the youngest and the one with blue hair, Arisa and Lumin if his memory served him, talking to each other. Correction: the girl was doing most of the talking. Alister, he knew, was well known for blowing things up. Chaud looked carefully at the girl with the broken glasses. He would remember to tell Naru about Penelope. Raven and Shadow stood around Fang as he visibly tried to keep his emotions in check.

“Chaud,” Zara said through the earpiece in his ear.

“Yeah, what?” Chaud’s lips barely moved, “I’m a little busy.

“Oh sorry, Mr. I’ve-got-better-things-to-do-than-help-out,” Zara muttered, “I won’t bother you again.”

Zara walked from one thing to another. At one moment she looked over Naru’s shoulder trying to understand the computer code that scrolled across the screen. The next, she was instructing the others on their tasks.

Deontay was collecting any weapons and supplies they would need while Vicky pulled out any duffel bags she found to store them in. Hina sat beside her brother and tried to help out when she could.

Zara was in a hurry to get going. From what Chaud had told her, her team was being pursued by one of the best Black teams used by the Tower. Sirius wanted them back pretty badly and Zara was determined not to get caught before they had to be.

“I am helping out,” Chaud sighed, “I’m just doing some field research. I’ll be back soon. You want me to pick up groceries while I’m out?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cellphone and started recording. His eyes dropped from the scene in front of him to the screen.

 “No, Mr. Smarty-pants,” Zara said, “Just don’t blow your cover!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Chaud answered.

“Naru, what do you have?” Zara asked.

“Something about a thing called the Metamor,” He said casually as he typed at the computer.

Hina looked over her shoulder at Zara, “Apparently, it’s on some island somewhere. It never says.”

“Try to find a general location,” Chaud commented, “We can figure it out when we get in the air.”

Zara looked back at Deontay, “How is the packing?”

“Getting only what we need and can carry,” Deontay answered.

“It’s kind of weird,” Vicky stated, “We’re fighting against the people who really stopped Zero.”

Deontay nodded, “Pretty crazy, right? How did Chaud find out?”

“Who knows how he knows things,” Hina shrugged, “Frankly I don’t really care all that much. As long as he’s on our side, I’m good.”

“You do know I’m still listening right?” Chaud said as the others were talking about him.

“So how do you do it, man?” Deontay asked, “Where do you get all this info?”

“You know the saying ‘Curiosity killed the cat?’” Chaud glanced up from the camera.

Deontay walked with a back over his shoulder, “Yeah. What about it?”

“Don’t be the cat. I’d hate to have to kill you,” Chaud said with an eerie seriousness.

“Let’s not go killing each other just yet,” Zara jumped in.

“I was just giving fair warning,” Chaud said.

Zara looked at the computer screen, “Just get back here without getting spotted.”

“Roger,” Chaud turned off his earpiece so he could concentrate.

He looked at the screen. The fire department was at the scene now and had entered the building. They instructed people to stand back. Fang guided his group to the other side of the road. Chaud pulled down his hat so it covered more of his white hair. He took a mental note to dye it sometime.

Though the Black team members were no longer the subject of the recording, Chaud continued to record just like any teenager would do with a cell phone. He looked at the group through the corner of his eye.

“Alister!” Penelope groaned, “My computer was in there! Now it’s probably wet and shorted out! I was so close to finding their inside source too!”

Chaud raised an eyebrow. It would be safer to deter communication with Miwa from then on.

“But I didn’t do it! I swear!” Alister insisted.

“I leave you alone for two minutes and you manage to blow the place up,” Shadow sighed. He looked at Fang, “Oh, and those papers you wanted me to read. I was so frightened and startled that in the commotion I dropped them. Too bad they might be soaking wet by now…”

“Not now, Shadow,” Fang sounded dangerously angry, “Did you see anything, Lumin?”

Lumin shook his head.

Arisa raised her hand, “Lumin was with me in the hallway at the soda machine. The thing wouldn’t give me my quarter back!”

“What are we going to do?” Raven asked, “All our things are in there.”

“I could get it!” Penelope raised her hand, “I can pop in and pop out in no time flat!”

“No,” Fang sighed, “We’ll stay out here for now.”

Fang had and itch that he couldn’t quite scratch. There was something he felt he was missing. He looked around and saw a boy not too far away looking at the goings on. Fang narrowed his eyes. For a moment, the scene in front of him disappeared and the kid was walking down another street. This time his hat was off revealing his white hair and blue eyes. Fang came back and looked at the boy with a new light.

“Shoot,” Chaud put away his cell phone and made his exit.

He walked down the street. Chaud turned the corner and was lost from Fang’s direct sight. Fang looked at Shadow.

“Follow me,” he said to Shadow.

Shadow followed. The others stayed and looked curiously as Fang and Shadow walked off.

Chaud walked down a street and crossed to the other side to an alleyway. He needed a place to lie low before he could go back to where he and the others were hiding out. Shadow suddenly appeared from the alley wall. He smiled slyly.

“So, your Chaud, I presume,” Shadow said.

Chaud stopped and said nothing.

Fang stood in the mouth of the alley way, “Nice to finally meet you, Chaud.”

Chaud took a glance behind him. He said nothing. Chaud took off his hat and tossed it on to the ground.

Fang narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t read Chaud’s future actions though he tried. Fang walked closer to Chaud.

“Your father would very much like you home,” Fang stated.

“I don’t think I’m quite ready to head back just yet,” Chaud’s eyes turned gold as he shot his arm out at Shadow.

A bolt of electricity shot from his hand. Shadow managed to barely dodge the attack. He threw three daggers in Chaud’s direction. Chaud crouched and avoided the attack. Two wings grew from Chaud’s back and he jumped into the sky. Shadow disappeared into the wall and appeared on to the building roof. He looked around but saw no sight of the boy.

“Do you see him?” Fang asked from the alley.

“No,” Shadow responded, “It’s like he just disappeared.”

“We need to find them,” Fang stated, “Now.”

The Turn: Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Turn

Chapter Twenty-Seven

~Three Points~

Two Years Before The Turn

The driver walked off a plane on an airstrip. The driver looked around with indifferent eyes. In the distance was a large facility in the middle of the jungle. There were dirt roads that weaved to and from the facility. The driver straightened out his suit and walked to a limo that was barked nearby.

Other men dressed in black opened the door for him, “Is Master Scar with you today?”

“No,” the driver smiled, “not today. He had a prior engagement.”

The man let Scar inside. The limo drove to the facility and parked. The driver and the other men stepped out and walked to the front door. They walked in to a waiting room. The receptionist looked up at them with bored-to-death eyes and sighed. She pressed a button and the back wall opened.

The group walked onto a metal ledge. Below was an enormous aircraft similar to any fictional space mother ship. People were all over it with tools in hand. The driver looked over everything briefly and smiled.

“What is your status?” the driver asked.

“Nearly complete, sir,” one of the men answered.

“Good,” the driver walked along the edge of the wall, “The New Order will be able to come into being without too much trouble it seems.”

“Very good, indeed, sir,” the men answered.

They walked down some stairs and into a room. There were several people present typing away at computers. The driver looked behind him at the others.

“Are you getting supplies all right?” he asked.

One of the men nodded and answered, “There hasn’t been any issue.”

The driver narrowed his eyes, “Then why is that phantom Tower involved in our mission?”

The man had no answer.

The driver looked at one of the computers, “I say it’s time that they learn their place,” he muttered to himself.

“What was that, sir?”

“Nothing,” the driver walked out of the room, “When do you think that the Metamor will be ready?”

“With in the month, sir,” can an answer.

The driver smiled, “I’ll report all of this to Scar. I’m glad with the—I mean—I’m sure the master will be very pleased.”

“We are glad to be able to serve the New Order.”

The driver looked at them, “Let’s hope it stays that way. I’d hate for something unfortunate to happen to any one of you. Accidents happen.”

His eyes fell on a red haired man. The driver smiled and the man shifted with unease.  The driver left the room and the others followed. As they walked something fell from above falling on the man with red hair. The others jumped out of the way. The man with red hair lay dead on the floor, a concrete block dropped on his head. The driver looked up, a silhouette of a man walking away from the edge of an industrial catwalk. The other men looked around wondering how something like that could happen. The driver shrugged it off.

“Accidents happen,” he said and walked away from the mess.

“Aren’t you going to do something?” one of the men asked.

The driver stopped and turned, “I’m the driver not the maid.”

IOIOIOIOI

Zara sighed, “So what do you plan to do?”

Chaud leaned against a wall and shrugged, “I need time to think about it.”

“Alright,” Zara was quiet for a moment.

Chaud could sense her hitting a mental wall. He filed through the archive of his mind and tried to connect the dots on how to get them out of the situation they were in. It wasn’t going to be easy outsmarting a Black team.

“Naru said something about a secret project on an island, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, so?” Zara looked annoyed.

“Well, the Tower doesn’t know anything about it right? So I say he high tail it over there before Fang and his team figure out we’re here.”

“Oh and I guess next you’ll suggest that we call the local cab company and they won’t notice,” the sarcasm in her voice was thick.

“I didn’t say I was done,” Chaud stuck out his tongue, “Besides everyone knows you can’t get to an island by cab! Seriously! I was thinking bigger.”

“Bigger?” Zara questioned.

“Yeah…like Boeing bigger.

Zara shook her head, “We’re going to fly there by air?”

“Kinda,” Chaud rubbed the back of his head, “more like try to steal it.”

IOIOIOIOI

Fang found a decent looking hotel. As usual, he had a room to himself and the others were split in two other rooms. He sat looking at the files of all the members of Zara’s team. Fang had a good grasp on each of their personalities and had almost figured out their most likely course of action. After reading several of their mission reports, he had a deep look in their tactics.

There was a knock on the door and Shadow walked in. Fang gave him barely any notice as Shadow looked over Fang’s shoulder.

“Penelope has those plans you wanted. She’s started trying to track down Chaud’s friend on the inside.”

“That’s good,” Fang stated as he closed and stacked all the folders.

“So what is our game plan?” Shadow asked, “Are we going to smoke them out? Go in guns blazing? Level the entire city? What?”

“We have to find them first,” Fang glared at him, “Then I think we’ll wait until Chaud makes his move.”

“And that move would be…” Shadow looked slightly disappointed.

“I don’t know,” Fang stated.

Shadow crossed his arms, “Are you having another panic attack like when Arisa got kidnapped? If you are, you are actually taking it very well.”

Fang pointed at the folders, “They are actually very…unpredictable. I figured the best course of action is to let them make the first move and counter them. Then we back them into a corner.”

“I don’t know,” Shadow bravely stated, “I feel like they would fight back harder in a back-against-the-wall situation.”

Fang narrowed his eyes.

“You really need to stop that,” Shadow said as he walked out, “You’re at the age when you can start to get wrinkles.”

As Shadow closed the door, Fang couldn’t shake the urge to strangle the man. Instead, however, he sighed and called Shadow back. Shadow poked his head from behind the door.

“You called?” his eyes had a mischievous sparkle in them.

Fang handed him the piles of folders, “Read through these tonight.”

Shadow looked at the stack, “All of them?”

Fang sighed with annoyance. Shadow grabbed the folders and looked down at them.

“Really, though,” Shadow fingered through a folder, “there are, like, a trillion pages here.”

“Is that a problem?” Fang looked at him, “I was under the impression that you were educated enough to read.”

Shadow shrugged, “What if I said I never made it past third grade English?”

“You’re reading it anyway,” Fang growled.

Shadow took that as his cue to leave, “Fine, fine.”

Fang walked into the bathroom as Shadow closed the room to his door. He leaned against the sink and paused a moment. Fang looked up at the mirror. His eye caught sight of a hair that was white at the root but otherwise was black. He wasn’t getting any younger and the others weren’t helping things.

At that moment there was a loud pop came from the men’s hotel room. The sprinklers turned on and the fire alarm blared. Alister was screaming that it wasn’t his fault. Fang looked up at the pouring water and wondered when he would ever catch a break.