Orso Fiction 054

Orso Fiction Chapter 054-The Niners
“Taaatsu…”, Nick Seese began to whine, his chin on his desk. “I’m booored.”

The mongoose, his chin also on Nick’s desk, made a whining squeak.

“Bradley gets all the good missions.”, Nick went on. “Him and Hellstorm…they take all the fun.”

Tatsu made a chattering sound that would make a man’s blood run cold if he was just meeting Tatsu for the first time.

“When are they going to come back?”, Nick continued. “I was going to fight Hellstorm again today…Probably jump him while he was eating or something. Hell, I just want to fight SOMEONE fun.”

Tatsu squeaked once.

“That’s stupid.”, Nick said. “Connect Four isn’t fighting.”

“Hey, keep it down.”, a voice from the top of his cabinet demanded. Both looked up to see Kelley Magee, on her back, eyes closed.

“Wh-what are you doing on my cobra cabinet?”, Nick asked. Tatsu leapt onto his hind feet, pointing an accusatory paw at her, chattering loudly.

“I’m trying to sleep.”, Kelley answered, annoyed, not opening her eyes. “I’m not taking your cobras…stupid mongoose.”

“But…but you can’t sleep here! I’ve heated this room beyond what the human body can handle for more than a few minutes, for my training! If you just come in here and sleep, you’ll die!”

Kelley rolled over to face Nick, and opened one eye. Nick felt his heart skip at least three beats. The resulting lack of oxygen flow to his brain caused some permanent damage, but probably nothing too serious.

“You call this hot?”, the girl asked, a little amused. “I’m Kelley Magee. I wrote the book on hot.”

“You seem pretty tough.”

“I am.”

“How about you fight me, then?”

“Don’t waste my time.”, Kelley chuckled, rolling back over. “I just came in here to catch a nap. Your room was closest.”

Kelley yawned once, and began to sleep soundly. Nick looked to Tatsu.

“We don’t get any respect.”, he said sadly. Tatsu patted his partner on his shoulder.

---

Eddie Higgins, Mary Reiter, Andrew Glaser, and Thomas Haden all sat back, breathing a sigh of relief.

“It’s finally complete.”, Mary murmured. “I can hardly believe we did it.”

“We had my genius mind working on this, remember.”, Eddie chuckled. “Of course it’s finished.”

“I think that’s WHY she’s surprised.”, Andrew quipped.

“Are you still here? Damnit, Andrew, go away!”, Eddie shouted. Andrew sighed, and began the trek back to his lab.

“A barrier that will only block the people who made the Apostles from entering…”, Mary said. “It’s perfect.”

“Almost perfect.”, Eddie sighed. “If I tried to keep it from allowing the Apostles in, it would block the Guardians, since it’s their DNA the Apostles were cloned from. I think Zach would disapprove of not being allowed in his own base.”

“Yeah, he probably wouldn’t like that.”, Thomas agreed, nodding wisely. “Now, can I have my control room back?”

“Who the hell ARE you?”, Eddie asked.

“I’m Thomas.”, the bespectacled boy replied. “I work here. With you. Specifically. I’m one of the techies…so I do security work…with you.”

“I have no idea who you are.”, Eddie said, squinting. “But I don’t like the sass you’re giving me.”

“But…but you took my happy place…”, Thomas began, a little concerned with the manic look in Eddie’s eyes. “I just wanted to watch more Fairy Tail on the big monitors…”

“Out! Out, out, out!”, Eddie shouted, throwing Eddie the penguin at him. Thomas yelped as he ran from the room. Eddie the penguin hit the wall with a sickening splat.

The penguin slid to the floor, and brushed himself off. Missed again. He’d get them next time.

---

Nate Mercer swallowed another gallon of rattlesnake venom. He was still hurting from his fight with the Apostles a few days before, but he hadn’t accepted any medical treatment.

“Damnit…”, he murmured into his barrel. “What am I doing…This is no time to be sitting here like an ass…”

“I’m doing it.”, Jacob Jones told him cheerfully from across the bar. Nate looked up and raised an eyebrow.

“But…you’re not Nate ‘The Fucking Bomb’ Mercer.”

“Did you make that nickname up yourself?”

“Yes, but I had help getting all the syllables in the right order.”

“I…don’t know if that means someone else gave you that name for being, as you said ‘the fucking bomb’, or because you’re an idiot.”

Nate took another swig.

“Yeah…Me neither, kid. Me neither. All I know is that there’s a whole lot of shitty going on outside, and if us upperclassmen to the Primo can’t do anything, who can?”

“Maybe you upperclassmen are overrated.”, JJ suggested. “I mean, I’d never heard of most of you. How good could you be?”

“But…but you’re a fucking hipster.”, Nate mused. “Don’t you love things people haven’t heard of?”

“Eh. All I’m saying is, maybe you’re hot shit, but I’m not seeing you prove it.”

“OH YEAH!?”, Nate shouted, overturning his barrel. The room was flooded with rattlesnake venom. “Oops. Whatever. You want me to prove that us upperclassmen are hot shit? I’ll show you we’re hot shit. We’re going to be such hot shit…that…you’ll try to stomp us out…because we’re on fire. Which is hot. And then you’ll have shit on your shoe. Boom. I just got you with the oldest trick in the book, ya hipster. Look it up sometime. You’ll find it in a library ABOVE ground.”

Nate paused to put on his red cape, and dramatically turned, walking out of the bar. JJ smiled. It was about time he left. There’s nothing sadder than a man lamenting his weakness when he could be training.

---

Kate Hansen leaned back in her chair after a long day of research. This Infinito Family was worrying her, and the databases the Orso had access to were very limited.

“Got anything to eat in here?”, she heard a voice say from her doorway. She turned to see Adam Podskalny.

“Um…Yeah. I’ve got some chips, if you’re hungry.”, Kate told him. “You know we have a kitchen, right?”

“Yeah…But I kind of wanted to talk to someone, too.”, Adam said. “Ed went to go take a nap, and Mike’s still gone, so I was wandering around, and got hungry.”

“Oh…Alright. Yeah, go ahead, grab some chips..”

“Thanks.”, Adam said, ruffling through her supply. He sat beside her, already eating. “What’s this?”

“It’s a mafia database the Orso has access to…for some reason. I asked Zach about it, and he told me that he found the access code where he found the blueprints for the Primo Box Animals.”

“Huh. Well, are you looking for anything in particular?”

“Well, now that we’ve learned the Apostles were created by the Infinito Family, I thought it would be good to look into them.”

“What does it have to say?”

“Not much at all.”, Kate said, turning the screen to him. “Here it is. They’re a mafia family made up of only seven members, which goes to show how strong they are, because they completely erased the Issumatar Family to win their spot in the Elite Eight. There are names, but they’re almost certainly fake.”

“Why is that?”

“None of them have any last name, which is a big red light, but even more than that…Right here.”

“What am I looking at? So they’re foreign names, whatever.”

“Not foreign names, foreign words. Arashi. Oozaru. Hare. Kaminari. Ame. Kiri. Kumo. Those are the Japanese words for the seven kinds of Dying Will Flames. Storm, Sky, Sun, Thunder, Rain, Mist, Cloud.”

“Oh, I see…”, Adam said, reaching into the bag again. “So they’re so secretive, this database doesn’t even have their real names, and only has their code names?”

“They’re complete dark horses.”, Kate murmured. “No one knows how strong they are, because they annihilated the Issumatar, and since there haven’t been any reasons for the Elite Eight to meet since they became members, they’re complete mysteries to even the top mafia in the world.”

“And these are the guys who picked a fight with us?”

“Yep. Never a dull moment, right?”

“It’s a little intimidating…”, Adam admitted, reaching in for another handful.

“I’m not too concerned.”, Kate said with a reassuring smile. “Isn’t Mike coming back with the Arcoferro today? With that, we’ll have an extra ace that the Infinito don’t. In fact, according to this database, the only living people with Arcoferro weapons nowadays are the new leaders of the Maestoso Family.”

“Right, yeah, Mike is bringing them back.”, Adam said, his smile growing. “And we have the Arcobaleno on our side to train the Guardians for a whole year.”

“Yep.”, Kate agreed. “Who would have thought Cockley or Perouty or the others would be so powerful? I was shocked when I learned about them. It was a real weird time, back then.”

“Zach was just forming the family when he found out, wasn’t he?”, Adam asked.

“Yep. And that’s when the trouble with those Liberty guys started…”

“Well, I’m glad that’s over.”, Adam said, nodding. “Anyway, thanks a lot, I’m going to head out now.”

The boy strolled out, taking the chips with him. Kate smiled after him. The underclassmen were so adorable when they were nervous.

---

“It’s been a few hours.”, Matt Iannone said, sitting, Pallas on his shoulder. Hannah Thompson rolled her eyes.

“And you’ve been worried all those hours.”, she replied. “Relax. They’re the Primos. They know what they’re doing.”

“Yeah…I hope you’re right.”

Hannah smacked the back of Matt’s head.

“I just said they did.”, she said, getting up. “If you’re so worried, help me burn off steam in the training room.”

“Nah…I’m just going to stay here. We both know I can’t fight you.”

“Whatever.”, Hannah said, walking off. Pallas turned to Matt and hooted, a little peeved.

“What? I can’t!”

Pallas pecked his face.

---

Alex Antolick laid on top of Century, sunbathing, now that the snow had stopped. His cell began to go off, and he lazily reached for it.

“Yo.”, he answered. Slowly, a grin spread across his face. “You got it, bro. I’ll tell the smiths to get their gear warmed up. What? You want HOW many rooms ready for new members? Alright, alright. Yeah, they’ll be ready by the time you get back, Bradley.”

---

They entered quietly. Quietly, that is, except for how Bradley kicked down the secret door and shouted “We’re back! That one makes three!” Because this was a common enough occurrence in the base, Olivia Webb, seated next to the door, snapped her fingers, and the broken door revealed itself to be an illusion, the real door already open. Bradley turned around and squinted at her.

“You won’t fool me next time.”, he told her.

“That’s what you say every time.”, she answered. “And it always works.”

Bradley huffed, and began walking further into the base.

“I’m taking the Arcoferro to the Ferraro brothers.”, Taylor announced, but Vincenzo put his hand on her shoulder.

“No need. Edmondo and I are going that way as it is.”, he told her, taking the bag of Arcoferro from her hands. “We’ll start immediately.”

“How long will it take?”

“We’ll know when we start.”

“Good luck, then. Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure.”

Vincenzo and Edmondo, slightly beaten up, but much better now, thanks to Paige’s treating the, began the walk down to their workspace.

“You don’t have to be nervous.”, Taylor said. “Come on in.”

Slowly, Adelina stepped inside the base, Rosangela behind her, followed by the other Roses.

“I can’t believe I’m here…”, Adelina said, a little angry, but mostly tired.

“It can’t be helped, Adel.”, Nerina told her. “We had to come here.”

“I don’t think I’ll mind that much…”, Raimonda said thoughtfully. Nicole Roberts turned to her and smiled.

“Yuck.”, Malvolia said simply. “I’m not a fan.”

“It…makes for a good fresh start.”, Ernesta said.

“She’s got a point.”, Orabella said. “This is at least somewhere to call home. And the people…”

Orabella looked at Paige, and couldn’t help but smile.

“If Miss Jess didn’t let us come here, that mean man would have taken you away.”, Rosangela told Adelina. The girl looked down at her little sister, and sighed.

“Then I suppose I’m lucky.”, she said. “Alright. I won’t complain.”

She turned to Taylor.

“If I’m a member of your family, I want to do it all the way.”, she told her. “I want to be doing the same work you do. From now on, I will be one hundred percent a member of the Orso Family. I won’t accept handouts. I want to earn my place here.”

“Of course.”, Taylor laughed. “The kitchen’s only open to active members. Jess, help the girls into their rooms, please.”

Jess motioned for the girls to follow her, but Rosangela turned away, looking back through the door.

“Fausty!”, she called. “I’ll see you around!”

The boy slowly wheeled his way into the room, grinning sheepishly.

“Sorry, sorry, I was admiring the pictures in the hallway…”, he admitted. “And I’ll see you around, Rosie. Have fun wandering the base!”

The other Skulls followed him, and waved along with him as the girl turned and skipped after her sisters.

“I was forced to take those girls by a magic, emotionless policeman debating justice with a metalsmith with an eyepatch.”, Taylor told Bradley. “What’s the story with these guys?”

Bradley shrugged.

“Things happened. We made friends.”

Taylor grinned.

“You’re as soft as Zach.”, she chided him. “Did Scott already go?”

“Yeah, he went back to Liberty to talk to the other Advisors.”, Bradley said. “Didn’t even want to come to the party.”

“Speaking of parties.”, Mike Fornaro began. “I think that I should have a party in honor of me, because I won my fight with that Storm chick. Probably in three days or so. Yeah, three days from now, we’re going to party in my honor.”

“Right, whatever.”, Matt Carney chuckled. “Just be happy you got a full fight, and not a disappointment like I did.”

“Was there a problem with how we fought?”, Baldovino laughed. “Because we can redo it. ANY TIME you want, buddy.”

“None of this idiocy.”, Placido said harshly. “We’re not here to start a war.”

“It seems like the first thing we’ll be doing here is help end one, actually.”, Valerio said with a smile.

“Who’re the victims?”, Guerino asked, flexing his admittedly exhausted muscles. “I want at ‘em.”

“A group called the Apostles.”, Severo said. “Who are part of the Infinito Family.”

“B-but we can take them.”, Alphonso said. Faustino smiled up at him.

“Osvaldo might have been a terrible person…but he did make nice Box Animals.”, he said. He held up a little orange box. “Like this one.”

“Did you steal that off of Osvaldo’s body?”, Bradley asked. Then he grinned. “Damn, I wish I had been conscious. That was totally my idea! Two lion boxes! Do you know how cool I’d be like that?!”

“Do…you want it?”, Faustino offered. Baldovino smacked him on the back of the head.

“You’re too nice, ya idiot!”, he chided him.

Bradley shook his head, laughing. “It’s yours. I’m just joking. Did you take his knife, too?”

“No…The knife was gone.”, Faustino said. “It dissolved into black sand.”

“Maybe those weapons break when their owner dies.”, Taylor said. “Because Sonia had a lance that did the same thing.”

“Well, we’ll just have to ask Berenger, won’t we?”, Laura Wise asked. “After all, he was their brother. It makes sense that he’ll have one just like it, if it’s a family thing.”

Rachel Larkin said nothing, but looked at Juno’s box and smiled. She had done it. The secret to the Primo boxes that only a few of them had ever used, she had unlocked. The Balance Deisoul was hers, now.

“Well, Adrien, can you get these guys rooms for me?”, Bradley asked. The Cloud Officer nodded, and took the boys along with her.

“I guess this means we’ve completed this mission.”, Taylor sighed.

“Shame we did it so much better than you.”, Bradley said, yawning. “None of my team lost once.”

“We fought a demon from the inside of a tortured girl’s mind.”, Taylor countered. “Your big victory was against an old guy with a cool knife.”

“And you fought an old lady with flower power.”

“You want to settle this the usual way?”, Taylor laughed. “The record stands at 49 victories for you, and 49 victories for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright.”, Bradley said. “We’ll go at it once we’ve all rested up a little bit.”

“Jeez…”, Allison Boyd murmured. “Already, they’re going at it.”

“Like children.”, Sabra Bushey sighed.

“Well, it helps them burn off stress.”, Paige Lewis said, smiling. “And its good practice for us.”

“Whatever you say, Paige.”, Nicole Roberts groaned. “I’m too tired to think about another contest…”

“What will it be this time? Sumo wrestling? An obstacle course?”, Megan Etheridge laughed. “I’m looking forward to it. They might be stupidly competitive, but at least it makes for a fun afternoon.”

“Maybe I’ll talk to Scott tonight.”, Hayley mused. “He’s the one who comes up with the contests…Maybe I can talk him into picking Rock-Paper-Scissors this time…”

---

Scott sighed, looking to the horizon from Liberty’s roof. The robot that had come after him went down too easily. His Sky Gorilla sat beside him, happily eating a pile of bananas. Scott patted the beast’s shoulders.

“Janus, things aren’t what they seem here.”, Scott said aloud. “Something tells me…those two were planning something…and we fell into some kind of trap.”

Janus looked at Scott, studying his pained, thoughtful expression. Then he offered him a banana.

---

Bradley and Taylor, for the moment, had agreed to disagree, and went down to the Ferraros’ lab, where the brothers were beginning to set everything up. The seven pieces of metal sat on a round table with runes written all over it. The runes began as a circle around the metals, but then stretched out, connected to the others. Each sibling had their weapon out. Tammaro placed his knife beside the red Arcoferro, Vincenzo placed his spear beside the orange, Sansone placing his gloves beside the yellow, Arudino placing his boomerang by the green, Frediano placing the crossbow by the blue, Narciso placing his nunchuks by the indigo, and Edmondo’s axe resting beside the purple. A vial of blood, carefully labeled, sat next to each metal. Vincenzo looked up to see the two first.

“We’re almost ready to begin.”, he told them. “But I expect you’re going to question us as to how exactly we’ll be doing it.”

“Guilty.”, Taylor admitted.

“I just want to see awesome weapons get made.”, Bradley said.

“Then you’re in the right place, dude.”, the confident Tammaro boasted. “We’re not the sons of the world’s greatest metalsmith for nothing, you know.”

“I’ll take the explanation!”, the excitable and talkative Sansone volunteered. “See, as you know, the first Arcoferro weapons were made by the first man to be called ‘Ferraro’. He was given the name by the man who received the weapons, the first boss of the Devino Family. They’re very rare by themselves, but they can only be crafted in a set of one of each of their colors. In addition, it takes a very high level of skill to properly create them. There are five main requirements for creating an Arcoferro weapon.”

“If we don’t stop you, you’ll talk forever, Sansone.”, the reserved Arduino said softly. “The five requirements are as follows. First, we need a set of seven Arcoferro, in the seven different colors. Second, we need a sample of the blood of the individual the weapon is meant for. Third, we need the runes the first Ferraro developed, to release the real power of the metals. Fourth, we need tools…”

Frediano, the somber brother, motioned to their weapons laying on the table.

“Arcoferro will only bend to metals that either rival or surpass their power, like the qualifications for cutting a diamond. Our weapons are made of what is commonly considered a lower-quality version of Arcoferro, found in the Ferraro Family’s mines. The metal is called Gemsteel. What many do not know about the Gemsteel weapons given to Ferraro children to signify their promotion to journeyman metalsmiths is that-“

“Hold a moment.”, Narciso, the pensive brother. “Won’t Father be angry at us if we reveal family secrets?”

“I’ll tell them.”, Edmondo, the prideful brother, said simply. “The Gemsteel weapons are not meant to be weapons at all…but crafting aids.”

Slowly, the seven weapons began to glow brightly, appearing to soften. Edmondo reached out to touch his, and it wiggled, like Jell-O. A spark of purple flame ran through it, and it wrapped around his hands, forming a set of purple gauntlets.

“These gauntlets will let us…battle…with the metal. We may only craft it once we have earned its respect, and then, to one using Gemsteel gauntlets, it should be simple to manipulate it with our hands.”, Edmondo continued. “There is one more requirement for the construction of the Arcoferro.”

“Yes…”, Vincenzo, the fair one, murmured. “The fifth requirement is a smith with the formula for creating the Arcoferro sealed into their body and memory. It is traditionally only sealed into one child…but Father has been trying to break that code his whole life. He sees creating only one proper heir to the family as the reason Osvaldo and Sonia turned their backs on the pride of the family. So, our father sealed one seventh of the Arcoferro design formula into each of our bodies, so that we could share the process, and have all seven of us capable of creating them.”

“I bet the elders in your family don’t like that.”, Taylor said. Vincenzo chuckled.

“They hate it.”, he told her. “But they can’t argue with the man who is shaping the future of the family, and the mafia world. He’s already created one set of Arcoferro, collected this set for us, and he’s nowhere near retiring.”

“He sounds like a pretty amazing guy…”, Bradley thought aloud. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Taylor nodded, remembering how Berenger had stood up to Darklaw of the Vendice.

“Now…we’re about to begin.”, Vincenzo said. “So I ask that you let us concentrate. This room will not be safe for those not involved. At the end of the first day, we will be able to tell you how long the process will take.”

“Good luck.”, Taylor said, bowing her head. “And thank you.”

As the two walked out, the Ferraro brothers began to change their Gemsteel weapons into the gloves.

“Today, brothers, we shape the mafia world, and the future of our noble family.”, Vincenzo said. “Let us recite the prayer of Giorgio Ferraro, the founder of our family, as he did when he crafted the first Arcoferro for the founder of the Devino Family, -“

The heavy door shut, and no more could be heard from inside.

---

Bradley sat back in his chair. It had been a long day, and he was about ready to take a break. His eyes closing.

“Hello, Bradley.”, a chilling voice came from his side. Bradley opened one eye and turned slightly, looking into the face of Alex Carroll. “How are things?”

---

Zeke smiled. Just as planned. He closed his eyes as a memory not his flashed through his mind. This had been happening ever since he touched Zach’s hand, one month ago. Bits and pieces of Zach’s life would flash through his mind. His memories, his thoughts, his dreams, his desires, his fears, his insecurities. If Zeke tried hard enough, he could scan through an entire day of Zach’s life in an hour.

“So that’s how you met Bradley?”, Zeke murmured. “How interesting…You’re providing me with so much amusement…and so…so…so, many secrets…You’re just covered in weaknesses, Zachy…”

---

“What brings you here?”, Bradley asked, one eye open, but keeping a deadly glare on Alex. It was a pain, to be so serious, but now, it was required.

“Orders.”, Alex replied.

“Oh? How curious, that Zach’s been keeping up communication with you, and not any of the rest of us.”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m not talking about Zach. Zeke ordered me here. The security here is really lackluster, isn’t it?”

“So it’s official, then? You’ve turned on us.”

“I thought it was obvious, but yes.”, Alex answered, lifting his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of a bear with a sword through it. “I work for the Apostles now.”

“Well…”, Bradley said, as something caught his attention on his desk. He paid it a second’s notice, and then turned back to Alex. “Then you’re an enemy, I believe I shouldn’t allow you in my office any longer.”

“I came to say one thing, and then I’ll be gone.”, Alex said, seeming to grow less rigid. “You…Zach…and Trevor. The three of you, I respect highly. The three of you, I think would be a match for me in a fight. If you pursue me, I’ll show you why that’s not idle boasting.”

“State your business, then.”, Bradley said, reaching for his box. “Fast.”

“The Apostles have officially changed their plans.”, Alex informed him. “We will be attacking Century in three days, rather than eleven months from now.”

“Seems like Zeke is rushing.”, Bradley said quietly. Alex shrugged.

“Think whatever you like.”, Alex told him. “But thinking won’t stop the battle.”

“If that’s all you had to say, I recommend you leave the way you came.”

“I recommend you send for the Guardians.”, Alex said. “I don’t want to see Zach come back to a base full of corpses too late to help. I’d rather him arrive in time to fall alongside them.”

“I said…Get out.”, Bradley said, opening his box. Uranus the lion leapt out, growling at the boy, who smiled casually.

“Later, then. Three days from now, actually.”, Alex said, as he faded into indigo mist. “Maybe we’ll be able to formally decide which of us would have won, if we had started fighting.”

When he was gone, Bradley sat back in his chair. What a mess.

---

“Well?”, Zeke asked. Alex sat, back turned to him. “Will they be there?”

“They’ll be there.”, Alex told him. “Bradley will always bend to letting Zach risk himself for the sake of the family. It’s a weakness of their bond.”

“Perfect.”, Zeke said, a smile growing even larger. “Then it looks like all the important guests will make it to the party…”

---

Bradley hung the phone up. If the Guardians were gone, and the Officers and Agents were exhausted, there was only one group he could trust to complete this job perfectly.

Suddenly, Bradley’s door fell over, snapped off its hinges with a massive boot.

“You rang?!”, Mike Conway shouted.

“You know only I get to do that.”, Bradley said, resting his elbows on his desk, his fingertips touching, looking at the broken door. “That’s one of my gags.”

“What’s the story, Commander?”, Kevin Holt asked, putting a hand on Mike’s shoulder to calm him down before he argued with Bradley.

“We have less time than we thought we did.”, Bradley told them. “We need the Guardians back immediately.”

“Then call them.”, Ame Roberts told him. “Simple enough solution.”

“If it was that easy, we wouldn’t be here.”, Sarah Candland told her, rolling her eyes.

“You’re right, Sarah.”, Bradley said, rummaging through his desk. “The Arcobaleno took the Guardians to very remote locations, where the first Devino Guardians trained. They are considered mafia holy hands. You won’t find them on any map, and they’re guarded against those who don’t know what they’re going to, not appearing unless you know about it. Kind of like Hogwarts.”

“And cell phones won’t work there?”, Carly Reed asked.

“Nope.”, Bradley answered. “But the Arcobaleno did write out where they’d be, along with the password to get through the barrier.”

“So you want us to get in, get them, and get out?”, Jenny Bosse asked. “Sounds simple enough.”

“Yes…but it’s important enough to merit extra caution, which is why I enlisted you seven. The seven strongest members of the Class of ’09. The seven that Zach took his inspiration from.”

He began handing out the sheets of paper he had found.

“Kevin, you’re in charge of getting Zach and Mr. Cockley back. Ame, you’ll be finding Amy and Miss Sotir. Mike, you’ll be looking for Maggie and Miss Adelmann. Carly, you’re after Charlie and Miss Perouty. Sarah, you’re chasing after Stacie and Mrs. Dorwart. Jenny, you have Katie and Mr. McHugh…Where…where is your seventh?”

Kevin shrugged.

“Who can say? That one’s always ready for a party, though, so I doubt we’ll leave without the whole team intact.”

“Well, alright.”, Bradley said, nodding, handing him the information meant for the seventh of them. “But that one will be after Trevor and Mr. Delise.”

“Aye-aye.”, Kevin told him. “You can count on us.”

“I know.”, Bradley laughed. “It’s actually in the instructions Zach left me. ‘In case everything else is screwed over, you can count on the Niners.”

“HOLD IT!”, a voice from behind them shouted. They all turned to see Mike Fornaro, out of breath. “I heard a door getting kicked down, so I thought I’d check it out, but you’re giving such an important mission to these guys?! They’re nowhere near as good as us! Come on, Bradley! The Class of 2010 can do this, no problem!”

“You look half-dead, kid.”, Ame told him. Mike grinned.

“Me at half-dead is more alive than most people will ever be.”, he told her. “You want proof? I’ll show you that you chumps are overrated, romanticized, incompetent, u--“

It was only in the next few seconds that he realized that Mike Conway’s fist had reached his stomach at that point. By that point, he had already fallen to the ground, his entire body ringing with the worst pain he had ever felt, paralyzed from the agony. He would stay this way for about an hour.

“You didn’t need to do that.”, Sarah sighed. Mike Conway smiled at her.

“He was loud.”, he replied. “And Jenny, wasn’t he about to say ‘ugly’?”

“…Yes.”, Jenny admitted. “He was about to call us ugly.”

“And you know how angry Zach would be if he heard he said that about you.”, Mike laughed. Sarah rolled her eyes.

“I know, I know.”

“I call it an act of mercy, that I kept him from finishing his sentence.”, Mike Conway said, smiling down at Mike Fornaro, who was struggling to say anything at all.

But he couldn’t be angry.

That was the strangest thing.

Something was keeping him from being angry.

“You’re such a pain, Conway.”, Sarah told her. “Come on; let’s go get our seventh…before you put someone into a coma.”

---

The seventh Niner stretched out further on Century’s roof, eyes closed behind large sunglasses. The weather was just too nice to do anything productive today.

“Hey.”, Kevin said softly, leaping up beside his last team member too fast for the eye to follow only a second earlier. “We’ve got a mission.”

“I’m not interested. Today’s too perfect.”, the sunbather told him. Kevin smiled.

“You sure? Because your part of the job is to find a Mister ‘Trevor Etheridge’ and bring him back home.”

The sunbather chuckled to herself, and began to sit up.

“Why didn’t you say so before?”, Marisa Etheridge asked, removing her sunglasses. “I’ve been missing that little weakling I call a brother. Let’s go.”

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