Orso Fiction 019

Orso Fiction 019-Lunch Date (Part 2 of 2)
Zeke smiled innocently at Alex and Brittney.

“Well?”, he asked. “Would you like that?”

The two looked at each other, and wordlessly came to an answer.

“No, thank you.”, Alex said. “I think that’d hurt Zach’s pride, if we let you help us.”

“Well, if you say so.”, Zeke said, taking another bite of his bagel. He didn’t speak as he was chewing. “The offer’s always there, if you find yourself struggling.”

“I think we’ll be fine.”, Alex said.

---

“Tatsu!”, Nick Seese shouted. “Let’s finish this up quick, alright, buddy?”

The mongoose growled at Baldovino, who laughed.

“Funny little guy, ain’t he?”, he said. “Looks awful intelligent, too.”

“He certainly is.”, Nick said, smiling despite himself. “Tatsu’s a Box Animal unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”

Baldovino laughed again.

“Like nothing I’ve ever seen, huh? Yeah…I’ve got one of them too.”, he said, moving his hand over his heart.

“Baku!”, Michael shouted, releasing his Cloud Falcon. The bird shot at Baldovino, who dodged in time. “Nick, you’re really the most irresponsible idiot I’ve ever worked with. You don’t chat with your enemies, you hit them fast.”

“Wow, Placido!”, Baldovino shouted up to his partner. “This guy’s an even bigger stick in the mud than you!”

“Mike, I can handle these two.”, Nick said, laughing. “We’re Secondo Varia, we’re top of the line.”

“Can’t you be serious for just this fight?”, Mike sighed. “Baku! Cambio Forma! Nimbo Bomba!”

The falcon turned and perched on Mike’s finger. It began to glow purple, and changed its shape. A boomerang fell into his hand. At the center of the light grey weapon was a purple gem with the white Roman numerals “II”

“That’s new…”, Nick said. “I’ve never seen you switch to Cambio Forma so quickly.”

“Nick, can’t you read how strong these two are?”, Mike asked. “Cambio Forma is the bare minimum for this fight.”

Baldovino laughed once more.

“Animals that turn into weapons? That’s niiice.”, he said smoothly. “That’s…almost as nice as what we do.”

“Baldovino, must you keep referencing the Hell Holes?”, Placido asked. “If you’re going to use it, use it.”

“You’re no fun at all.”, Baldovino said. “But, fine. If it’ll make my ‘cido happy…”

He lifted his shirt, revealing a muscular body covered in scars and old burns. Over his heart, implanted into his body, was a red box. He pushed his lit Storm ring into it, and he suddenly began to glow red. Slowly, his body began to change.

Tori, gaining consciousness now, looked up.

“No…no, not now…”, she murmured. “Nick! Mike! He’s becoming an animal!”

“Oh, you’re awake…”, Placido said. “You’re quite sturdy, then. Baldovino’s a notorious brute, he has no concept of how strong he is.”

“That’s not true!”, Baldovino said from within the red flames covering him. “I know exactly how strong I am.”

The flames faded, and revealed Baldovino’s body covered in red scales. A tail crept out from the top of his pants, his teeth and nailswere notably longer and sharper, and his eyes were dilated.

“I know if I hit as hard as I can, people die.”, he sneered.

“So unsophisticated.”, Placido said. “Finish quickly.”

“Starting to feel it yet, Seese?”, Mike asked.

“Kreinar…of course I do. I always did, I just didn’t want to look as lame as you...”, Nick replied.

“You’re an ass.”, Mike said.

“I do what I can.”, Nick said. “Tatsu! Should we show Baku what a REAL Cambio Forma looks like?!”

Tatsu squeaked, jumping onto Nick’s shoulder, and glowing red. Tatsu fell into Nick’s hands in his slingshot form.

“Ciclone Predatore…”, Nick began. “Shall we finish this up quickly, Mike?”

“Let’s.”

---

“Well, their funeral.”, Micaiah said, standing up. “Are we done here?”

“Oh, Micaiah, settle down.”, Zeke said lazily. “These are DELICIOUS, we should share them with our friends.”

“If they won’t accept our offers, they’re as good as dead to us.”, Micaiah retorted. “I’m going to the bathroom. Will you be ready to leave by the time I’m out?”

“Oh, you’re so pushy, my little devil…”, Zeke said flirtatiously. “Well, friends, I suppose that’s all the time she’ll let me have. We’ll chat about the OTHER deal I have for you two, until she’s back…”

Micaiah walked off, yawning.

“Other deal?”, Brittney asked.

“Exactly. Alex, what do you think I want out of you? You must have thought about it.”, Zeke answered.

“You want the Orso to collapse, so you can sleep soundly knowing that Zach has nothing, as you gain everything.”, Alex said. “What are you driving at?”

“Well, I SHOULD just make the ultimate deal now…Why don’t you just leave the Orso behind, and start fresh?”

---

“This can’t be happening…”, Kelly murmured.

“This is bad, right?”, Matt asked.

“The fact they’re meeting alone, is awful, Matt.”, Kelly said.

“I’d get used to it.”, came Micaiah’s voice. She playfully put a finger to her lips. “Shh….I’m not here…”

“What do you want?”, Kelly asked.

“What I want is to go back home.”, Micaiah said. “Zeke, however, is just sealing the deal on some agreements with your friends over there.”

“What!?”, Matt began to say out loud, until he remembered where he was.

“Yeah, I don’t like it much either. I’m fine if one of you wants to come along to avoid the Orso-cide we’ll be bringing down on you all…But Zeke’s just making it complicated…He’s asking Alex to be his recruiter for him…”

“Recruiter?”

“Oh, sure. This isn’t the first time he’s schemed with Alex. He brought Brittney over, so Zeke could see how much good she’ll do us. Zeke sees a lot of use in that one, I guess. And from now on, Alex is supposed to keep bringing other worthwhile members to us, to petition their membership into the Apostles…”

“No way…”, Kelly said.

“Oh yeah.”, Micaiah replied. “Shame, isn’t it…You think you know someone, and the first chance at power they see, they jump into the dark side for it…”

“This…can’t be true…”, Matt said, dazed.

“Believe what you want. Fact is, Alex is working with us now. The turncoat…You’re probably better off without the bastard.”

“Leave.”, Kelly said icily.

“Whatever.”, Micaiah said, turning to go. “I’d be careful who you trust back in that base. I never would have pegged this Brittney chick as so ready to go dark…”

---

“Neither of us would do that.”, Brittney said coldly. “You can give up on that.”

“Oh, Brittney…I don’t expect you to jump at me just now. For whatever reason, Zach is able to control you both into sticking around. I have to wonder HOW he does it, but that’s a question for another day. No, my offer now is a little simpler. I want to meet everyone in the Orso I can get ahold of. Alex, I’m going to count on you to arrange the meetings. I’m free whenever you can get someone to agree to the chat.”

“And for what reason?”, Alex asked.

“Well, you know I’m exceptional at reading potential. If you bring someone to me…I’ll be able to judge whether or not they’ll be of any use to me.”

“And how’s that?”

“Well, I’d read two things…Their Dying Will, to see how strong they were…and the quality of their hate.”

“Hate?”, Brittney asked.

“That’s right.”, Zeke said, taking a sip of his orange juice. “I can read just how bad a person can get.”

“And what do we get in return?”, Alex asked. Brittney shot him a glare.

“In return…Well…how about this…If you bring me someone sufficiently hateful and powerful…I’ll provide you with extremely valuable intel…”

“I don’t see a reason to refuse an offer like that.”, Alex said. “Out of curiosity…What can you read from us?”

“Out of you two?”, Zeke asked, squinting and smiling. “Well, Alex, you’ve always been one of my favorites, from the moment we met. You’re undeniably strong…and you’ve got quite a darkness in you. If you let me help you bring it out, you could become a real terror…”

“And me?”, Brittney asked, curious despite herself. Zeke smiled.

“Oh, my…You’re got just as much darkness as Alexy.”, he chuckled. “Well, then I guess I owe you a piece of intel, don’t I?”

“Seems like it.”, Brittney said, a little unnerved.

“Well, here’s the first…Of the Elite Eight, the families that have run the mafia world since its creation…One of them was just overthrown and replaced…”

“Overthrown?”, Alex asked. “Who could have managed that?”

“Well, I suppose I’ll give you one more, as a favor…”, Zeke said. “The family that fell and the family that took their place…were both American. Specifically, western coastal…”

“What good is that information supposed to be?”, Brittney asked. “So some politics happened, whatever.”

“You don’t seem to understand…The Elite Eight’s families have passed the torch to a new family…very few times. It’s a point of pride. Which means this new family was not only strong enough to defeat your western neighbors… but ambitious enough to challenge them in the first place. That takes a special kind of madness.”

“And?”, Alex asked.

“Well, with all this fighting…You Orso, my Apostles, the Skulls, and the Roses…We may end up destroying each other, and letting these upstarts come and sweep up whatever we’ve left…”

“This is why you wanted an alliance?”, Alex asked. “You’re afraid of the new west coast family?”

“Oh, it’s hardly fear.”, Zeke said, chuckling. “I just don’t like thinking that a family could control all of America, by waiting in the shadows. If you let us help you against the Roses and Apostles…”

“We’ll…consider it.”, Alex said.

“Wonderful!”, Zeke said, offering his hand. Alex, with less hesitation than Brittney thought good, shook it. Micaiah joined them at this moment. “Let me know whenever you need some help, have a guest for me, or…just feel like chatting. Well, friends, my date has arrived, and I must be off. Best wishes!”

As they walked off, Brittney turned to Alex.

“What just happened…?”, she asked. Alex silently got up and left, Brittney close behind.

---

Nick launched several Storm Flame bullets at Baldovino, who brushed them aside casually. Mike threw his boomerang, covered in Cloud Flames. He knocked this aside as well, but when it made impact with his hand, it exploded in a burst of Cloud Flames, and rolled across the ground back to Mike’s side. Baldovino laughed.

“That’s your offense?”, he taunted. “Hell, I could do better than that with my pinky toe...”

“Alright, Nick…If we’re going to use that move…we have to do it now.”, Mike said.

“Well, looks like that’s our last option, isn’t it?”, Nick said with a smile. “It always seems like overkill, though. Tori! You’ll want to get the other girls…a long way away from us.”

Tori went to work moving Olivia, Liz, and Cara as Mike and Nick began to stall.

“So, before we do this totally awesome move…Can you tell me why you dislike the Orso so much?”, Nick asked.

“It’s not like I dislike ya…It’s just paying back a favor. Old Man Osvaldo picked the seven of us out of the gutter, and into a power like this one.”

“So, if say, we were able to make you something better…”, Mike hinted.

“We’ve got to pay this debt back first, kid.”, Baldovino said, laughing. “But, you certainly know how the world works, I have to give it to you there.”

“All clear!”, Tori yelled. Instantly, the boys sprang into action. The Cloud Flames on Baku’s boomerang form tripled, and Mike loaded it into the string of Tatsu’s slingshot form, which also emitted great amounts of Storm Flames.

“We call this one…”, Nick began.

“The Cyclone Bomber!”, Mike finished, as they released. The boomerang, at far greater speed than when Mike threw it, shot at Baldovino. He didn’t have time to dodge, and was enveloped in an explosion of red and purple flames.

“Got him.”, Nick said triumphantly.

“What a fun trick…”, Placido murmured. “I envy you two, having a teammate that will sit still long enough to think of a maneuver like that one.”

“The hell is that supposed to mean, ‘cido?”, Baldovino asked, picking his ear, as the dust cleared. “We make a great team. You sit there and look cool, and I do all the fighting. It’s a system that works.”

“Mike…He’s still standing.”, Nick said, a little stunned.

“Yeah…Yeah, that’s new for us…”, Mike gasped. “Just what is this guy?”

“What am I?”, Baldovino asked. “Well, I think it’s pretty obvious I’m a step higher than people on the food chain, huh? This is what we call a ‘Hell Hole’. Osvaldo made these special for us. I won’t need to bother using anything else he gave me…or, hell, a tenth of the power of this beauty…”

“Nick…We need to get out of here.”, Mike muttered to his friend.

“You find a good way to do that without abandoning the girls, we’ll get right on that.”, Nick said under his breath.

Suddenly, a wave of Sun Flames roared at Baldovino, who instinctively dodged. The two turned to see Liz’s Sun Swan, Rory, flapping her wings to scatter Sun Flames across the parking lot battlefield. Tori stood with her Rain Rabbit Alice, and Cara and Olivia were working their way to their feet.

“Whew, you guys are all really tough…”, Baldovino said, a bit of mocking in his voice. “Just one hit, and it only took you a few good minutes to regain consciousness.”

“If you want tough, I’ve got it.”, Nick said, pointing at his chest with his thumb. “See if you can break me.”

“What the hell is he-“, Mike began to think, but then he realized. Nick was providing them a distraction. Nick had the uncanny ability to take abuse like no other, and keep standing. He was telling Mike to get the girls and run for it. “You stupid bastard. Zach’d never forgive me if I let you bite it doing something so stupid.”

Baldovino grinned, cracking his knuckles, and then flew at Nick, delivering one, and then two, punches to his chest. Nick grunted as each hit him, but he didn’t fall. He pulled a fist back to strike Baldovino, but the Skull was too fast, and struck him in the head, dizzying him. Six more punches all hit within the span of a second, and Nick stumbled back.

“Kairi!”, Olivia shouted, releasing her Mist Cat. “Help him!”

The white feline jumped at Baldovino, sacrificing her chance to use an illusion for the necessity of a quick attack. Without looking away from, or stopping hitting Nick with his right arm, and swung his left arm at the cat, deflecting it.

“Dasher! Get him!”, Cara shouted to her newly released Storm Horse. The animal galloped to Nick, who, in the midst of his incredible and unfamiliar pain, was able to get on. Dasher galloped behind the girls, and Nick fell off, trying to keep his insides from going outside. Liz and Rory immediately went to work healing his curiously burned chest.

“So, you think they get it yet, ‘cido?”, Baldovino asked, looking at the Orso trying to regroup. “That they’re hopeless against a Hell Hole?”

“Well, I would hope, by this point.”, Placido said. “But you’re taking entirely too long. The guard switches in three minutes, and you know what the next shift will have to say about your shenanigans. Would you like my help?”

“Oh, why the hell not?”, Baldovino said. “Come on down, ‘cido.”

Placido effortlessly and gracefully dropped to the ground, igniting a blue skull and crossbones ring.

“What do you think you’re doing, Placido?”, came a stern voice from Placido’s right. They all turned to see the man who had been speaking had black, well-trimmed hair and stern eyes glaring at Placido and Baldovino, wearing an indigo skull and crossbones ring. Behind him was a man with messy dirty blond hair and a purple skull and crossbones ring, who averted his eyes from the battlefield.

“Haha, hey, you guys are early!”, Baldovino said. “We’re just cleaning up a little mouse problem. You know how filthy this theater is…”

“Silence, Baldovino.”, the one with black hair said. “For both of you to step into battle against so few opponents…It’s disgraceful.”

“Jeez, Severo…”, Baldovino said, chuckling. “I keep forgetting that you’re the worst spoilsport in the gang. Placido’s a regular party animal compared to you.”

“And Baldovino, the Hell Holes are for important fights. Enemies like this can be dispatched with a much weaker weapon. Please demonstrate more tact in the future.”

“Ehhh, whatever. If they’re gonna bite it, why shouldn’t they bite it in style, right? Hell, we were just wrapping up, but if you wanted to start guard duty early, you and Alphonso could…”

“Finish your job, Baldovino. Placido, don’t join him. You’ve disgraced us enough for one day.”

“Jeez. No fun at all.”, Baldovino said, flexing his fingers, and, as Mike noticed, his massive claws. He charged at the Secondo Cloud Officer, but had to jump out of the way to avoid hitting the massive flail that crushed the ground ahead of him. He looked to where the chain led, and saw Matt Carney. All around them were the Primo Varia.

“Well, look at this…How cool is this, guys?”, Baldovino asked, laughing. “It’s the Orso’s all-star team. Well, Severo, let’s say we each take two. Is it fair if we all fight then?”

“Baldovino, you idiot…Faustino said we shouldn’t fight the Varia until the day we attack arrives.”

“Gaaaaah, you’re so lame!”, Baldovino said loudly. “Placido, isn’t he lame?”

“We are heavily outnumbered, and these opponents are of a whole new caliber than the ones you already failed to eliminate.”

“Gaaaaaah! I’m surrounded by losers! What about you, Fonz? Think you and me could take ‘em all if we teamed up?”

“I…think…we should wait…”, Alphonso said extremely quietly and slowly.

“Damn.”, Baldovino said. “I’ve lost all interest in this now.”

“Which one of you is the Commander?”, Severo asked. Bradley stepped forward.

“That’s me.”, he said. “You are?”

“My name is Severo, the Mist Skull. I understand you met Valerio and Guerino last night?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, then you’ve met all of us but our boss, Faustino.”, Severo said. “I’d like to propose a truce.”

“What are the terms?”

“Well, simple ones, really, to keep us from facing a repeat of last night’s and today’s embarrassments. We’ll be non-aggressive until our appointment at Piney Run Park, if none of your members seeks us out for a battle. In that case, they will discover that we now travel in larger numbers, and will kill them on the spot. However, to balance such generosity, you must promise that the party meeting us at Piney Run Park will contain all seven of your Primo Varia Officers…and no other members.”

“I’ll agree to that.”, Bradley said. “I couldn’t have made better terms myself.”

“Hey, you, with the big ball!”, Baldovino said. “I’ve got dibs on you.”

“Your funeral.”, Matt said cockily. “Ya scaly freak.”

“And hey, is that your Rain right next to you? Hey, you’ll be up against Placido here! He’s a real downer, though, so your fight won’t be much fun.”

Placido bowed slightly to Hayley, who blushed, not knowing quite how to resonse.

“Let me see…Is that your Mist?”, Baldovino asked, pointing at Laura. “You’ve got it worst! Severo here is a real lamer.”

“Baldovino, will you hold your tongue?”, Severo asked sternly. “Now, revert from that hideous form.”

“Whatever, whatever.”, Baldovino said, changing back into his human form.

Adrien and Alphonso met eyes, but before Adrien could say anything, the Skull quickly turned away.

“So, we are in agreement, then? In exchange for our non-aggression, you will send us your entire Primo Varia. Nothing more, nothing less.”, Severo asked.

“Agreed.”, Bradley said. As soon as the last syllable crossed his lips, the Skulls were already gone.

“Well…”, Mike began. “That was entirely disappointing.”

---

“He agreed?”, the voice from the darkness came.

“Yes, yes he did.”, Severo replied. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been worse.”, the voice came, and then hacked twice. “I’ve also been a lot better. We’re lucky, though…If it’s the Varia rings he needs to collect, to make this medicine.”

“Hush, brother. Save your strength. It won’t be long now.”, Severo said. “We won’t let you down, Faustino. The Varia are as good as fallen.”

---

Adelina stroked the unconscious, bed-ridden little girl’s cheek with the back of one finger.

“Don’t worry, Rosangela…”, she said. “We’ll get you that cure…even if we have to sell our souls to do it.”

Rosangela made a small noise, that sounded like happiness to Adelina’s ears. A tear ran down her face.

“Be strong.”, Adelina said. “We will fight until the old bastard has everything he needs, to make you better.”

“Adelina.”, Malvolia’s voice came from the doorway. “Madame Boss wants to see you.”

“Is it another package?”

“Yes. This one is in Australia.”

“I see.”

“And one more thing…We are to kill any Orso Agents we meet, and take their ring. Madame Boss seems to be starting a collection.”

---

Zeke chuckled a bit.

“What’s funny?”, Micaiah asked.

“Nothing…I just think it’s amusing…while the others fight over their rings and their metals…We, the least armed of all of them, will be waiting in the background, to take whatever’s left.”

“And yet you spoke out against the very practice not an hour ago.”

“Only when it’s not me doing it.”, Zeke said. “Now, I can hardly decide…which fight do I want to see happen first…”

--

Next -->