Orso Fiction 033

Orso Fiction 033-Countdown
Bradley checked the time, as the message from Taylor Houston regarding their success hit his phone.

“Noon…”


 * 24 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

---

“If you’re the leader of this squad, you should take this.”, Edmondo said, handing something to Taylor. It resembled a small compass, but the needle was limp and unfocused. “That’s something Father sent me. He said that Vincenzo can turn it on remotely, and it will track down the Sky Arcoferro he has.”

“So…Vincenzo can summon us to him?”, Taylor asked to clarify.

“That’s right. But…he mentioned that Sonia will have one, too.”

“Seems a bit reckless, giving his enemy the key to victory.”

“I think Father knew you would try to settle this fight in one large battle.”, Edmondo said. “Consider that to be the signal to begin.”

---

Adelina held the small compass in her hand, leaning against the door, and closed her eyes.

“I can’t believe it…”, she murmured. “The final battle is coming so soon…Am I ready?”

She took a deep breath, pocketed the compass, and turned the knob. Rosangela sat on the bed, looking much better than she had last time Adelina had seen her.

“Adel!”, Rosangela cried, and lifted her arms for a hug. Adelina complied, forcing a smile.

“We’re almost done, Rosie.”, she whispered, as much to herself as to her sister. “We are almost free.”

---

Faustino yawned once, putting down his book. It was getting so boring, without his brothers around. Whatever business they were on, he hoped they’d be back soon.

---

In his lab, Osvaldo checked a pocketwatch.

“Not too much longer…”, Osvaldo smiled. He glanced at the six boys lined up in the corner, silent, unmoving, their blackened eyes unblinking. “Not too much longer before the Hell Holes get their first real field test…”


 * 20 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

Zeke sat, humming to himself. Miriam and Malachi sat at his sides.

“I just can’t decide which ones I want to see fight.”, he mused. He rubbed his cheek with one finger, thinking.

---

The Agents, Tammaro, and Edmondo stepped into the base, and walked to the lab. The four Ferraro cheerfully greeted the Agents and Tammaro, and noticeably tried to hide as they saw Edmondo.

“You..actually did it…”, Sansone said, a bit amazed.

“Yes…But that wasn’t the last step.”, Taylor said slowly. Tammaro, Sansone, Frediano, I need the Arcoferro.”

The three of them walked to their lab table, and picked up the red, yellow, and blue pieces of metal, handing them to her quietly. She looked them over.

“I hope you’ll all be ready to work soon.”. Taylor said simply, and walked out, taking the Agents with her.

“So, she earned your respect, Edmondo?”, Arduino asked, a slight smile on his face. Edmondo let out air like a hissing snake.

“She did.”, he stated. “She’s not just another herbivore. That one has fangs…”


 * 16 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

Matt Iannone slowly stood. He felt fully refreshed after blowing all his energy in his fight with Alex. He held out his hand, and Pallas perched on it.

“Shall we go show everyone we’re still alive?”, Matt asked. Pallas hooted happily.


 * 14 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

Adelina laid back in her chair, surrounded by the other Roses. She held in her hand the green, indigo, and purple Arcoferro.

“Almost there.”, Ernesta commented. Adelina nodded.

“It’s been a long time. Too long.”, Raimonda said.

“Just one more fight, and we’ll be done with this mess.”, Orabella said. “And we’ll be done with this stupid family feud.”

“Wisdom, courage, power…”, Malvolia snarled. “Does it matter which you have the most of? All you need is what you can get to survive. Pompous mafia-types, putting everything under a microscope, and getting the common man to act out their experiments.…I loathe them.”

“As do I.”, Nerina said firmly. “We’ll make Berenger and the Orso pay for what they did to Rosangela.”

“Let us sleep.”, Nerina suggested. “And dream of victory.”


 * 12 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

The night passed quickly for the Orso and the Roses. For the Skulls, the night didn’t even exist. The only thought in their mind was to wait for their orders. When Osvaldo entered the room ten hours later, wearing pants and bandages with runes inscribed on them wrapped all around his chest, he smiled.

“It’s time.”, he murmured. “Go.”

With less than the fraction of a second it would take the human mind to react, they were already moving at top speed, leaping from the open window, their enhanced bodies absorbing the shock of the fall painlessly. Their minds now held simple instructions-Go to Piney Run Park. Defeat the Orso Varia. Take their rings. Return.”

They didn’t need to know any more than that. They were now machines.

---

From the window, Faustino’s mouth was open in shock. Those had been his brothers…but…what was going on?


 * 2 Hours Until The Arcoferro Battles*

“Hello?”, the man with the light orange hair asked on his phone. “Hello? Oh, there you are. Sorry, I thought I lost you for a moment.”

He sat down on his luggage, brushing his hair from his handsome face.

“Yeah, I’m here.”, the man said to the person on the other line. “Eldersburg, right? Yeah, I made it, just fine.”

He scratched his right arm, covered with a tattoo of black rings wrapping around it.

“Yeah, Antarctica was beautiful. I found what we were looking for, too. You were right, Father, it was exactly where you said it would be. I’ll pass it to you when I see you next.”

He now switched arms, and moved to his left arm, just as muscular, but tattooed with a family crest featuring a hammer, anvil, and seven circles.

“Of course I brought everything. I’m not THAT forgetful, Father.”, the man said, laughing. “Don’t worry. We’ll make you proud, Father. I can’t wait to meet them. And yes, I’ll make sure Edmondo doesn’t cause any trouble.”

He listened for a moment, and smiled.

“I guess that’s all I have left to do.”, he said, checking his pocket watch. Eleven. He opened his luggage, and pulled out a small package, drawing the orange Arcoferro, covered in paper inscribed with runes, from it. He removed the paper, and the metal began to glow with its usual intensity. “Done. Alright, Father. I have to go now. Love you. Bye.”


 * One Hour Until The Arcoferro Battles*

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