23 Igneous Rodomontade

Issac and Barret were working their way after Cecil. They enter a thicker part of the forest as leaves were blowing around them. Barret uses his scouter to trace any signs of Cecil, but was picking up nothing. "Dang it, he could be anywhere." Barret says, placing his hand down to his side.

Issac crosses his arm, tilting his head with his eyes closed. "That guy must have gotten pretty far, seeing your scouter isn't picking up any readings. Unless it's broken."

Barret's eyes glare at Issac, "IT IS NOT BROKEN! This forest is just too thick." Barret says, turning his attention back to the forest around them. "Maybe we should head that direction." Barret says, pointing down a trail ahead of them.

Issac glanced down the path. "(That way?... No... you'll get us all lost with that path...)" Spoke the whispers in Issac's head.

"Hm?...." Issac pondered. "You sure about that Barret?"

"We should leave ourselves markers. That way, we'll know if we're going in circles. Also at this rate, we're pretty much guessing, unless there was a trail to follow." Barret states, placing a hand to his chin.

"Okay, well the creepy voice... she says not that way for some reason." Issac pocketed his hands.

"The dama right? Hmm...Okay as much as I don't like this. Ask it where it thinks they went?" Barret states looking to Issac.

"She." Issac muttered.

"Dama is elemental matter Issac!" Barret argued.

"No. It's a presence, a creepy one." Issac sighed.

Barret growls, "Will you just ask it what we need to know already!?" Barret snapped.

Issac narrowed his eyes. "(Someone's getting impatient, yeah we should hurry, but he's acting like a mother, who lost her child... So, thoughts up there?)" Issac thought.

"(... You are asking us?.... We are the parasite, we do not obey the host.)" The whispers murmured.

"(... Listen. You bothered to tell us where not to go, if you don't want to get lost... Just give me an idea...)" Issac replied, slightly annoyed.

"(You want to remove us... We rather you suffer.)" The voices retorted boredly.

"...." Issac sighed, looking ahead. "She's refusing to tell me... So not that way... Is there a fork around here maybe?"

Barret sighs, "Well I suppose we'll just go where it told us not too...Though it could be lying. I suppose we'll find out." Barret says, walking ahead of Issac.

"If this turns out to be the scenic route, that's on you." Issac followed after Barret.

The two travel through the woods. As they wonder they notice it was becoming far more dense. The duo stops, and Barret places a hand on a nearby tree shaking his head. "I think we're really off track." Barret says, catching his breath.

"Sure seems like it. Maybe we should back track, or something?" Issac inquired, looking over.

Barret turns around to look where they walked from. "Honestly Issac, I don't remember which paths we were turning down....This is just wonderful." Barret stated, sarcastically.

Issac sighed in a sarcastic tone, as he was looking around the woods. "Lost in an eerie forest... I totally wanted to do that today..."

"You're not the only one Issac." Barret thought out loud, walking ahead of Issac. "Well, we're not getting out of here by pouting. I suppose we'll just keep moving ahead."

Issac scratches his head, following after. However, above them the leaves rustled with a sound of a monstrous roar. Issac glanced up. "Uh.... Barret?"

Barret shifts his hand to his scouter quickly. "Hang on, scanning..."

Wind grew heavy, as the leaves from above scattered like rain. The roar was heard again, this time more of a howl. A massive wolf-like chimera beast landed before them with wings spread skyward, as it snarled their way.

"Barret... you're the expert... what the heck is THAT?" Issac reached for his power glove.

Barret's expression turned from serious to happy. "I can't believe it! This is a new species of some kind! Issac, if we capture it, we could become rich! Not only that, but have our names in the books of the greatest duo to discover such a sight!"

The beast drew closer, with a low growl.

Issac gritted his teeth, "Not to be a stick in the mud here, man, but remember we're trying to find where that dude took Myde. Not to mention, I THINK IT WANTS TO EAT US!" Issac retorted.

"Oh, uh you're right..." Barret says, placing on a serious expression at the beast. "So what to do?"

The scouter scanned the monster, showing detailed x-ray vision a gland inside the beast's lungs, as well as the bone formations into the wings, legs and tail where the beast's spikes and horns emerged from. There also seemed to be two stomachs.

"Fascinating, quite a piece work this is...Issac we'll have to watch this. It carries a gland which may hold something dangerous. We should also caution it's spikes, and horns. This is quite a mixture." Barret states, getting into a defensive stance.

"Maybe it's a dragon, like in old fairy tales. Could be a fire gland." Issac formed his laser sword.

The wolf chimera howled, gusting wind their way.

The two place up their hands, as the wind rushes pass them. Barret looks to Issac, "It's got a lot of wind...I suppose it could be...Ready Issac?"

"Yeah." Issac nodded.

The wind died down, giving Issac headway to rush at the monster. As he drew close to strike, however, the monster opened it's mouth. Coming forth, was a snake shaped tongue. The Chimera suddenly retched out venom. Issac caught this with his six sense, ducking with accelerated speed, as the toxin hit into a tree. The tree slammed to the ground behind Issac, as he gulped.

"Gah! Wonderful, well this has just gotten better! Issac!" Barret states, looking over to him quickly.

"I'm fine." Issac replied, as he maneuvered away from the snake part, that attempted to bite him. He lept up, running along the beast's back, and jumped off to a tree, as it tried to shake him off with it's tail. "Whoa!"

Barret pulls his pistol aiming it at the chimera. "Hopefully this does something." Barret muttered to himself, letting off a round of shots at the chimera.

The bullets bounce off the armor of the beast, as it turns it's attention to Barret. The chimera lowered it's head as it's tail tucked beneath it. without warning, the chimera jumped in Barret's direction. Mid-air, it curled it's body into a wheel, rushing in Barret's path.

Barret gasps, and rushes out of the way, as the chimera knocks over trees creating rough debris. Barret gets back to his feet, looking to the rolling ball of destruction. "Issac, I don't think we can win this!"

"You don't need to tell me that twice." Issac looked to Barret, where he was still hanging from the tree. " Maybe, we should run."

"Good idea." Barret states, backing up, as Issac jumped down beside him.

The boys quickly make a run for it, however the chimera roars as it lands to it's feet. Wings then carried it into the air, as it makes pursuit. The beast was not giving in, following even as they crossed a river bank. Issac and Barret were growing fatigued, as they neared an old stronghold in the distance.

"Someone call for a rescue by Shakespearean architecture?" Issac joked.

Barret looks to Issac dumbfounded. "Let's get in there, and get some shelter from this thing!"

"You could have humored me, let's hurry." Issac replied, as they made their way inside. "(I only feel alive on the field... It's strange.)"

Roars and howls were left outside the stone walls, as they took shelter to gasp for air. Down the stone corridors were torch lit paths.

"Hmm, well I don't think it'll be making its way in here, we should head in deeper, maybe there's another way out." Barret explained, looking around.

"I think we can agree on that. Let's just hope there isn't more of those things in here." Issac nodded.

"Agreed." Barret states, leading Issac ahead with him to the path lit by torches. "It is strange though, why are these lit? Wait, urgh I'm just now noticing this could be a strong hold."

"Or a trap." Issac looked over.

"True,true." Barret states folding his arms.

As the two pressed onward, they passed cell blocks, however they seemed to be empty.

"Barret. Those kidnappings, wouldn't a place this obscure make a good location to hide captives?..." Issac mentioned.

Barret nods, "That it would Issac. Which has me thinking, we may be on the right track."

"Though, if it is. Then where are the prisoners?" Issac spoke up.

"Good question.." Barret replied, pondering.

Data trails appeared from behind the boys, a tapping echoed from it. "Temping fate, are we?" Bit's voice came from behind them, playful.

Issac and Barret glanced back. Bit stood behind them, though he seemed to be wearing clothes now over his mechanized parts. He had on a yellow tank top with a 'warning' writing on it, under a black shirt that was opened. He also had on white shorts, and seemed to have an odd sword to his hip.

"Hm? Oh who were you again?" Barret asked, scratching his head.

"I remember him around Cravic, but I'm drawing a blank." Issac crossed his arms.

Bit drew closer, with a devilish smile. "Shovel-ware for memory? Too busy making the pull with a mid-boss, or is it the new gear? Bit Binary, remember?"

"(Oh right, guess we don't seem him around much... Man, I feel like a jerk now. Poor guy.)" Issac sighed.

"Mid-boss? Shovel-ware?...I don't quite understand your meaning, but I suppose, yes?" Barret states to Bit.

"You could be saying 'yes' to something, you want to say 'no' to. Either way, he's Cravic's friend. We rescued him from Kaos, remember?" Issac scratched his cheek.

"Oh, right. How could I forget that. I'm sorry, Bit." Barret laughed, uneasily.

Bit stepped passed them slightly, with his tail swishing. "Request to join party."

"Well, that I do understand, but this is dangerous. I don't think it'd be wise to bring you along." Barret stated, cautioning Bit.

Issac nodded in agreement. "Cravic might get pissed."

Bit leaned his hand to the hilt of his sword, looking to them with lazy moé eyes. "Might change your mind with a rundown of my stats. I'm a swordsmen, with data powers. Not to mention I can nullify electricity, as well as magnetize things. Plus, I can hack through firewalls and such. You might think I'm a newbie, but at least during a raid, I don't flee from a mid-boss chimera beast."

"Hmm, well, though I'm not all with the idea. Those abilities do sound suiting to the situation. I suppose it couldn't hurt." Barret states, looking back down the corridor. "Issac? Keep an eye on him."

"Don't I have a say in this? You're the one letting him tag along, what if something happens? You're just going to drop the ball on me? Cravic's gonna kill us." Issac crossed his arms.

"Okay, We'll both look out for him then. Heh honestly, I wanted you to learn more in responsibility of watching people." Barret stated to Issac.

"No need for friendly fire. Need I point out, that I'm not the princess whose been kidnapped, and in need of rescuing? If it comes down to being too low of level, I can always port out without a hassle." Bit spoke up, as he looked to the two slyly.

"Oh, guess he has a point there." Issac mentioned.

Barret nods. "Okay, then if we're ready to go, we shouldn't waste any more time." Barret states to them.

"Right, let's get moving." Issac nodded.

"Time to get that achievement then." Bit snickered, skating head on the data trails. "Better hope your princess isn't in another castle!~"

"You've never been so right..." Barret says, walking along with them.

"Let's go then." Issac nodded, progressing further in.

The group continued on down the halls. The fortress was seemingly empty, with lit corridors that appeared endless. Eventually they reached a spiraling stone staircase, and ascended up it. Light flickered ahead of them, from the sun held in the sky above the vast forest surrounding the ancient fortress. As they reached the roof, a set of cages was positioned not far from them. Inside one was Myde, and the other, a male Ferline, who had blond and brown hair with tiger stripes, and wore a yellow jumper of some kind. They seemed to be divided by a wall however.

"MYDE!!!" Barret yelled to her.

Her ears perked up, as she glanced his way. She kept from the bars, looking in concern. "You shouldn't have come!" She said, urging them to not be here.

"Grr! Come on! You could have broken out of there! What's going on!?" Barret yelled to Myde.

The male ferline seemed to be sleeping during the commotion. As the group reached the center of the location, a large shadow soared above them, and landed in their way. Howling was the chimera from before.

"Oh jit!" Issac gawked.

"Seems your mid-boss was camping." Bit remarked.

"Yeah, this is just great..." Barret states nervously.

"You lot never cease to forfeit, do you? Even a project of Kaos is amongst you now. Pitiful. Either way, this will end in my favor." Cecil spoke up, stepping close to the ledge above them, as he peered down boredly with his glasses reflecting sunlight.

"So, who or what do you work for? If you know of Kaos works, you have to have some connection to them." Issac inquired, to Cecil.

"Yeah, especially with how everyone else is oblivious to it." Barret agreed, angrily.

Bit stared at the beast, swishing his tail. "Boss encounter cut-scene." he muttered,

Cecil pushed up the rims of his glasses with a smug looking smirk. "Now that you've reached my domain, I could at least give you the pleasure of an explanation, before I add you to my list of prisoners." Cecil's scarf blew in the wind, as the chimera kept in place before the others. "Espionage faction, Zodiac. You may address me as my code name LEO, if you like. Our forces don't work for Kaos, as mentioned before. I can't go into too much details, even though I'll be detaining you apes shortly." Cecil formed his fan.

"Espionage?...Zodiac? Hmm, I suppose things are worse than we thought." Barret states, keeping his eye on Cecil.

"Star signs... (I wonder if Witchhazel might have any clues about this... witches seem pretty familiar with astrology..)" Issac muttered.

"I'm sensing a boss fight approaching." Bit gripped to his sword.

"Barret, you need to get out of here, and warn the others!" Myde called out.

"Silence." Cecil hissed, as he leapt down, onto the Chimera's back. "Don't anticipate escape so lightly. With my Chimera, you will be like mice trapped in a cage."

"(He's right even if we try to leave, that thing will catch up to us...)" Issac thinks to himself.

Barret looks to Bit, and then to Issac. "Hey, Issac? Bit? Maybe you guys can keep this thing busy, I need to get to a good vantage point." Barret asks to the two of them, reaching his hand to his back slightly.

"You got a plan I assume?" Issac smirked. "I think we can keep him busy."

"No prob. We make the pull, and leave the dexterity to you." Bit nodded.

"What are you ingrates murmuring down there? No matter. It'll be over soon enough!" Cecil shouted, as his mount began the attack.

Barret smiles to Issac and Bit, as he hurries out of the fortress. Issac and Bit look back to the Chimera, which howls, sending wind their direction. Issac forms his weapon to wings, flying in the air avoiding some debris, passing by from the wind. Bit digitizes, and appears in front of the beast slashing at it. The Chimera swings it's paw hitting Bit backward, knocking him to the ground, causing him bounces up from the impact, as he slammed through a stone wall. Issac looked in direction to Bit.

"Oh crap! Bit!" Issac gawked.

Issac then turns his attention back to the Chimera, which at this point was looking his direction as well. Issac forms his whip, and rushes at the Chimera quickly. He swings it as it flies wrapping around one of it's paws. The Chimera swings it's paw, gripping Issac with it. Issac is tossed away as the grip on the whip breaks. The Chimera charges at Issac quickly, and dives down at him.

By this time, Bit materializes in front of Issac, forming a shield, knocking the Chimera backward a little. Issac stands to his feet, looking to Bit, who gives Issac the signal to prepare his next attack. The Chimera now recovering, raises from the floor swinging it's sharp tail at them. Cecil leaps off the chimera, taking position before the cells. The beast jumps into the air forming into it's wheel, and rolls right at the two boys.

The ground was cracking up from under the sheer pressure of the rolling. It smashes Issac and Bit across the platform, knocking them into some other stone walls. The Chimera roars, looking back to the the debris created by it's wheel movements. Focused now in the trees, was Barret looking right at the Chimera through his sniper scope. He lets off a shot, which flies barley cutting near the neck of the monster. This caught Cecil's attention, making him look outward from the location.

Cecil glanced where the shot came from. "Someone is more clever that I was led to believe. I will not be outwitted or maneuvered by a monkey." Cecil grunted, boredly.

Another shot rang out, hitting into the Chimeras leg. Issac was moving himself out of the rubble, as Bit had transported himself back onto the floor. A looming video game styled life bar, was above Bit's head flashing red.

"Where's a cleric when we need one?" Bit chuckled.

Barret aims again, and shoots off, this time hitting through the neck, to the gland. The Chimera lets out a cry, as it instantly explodes, sending a huge shock-wave through the fortress leveling parts of it.

Barret sits up quickly, looking frantic. "Oh no! Urgh, I never figured it'd be that powerful..." He says, gathering himself to get back to the fortress quickly.

Blood from the chimera was left in places of the fortress. Cecil looked infuriated, as some blood droplets were speckled on his lenses. "You savages...." His fangs exposed as he sharply looked to them, gripping tight to his fan weapon.

"Oh QQ, mid-boss went crater. No respawn timer on that P.O.S." Bit chuckled.

Issac got to his feet, gripping his arm. "(That thing blew up like a firework... Guess that leaves him.)"

"Mark my words, you filthy vermin! You will suffer in the worst kind of way!" Cecil snarled.

Another shot rang, nearly hitting Cecil, Barret steps in, looking to Cecil, a serious expression crossing his face. "You will be handing over Myde now." Barret stated, smoke leaving the barrel of his sniper rifle.

"You come in here, messing up my domain, killing my RARE chimera. Then demanding MY WOMAN? You a slovenly, cantankerous vagabond! HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME!" Cecil roared, casting out a violent flurry of flames, gusting Barret's way.

The flames rushed at Barret, but a wall of ice was casted, deflecting the blast. Myde walked out from the frozen cell, that was smashed open with her sword-staffs. "I've had just about enough of your narcissistic ideals, you arrogant, sexist, pig!" Myde tried to sneer over to Cecil, as frost was floating around her, like mist from the broken cell.

"..." Cecil looked to her in shock. He pressed up his glasses, as a glare shined from them. "You weren't supposed to interfere, darling. I'll lobotomize you, for that... Then I'll watch and laugh as your 'precious' apes are turned into units. Hah..ahah..." Cecil grinned crazily. "I will be the king of more than this organization. You will be mine, as will Crydon! I WILL LIGHT THIS WORLD ON FIRE, AND WATCH THE HUMANS BURN!! HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!"

Barret shoots his pistol hitting Cecil through his right ear. "You need to quiet down. The girl has made her statement on the matter, you're views no longer applicable."

"ERGH....." Cecil held his ear, shakily in panic, as he was looking to Barret. "You... You shot me..... You.... monkey...."

Barret shoots Cecil's leg, which causes the lion to fall to his knees. "I told you to quiet down, but I guess we really will have to put you out your misery." Barret says, keeping his gun aimed at Cecil.

Issac and Bit walk up behind Barret.

"We don't need to stoop to Kaos' level, Barret. Killing him won't solve the problem." Issac looked to Barret.

"Leave room for a boss rush? I don't know." Bit remarked.

Cecil was holding himself, as he bled, ear flicking as he peered over with angry eyes. "..."

Barret grinds his teeth. "...You're right...But...It's really up to Myde..." Barret looks to Myde. "What do you want to want to do?"

Myde glanced over, she didn't look to thrilled on the situation however. "...He's going to bleed out without medical attention... we... we can always leave him to sulk in his own misery of losing.... Hurting his pride is more effective than killing him."

"(She did care about this guy... I can tell by her tone... guess he went astray, or something?)" Issac furrowed his brows a bit.

"Hmm, no blood on our hands?..." Barret stood, thinking to himself, "Very well, we'll leave him." Barret says, placing his pistol in his holster.

"Your insolence will be your downfall!" Cecil struggled to get up, as rushed at them, with a deranged expression poised on his face.

Barret swings around, pulling his gun out of his holster quickly. "Cecil!! Stop!" Myde cried out, as she grew frantic in tone, tears flying from her eyes.

Barret already had his finger on the trigger, letting the shot fire at Cecil, hitting right between the eyes. Cecil's body flew backwards, fire began to burn from under his skin, melting away the flesh. Myde seemed in panic, staring with a horrified gaze at her fiancé. Orange leaves floated around his body, engulfing into flames. Cecil's body began to burn with embers, as it melted down to his bones, leaving smoldering ashes in his wake.

Issac stared in slight horror. "(Barret shot him, despite what Myde said?... Dude...)..He.... burned up... what the heck..."

Barret sighs, "Elementar do either explode, well, in some cases it changes. Though I've honestly never seen this happen...It could have something to do with what he was...In any case he's gone...."

"That's pretty scary... (I mean... how does that work?!)" Issac nodded, nervously.

"I'm porting back to base to inform Cravic, in advance what we're up against." Bit stated. "Requesting to leave party."

"Alright, we'll meet you back there, Bit." Barret states to Bit.

Bit nodded, warping off.

Myde stared to the fire left behind, falling to her knees. Issac took notice of this, seeming surprised, but turned to look to Barret. "You want some time to talk with her?"

Barret nods. "Yeah."

Issac nodded, "I'll give you two some space then." Issac said, heading for the stair case.

Barret smiles, and looks to Myde. He walks over beside her. "Hmm, what a mess this was. I'm glad you're okay." Barret stated to Myde seriously.

Myde kept her eyes on the fire, trying to hide her tears. "...I don't think I could have seen this coming... You and the others... You risked a lot going up against that Chimera... (Cecil... You weren't supposed to die... Why? Why did you have be so pigheaded?... Cecil...)"

Barret looks to Myde, forming a soft grin. "Yeah, well, you were in trouble, nothing in the world would keep me from making sure you were okay..Sometimes while it may seem stupid, heh well...You've got to push for that person...You're-"

There was suddenly a loud yawn behind them, as the male ferline stretched. he was wearing a yellow jumpsuit, and had a stuffed toy cat with him. "Yaaaaaaaw... Oh man, what is THAT SMELL? Did somebody fart? Eeyuk! It smell like a rotting piece of meat..." Spoke a quirky voice, as he approached behind them. "Myde! Holy cow! I haven't seen you in like forever! I had the weirdest Dream-" He hugged to Myde. "-And like it was about aliens and funky stuff and..."He glances at Barret. "Heeeeeellllo! Was that you who let one rip?" He chuckled in amusement.

"....." Myde sighed, looking back to Cecil's remains with a sorrowful gaze.

"...You...Umm know this guy?" Barret asked to Myde.

Myde glanced from the hug, she was trapped in. "Barret, this Dylan Nesstas. One of my friends who got abducted..." She seemed to be restraining herself.

"Howdy! You one of the allllieeeens from what-cha-ma-call-this-place?" Dylan grinned, cuddling his plush toy.

"Terra." Barret stated getting irritated.

Dylan looked to Myde, poking at her nose. "You're making a funny face. Ooooh! What's that?" Dylan looks to the fire. "Are we camping? Please tell em there are s'mores! Skratch and me wanna knooooow!" Dylan giggled in excitement.

Myde sighed, her mood was clearly not the best right now. "..."

Barret moves between Dylan and Myde. "If you wouldn't mind. Myde? We should make sure there's no one else left, before we head back. Dylan? Please go stand by my friend Issac until we finish reconnaissance here."

Dylan grabs Myde's hand, heading over to Issac. "Okay, have fun!" He giggled, keeping his toy in his other arm.

"...." Myde had kept her eyes on the fire, her eyes saddened. "(Cecil, you used to tell me... that I light the fire in your heart... All this... I don't even know what to think anymore.)"

Barret grumbles. "(Are you serious!? Urgh, mission first, I'll deal with him later.)" Barret turns off, from them heading into the ruins to look for more survivors.