Chapter Text
She’s not sure the peace and quiet of the lobby is helping.
Sure, it was way better than the hell that was outside a while ago.
She remembers having to take drastic measures with rescuing Shuriken. She used up the sprouts she had grown from her talent show, the multitude variety of sprouts individually helping her. Sleeping gas from a black bat flower species, trip vines, a bedazzling glitter puff shroom, and a few more she dares not repeat to a law enforcer.
The other veterans had helped too. Rocket repeated the same trick Hyperlaser did but with a lot less concern for collateral damage. Scythe jumped in and threatened to cleave the crowd.
Sword and Skateboard then pulled Shuriken from their grasps and they all made their way over to a staff byway, thankfully backed up by security officers and several sympathetic non-veteran Phighters. Sword stayed behind to help blockade as well as make sure Rocket was okay.
The quietus is a little deafening currently. Shuriken is silently brooding on a bench, her asking of his status replied with a nod without looking at her.
Shortly after, a few more of the veterans came spilling in and collapsed onto the chairs and beanbags, their exhaustion palpable from dealing with this mess.
Skateboard asked Boombox who is limping into the lobby without waiting for him to settle down.
“What’s the deal outside?”
“Hold up, my leg’s killing me. Dom and Valk are soothing the crowd with their charming wiles. Told me to go here, in case I get trampled. Ban Hammer’s doing what he does best but the crowd is too energetic, y’know? Subspace got the go-ahead to use his bots to help deal.”
“...The one time Blackrockian methods helped.”
They all reluctantly agreed with Hyperlaser’s chiming in.
He mosies on over to Vine Staff and Shuriken.
“Katana, what happened to him?”
“Slingshot texted me that he got away with Zuka safely.”
“That’s a relief.”
He goes back to sitting and relaxes by doing rifle maintenance.
Rocket perked up from his beanbag, his best friend still out there helping with his boundless energy.
“Did you guys think the crowd was weirdly bloodthirsty? I don’t think even Playgrounders would get that mad.”
“Hey! Okay, Rocket’s got a point. Situation’s totally whack.”
“I’ve seen this before. It only takes a few rowdy people leading the whole crowd to make them be at the same wavelength. If you DJ like me, you’ll see it happen.”
Vine Staff surmises something.
“Would that have meant that there were dissenters wanting Katana taken down?”
Nobody wanted to speak the answer out loud.
“Scythe would know, wouldn't you?”
Vine Staff expected Shuriken to say that, but he looked up in surprise too.
Rocket had summoned his gear and aimed it carelessly at Scythe, who was onlooking at everyone in a corner of the lobby.
“Listen here, darlin’. I ain't about to hurt one of Broker's favoured.”
Rocket had overstepped and is now slightly panicking being at the inside edge of her laser scythe.
One pull and his head would fall off.
“You best choose yer actions carefully.”
The telltale sign of a laser rifle charging up echoes through the suddenly tense atmosphere.
“Only if you consider yours.”
Hyperlaser’s aim holds true on the outlaw’s head. A bounty tempted to be collected.
Shuriken has already flanked her, his presence known to Scythe as she considers her being outnumbered.
“I know this is tied to you! You talked to Talisman when the cameras were down. What's your deal!”
“So the pesky prick finally has a pair to go with it. Ye've got another thing comin’ if ya think y’all’re getting out of here alive, whether or not I'm the one harvesting yer corpses.”
Rocket is catatonic as the laser scythe moves closer to his head.
Shuriken is tensed up, and so is Hyperlaser tightening his hold on the trigger.
Skateboard and Boombox are wary of joining the soon-to-be scuffle, but they summon their gears. Ready for action.
Vine Staff feels hopeless. Once again, she's about to be left behind due to her inaction.
Once again, she’ll feel it will be her fault.
Not anymore.
She starts walking towards Scythe, deliberately blocking Hyperlaser's line of sight. He is confused and annoyed as he repositions and takes stock of Vine Staff.
Scythe is awed by her audacity as her gear is pushed down by a staff, away from Rocket's nape.
“There is no need for this, I can tell.”
Scythe relents as she spits onto the carpeted floor.
“Yer lucky yer such a pretty flower. Tell yer brother to come down from the ceiling. Oh and Rocket, honey? Ya better be nicer to Broker from now on.”
The Shuriken poised to backstab Scythe disappears into a puff of smoke as the real Shuriken lands, an outraged expression painted.
Rocket just collapses to the floor and breathes a sigh of relief, agreeing to her terms. If he'd forgotten that having a temper lead to this situation in the past, he's definitely learnt his lesson now.
Hyperlaser comes over to give him a hand and he gladly accepts.
“Thanks…”
“No problem. Not about to let a child of a hero die.”
“Dad hates it when you bring that up, you know?”
“Then how about I reframe it as payment for saving me from those kids at our match?”
“Old ass man.”
“...”
Rocket laughs at Hyperlaser's regret at being a saviour.
“Geez, that could've gone bad. I would've liked to still have my limbs.”
“ Windforce’s wrath , Boombox you’ve got one limb fallin’ off already!”
Skateboard noogies a Boombox, his face turning into an X[ as he cries out.
The rest turn to their own conversations and worries but they keep an eye on Shuriken and Vine Staff following Scythe to a secluded corner, wanting some privacy.
“So, let's keep it straight here. I care about my family, but let's just say… there's a few I don't mind getting snake-bitten.”
“I can tell.”
“...Don't make me regret this.”
Scythe gives a sly grin with a glass eye full of bloodthirst to Shuriken, his fury faltering for a moment.
Vine Staff rolls her eyes.
“So this family of yours, why are they so adamant on hurting Katana?”
“Beats me. Those ‘siblings’ are being taken care of by a big sister, but all I know is that that big sister doesn't want a peep nor hide of Katana. We've got a rule to not disobey our bigger sibling or follow someone else's.”
Scythe thinks for a moment.
“So what, they're mad at Katana for… ‘corruption’ business?”
“Call it that yerself and off with yer head. But I know what yer referring to. Believe me, Broker himself would've done it if it was that.”
“Who's that?”
“I'd kill ya if ya knew.”
“ Could you stop threatening my brother?”
“Tch, fine. All I can say is that there must be a bigger sibling pulling the strings. Still, I know them and they were just havin’ appetisers before the main course.”
“That wasn't the goal?”
”Schemers, the lot of them. I prefer just watchin’ them die slowly rather than play wit’ my food.”
She cackles.
“What happened to your dear youngun’ brother was a warning. I'd pick and choose my battles wisely if I were ya.”
Scythe seems to take stock of the lobby…
Why did it feel like she was looking with her glass eye?
“Seems I've said too much. Do try to stay close to dear ole’ Katana now, flowers,...”
She reevaluates a ruminating Shuriken.
“... pesky dasher.”
Shuriken is astounded that Scythe always manages to get under his skin but dares not to backtalk.
Vine Staff pushes one last time.
“Why tell us this?”
“Me and Katana have a history together. It’d be nice if it happened that he'd be welcomed back into our family, but a dune sandworm can see that's not the case.
She holsters her scythe and walks to the double doors.
She throws a wave backwards as she walks out.
“Toodles.~”
Shuriken and Vine Staff look at one another in silence.
They return to the others who were waiting to hear what they conversed about.
“Good thing Icedagger came in to pacify the crowd. Even though he was supposed to be here for the matches earlier today and frankly would've been nicer if he came in an hour ago.”
Sword regales his experience to everyone still here in the lobby. At this point, Ban Hammer and Subspace went home having been exhausted from dealing with today's ordeal. Medkit had gone with Scythe but told Sword first. He did treat Boombox with the help of Vine Staff beforehand, chastising him for exacerbating his wounds. Under the medical practitioner's orders, Boombox complied with going home with Skateboard's company.
“I guess Dom and Valk really had a lot on their plate they weren't showing.”
“No kidding. Shame that we couldn’t have another Phight.”
It was pointed at the Thieves’ Denners now all reconvened here.
Shuriken and Slingshot didn't mind it. They were trying to avoid each other.
Slingshot had come in just before Sword did, having submitted the evidence to a game official. Not that it matters, they were said to have already left the building.
The tension is palpable to Vine Staff in the middle.
“I suppose it is for the best. All of you should go home too, there might be some that would harass you over Katana.”
Rocket is concerned over one thing.
“But what about Katana himself? I know about what you said, but shouldn't we all go and give him a party?”
“Katana told me that he wanted to be left alone.”
“But aren't those freaks after him?”
“They'd be after you too, Rocket. We talked about this.”
Rocket is incensed because it's a feeling all too familiar, having a group come after him. It was something she heard secondhand from Shuriken having a drunken night-out party with him. But he relents. He doesn't believe being in contact with Broker gives him immunity.
Sword comforts him.
Hyperlaser, being the only other person left, comes forth.
“I suppose my presence would not help either?”
“No offence, they'd notice a Blackrockian mercenary coming in with a hyperbike.”
Slingshot shoots him down but Hyperlaser seems reconciled.
“Then I suppose we'll have to leave it to you three?”
The trio look up at Hyperlaser, now completely comprehending the weight of the situation.
Sword and Rocket feel wistful they couldn't help, neither could they use their contacts to provide succour. Boombox and Skateboard had shared the same sentiment, the former being injured and the other having obligations.
Hyperlaser does cut their apprehension by producing something.
A gift.
“Give my regards to Katana. I have faith in you all. Besides, the peacekeeping corps should be privy to the cultists, wouldn't they?”
“I suppose you're right.”
With the plans settled and a good amount of encouragement, they bid each other goodbye and the trio go home. The clouds above threatened to rain.
Despite the challenges ahead, the rides back were void of conversation. Vine Staff once again realises they haven't made up yet.
Perhaps they could discuss this over tea.
Almond milk green tea with honey and lemon. Perfect temperature steeping. Stirred while mixing the ancillaries. The caffeine would be useful as they think about Katana’s predicament.
If only her perfect concoction actually helped the situation. It was hard enough getting them to sit together, they're now deliberately avoiding wanting to talk despite Vine Staff's ministrations.
Vine Staff decides to do an icebreaker.
“Drink your tea, both of you. I added sugar just the way you both like it.”
They both partake a while after the prod.
It really was the perfect time for hot tea. The sudden torrential rain almost caught them outside after they dropped off the gifts.
Shuriken decides this would be his response.
“If only Katana was here. He’d like this tea.”
“Katana wants to be left alone, Shuri.”
“Oh and whose fault was that?”
" Shuriken! I busted my ass trying to look for evidence to prove your point! The least you could do is be understanding!”
“I don't give a crap about the evidence! Did you even know what was going on with Katana then?”
“Enough! Both of you!”
Vine Staff’s mediation goes unnoticed.
“Oh, sure! Leave it to the loudmouth who fell into the trap I specifically warned you about!”
“You didn’t even tell me what it was! Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were a cafe owner! Guess you were just nonverbal with your customers!”
“Shuriken, Sling. Enough!”
“What are we even doing right now? We’re waiting for the peacekeeping corps? Those bastards??”
“Shuriken, don't you dare go off on your own!”
“I don't care! At least I'll do something about it!”
Shuriken gets up and runs out of the house into the rain.
Slingshot is absolutely dumbfounded and runs after him, but Shuriken has used his techniques to go faster.
Forgetting about the cups, Vine Staff wishes to run after them but she weighs grabbing an umbrella and a few emergency restorative medicines along with her as she dashes as fast as she can.
Where else could they be except Katana’s house? Katana’s house is only a yard over. Except that it’s empty. The door is precariously left open presumably by either Shuriken or Slingshot. She closes the door and ponders where they could've gone. The noise of rain hitting her umbrella masking any sound for her thoughts.
“Miss, you wouldn't happen to know where the master of this house is, would you?”
The voice is familiar. She whips around to a hooded figure.
She knows it to be Talisman.
“You! ”
“Me.”
“You stay away from Katana, tell your creepy family that too!”
“Hey hey, you're the first today to refer to it as family!”
She aims her summoned staff at his obscured face.
“I mean it.”
“Why the aggression? The family just wants to reconcile with an emancipated member!”
She shoots out a seed, it surprises Talisman with how it knocks his hood down despite his duck.
Even through the rain, she could tell he had a white glass eye. Eyepatch discarded.
“Get to the point, why are you approaching me.”
“Sheesh, all you Thieves’ Denners are the same! Let's just say…”
Talisman closes the gap to after the crook of her staff and holds it by the length, surprising Vine Staff with how close he is to her as she looks up to meet his eyes.
“You're in our way.”
Vine Staff tries to swipe at him with her cursed arm, letting go off her staff. He dodges back but is pelted by seeds as she resummons the gear back into her hands.
Her umbrella is still steady. Not a single raindrop on her.
“Seems I underestimated you.”
He retaliated by throwing three kunai at her at once.
This time she throws herself down to her knees, poise forgotten.
“Seems as if what we did with your family was for nought. But that's alright, you can tell them that if they interfere…”
Talisman bends down to her eye level.
“They will die. And I'll make you watch.”
Vine Staff swings her gear but it hits nothing.
“They were last seen at Snowfall division, heading southeast. I trust you can persuade them.”
In her panic about those two, she took her eyes off him once as she hurriedly stands back up. He's gone now.
She couldn't give a damn about her ruined kimono right now. She has no time to waste.
It was a blessing that Snowfall was one of the few prefectures she knew shortcuts and passages of. The rain had let up a bit too, enough to stop having the umbrella hold her back from running and discard it along the way.
Passing through the alleyways of Snowfall, it was at this point she realises where they could be heading.
She very deliberately takes a very odd route, praying that this gambit would work and she'd be able to catch up.
If they were heading towards Katana's training place, they should've stayed there. But going southeast meant a few places: The misty gorge closed to the public for boardwalk maintenance, a somewhat rural Stealth-Cloak village, and the Gladiolus Glade.
Either way, her pathing would lead her to intercept them at the crossroads to those places.
She picks up the pace.
She was severely out of breath at this point.
But she couldn't stop now. Stopping meant she'd collapse. But she's also feeling hopeless that this was going to be a huge waste of time and that she should've just checked Katana's—
Scratch that. She feels immense relief seeing a tall red burly demon accompanied by smaller blue and green ones lit up by the moonlight.
Incidentally, the red burly one is holding the green one by the cuff of his hood and making him flail.
“...’re an actual moron, you know that right!?”
“Oh boohoo, look at the demon with misplaced priorities!”
“ I can't believe you both!”
Slingshot and Shuriken— who is now on the ground— are agape that their sister is also here. Extremely furious and catching her breath.
“Vine—”
“Not a peep from you both! Do you even know how much in danger you both are?”
“Well, I—”
“Shuriken was—
“I TOLD ALL OF YOU TO LEAVE ME BE!”
That stunned them all into silence. To have Katana of all people angry at them was… words couldn't describe how Vine Staff felt.
“Katana, we were worried about you. I—”
Katana only unsheathed his blade.
Vine Staff is wondering if it'll end like this.
THWANG
Her mouth is in an ‘o’ as Katana moves past her to parry an object.
She's wondering what that is on the floor.
Slingshot's instincts were faster as he grabbed the missile and shot it upwards with his gear.
BOOM
All of their ears are ringing. No shield generator to protect them from the shockwave, but that didn't mean they could afford to writhe on the ground. Phight experience dictated they had to move or they'd die.
Vine Staff grabs Shuriken as Katana grabs Slingshot and they move off the path into a gully.
Vine Staff could feel a few things whoosh past her head but thankfully no explosions followed after.
Having recovered somewhat, they make their way through the gully with Katana leading the charge.
Vine Staff let her guard down just this once, before magical explosions affect the land outside the gully. With some foresight, she throws protective leaf armour at Katana, replacing the usual healing petals she does.
Her quick thinking is rewarded as Katana dashes forward to create a gap between him and the closest Slingshot as a barrage of arrows rain on him. He is unbothered as the sharp tips bounce off leaves.
Shuriken creates four slower clones of each of them, the attacks suddenly attacking behind them and they continue unabated.
Insofar, nothing has jumped out at them. Neither any untoward death missiles or traps laid out beneath them.
Shuriken leads the group as they cut through the underbrush, not daring to take the main road.
Despite the looming danger, banter really isn't unsurprising for them.
“I must commend you, Slingshot. I did not see the explosive tag on that kunai.”
“Honestly, my body moved faster than my head. Thanks for grabbing me. I think my ears are still ringing.”
“My sprouts can only do so much in a short time. I'll give you a bead.”
“Sounds like a waste.”
“Only if you think dying from not hearing an enemy isn’t.”
“Fiiiiine.”
As they come across a grassy plain and skulk through it, covered moonlight enshrouding their movement, Shuriken brings up something.
“You okay, Katana?”
“I am fine.”
“Dude, an entire family came after you and you almost did that thing earlier today. Come on, be honest.”
“I truly am fine.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
Slingshot caught on to something vague there.
“Wait, what do you mean ‘that thing’?”
“Uhhh, I'm not gonna say it. Katana?”
“They deserve to know. I almost committed seppuku.”
“ You what?”
“Goodness gracious!”
“Shuriken dispelled me of my foolishness. That is why I did not mind his transgressions.”
“Oh…”
“I am more concerned over this discordance I sense. Is there something between you three?”
“...Yea. Sorry, Sling, Vine. You were just looking out for me. I shouldn’t have yelled at you two and said all that stuff.”
“You goofball. I’m sorry too. You were the most selfless out of all of us.”
“I’m proud of my brother. Your tricks are befit a master.”
Vine Staff jabs Shuriken's shoulder. He rubs it, a rueful smile seen.
Katana seems to be nostalgic over their interactions.
Slingshot looks at the distance with his somewhat darkvision eyes.
“We've got a bit more time until we gotta guard up again.”
“I'll take my chance to ask you, Shuri. What happened when you ran out of there?”
“Gonna be honest, it was just pure dumb luck. I wasn't even going to Katana's. I just wanted outta there.”
“In the rain?”
“In the rain. It was maybe… Plum district? I actually ran into those freaks. Said something about ‘Gladiolus Glade’ so I went there.”
“That would not explain my grabbing you out of a bush.”
“Come on, give some tact!”
“Says the Shuriken.”
“Ignoring that. Anyway yea, dumb luck again. I bumped into Katana and tailed him to that point.”
“And here I was just coming to you on pure instinct and intuition.”
“I'm envious, both of you are blessed by luck and speed. I had to do guesswork on where you might be.”
“And that’s why you're a Support.”
“Both of you are not getting healed next Phight.”
“Awh, come on!”
Katana chuckles at their expense.
It wasn’t long until they had to be quiet again, though the moonlight is still obscured by clouds. They were re-entering the main thoroughfare to Stealth-Cloak village, hopefully getting help from authorities by reaching there.
Hopefully.
She did wonder why for as long as she was outside, no sentries or patrols were to be had.
The moonlight is at its dimmest at this point. They could barely see one another as they entered through the main gateway.
Nobody hailed them, neither were there any lanterns lit. It made sense for sentries not to have them to keep their pupils dilated, but complete darkness?
The group is on high alert. Slingshot and Shuriken are forward a bit to act as scouts.
Vine Staff thinks she smells iron.
As they make their way in an alleyway leading to the open square with a giant tree in the middle, the moon finally shines forth from its veil.
It was an absolute massacre.
Bodies strewn all across the road. The doors having been burst open, and what looks like signs of their tenants being dragged outside.
Shuriken vomited at the sight of children not being spared. Vine Staff pats him on the back.
Slingshot eyes the fact that none of the demons have their gear. But it doesn't look like Scythe's handiwork.
What really took their attention were the hanging bodies on the tree. Tied with rope by their legs.
Four bodies of varying sizes wearing the peacekeeping corps uniform and their horns sawn off.
Shurikens pockmarked one. Every bare skin covered in them.
Barbed wire shredding the corpse of another whilst tying a staff to the left arm that has no skin left.
Another has a mangled face. Looked to be shot multiple times with blunt force trauma. A broken slingshot is tied with its broken feet.
A burly one, head cleanly severed from the body. The head of which is staked onto the hilt of a katana stabbed into the ground.
They were well and truly by themselves.