The group quickly make their way to the location given to them, arriving before an abandoned ware-house Yanick glances at the metal lock before grabbing a pole and breaking it open. Putting aside the pole, Yanick pushes the warehouse doors open, Raven and Yanick stand at the head of the group taking stance but the thugs stand aside as a man in black rimmed glasses ushers them in, Yanick signals Raven before taking head as Raven takes pole keeping guard, watching the scene Amy contemplates calling her brother briefly before deciding against it, the group walk deep into the warehouse before eventually stopping a few feet from the sight of Yue squirming desperate to get her hair free of the presidents grip, the thug with the broken jaw bristles at the sight of Yanick while the other thugs stand ready each clutching a weapon, Yue's boyfriend comes to light before walking towards the group
"Let her go!" Darla states with avid conviction, eliciting a chuckle from the president's brother, pulling out a recorder she clicks play as a conversation plays out,
'This is your chance, I'll support you, all you have to do is go out with me, are you going to live like this forever?', Growling he stretches for her missing as she steps away, Raven grips the arm holding it in place, pulling away frantically Raven lets go as he stumbles backwards barely staying on his feet
"I'm sorry Yue" Darla begins "they came to me first, you gave me this for my birthday, and i took it everywhere with me, i had it on me that day, i was scared so i turned it on, i pretended not to know when they approached you, i thought you'd be mad, no i was scared, you see i couldn't get it back in my pocket and I'd went without a bag so i had to drop it beneath the table and come back for it later, upon replaying it i learned some very disturbing things"
Quite a while before
Darla exclaims much like the rest then she rushes to her practice bag pulling out a recorder before rushing to the room Raven had mentioned, Raven and the rest rush on after her with Yanick and Raven quickly catching up, he attempts to stop her, but she shrugs his soft grip off,
"What's that?" Running full speed and rapidly approaching the room she answers without turning her head
"EVIDENCE!"
The president and the rest glare down the group, Raven exhales readying himself for conflict as the tension rises,
"I don't need to mention what would happen if i released this right?, the police might be useless, but they can't ignore this, i don't want to get the police involved everything she's worked for would go to hell, this is the only recording, so if you let her go I'll give it to you"
Looking at Darla shocked the president and his brother turn to the other pausing before turning back towards the recorder, bursting out in laughter the thugs do the same almost shocked at the girls apparent stupidity
"I can't believe i was worried there for a second, i should've known, at the end if the day your all still just kids" he states motioning to the thugs
"Don't touch her" he states signalling towards Aylin, "do with the rest as you see fit", smiling in response Aylin checks the time on her watch and as if on queue a loud bang ensues catching everyone's attention.
(They're here), waiting with baited breaths the constant trudge if steps on the ceramic flooring gives a sense of foreboding, Stepping into the light two young men, one in a black fur coat the other in a brown walk pass them, Yanick stares shocked at the blonde haired man he recognized mumbling illegibly to himself, the thugs waste no time in attacking, Vin knocks one out seemingly without even moving his pocketed hands, Wuu smashes the metal pipes swung at him with a kick too fast for a normal human eyes to track
"What happened with your successor", Wuu inquires still making conversation with Vin, while glaring down the president
"'Successor Candidate'" Vin corrects
"Three hundred"...
"what?" Vin inquires
"three hundred thousand" Wuu replies, "that's one thousand for every crew i had to go collect the dues from myself!" He growls sending a kick i to Vin's unprotected side
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!, YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE HUH?" Vin growls pulling his glasses aside as he tosses his coat, Wuu does the same as all in the ware house collectively gasp at the blurring figures, blood splatters and ridiculous ricochet's Echoing in the air, the air seems to combust and ignite with flashes, sparks, bangs and Raven while being on par can barely follow, to others it looked much like an accelerated video being accelerated yet again,
"{Watch closely child, this is child's play compared to what they're actually capable of and even more to what those beyond zone can do, if they fight seriously everyone here would be obliterated}, Pausing ominously Raven could instinctively tell that Silver's words are yet to finish, {including you},
Watching as the two go toe to toe Raven couldn't help but agree,
{It seems you've realized, yes, no one else can see them, not as clearly as you do, the steam, the speed and impact on the particles around them. isn't just reflecting the light sharply, it's affecting the very matter around them, they're probably refraining from using attack Force arts in consideration of the lot of you}
"Vitrification" Raven mumbles absent mindedly
{Exactly, optical invisibility, though that's just a byproduct of the impact from their clashes and steam make on the light around them},
(For their bodies to actually release sparks....)
{Their skin, muscles and bones even organs might as well be organic metal implants each performing a subsidiary function that heightens the bodies physical capabilities}
(Add that to the endless list of weird shit shifters can do)
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
{Though for them to exhibit their powers this publicly, i fear my assumptions are correct}
(What....)
Getting cut off from the conversation Raven instinctively falls back, dodging the bat aimed at his head, Vin and Wuu regain their bearings as they proceed to insure the thugs become collateral damage in their fight, in their moment of distraction Darla screams but her friends are late to react as the man Raven recognized as Yue's manager manages to smack the recorder out of her hand, it comes to a stop a few feet away and Ian races for it,
(He's not going to get there in time!), Luke who'd largely gone unnoticed spins throwing a pole that forces the thug running after Ian to dodge stalling him momentarily, Ian gets to the recorder holding it in hand but is quickly surrounded, Raven and Yanick are swarmed, needing but mere seconds to dispatch their assailants but they won't get it, scanning the area Ian's eyes land on the girls who'd been surrounded but remained unhurt, one lunges for him, but he roles away managing to get on his feet while racing through the gap in a feat of absurd flexibility, the thugs give chance, quickly reaching down the ware-house but Amy intercepts sending a kick to one of thugs skulls, Aylin spins grabbing another's arm performing a shoulder throw crashing the thugs head against the ceramic flooring, the two make quick work of the surrounding thugs just as Raven blurs past them towards Ian's location, Raven grabs one of the pursuing thugs by the back helm of his shirt before screeching to a halt, jerking upward the thug exclaims fearfully, Raven still holding unto the air bound thug spins while tensing his muscles then launches the man at the nearest pursuer, disheveled Ian battles fiercely with two thugs who'er swinging their bats at timed intervals forcing him to back against the metal doors, closing his eyes while desperately protecting his vitals he awaits contact, opening an eye to survey the situation he finds the two thugs head smashes together in between Raven's hands, the two sprint back towards the set to find the president and his brother as well as the rest of their muscle kneeling before the now disshelved duo
"You think this changes anything?, Release the audio if you want, i can still destroy your career, you legally still owe me three million, i can pay enough to either the press or judge to make this all go await, no one's going to take you on and I'm still company president, how about this, i'll have someone draw you up a legal contract, you can have a professional go through it in return for clearing your debt from being a trainee and releasing you with a recommendation hand over the recording and declare any made copies inadmissible, and that you'll take responsibility for them should word spread" he states calmly boring his eyes into the Darla and Yue's eyes respectively
"Your quite knowledgeable about the law Mr president, or should i say ex president?" States Aylin stepping to the fore, smirking in defiance the president raises his chin arrogantly
"You learn a lot about the law in my line of business" comes his pompous reply… Smiling at his reply Aylin's eyes crinkle,
"I'm quite happy you've said that, though i'm not surprised, you mustn't break what you don't know i suppose"
"It seems someone here understands the way things are done, as expected of Jamison Hide's daughter and successor" his smile growing wider with every word
"Here are my fathers words to you Mr president, 'Gerald Yong you are hereby ousted from the CEO position of Hedge entertainment'"
Frowning his face slowly morphs back into his usual arrogant smile
"What nonsense, you disappoint me Aylin hide"
"I'd be disappointed if she cared Gerald" an incredibly apathetic voice accompanied by the click of heels and a cane rings out from behind the group"
"Dad?!" Aylin exclaims in shock
"So that's her father" Raven murmurs looking at the man slowly stepping into view, black hair almost midnight similar to the two sisters what was different though where the two vortex's of obsidian black he had for eyes accompanied by white irises, a black obviously designer suit, a black coat draped on his shoulders and a cane with a golden Raven at it's head piece, but by far his most distinguishing feature was his hand....or lack there-of the right of his suit draped over but far from enough to hide it's absence
"It's quite a shame Gerald, I'd always wondered What'd happened to all those rising female artists you signed, the rumors haven't been good for business either, my thirty percent share is now worth pennies compared to its original value, you've become so absorbed in illegalities that you've become unable to lead" the man states taking the seat Vin had placed himself and Wuu,
"Does it matter?, I'll get the shares back up if that's what you're bothered about, but even you should know however much i make with these artists are pennies compared to what those bastards pay, you're a business man Hide, think about it"
Yue watches on helplessly as it appeared that the man began to actually contemplate the offer,
"Father!" His lips curl barely a millimeter upward before he turns his down cast eyes back to Gerald, "as you can see my heiress does not approve"
"It's quite a shame Jamison, you've grown soft, but i still cannot be ousted, i hold majority share as well as the support of the share holders, amounting to fifty-five percent"
"Are you sure about that?" The man implored as a new set of clicks upon the ceramic flooring made their way towards the group, appearing out of the dark passage KV comes to a halt behind Jamison.
"You must be mistaken Mr president, including every share holder supporting you'd only have forty-five" Kevin stated
Frowning at the sight of Kevin's hand on Hide's shoulder he barely manages to school his expression back in place
"Your betrayal is disappointing Kevin, but i don't remember you being bad at math"
"You see a certain someone's reckless actions have made the share prices depreciate over the past few months"
Choosing to allow the words sink in Gerald's veneer cracks
(No...no!), "You Can't!" He growls in defiance, raising a brow in amusement while Gerald boils at the sight of Jamison's smile,
"I thank you for your years of service, i'll be sure to continue where you left of" KV states offering the man a dazzling smile "you can't actually be...."
Gerald trailed off in shock
"I'll be honest with you Gerald, the only reason why i'm letting you live is because you'd be more useful alive and no, no i won't be throwing you in jail, not yet at least, you still have your uses, so you'll tell me about these rich friends of yours won't you?" Jamison inquires rhetorically, turning to Raven and co with his smile he addresses them softly
"I'm sure the lot of you have been through quite a bit today, but be rest assured there's nothing more to be worried about, so would you kid's be kind enough to allow the adults a little chat?" He states directing the question towards Aylin who is visibly displeased but complies guiding the group out of the ware house
(What the hell is dad thinking?, Media houses, Face files now Hedge entertainment?, Is he really trying to control the information circulation of an entire country?)
Having arrived at the restaurant decided on, Raven takes a seat before checking his phone again,
"I'd expected him to be here first" he grumbles lightly, looking up towards the door he sighs releasing his unconscious tension as the man in a gray pulled up hoodie and sun glasses takes a seat across from him
"I'm sure your wondering why i called you?"
"How do you even have m.... Never mind, Why'd you call me?"
"I'm sure you have many questions about your quite unnerving but undoubtedly advantageous situation" the man replied as a smile tugged at his lips
"Situation?" Raven replies guardedly
"Of course not everyone has two bodies"
Ravens mind grinds to a halt as different possibilities swarm his mind, (how!, No wait I've never made any slip ups...)
{Except giving both bodies identical names}, Silver chides
(Undoubtedly not my best decision but it's still not enough!)
The man watches silently, smiling as he watches the gears turn in Raven's head, listening in on the conversation the two had silently he schools his expression and hides his shock,
(a familiar huh?, He is quite talented, he's her son after all), "I have quite a bit to say but for now i'll keep it to this, unite the four major crews and you'll get your answers"
"You don't even know my questions yet"
"I don't need too"
Raven watches as Kevin Volt makes his way out of the restaurant carefully avoiding anywhere too conspicuous
"Answers huh".