Chapter 14. Behind the scenes.

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While the Study Faction were to thank for the introduction of Meta Heroes, they still had one other answer to find; They’re origins. They knew there was a war, they knew the nuclear part of it was why humans became extinct and why they evolved. What was curious to them was why, or more so how, especially when it came to the movements of the earth and the powers of Metas. The answer could only be found in the nuclear part of the war, so while one part studied the Metas, the other looked for the source. The strange thing was that while they searched for a cause they couldn’t find much in that regard, only news snippets but no actual traces, like nothing in the soil, or even in themselves. If they were affected by such things they assumed they'd have some sort of radiation, yet there was none. Whatever it was just resulted in a mutation, which explains their looks but not the supernatural powers some have gained.

The formula of what was used, be it one alone or a mixture, could aid them but they could find none, like they were hidden. That didn't stop them, as they were determined to find an answer, so they dug deeper, literally and figuratively, with the aid of Metas. It took a few years but something was discovered, a lab from the human era, deep underground. They had their breakthrough, one that would lead to a shocking discovery that changed the looks of the war.

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Jackson was in a computer room, sitting in front of a computer with a busted device next to it, his M-key in the console slot, waiting patiently.

“....Welp,” Mitch said through the communications, “got nothing.”

“Nothing? Really?” Jackson responded, disappointed but not too surprised.

“Nope, nothing. They wiped this drive clean.”

“How bout you, Talia?”

Talia spoke through the speakers of the computer. “Only thing I can find here is a trace of a transfer, other than that, nothing.” She emerged from the PC.

“They were thorough enough not to even leave a crumb,” Mitch commented.

“No one's that clean. there's gotta be something.” Jackson huffed.

“We’d probably have something in that jammer if someone didn't smash it,” He said with a grin that could be heard.

Jackson glared at his side, visualizing his eyes on Mitch. “What was I supposed to do? There wasn’t an off switch.”

“You coulda let Talia go in.”

“Jerry can only connect with one of us so I didn’t wanna risk her getting trapped or something.”

“It's not like it has any speakers for me to talk through and direct links with the M-keys don’t work when I’m dived in,” Talia said.

“Direct link?”

“It's when you tap your keys together to make a tether for direct communication. It doesnt have alot of range though so it’s best used in certain situations.”

“Huh, neat.”

“Let's check with Nail-maker and see if she’s got through those walls.” She patted his shoulder and gestured for him to follow.

Jackson sighed, raising up. “Not like we’ll find anything here. Navi-boy, is Life Witch ok?”

“Stop calling me that already,” Mitch groaned. “She's fine, she's helping the clean up crew. Speaking of, the pickup teams and police are about ten minutes away.”

“Great, let's see if we can break those walls before they get here.”

“I doubt that,” Nailmaker chimed in.

“Oh, hey Nail. Why do you say that?”

“Come here.”

Jackson and Talia looked at each other with some concern before making their way to Nailmaker. When they approached her they witnessed her shaking some grayish fluids off her fingers. Looking at the wall near her they saw scratch marks on them but all were given a filling.

“Nail?” Jackson called out. “What's-?”

“Yeah, so I tried scratching through and while I did some surface damage it just sorta…oozed,” Nail explained.

“Oozed?” Talia tilted her head.

“Uh huh, like it was healing itself. Hardened right after covering the scratch.”

“Huh…” Jackson looked at the trails on her hands, “didn't harden on your hands though.”

“Nah but it's sticky.” She tried to shake it all off.

Talia approached the structure, taking out her blade. “Lemme try.” Moving swiftly, she made three clean cuts on the surface. They weren't very deep and as soon as they were made, a white substance seeped from them, hardening once the opening was covered and turning black. “A healing barrier? Guess it's a Meta ability.”

“How deep did your slice go?” Jackson asked.

“Not that deep but it's definitely a thick one.” She checked her weapon, noticing how clean it was. “Hm, seems the ooze comes after the wound.”

“So it reacts to the damage. Wonder why it's not hardening on Nails fingers,” he questioned, moving up to the structure, equipping his drill. “Let me have a go.”

“Go ahead.” Talia moved aside.

Jackson placed the tool against the surface, spiraling it through. The liquids seeped out in response but he kept going, the gunk getting into the ridges. He managed to go a little deeper but as he did more poured out in response, so much that it stopped his progress, the slime coming out faster than he can drill through. “Damn.” He pulled back, the dent he made filling up. “Think I got halfway through.”

“Think Peacewolf can calm it? If it's a Meta ability it’s possible,” Nail suggested.

“I can come, can someone switch with me?” Peace asked through the comms.

Jerry chimed in, “The crew’s about to pull up so I say just try it with them when they get here. They got cutting tools.”

“Why don't you all just wait outside and unwind,” Gina said, “it's been an eventful moment to say the least.”

“Speaking of, have you ID’d those two outside?” Talia asked, talking about Asha and Nina as they moved outside.

“Yeah, the sheep is Nina Liander, she’s got a record of targeting Meta heroes to fight, mostly just the brawler types, she's even set up some illegal underground fighting tournaments,” Mitch answered.

“Probably why she was into my fighting style,” Jackson noted.

“What about the bear?” Nail questioned.

“Her name is Mina Lockheart. She’s been a participant in some of those underground fights, probably how they know each other,” Jerry answered.

“How’d they end up here, ya think?”

“Well it seemed like they were working for someone, maybe the two that left?” Jackson questioned.

“I doubt that,” Mitch added, “I searched based on the description Jerry told me and from what I found there's no way they orchestrated this.”

“What'd ya find, Navi-boy?”

“Stop it. Anyways, the feline is named Angela Valentine, she's from one of the japan fragments and, no joke, she's a mercenary.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, she’s got a track record of theft, kidnapping, assault, surprisingly no murder, yet.”

“Damn.” Peace cringed.

“What about her partner?” Jackson wanted him to continue.

“He’s-” Mitch was about to but Peace cut him off.

“Hey,” Peace pointed out to the trucks rolling in, “pickups here!”

Four large semi trucks rolled into the parking lot, each with a logo that said Black Stream pick-up in bold black letters atop the logo of a black river, behind them was an armored police truck.

“Hang on, tell us after this,” Jackson told his navigator, approaching the police truck.

Peacewolf and Talia guided the trucks inside the warehouse while Nail-Maker and Jackson helped with police transport, mostly with Mina.

Nailmaker huffed, pulling the bear onto the vehicle. “Man, wish I had super strength.”

“I hear ya,” Jackson huffed, “I only got enhanced, which ain't so bad but would be cool to lift a car.”

“Ri-Hm?” Her ears perked up.

“What's up?”

“You hear that?”

“Hear wh-” A faint muffled rhythmic sound was heard. “Huh?” The sound was getting progressively louder. “What is that?” He looked outwards to the park place where the sound was emanating from. As it picked up volume it was discernible as rock music. “Where’s it coming from?” Walking to the sound's direction, he looked around to see if he could find anything. Below his feet he could feel vibrations. “Huh?” Kneeling down to touch the ground, he felt the beat of the music, the rumbles becoming bigger. He turned to face Nail. “Is there an under grou-?”

“Look out!” Nail pointed back.

“Huh?” Glancing back, there was a large object coming right at him. “Shit!” He immediately jumped, avoiding the impact. The item in question was a large rectangular hammer with a long slim pole handle. “What the-!?” He looked at the origin, seeing an arm coming out of a distorted part of the ground.

“Hahaha!” A hearty almost maniacal laugh came from that spot as someone pulled himself out of it, the floor pulsating like a wave from where he came out till he was fully out, now just pulsating from the ends of the large chains he held. There now stood a white hyena with light black stripes holding a boombox on his shoulders. He was six foot and eight inches tall, physically fit with a four pack and broad shoulders, had an extra amount of fluff on his neck fur and a puffy tail, having red spiky hair with black tips. He work a white tank top that exposed his stomach, jeans that had rips on the ends of the legs and knee, a belt that had the image of a sharks fin darting through the water, a pair of open toe sandals that had fake fins on the side of the soles, arm braces that went from wrist to elbow with the same kind of fin sticking out the side, albeit sharper ones, and a pair of blue pair of mask goggles. “Nice dodge!”

“Ja- erg! Artisakat you ok!?” Mitch asked out of concern.

Jackson quickly got back on his feet, entering his Break Point stance. “I'm ok! Some Hyena just emerged from the ground!”

Nailmaker rushed to his side. “That's Deep Rush!”

“Know him?”

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“Not personally. He's a recent Meta Villain that's been causing some trouble downtown.”

“Hah!” Deep Rush laughed. “My name’s getting out there! Nice!” Placing the boom box down, he raised his chains. “What about my crew?” He let them go, two spots behind him distorting and pulsating at an increasing rate.

“Ah shit, get ready!”

Two large oval shaped balls of steel popped out the ground, they were at least twice Deep’s size with handles on the side. “Incoming!” Grabbing onto them, he effortlessly flung one of them towards the heroes, going straight for the armored transport truck.

Jackson moved quickly by activating his jets and moving right in its path. He materialized his tower shield, slants jutting out from the bottom and into the ground, the shielding taking the impact. “URRRRG!” He pushed against the container and managed to stop it before it could hit the truck, pushing it back and dismissing his damaged machine. A opened up on its top, prepping Jackson to guard whatever came out. What he expected to jump out suddenly appeared before him, startling him, their foot ramming right into his chest. “GAF!” He flew back but managed to slide on his feet.

The one who kicked him was a light brown wolverine. He had a white strand under his soft black eyes and across his brow and his fur was well kept if not a bit fluffy, having very sharp claws with short but fine fangs and short frizzy red brown hair. His body was average but well defined with muscles, wearing a long blue checkered v neck shirt and a red leather jacket that had black on the outside of the forearms and inside with belt straps on the shoulder, a pair of dark jean shorts that were ripped at the leggins just above the knees, and a red belt with the letter BW on the buckle. He slid his foot back. “This is the worst timeline for you bud!” Declaring that to Jackson before suddenly disappearing and reappearing right in front of him, swinging his fist right towards his abdomen.

“Shit!” He managed to guard, but slid back, some pain in his arms.

“Artisakat!” One of the policemen yelled, about to grab his rifle and rally his men.

“Dont worry about me! Go!”

“What!?”

“You need to get those two out of here! If they get free then we got real trouble!”

“Urg!” He knew he was right. “Alright, fine! C'mon guys!” He went to get Mina, helping the others get her in.

“Talia! Go with them just in case, ok?”

Talia nodded and gave the police a hand.

While Jackson was engaging the wolverine, Deep Rush went after Nail-maker, swinging around his other wrecking ball.

“Nail-maker right?” Deep rush spoke.

“I ain’t answering you!” Melinda shouted at him, managing to avoid the swings of his weapons albeit barely. Every time the object would crash into the ground it would instead submerge partially into it, either skidding along the floor or going in it before being pulled out, those same ripples coming from the entry point. She managed to jump forward and avoid a slam, elongating her nails while doing a quick turn, about to strike. Her nails were instead used to guard herself from Deep’s weapon, the bulk sliding through the ground towards her through the ground, breaking through her nails. She grit her teeth and fought through the pain, the weapon only grazing her. ‘Got careless, didn't think he’d loop back like that.’

“Hah, break a nail?” He taunted with the wiggle of his hands.

She growled, giving her nails a quick run through filers, growing them out again and twisting them into a sharp blade.

Deep Rush taunted her again with motion for her to come. “Come at me.”

“We both will!” She rushed at him.

“Both?” His ears picked up the sound of footsteps behind and he looked back to see Peacewolf running at him.

“Calm!” Peace closed her hands and invoked her power into him. His face and body softened, his mind wandering, giving both her and Nail a chance and they went for it.

Peace swung her baton and Melinda thrusted in her hand blades, both whiffing on Deep as he had dipped into the ground right before contact.

“Damnit!” Melinda cussed. She followed the pulsation on the ground, trailing it behind her. The wrecking ball he had popped out, twirling in the air. “What's-?” She wondered what he was planning then he popped out the ground, winding his hand back.

“Serve up!” Slamming his hand on the chunk, he shot it right towards the heroines like a rocket. He nearly got them, the item skipping on the ground like a rock on water, right into the warehouse.

“Oh no!” Peace reached for her comm. “Someone ask if the crew’s ok!”

“Worry more about you!” Deep shouted, darting to her through the ground.

She jumped over him and closed her hand. “Tranquil!”

“Ahhh.” Deep felt that sense of tranquility, it taking his mind.

“Got ya!” With a thrust of her weapon, she aimed at his spine only for the tip to meet gravel.

Deep dove back in again, avoiding her hits and collecting himself further ahead, looming his upper half out, laughing boastfully.

Nail regrouped with Peace. “I think he’s using that peace you give him-”

“To dive into the ground,” She finished with annoyance. “He’s relating it to his power somehow.”

“What if you try rage?”

Peace shook her head. “With how he's swinging that around I don't wanna risk him suddenly getting deadlier, at least not till the pickup leaves.”

“Hey gals, the crew's fine!”

“That's good,” Melinda sighed in relief.

“C'mon ladies,” Deep Rush yanked his wrecking ball back to him, catching it and fixing the slightly open top, “let’s keep this beach party goin!”

Jackson was fighting against the wolverine during this, in his Break Point stance, using it to guard. “Hrg!” He raised his arm against a particularly strong kick to the side. ‘Damn he's strong! This ain't just enhanced strength!’ He hopped back from the attack only for him to appear behind him, his back facing him as he twisted around to punch his face, the hero jumping away just at the last second. ‘He keeps warping around! Is he teleporting?’ As he thought this his opponent appeared right in front of him, swinging again. ‘His punches hurt, but,’ Jackson used his elbow to sturdily hold back the swing, ‘Break Point was made with guarding in mind!’ He managed to hit the wolverine in the shoulder followed by a strike in the abdomen.

“Gff!” He felt the pain, teleporting behind Jackson and jumping forward to gain some distance.

“What was that about timelines?” Jackson goaded him.

“Heh,” he turned to face Jackson, “taunting after two hits, that’s toxic dude!”

He watched as the truck finally drove away, witnessing the Wolverine glance in its direction. Not wanting to let him act, he dashed forward and kicked at his stomach. His kick missed as the wolverine had teleported a few feet to his side, counter attacking. Keeping up his Break Point, Jackson managed to block his attacks, tracking his teleportation, establishing his pattern. Though he was blocking, the villain was much stronger than him, so his guard was quickly wearing down. He jumped back and entered Smash Point, anticipating the warp as he established a pattern. The wolverine appeared right where he expected, now behind him, swiveling around to punch. Meeting his turn, switching out his gauntlet for a piston, they traded blows. The wolverines hit first into Jackson’s ribs, breaking a few, the cat remaining sturdy thanks to Smash Points tense stance. Even though he still coughed up some blood, his fist managed to hit square in the stomach, the piston ejecting and causing a slight rupture.

Now the wolverine coughed blood, his self rolling back from the impact. He managed to get to his feet, holding the area where Jackson's fist hit. “Damn…” He groaned. He did notice that his punch did damage too with how the cat held his side and took that as a good sign, about to keep the fight going until he noticed the trucks leaving. “Heh,” he smirked and eased his form, “you got so lucky.”

“Huh?” Jackson was expecting him to try and go after the trucks but the ease of their form caught him off guard.

“I'm Blast Warp. Remember it with those broken ribs.” Blast Warp teleported away.

“Wahoo!” Deep yelled, swinging his chain and ball wildly. Peace was hit by one, sent flying away.

“GOFOH!” Even though she braced for it she still felt the sting of it, rolling and bouncing back.

“Peace!” Nail called out in concern. A slam was coming her way and prepared herself to block.

“Soothe!” Peacewolf activated her power, forcing the hyena to submerge. “Get ready!” Telling Nailmaker and furrowing her brow, she sent her a signal.

Nail got the signal and nodded, following Deep's trail. “Come on big boy.”

She waited till he was right behind her. “Anger!” Squeezing her hands, she sent the sensation of anger into Deep Rush’s being.

The pulsations quickened and Deep came out with a roar. “ROAAAAAGH!!!” His face was scrunched and fangs bared, slamming his weapon down. It crashed into the ground instead of sinking into it.

Once he had come out, Nailmaker waited for him to attack, taking the opening to jump behind him and taking advantage of the stilled wrecking ball to strike his back. The edge of her nails missed, whiffing the air where he used to be. “What the-!?”

“Calm down man! Calm down!” The wolverine said to the hyena.

“Huh!?” She looked to her side to see the wolverine hold the hyena down, trying to calm him.

“RARGH RAH…huh?” Deep quickly composed himself, shaking his head. “Oh shit, sorry. Go time?”

“Yeah, let's sink and swim!” The wolverine told him.

“Alright alright!” Deep took hold of him.

“Stop!” Nail broke off her hand blades and threw them at the two. She managed to knick one of them right as they dove in. The pulsing ground didn’t trail and only lessened to a stop. “The hell?”

“They just leave?” Peacewolf questioned.

“Everyone alright?” Jerry asked.

“Yeah,” Peace answered, rising up, “they…left.”

“They left?”

“Why would they leave?” Mitch asked.

“They could be going after the trucks!” Nail surmised, quickly getting to her bike.

“I'll fly after!” Jackson informed, about to fly.

“Wait!” Peace stopped them. They both looked at her curiously but she couldn't help but think of something that bothered her. “Artisikat, can you look inside real quick?”

“I don’t think we have time t-”

“Don’t you think the pickup left pretty quick?”

“Huh?”

“We’ve been fighting for what, ten minutes? We tried to break those walls and they were not only sturdy but also had that slime right?”

“Well…yeah but dont they have some special tools for that?”

“How many of those containers were there?”

“At least eight,” Nail answered, “why?”

“They said they only managed to get a few,” Mitch chimed in, “mentioning they’d return after you took care of those guys.”

“They did?” Now Jackson had an odd feeling.

“Yeah, guess I’ll call them back.”

“Then why….” He flared his jets and flew in, going straight to the area where the strange containers were. A few were sectioned off, clean cuts right at the bottom with no traces of the top. “A few are gone.”

“See? All go-”

“Wait,” he inspected the areas that had the cuts, “...These are clean….way to clean…and why’s there nothing on top….better yet…Mitch, can you contact the crew? I wanna know how they got whatever they got in.”

“Yeah, I'll give them a call.”

“Artisikat, is something wrong?” Gina asked.

“Whatever was removed was removed clean and efficiently, WAY to clean and effici-” He was cut off by a faint ringing sound emanating from one of the untouched blocks. “Huh?” He looked towards it, hearing the jingles muffled behind it. “Why is….” His eyes widened and he turned his comm off, taking out his phone.

Mitch answered his cell, “Uh why are y-”

“Send me a schematic for a chainsaw, now!”

“What are-?”

“Now Mitch!”

“Ok ok! Hang on!”

“Artistikat?” Nail called out.

“Nail, you and Peace get to your vehicles quickly and go after the trucks!” Jackson shouted.

The heroines looked concerned but Peace acted quick, getting to her car, Nailmaker confusedly going for her bike.

Jacksons received a text from Mitch, getting blueprints for a chainsaw sword. He wasted no time, pulling his body back, creating the weapon, enlarging its blade, revving its engine and entering Smash Point. He flew forward, smashing the roaring chains on the wall and ripping through it with a splatter of its slime going everywhere, taking his claw shield and gripping the gash he made. The shield flared its rockets and tore the part down, revealing what he feared. Inside were a group of unconscious mammals, all wearing the uniforms of Stream. “Shit! Mitch the trucks have been hijacked!”

“What!?” Mitch exclaimed.

“I'll put an APB out!” Jerry announced, quickly working.

“Send me their locations!” Peace requested.

Jackson went in to check on the crew, trying to shake one awake. “Hey, hey!”

“Urrrg,” They groaned but didn’t stir.

“C’mon wake up!”

Peace and Nail were on chase, going to the closest truck near them, splitting up. Peace was roaring her sirens to clear up traffic while Nail just cut through cars on her bike. They were getting closer but couldn't see it.

“Hey you sure it's this way, I don't see it!” Nail said.

“Neither do I!” Peace added.

“It should be in viewing distance by now!” Mitch said to them.

“I don’t…wait what's-?”

“Peace?”

“Nailmaker, do you see a drone near you?”

“A drone?” Nail looked around and spotted a drone up top. “I see it!”

“I think that's what we're tracking!”

“What!? They removed it? That's impossible, it should be deactivated then!” Gina noted.

“If that's the case, they sent us on a goose chase!” Nail shouted, hitting her hood in anger, “They could be anywhere now!”

“We just need to look for any Stream trucks! I'll get the routes so we don't get them confused with the regular ones!” Mitch stated.

“Mitch by that time they'll be lo-” A loud crash was heard on the highway below here. “What the-!?” She rushed over to pear off the ledge, witnessing a truck that was rammed into a pile of metal poles and pipes.

“Hey!” Someone called at her from below. Near the accident was a Five foot tall ferret with short smooth bright brown fur, orange fluffy hair, and blue eyes. He had wore a black belt with a condensed staff attached to the side, a pair of heavy black pants with a red outside on the leggings and a steel ring on the ends with pads on shins and a green sleeveless shirt with a sigil of red lighting that formed the letters RS on the right chest, having a pair of steel toed boots and clear framed glasses. He pointed to the truck. “This yours?”

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End.

Next chapter. Catch up.