The Mercenary

[doctorzero]

Kavma-Karl laughed. "Why so serious, clothboy? And here I thought you'd be happy to see me! After all, it's been so long..."
Max was quickly becoming unnerved by this guy's smile. "Uh, do you know this guy, uh-"
"Climber."
"Yeah."
The faux-pirate shook his head as he approached them all (Princess determined to read her Dennis the Menace and not get involved) "What, you don't know who I am? Such a pity, and I thought my illustrious reputation would precede me!"
"You're a pirate with scars on his HAIR. That's not really something to be proud of," Kaitlin snapped.

---

Kavma looked to the side, as if viewing some imaginary audience. "'Something we need to know, he says'," he said mockingly. He turned back to the group. "I'm actually astonished you didn't notice as soon as we arrived on the island. I thought the Lady was made for this sort of thing! Slipping up on the job, are we?"
Yana was becoming unnerved and annoyed. "What are you talking about now?"
"What, I haven't been dropping enough hints yet?"
(I would like to add that Kavma-Karl lacks Arma.)

[gantzgun74]

Climber looked around on Karl's person a moment. He wasn't normally that good at that, but he usually tried his best when it came to pirates like Karl... So far he didn't see anything wrong... "He... He was made at the Amusement Park same as I was..." He looked a tad confused however. Given Gantz had educated him somewhat, and he was powered by a chaos emerald, he, AT LEAST, knew one crucial detail. "How are you here?"

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"What?! HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE-"

Soul's attempted rant however was interrupted when she, in her curiosity, used her powers to scan the energy and air of the island... She became aware of it in a second.

At that moment, Gantz's cell phone went off, to which he quickly picked it up and answered. "Uh... Hello?"

"Gantz!! There's a MASSIVE spike of evil energy on this plane!!! God merciful BUDDHA I haven't felt something this bad since-" It was Tarosuke...

But Soul interrupted him. "Soul Edge..." She almost snarled this line out. "And it's not just Soul Edge... His cursed weilder is also out and about..."

Gantz and Rosaline's eyes widened. "WHAT?!?!? NIGHTMARE?!?!?" Of course the two were educated on who Nightmare was, there was the possible fear that they could've become Nightmare when Him had that fake Soul Edge.

Either way though this did NOT help Misty's mood, as she turned to Kavma again. "YOU MEAN TO F@CKING TELL US YOU LET LOOSE AN UNHOLY TERROR ON DIMENSIONAL ISLAND?!?!?!?"

[doctorzero]

"Bingo! Give the lady and the sword a prize!" Kavma declared, a giddy grin on his face. "Though you must remember, gentlemen, I have done FAR worse than this in the past."
Yana turned to Gantz; he was beginning to hate being confused. "What's wrong? What do you mean by Nightmare?"
"Why, he's the armor animated by the accursed blade Soul Edge, of course!" said Kavma. "A wicked sword that devours the souls of all those who attempt to wield the blade...and for some reason they all thought they could use it--or rather, him-to grant their deepest desires--and he is the champion that you, Yana, must face...though I must admit, I wasn't aware of the Lady Soul Calibur's presence when I brought him here...but that makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it?"
Yana was beginning to feel worried. "Wait, wait, you brought a soul eating sword here?"
"One that's caused massacres and destruction in the past, yes."
"WHAT?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"
Kavma sighed. "Simply because you yourself have handled greater things in the past."
"Huh?"
"Oh, I'm sure that you'll understand when you receive the rest of your memories..." He looked at Gantz. "Let's not forget Alex's previous experience with Old Man Soul Edge...even if it was a fake."

---

Kavma-Karl put a hand on his chin, as if deep in thought. "Hmm, that's an excellent question, cloth boy!"
Kaitlin's patience snapped. "Okay, I have had ENOUGH of this!" She stomped forward and poked Kavma-Karl in the chest. "I don't know who you are, and I don't CARE. If you're with Kavma, I swear to all that is holy and good, I am going to PUMMEL you like you wouldn't BELIEVE."
"Kaitlin--"
"Not NOW, Max, I'm busy being angry!"
Kavma-Karl actuallygiggled at her outburst. "Young and beautiful...and with a temper to match. Small wonder you mistook her for Clarice, cloth boy!"

[gantzgun74]

Climber's eyes narrowed at Karl as he held up his pick-axe at the statue. "S-Stand back... G-Get away from her..."

That was when someone FINALLY said something.

'-_o' was the emoticon that appeared in Metal's visor. "Hey Karl... Where's Arma at? You two are pretty much inseperable arentcha?"

............... Climber and the others looked at Metal curiously. "I have 'i-Browse', it allows me to surf the net anywhere. So I looked up our friend online... Anyways, where is your bird AND Weapon tough guy? Cause without it, you can't hit any of us without shattering like cheap glass."

..................... It was right around that time when Climber came to that realization as well. "Heeeey..." He looked quite confused. "Where is your bird you sneaky pirate?!"

----------------------------------------------------------------

Gantz growled at the mention. "Oh sure, rub salt into old wounds..."

Growling, Rosaline looked like she felt the same. "First you sick a mercenary on us, NOW the ACTUAL Nightmare?! Well, so much for you NOT being a BAD-GUY. Seriously, a VERY big contradiction there..."

[doctorzero]

"Oh, that completely depends on your definition of 'bad-guy'," Kavma countered. "And I sicced them on YANA, not you. How many times must I remind you? And now, I believe our time is growing short. But before I go, I have a few more things to say." He looked at Yana. "A reminder. Industrial Park, any time you wish. Come alone or with friends, whoever you wish. But you WILL have to face Nightmare alone."

---

Kavma-Karl shrugged. "Where's the bird, you say?" He looked left and right, as if expecting the bird to appear out of nowhere. "Where, oh where could that beautiful bird be?"
"Okay, THAT'S IT!!" Kaitlin's final nerve snapped, and she ran toward Kavma-Karl and threw her fist at him.
He caught it without effort. "Ooh, feisty. Well, girl, you don't seem to want to die here..." His foot flew forward before Kaitlin could react.
"So go DIE ON MT. BONSAI!!!"
Not a single one of them could stop it--as soon as the hit connected, Kaitlin went flying through the window and into the horizon with the speed of a fighter jet.
"KAITLIN!!!!
Kavma-Karl rubbed his neck, embarrassed. "Woopsy! Looks like I don't know my own strength!"
Max turned toward him, his fist shaking. "You...you..."
(She's not dead, if you're worried.)

[gantzgun74]

Climber was every bit as ticked as Max was at what had happened. "You... You monster!!!"

That was the last straw apparently, as Climber charged at Karl spinning his pick-axe at Karl-Kavma. For those that were familiar with energy signatures, they woulda felt the Chaos Emerald, that was powering Climber, suddenly spike, responding to his anger, making him and his swing go even faster.

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Back upstairs...

"ALONE?!" That completely caught Gantz by surprise. "Are you crazy?!? Nightmare has been killing people for ages! I have faith in Yana, sure; but Nightmare is NOT someone you should underestimate!"

Red looked equally enraged, obviously understanding what Gantz had just said. She hugged Yana quickly as she glared at Kavma. It sent a pretty clear message though; She wasn't going to let Yana take on Nightmare on his own.

[doctorzero]

The pickaxe never made contact. There was a loud clang as Kavma-Karl intercepted the axe with his own blade. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said sweetly, smiling at Climber's angered expression. "Do you hate me? Tsk tsk, not very healthy, is that?" He twisted his sword, flinging the axe into the air.
Max gasped. The sword that Kavma-Karl was holding--he had seen it before.
As the axe fell back down, Kavma-Karl caught it and swung it at Climber.
"QUICK ATTACK!"
A brown, furry blur slammed into Kavma-Karl, sending him backwards and dropping the pickaxe. Before he could recover, Max had run forward and punched him in the face, driving him into the wall. He grabbed him by the collar and shook him. "Where did you get that sword?! Tell me!"
Good God, Kavma-Karl could not stop smiling. "Why ask? Are you so concerned? I got it from the sword-shop, of course; that's where all swords come from!"
"DON'T YOU DARE TOY WITH ME!!!"
Max had rarely been this angry before, but considering that one of his closest friends had just been flung out a window, and another had gone missing, it was justified.

---

"Neither are you, Alex," said Kavma. "And we all know how THAT ended. But you shouldn't worry."
"Yeah, well I am!" said Yana. He gave Red a glance, but he figured it would be rude to tell her to let go.
Kavma shook his head as he walked toward them. "Perhaps you think I am being unfair--maybe I am. But if you think I am actually going to allow Sir Nightmare to, say, devour Yana's soul, then you are more thickheaded than I thought you were."
"Don't call them thickheaded!"

---

Max and Kavma-Karl chased each other throughout the room, slashing and ducking and evading each other. "I haven't had this much fun in ages!" Kavma-Karl laughed.
"YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME, DON'T YOU?!" Max grabbed him by the face and forced him to the ground.
A second later, he found himself hitting the ceiling and falling.

[gantzgun74]

Climber was quick to reclaim his pick-axe, and saw Max trying his best to fight off Karl... Only to be rewarded by being punched into the cieling. Growling, he charged Karl once again, this time minding his grip with his pick-axe so as not to drop it again. He swung the pick-axe at a rapid fire pace, barely giving Karl any chance to counter.

That was the thing with Karl and Climber, where Karl had an excess in strength, Climber had an excess in speed. The Chaos Emerald was doing a good job of increasing the mannequin's speed.

Metal looked on with wide eyes. Why hadn't he taken a shot at Karl himself? Maybe he just felt conflicted about shooting at his friend, even if he was resistant to bullets.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?" It was pretty safe to say that Gantz was close to throwing a gasket. "You're talking as if you-" ......................... He facepalmed. "You mean to tell me you not only brought Nightmare to the island... But he's under your control?"

To be honest, it wouldn't have surprised him. The four seasons were pretty powerful, and yet they never once questioned Kavma's orders. It probably wouldn't have surprised him if Nightmare was under his control given that...

"UNDER HIS- ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!?" Soul yelled. "I don't care how powerful this insufferable man is!! No-one's been able to control Soul Edge since the day he became pure evil, and no-one ever will!!"

Shaking her head, Rosaline looked to Gantz with a raised eyebrow. "While I'm not yelling like Soul Calibur is, I have to agree with her. How is that possible?"

[doctorzero]

"How is it possible?" Kavma put a hand to his chin. "Hmm, well, that's an excellent question." He smiled. "Not entirely the point, though."
"Of course it's entirely the point!" Yana protested. "You can't just--"
There was a loud beeping sound that caused everyone to jump. Kavma sighed and pulled out a phone. "Yes, Jihl?...It is? Excellent." He put it away. "It appears that my time here has run out. The authorities should be here within the next ten minutes to clean everything up. I will see you at the Industrial Park, Yana, with or without your companions." He bowed. "Let us see who is the better man."
He gave Red a single glance, then nodded to Alex. "I hope to see you real soon!"
And just like that, he vanished.
"Hey, wa--" Yana ran forward, his hand outstretched, but Kavma was already gone.

---

Kavma-Karl wasn't able to block fast enough--the axe struck him in the face, tearing off some of the stone on his face.
Kavma-Karl spun and stopped, his head bowed. Max got up, wincing, as he gave him a glare.
"Who. Are. You?"
Kavma-Karl giggled. He raised his head, and, to Max's surprise, half his face now resembled someone he knew all too well.
"Well, I think playtime's over for now..." He lifted the Raptor Sword onto his shoulder. "But I hope we can play again sometime! See you, clothboy!"
"WAIT!" Max ran forward, but Kavma-Karl was already gone, vanished into thin air.

[gantzgun74]

"Wait-get back he- GAGH!!" Letting out that exasperated groan, Gantz facepalmed, "God-damned razzin-frazzin..."

As this happened, Red looked to Yana concerned. Just to make it clear, she looked at everyone in her current group as a member of her extended family. Yana was like an older brother to her, and, hey, she was protective of her family, ever since what had happened to her grandmother. Hearing what she heard about Soul Edge? Yeah, she was REALLY worried now, whether he was under Kavma's control or not.

With Rosaline, she walked up to Gantz, looking equally concerned. "I'm worried Gantz... Soul Calibur, as far as we know, is the only thing we know that can combat Soul Edge... What do we do?"

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do." Came Soul's voice. "This Kavma wants Yana to take on Soul Edge all on his own? That's fine by me."

Misty chose that time to look at her curiously. "But... aren't you Gantz's weapon?"

The sword probably would've rolled her eyes if she had them. "Yes... But Yana may borrow the rights to use me in battle. All it takes is a simple transfer of power from Gantz, and that's that."

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Back downstairs, Climber and Metal looked at where Kavma-Karl disappeared... "What..." Climber looked REALLY confused. "What just happened?"

........ Finally Metal just shrugged. "Strangely that had to have been the most NORMAL thing that's happened to us today..."

[doctorzero]

Max didn't pay attention to either of them. Why is Kavma doing any of this?! What does he WANT?!
He looked toward the window. That could wait--he had to find Kaitlin. SOMETHING told him that she was still alive...
But he was so close to Jaron. After a moment, he made up his mind.
"Erin." The eevee looked up at him quizzically. "I need you to stay here and stick with Jaron, all right? Don't let him out of your sight."
She looked surprised, but after a minute, she nodded. "Good girl." He scratched her behind the ears, sighing. "I wish it didn't have to be like this..." He stood up and looked at Climber and Metal. "Sorry to get you guys involved...if you can, please make sure that my Eevee finds Jaron, okay?" He ran toward the door, recalling James and Buizel to his Pokeballs as he did so.

---

Yana returned Red's concerned look. "Red, I'll be fine, okay?" He gave her a hug. "It's nice that you're concerned for me, but it'll be okay, I promise."
"Things will be fine, Lucas, I promise. I won't--"
Yana blinked. "Huh? What was--" Red was staring at him oddly. "Er, nothing, nevermind."

After Soul was finished speaking, Yana said, "A transfer of power? Is that safe? I'm flattered that you'd want to help me, uh, Soul, but I think I'll be fine without you, there's no need--"

[gantzgun74]

"Yana just stop." Came Gantz with a straight face. "Even if you could out-fight Nightmare, you need a holy weapon to go up against him properly. Many warriors tried to defeat Nightmare before, but he has powerful dark magic." He pulled out Soul. "Soul's the best shot you have at taking him on."

Rosaline nodded to the young man. "He speaks the truth, Yana. You need all the help you can get."

Red looked touched at Yana's concern, but appeared to agree with Gantz and Rosaline... Though that was mostly because she always listened to them anyways.

-------------------------------------------------------

Watching Max run out the door, Climber looked a bit surprised. "H-Hey! Wait a second!" However he was gone before the mannequin could say much else............... Looking to the Eevee, he picked up the little fox. "Well... I guess we should go find Gantz and the others then..."

Metal nodded. "Sounds good." However his eyes fell on the staircase... .......................

After a second, he looked to Climber. "So... Do you wanna risk the staircase or should we take the elevator?"

Climber thought about this a second... "How about we take the eleva-"

"Good idea."

[doctorzero]

Yana would not stop being surprised by their selflessness. Even so, he hated that they were getting involved on his account. "Okay, fine...but maybe we should do it somewhere else. I mean, Climber and...uh, the robot guy probably got the hostages out by now, they may need help."

---

MEANWHILE.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Princess looked up from her newspaper to see that she was all alone in the room. "Huh." After a minute of total silence, she slowly stood up, put down the newspaper, and headed over to the doors and walked out.

---

"FREEZE! Put your hands in the air! We have the building surrounded and are willing to use force!"
Princess's expletive is unfit for this document.

---

Mission File 008
Author: K. Raleigh
Subject: (Censored) "Yana"
Status: Active
Location: Void City, Dimensional Television Broadcast Station
Progress: 21%
Notes:
Yana has succeeded in completing the first challenge and has received partial instructions on the second. Superior Jihl Nabaat has been appointed to preside over the second challenge in my place.
Maxwell Chadi and Kaitlin Roslyn have both been seen at the DTBS during the first challenge. Measures have been taken to ensure that they do not interfere for the time being.
Princess has currently been detained by the authorities, though I don't expect her to be contained for long.
Subject (REDACTED) has been identified by agents stationed at Bonsai Village. Orders have been issued not to come in contact with the subject.
The odds of the subject and Yana coming in contact at this present time is exceedingly low, however, it is best if measures are taken.
Added: The subject identified as Nina (REDACTED) has been spot at the location (REDACTED). Contact is possible.
Added: Plans have been made to approach the assassin Vanessa have been made, but will only be made if further developments require it.
Added: Mr. Wilhelm Strahl has been given compensation and medical treatment. Possibility for further employment is unlikely.
Added: Alex (REDACTED. LEVEL 12 CLEARANCE REQUIRED)

---

Jaron, just wait a little longer, okay? Kaitlin...dear Arceus, please be okay...
(A couple more and we should be done with this one.)

[gantzgun74]

'PING!'

When that sound appeared, the elevator located just across the hall from the Studio's entrance opened up...

"Climber! Metal!" Gantz smiled as those said two moved across the hallway carefully, so as to avoid anymore openings in the floor, and entered into the studio. "Where have you two been? Are the hostages taken care of?"

....... Metal and Climber looked at each other a moment....

"DOH!!!" Metal facepalmed at that.

"We..." Climber began, chuckling nervously. "We couldn't get around to the hostages. We ran into this girl that looked a bit like Clarice." He pointed to Yana. "She mentioned Yana like she knew him."

Looking excited, Rosaline smiled. "Really? Who was this person?"

"It was probably Kaitlin..." Misty went, catching everyone's attention. "I DID run into Max while we was here."

"Max?!?!?" Gantz looked surprised at this. "Why didn't you say so?!? Where is he?!"

With a sigh, Misty simply shrugged. "Not sure, lost track of him before I got to the studio."

Metal nodded. "We saw this Max guy too. He was downstairs with me and Metal... Some... Things happened... Kaitlin's in trouble, and Max went chasing after her."

That succeeded in catching everyone's attention. "Kait's in trouble?" Misty growled in anger. "What happened?"

[doctorzero]

Kaitlin? Max? Yana frowned. "Who--"
Kaitlin. Max. HOLD UP A MINUTE!!!
NOW he remembers.
He grabbed Metal and began to shake him. "Where are they?! happened?! What did they say about me?! How--"
"VEE!"
Yana jumped, startled, as the Eevee that Climber was holding tackled him. "WAH!" He looked up, dazed, and saw that Erin was sitting on his chest, looking as happy as all heck to see him. "Uh...hey. Weren't you that fox I saw in the studio?" He got to his feet and picked up Erin, studying her closely. "How come you're so excited?"

Erin stared at him, baffled. What was he talking about? He was acting like he didn't know her! Didn't he recognized her? Sometimes she wished she could speak English so she could ask what was going on...