Chapter 2

The next day Helen moved in with Michael and Jana, and Jana took to calling Helen big sister. Allen was angry just like Helen predicted. "Who do you think you are asshole!?"
"Michael, last I checked."
"Ha, very funny jackass, now, what do you think you're doing with Helen? She's mine!"
"I don't belong to anyone jerk!"
"Bull shit, you were supposed to be with me! That's why you were put in Sword!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't get it? Why do you think they put one guy and one girl on each team? They want us to pair up; fall for each other, whatever!"
"Well then it seems like I've ruined their plans." Allen threw a punch at Michael, who dodged and struck back, breaking Allen's nose. Allen staggered, dazed but not stopped. He bellowed in anger and charged Michael, ramming into his gut, driving him into the wall. Michael was winded for a moment. Allen pulled back, smirking, sure he had won. Then Michael moved. Allen less saw the movement as saw the aftermath, where Michael's fist coiled into Allen's abdomen, crushing the wind from his lungs. Michael then spun on the spot, and stopped his hand just short of a lethal blow, a few millimeters from Allen's neck. He was then slapped by Mina, who had watched the whole mess. "C'mon Helen, let's go home." Allen ran after them and tried to jump Michael, but with a busted nose and bruised ribs, Michael had the advantage over him. Michael was careful not to really hurt Allen, just beat him enough to drive the point home. "You had enough?"
"I'll have enough when I've kicked your ass!" Again Michael won. He was about to knock Allen out when her heard Jana yell, "Big brother! Don't hurt him!" Michael froze, and looked down the hall at his little sister, her bright yellow eyes wide with shock at her brother. Michael went numb, his arms and legs like lead weights. Jana ran to her older brother, and at the same time, a doctor and nurse came around the corner. "Oh, there she is!" The doctor strode up to Michael. "Mr. Samson? I'm Dr. Harold." Michael turned slowly, his eyes still locked on his sister. "How?"
"Well, this morning she requested..."
"But, I was told she wouldn't be able to... That she wouldn't be able to handle..."
"I know, I know. I was surprised as you are when she requested the procedure, and even more so when it was a resounding success."
"I'm all better now big brother! But, why where you hurting him?" Jana bobbed her head at Allen.
"Jana."
"Big brother, don't hurt him. He may be dummy, but he doesn't need that much hurt."
"How dare you call me stupid!" Allen lashed out at Jana, but had his hand crushed under Michael's shoe. "I don't care what your grudge is with me, but leave my sister out of it."
"Fu..." Allen was interrupted by Michael's foot in his face. Again Mina struck him across the face. Michael picked his little sister up on his shoulders and walked back to his apartment with the only two women he cared about in the whole world. With the combined salaries of Michael and Helen, their apartment had been spruced up. They had bought a new television, couches, beds, chairs, everything. Even though they could easily afford to eat out every night, Michael still insisted on cooking, and Helen had started learning from him. In school they both stood out as excellent students, even though Michael hadn't attended school in ten years. He confessed to Helen that, according to Professor Hanson, Michael's I.Q. was that of a genius. Helen wasn't a natural genius, but she more than made up for it with her tireless effort. Jana was receiving good grades in school as well, so, as a reward, Michael proposed the three of them go to the local amusement park on the up coming Saturday. Jana was the first one up. After getting dressed, she waited in the living room, just looking at her home. After a few minutes, she got tired of waiting and went to her brother's room. She slowly cracked the door open, and poked her head into the room. She tip-toed up to the edge to her brother's bed. Michael was lying facing the left side of the bed. Jana walked along the right side, looking at her brother's back. She could see Helen's slim arm lying on top of her brother. Jana tugged slightly at the sheets on the bed. Michael shifted a little, but didn't wake up. Jana tugged harder. Michael still didn't wake up, but Helen did. Helen lifted her head just high enough to see over Michael, and saw Jana. After some careful maneuvering, Helen got out of bed. She stepped over to Jana. "You're in your undies." Jana giggled at her own comment. Helen stepped over to the closet and put on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. It was only after she did this that she looked at the clock on the bedside table. "Oh my God! It's only five in the morning!" Helen was so startled that she forgot Michael was asleep, and her yell woke him up. Michael sat up in a flash, and simultaneously his hand slid under his pillow, which flew into view a split-second later with a small handgun poised and ready. Helen had known about the pistol, Michael had told her about it after she had moved in. After a few moments of silence, Michael lowered the weapon, and slid it back under his pillow. Michael relaxed, and got out of bed. He stepped over to Jana, and stooping down picked up his sister to hug her. He then set her down and walked over to Helen. He gave her a hug too, and then kissed her. After a moment they parted and Michael left the room. His head popped back in, "You should think about taking a shower, I know I'm gonna take one." Michael laughed all the way to the bathroom. Helen and Jana just stood. Then they both broke into laughter as well.
Two hour's later, Helen stepped out of the bathroom. Michael was napping on the couch, the T.V. tuned to a local news channel. Michael had turned the volume down very low, so Helen couldn't hear what the reporter on the screen was saying. Jana was sleeping too, curled up in the large armchair on the right of the couch. Helen dressed silently, and glanced up just in time to see Michael's Black Staff mech standing on the top of a building. For a moment she panicked, but then she saw it was a recording of their last mission. Helen plucked the remote from Michael's hand, and turned up the volume just in time to hear the report. "This is actual home video shot by a civilian just a few days ago." The view on the T.V. shifted. The home video was playing behind a table where two reporters sat. "As you can see here, we have one of the S3 mechs, which one was it James?" The female reporter looked to her male counterpart. "We believe that the machine currently on screen is the black variant of the Staff project. Whether the black unit has any differences from the yellow is currently unknown." The screen flicked back to the female reporter. "Right, well, now we're seeing the black unit fighting a particularly large demon...wow, it really is taking a beating isn't it?"
"Yes, I feel sorry for the pilot of that mech."
"Rightly so. But, as we can see here, the mech has turned the tables. My god, he's really letting that demon have it, isn't he?" Michael stirred, and sat up just in time to see him self on the T.V. as he sliced the demon in half. Helen felt a sickening wave of déjà vu as the black mech fell over. Then the shot on screen zoomed in, apparently whoever had been filming had seen her get out of her mech, because on the screen she watched herself run to Michael's collapsed machine. She watched as she pulled Michael's limp body from the mech. "Damn, I looked like shit." Helen had to fight back a laugh. Then the scene zoomed in further, close enough to see their faces, just in time to see Michael kiss Helen. Then the clip ended. "Well, looks like there's a little romance in S3 as well as demon fighting robots." The reporters laughed at the weak joke. Michael got up from the couch, and wrapped his arms around Helen. "Don't worry about it, it's not like we have anything to hide."
"I know, but I don't really feel like being on the news, especially if it's just because I'm with you."
"People from around the world will be watching us. We're their last hope, at least in their eyes. But, if you want to keep this between us, I'll understand."
"It's not people I'm worried about. I'm worried about my parents."
"Your parents?" Helen turned in Michael's arms to face him, and laid her head on his chest. "My parents, well, let's just say they have more than enough money. My father, he owns one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers in the world. The, the incident ten years ago made him very rich. My parents are good people, but that much money has made them arrogant. They think they're the best people on the planet. And they really won't want me dating a 'poor man' like you."
"I may not be a millionaire, but as long as I get to love you, I'll be the richest man ever." Helen laughed. "Did you get that out of a fortune cookie?"
"Maybe." Michael smiled at her, and somehow, she felt better too. "Look, if your parents are human, which I suspect they are, they'll be happy as long as your happy. I do make you happy, right?"
"Oh, of course!" Helen kissed Michael, and the kiss seemed to last an age. Jana finally stirred from her nap and sat up, rubbing her eyes. She looked at her brother. "Can we go now?" Michael started laughing. Helen glanced at her watch, it was just past seven-thirty. "I don't think the park'll be open yet, Jana." Jana crossed her arms and pouted. Michael laughed even harder. "Would you knock that off?"
"Yeah, ha ha, sorry. It's just, I had a little déjà vu. When I was little, before, you know, that happened, I remember having this exact conversation with my mom." Michael smiled broadly, his eyes flashing with joy. Helen knew why. Michael was happy, because he had a family again. Up until this point he had had a sister and a girlfriend, but now, now he really did have a family. A half-hour later, all three of them left their apartment. Michael was carrying his sister on his back at her request. Helen was carrying a small video camera, filming the outing. After twisting through several halls, they found the parking garage. Michael looked over to Helen, it was her car they were taking. Michael didn't own a car, he had not yet had a need for one. Before working for S3, Michael had gotten to work using an old, poorly maintained motorcycle. Michael had had the option of replacing the machine when he came to work for S3, but he had grown attached to the thing. Instead of replacing it, Michael had started working in his spare time to repair and improve it. Helen's car had been bought for her by her parents. Michael whistled when he saw her car, a silver sports car. It was clear to him that no expense had been spared in making it the ultimate luxury vehicle on the road. Jana buckled herself into the back seat. Helen made to hand Michael the keys, but he stopped her. "Your car, you drive. 'Sides, I can't actually drive a car."
"What? What do you mean you can't drive a car?" Michael grinned guiltily. "I learned once, but I only ever drove a car on rare occasions, the rest of the time I rode my motorcycle." Helen rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll drive, but once you get that hunk of junk working I expect you to take me on a ride, got it?"
"Got it." Michael hopped into the passenger seat. Helen got in and started the car. Michael relaxed back in the seat, almost dozing off, stared out the window. He watched as buildings flashed by. After a short drive, they pulled up in front of the amusement park. Michael could see at a distance that the front gate was closed. Helen parked the car near the gate, and Jana jumped out. Michael got after her, and followed her up to the gate. Michael saw a sign with the park hours out of the corner of his eye, he saw the park was supposed to open at eight. He glanced at his watch, which said seven-forty. Jana pressed her face against the bars of the gate, and Helen was taking her time walk to the gate, as if that would lessen her wait. Just then, a man in a business suit walked past on the inside of the gate. He glanced at Michael and Jana, and then did a double take. "Michael? Michael Samson, is that you?" Michael looked the man in the face, and recollection dawned upon him. "Louis? Louis Franco, it is you! You son of a gun, I thought you were, well, dead!" Louis Franco laughed raucously. "I could say the same to you!" Helen stepped up behind Michael. "Michael, who is this?" Michael wrapped an arm around her, and grinned. "This is Louis Franco, my best friend when I was a kid, before the gate." Louis bowed behind the gate. "Louis, this is my girlfriend Helen Ashton, and, don't you remember Jana?" Louis paused for a moment. "Oh, yeah! Little Jana, I remember! Last I saw you, you were just a baby!" Jana huffed a cute little huff. Louis looked back to Michael. "So, what brings you here, man?"
"Oh, not much, we were just planning a day at the park, and Jana couldn't wait." Louis smiled. "Well, well, well, It looks like I'm in a position to help you out."
"What do you mean? What are you doing in there anyway?" Michael spoke like he didn't know, but Helen saw a small grin pull at the corners of his mouth. "Well, it just so happens I own this park, and so I can let you in a little early. What do you say?"
"So long as your not to busy to hang out with an old friend too." Louis laughed again. "Well, I suppose." Louis pulled off his tie and jacket, stuffing them in his briefcase, which he stashed in a small booth near the gate. Then he opened the gate, and was nearly bowled over by the blur that was Jana. Michael put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Thanks a ton man, I owe you one."
"You don't own me anything, it's thanks to you I am who I am. After the event ten years ago, I thought you were dead. It was then and there I decided to put my all into being successful. I decided that I'd do enough living for both of us. Looks like I don't have to carry that around anymore, huh?"
"I appreciate it. And don't think it was a waste. I wasn't alive, not really, until just a few days ago. Up until that point I was living to get by, now I'm living for a purpose."
"Glad to hear it." Michael gave Helen a little push, telling her to go after Jana. Helen glanced back at the two men for a second, and then ran off after the girl. "So, what's you purpose, my friend?" Michael closed his eyes, and turned his face to the sky. "You know that promise we made, all of us, that we'd never fight, unless it was to protect people?"
"Yeah, I remember." Louis closed his eyes too, but turned his face to the ground. "Well, don't tell me you don't watch the news."
"Yeah, I watch. I guess it wasn't until now, seeing you face to face that I remembered you. Ten years is a long time."
"Yes, yes it is. Well, then you know what I'm doing. I guess, my question is, do you think I'm breaking that promise?" Michael's eyes opened, but his face remained toward the sky. Louis looked at his friend. "No, I don't think so. But, then again, normally there'd be the six of us, so I guess the jury will have to stay out." Michael grinned. "Thanks. That's one vote no. Only four more to go."
Helen and Jana were standing in front of the merry-go-round. Michael and Louis walked up to them, and Louis handed Jana a cotton candy bag that was just as tall as herself. Louis hopped the gate of the ride, and flicked a few switches on the control panel. Then he paused, and laughed at himself. From the pocket of his pants her pulled a small remote. "I forgot about this." Louis pressed one of the buttons, and out of nowhere numerous robot appeared and set about the business of opening the park. One robot appeared at Louis' shoulder, and after he moved out of the way, began working the merry-go-round's controls. "I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot that this park is automated." Jana and Helen hopped up onto the merry-go-round, and Michael and Louis stepped up after them. After helping his sister onto a large white horse, Michael sat down on a bench on the merry-go round next to Helen. Louis hopped up onto a black stallion right next to Jana's white horse. In a few moments, the ride started, and Jana's and Louis' horses began to bob up and down. Michael put his arm around Helen, who snuggled in closer to him. After a few minutes the ride stopped. Michael helped Jana down, and she ran off to the next ride, the Ferris Wheel. Louis decided not to get on with them, instead sitting on a bench. Michael, Helen, and Jana all got in the first car on the wheel. The ride was slow, and peaceful. Eventually they reached the top of the wheel. Michael was surprised at how peaceful and beautiful the city was, even with that infernal gate floating in the sky. The sun was at just the right angle to shine off the buildings, causing them to glitter like gold. Then they began their downward trip, finally reaching the platform. Others were starting to file into the park now. Louis greeted them at the wheel's exit with drinks. "I just guessed, so I'm sorry if I messed up." He hadn't. Several rides later, Michael's stomach growled. "Sound's like you're hungry." Michael grinned. Jana said, "I'm hungry too!" Helen laughed. "Well then, I guess it's time for lunch."
"What would you like? The food court has quiet a selection. Let's see, there's American, Chinese, Italian..." Louis stopped, and the color drained from his face, just as it did from Michael's and Helen's. All of them heard it, the warning siren, designed to go off when a demon materialized in the area. Michael moved like lightning, pulling out his cell phone, dialing the H.Q. "Michael. What should we do? Wait, what? Roger, I'll tell her. We'll be right here. There will be no collateral damage, not on my watch." Michael flicked the phone shut. "Louis, is there a shelter nearby, some place secure?"
"Y-yes, I had one built into the park as a precaution."
"Good, take Jana and get as many people as possible into that shelter NOW, you hear me?"
"Yes, yes, right away." Louis picked up Jana and started running, shouting to anyone in earshot to follow him to the shelter. Michael turned to Helen. "They're sending a special transport. It'll have our suits and mechs, as well as plenty of weapons."
"Good, I'll make this prick pay for ruining this day." Michael smiled. A few minutes later, a large rig, easily four time's the width of a normal semi-truck. A massive tarp covered the two mechs. It was escorted by Allen in Red Sword and Shinji in Green Shield. Michael and Helen changed as fast as they could, and jumped into their mechs. With Allen's help she loaded most of the firearms onto her White Sword. Michael, on the other hand, grabbed a small rifle to use with his Black Staff. Then he spotted a very long, thin object in a crate marked "Prototype-K1-Black". Michael pulled it out of the crate, and with surprisingly nimble finger movements from Black Staff, unwrapped it. Inside was a long sword, essentially a katana sized for Black Staff. Michael found a socket in the left hip of Black Staff that fit the sword perfectly. "Where are Hisana and Mina?" Allen answered. "Fighting the demon, where else, dumbass?" Michael rolled his eyes. "Helen, you ready?"
"Yes."
"Alright, let's go." Following the radar, it didn't take long to find the demon. Mina and Hisana were struggling. Michael and Helen took the creature on the right, Shinji and Allen circled around to the left. Michael started firing on it, and Helen followed suit. Mina and Hisana fell back, both of their mechs heavily damaged. Allen and Shinji opened fire too. Michael ran out of ammo, and pulled out his new sword. Charging toward the demon, he had to bob and weave, dodging bullets and the demons arms, all six of them. Allen, not to be outdone, rush the demon from the other side. The demon propelled itself up, into the air with all six arms, and Michael and Allen ran headlong into each other. The demon landed on Shinji, who began writhing desperately, trying to shake it off. Two of it’s arm held it in place, while the other four mercilessly pounded the heavy armor plating of Shinji’s mech. It didn’t take long for the plates to start buckling. Moving in wordless unison, both Michael and Allen leapt, sweeping their legs in twin arcs, kicking the monster at the exact same moment. Time paused, as if to reflect on the beauty of the moment. Then the beast grip was lots, and it shot, tumbling through the air, and rolled into a building. The two arms that had gripped Shinji’s machine still gripped it. They hung on, despite being parted from their owner. At Michael’s word, Shinji fell back too. Without warning the demon was on it’s feet again. From the stumps of it’s two missing arms, four more grew. “Aw, shit.” Allen fired as he spoke, but the demon was already gone, high in the air. Michael spun, screaming into his microphone, screaming to Helen, yelling at her to run, to find cover, to do anything but stay where she was. But it was too late, the demon landed on her with keen precision, forcing her mech to the ground, nearly crushing it flat. The world paused again, but this time Michael did not pause with it. Rage and blind fury overwhelmed him, peeling away thought, discarding tactics, turning him into a wild animal, set on a kill. For Allen, it was unreal. Just a split second after he heard Michael shout, and the crash of demon on machine, Michael was gone, crossing what seemed, suddenly, a vast field, in just a few, lightning-fast strides. Then, to Allen, the black blur the Michael’s mech had become, vanished altogether. The only indication of his presence was the sudden formation of countless deep gashes on the demons body. Then the black mech materialized, orange blood dripping from the sword and the right arm that clenched it. The lift arm was outstretched, palm flat against the demons head, or the closest thing it had to a head. In a flash of brilliant white flame, an explosion of pure light, the head vaporized, along with much of the torso of the demon. The now lifeless body fell sideways, and crashed to the ground with a large, wet thud. The blood red haze that had filled Michael’s mind cleared. In his arms was Helen, breathing gently, unharmed but for a few bruises, unconscious. A chill ran up his spine as her looked up from her, and the corpse of the demon. Somehow, he knew it was he who’d killed it, but it felt as if he hadn’t, like he remembered someone else’s memories. What horrified him most was the charred flash of the upper remains. He couldn’t believe he’d done that, he couldn’t sort it out in his mind. The heavy metal footsteps of Allen’s Red Sword sounded behind him. “Is she alright?” None of the malice that Allen had bore earlier remained. “Yes, she’s fine, just a little bruised.” Michael heard Allen and the other breathe a sigh of relief, even Hisana. Suddenly the strength drained from Michael’s limbs, and he fell backward, into the seat of Black Sword. He held his eyes open a minute longer, just long enough to see the transport, and just glimpse Jana and Louis safe and sound next to the driver.