Chapter Text
"What the fuckk..??" Jabber was now a very confused man, in his 18 years of existing in this hellhole. He had never seen something as mesmerizing as that. Well.. Aside from Zanka, of course. And maybe some of his hallucinations caused by Mankira—but that's not the point. The fucking view was hypnotizing for fucks sake.
It was disgustingly pleasing to look at. It's deceiving.
"What the actual fuck was that?" the beautiful golden light, the odd clothes.. The fucking wings?? Weirdly enough.. It reminded him of a tale Zodyl mentioned one time. About the existence of "angels" and "demons" along with religion, but this.. He looked like an angel, but really felt like a demon. Jabber was only Half-listening because Cthoni threatened to stop tell the Boss to stop giving him missions. But a demon? Now Jabber really wants to fight him.
Demonic angel or an angelic demon? Jabber can't wait to find out which one he is.
"Damn.. Maybe I shouldn't have hid." the masochistic freak groaned, mourning the fight he could’ve experienced. The pain he could have had. And maybe the death that could’ve awaited him. But then again.. If he didn't hide, something worse could've happened. "Fuckk.." It was unfortunate, but he wasn't too hung up on it. Demon, huh? He'll find him. He'll make sure he fights him.
The saying "looks like an Angel, but a Devil in disguise." really made sense to him right now.
Jabber slowly walked to the gaping hole in the wall— where the demon was before he flew away. Moving the heavy items was quite difficult, he still has some of the bullets stuck in his wounds. The pain made him want to stop and savour it..But he had to analyze this shit.
Zodyl and Cthoni would want him to, so he reluctantly started inspecting the area closely. Where the demon was standing, to the hole in the wall.. Where he eventually glanced at the area the demon was searching. It was the area beside a makeshift bed, near some piles of women's clothing.
The air felt colder than usual. Or maybe it's just because of the bloodloss. Jabber feels colder. Is that a good sign?
After a closer look, it seemed familiar. Really familiar. "Ohh shit!" he giggled to himself, not caring about how loud his voice is, but is still trying to be careful not to make it obvious that he was tampering with the surroundings. The thing the demon was looking for are the Watchman boots! The ones Zodyl wanted. This was the exact location where he previously found it, hidden inside a box. But it did turn him off the memory of just finding it without a battle. The boots were just conveniently placed there! It was soo disappointing to just take it without any resistance.
Wonder why it's so important.
His head was really starting to ache. He sat down and held it, attempting to savour the feeling. His breathing became shallow and quicker. He quickly attempted to replace his bandages with cloth he got from inside the tower. He could probably attempt to take out the bullets right now.
“So.. how do i get this information to Cthoni?”
______________________________________
"Cthoni?"
"So.. Where are we right now, Cthoni?" Momoa whispers, questioning her life and wondering how she ended up in No Man's Land. The smell of rot, metal, and trash is scattered across the land. Cthoni sighs, clutching her nose bridge. Glancing over her shoulder to look at Momoa. "We're searching for Jabber, in both No Man's Land and Penta."
"But why No Man's Land?" Momoa complains, adjusting her mask. Jabber was lucky he didn't need to wear it, it's heavy and annoying. She could understand Penta, but No Man's Land? What would Jabber even do there? And he would probably be dead if his dumbass actually went there. She could still smell the heavy scent of trash, although it doesn't hurt her lungs when she breathes. The mask is doing the bare minimum job, wonder if they could find a better one here.
"Bundus and Boss needed more metal." she remarks, rolling her eyes. She eventually started attempting to call Zanka on her choker. "But wouldn't Jabber most likely be in Penta? He did go on a mission there, he might've wandered back" Momoa complains, attempting to find a suitable chair to sit on while Bundus looks for metal to weld to his prosthetics in the background. Cthoni stared at the younger girl, realizing she hasn't checked Penta yet. "Call the Boss, Momoa." The long haired girl quickly activated her choker, attempting to make contact with their Boss.
She hasn't checked Penta yet.
"I'll head over to Penta first." Cthoni quickly activates her Jinki, her eyes glowing a warm yellow. The beautiful hum of a Jinki activating fills her senses. Momoa was quite stunned with how quickly Cthoni jumped on the opportunity to find Jabber, but then again.. Cthoni wouldn't let any of them die without reason.
"Tell the Boss I'm busy." and with that she hopped into her manhole and disappeared. "Oh, alright." Momoa comments to air, irritated, seeing how the older girl already left. "Just leave me here with Bundus."
"Momoa! Don't you need anythin' for your Jinki? We might be able to fix it if we find somethin' good.." Bundus called out, trying to help Momoa feel included. While also picking out spare metal to fuse with his prosthetics.
While on the other side, Cthoni saw a beautiful crimson red scenery, Penta. She took out her notebook, the pages were yellowed at the edges, and there were multiple markings and locations written in the pages. While waiting for Zanka to answer his choker, she started writing down the places she hasn't been to, in search for Jabber.
She was running out of patience, climbing a tall Hill made of red sand to try and see from higher ground. Fortunately, she spotted a few buildings. She quickly traveled to the small village, expecting that she needed to hide in order to blend in with the villagers. But as she traveled closer to the village, she found out that it was abandoned. Skeletons and broken bones were scattered around the area, it almost seemed haunted. As she was about to leave.. Cthoni spotted something that immediately caught her eye.
Claw markings. She saw one on the door of one of the houses. Mankira. She immediately hurried inside, trying to see if there were any trace of the boy she raised. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead, as she kicked the door down. She saw more claw markings on the nearby items. But nonetheless, no Jabber. Just as Cthoni let out a sigh, realizing that the claw markings she saw might not necessarily be from Mankira. She turned around, ready to head back to No Man's Land. Until she suddenly paused, her eyes widened.. Relief etched into her face.
The words "Jabber was here" was carved into the wall using a blade, which was most likely Mankira. Her relief was immediate. Jabber was alive. She immediately checked the surroundings closely, the more she looked.. The more Jabber's presence became apparent. His metallic blood, some of his torn Raider uniform, candy wrappers.. They were all traces of Jabber that were left behind.
She immediately wrote the findings in her notebook, and prepared to leave. Jabber was here. That means he couldn't have gone far, he still has sustained injuries. But knowing Jabber.. It's not impossible.
"Zanka.. I need to call Zanka."
______________________________________
"Zanka?"
“Yes, Seimu?” Zanka had a new objective, and a new companion who would help him achieve his current goal. Riyo was standing beside him, her eyes slightly shaky while listening to Seimu's mission for them. Apparently, Rudo desperately wanted to head back to Penta to search for clues about Amo's disappearance.
"If ya need to get something before you guys leave, you better do it quickly before Rudo asks to leave you behind." she jokingly urged, pointing her thumb at the anxious Rudo. He was trying to push Follo out the door, while Follo was screaming about accidentally leaving his mask in his room.
"Yeah, Thanks Cthoni." Zanka immediately turned around and bolted for his room. "I'll only take a minute!" He said right before his choker started ringing. The ring of his choker making him run faster into a private area. "Hello??"
"Greetings, Zanka." a female voice rang out from the choker. Judging by the tone of her voice, it was Cthoni. "Yes? Is there any news?"
"Yeah." he could hear faint shuffling noises coming from the other end of the line. "He's alive." a sigh of relief immediately hit Zanka, although he tried his best not to show it. "Well, how'dya know??" he immediately questioned, Jabber's alive.. But not safe. He might be dying right now and Zanka wouldn't be able to watch help him! What was that thought just now?
The idea of Jabber getting shot does sound satisfying.. But the knowledge that he wasn't the one who shot the masochist pisses poor old Zanka off.. "You're just like me.." no. That's wrong. It has to be.
His shoulders started shaking while Cthoni fed him more details, which she eventually told him about the main discovery.
"I'm at an abandoned village in Penta. If he was shot in bad places.. He wouldn't be able to go far." he gave it some thought, he really should go back right now.. Their mission is in Penta. " I'm heading to Penta right now." he then heard Rudo's shouts from his room. "Damn brat." the Nijiku mutters, exiting his room. "I'm heading there right now."
"Good. Because I have to leave Penta. The boss has assigned a different mission for me."
And with that Cthoni hung up, not caring much about the other end of her line. Which has a pissed off Zanka.
Zanka immediately went back to the car where the rest of team Akuta were waiting. Everyone who wer present during their visit to Penta were present. They wanted to help search for Amo. Rudo, was fuming. Zanka was apparently taking too long. Fuckin' brat. Zanka had something important to do. He got in the car, it was a bit cramped. But the music playing in the background was satisfying, was that TooLily's music?
"Zanka," A blonde haired man greeted him, but looking closely.. The man had both blonde and blue hair. "Tamsy, sorry for being late."
"No worries. Rudo over here was just about to barge back into HQ." Tamsy pointed out, glancing at the young sphereite.
"Zanka! What took ya so longg?" a voice suddenly rang out right beside him, it was from the green-eyed red head. Although it was slightly muffled due to her mask. "Nothin'." The Nijiku swiftly replied, wearing his seatbelt. Unfortunately, Enjin called dibs on driving. "This is goin' to be a rough ride."
"Zanka!" Rudo's angry tone hit him like a truck. Noisy brat. "We were almost late! What would happen if someone else got to Amo's tower first??"
The sky was gray, and Enjin's driving really made everyone wish Gris just tied Enjin into the passenger seat. Zanka's instinct to wear his seatbelt never failed him.
"Relax~ Nobody would wander to a random tower in Penta for no reason." Riyo reminded him, attempting to de-escalate the situation. Although Enjin's driving isn't exactly helping.
"Nobody in their right mind."
"Yeah Rudo. We'll find her don'tcha worry." Enjin said, driving fucking maniacally. It was not helping Rudo calm down at all. But it was extremely distracting, it's hard to be angry when you're trying to survive bad drivers. Someone else needs to takeover driving permanently. Ehem.. Gris.
"That's right, Ru-!" Enjin hit another bump, which caused Follo to accidentally hit his head in the backseat with a loud thud. Idiot. "This is why you should buckle your seatbelts" Zanka mentally scolded. The black haired boy let out a sharp gasp as he rubs the back of his head.
"Ohh shit. Sorry 'bout that, Follo." the ruthless driver commented, attempting to not hit another bump. Although he isn't doing a good job, seeing how he tried to glance at Follo. Gris, the more experienced and better driver, quickly spotted Enjin's reckless driving skills. And scolded his ass. "Keep your eyes on the road, Enjin!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Fine. But if we don't find anything there I'm blaming Zanka." Rudo quickly said, puffing up his cheeks in anger.
Zanka could only glare at the kid. He wasn't in the mood for this asshole's shenanigans. "Whatever, brat."
Eventually they managed to make their way back to the tower, this place still gave Zanka a bad feeling. He tightened his mask gripping Lovely Assistaff close. "What do you think we'll find?"
The tower stood tall, nothing looks out of place. It was difficult getting inside though, they did fight there a few missions ago. They really wrecked the place. Poor Amo.
"Clues.. Or something.." Rudo replied, climbing the stairs quickly. Trying his best to get to Amo's room as soon a possible.
The moment he opened the room to Amo's room Rudo let out a sharp gasp, "Holy shit." This immediately sent the others into fight mode, rushing to Rudo's side, ready to fight anything. Or anyone.
There stood Jabber, who was attempting to use Mankira to grab the bullets lodged in his muscles. His bright Magenta eyes glowing as he was administering himself some numbing toxins "Oh shit, it's the spherite." he muttered to himself, a small smile on his pained face.
The moment Zanka saw him.. He was hit with relief. But fuck. They need to catch him before he launches himself out the window. "Tamsy. Catch him."
"Wha- Zanka?"
The Nijiku flung himself at Jabber, trying to pin him down. "Where have you been?" Jabber caught him, Mankira piercing Zanka's skin. "Why? Did you miss me?" Tamsy managed to activate his Jinki, restraining Jabber. Jabber let out a soft moan, which irritated Zanka. Damn it.
"Don't tie him up too tightly, he might-" Jabber then collapsed, what the fuck?? Riyo and Tomme rushed over quickly to check his condition. "I think its from bloodloss, but he'll be fine."
Enjin suggested something that changed Zanka's perspective. "Take him to HQ, He might've saw something that involves Amo."
"Yeah, give him here. I'll take him to the car." Tamsy stared at Zanka for a moment, before deactivating his Jinki and handing Jabber over to him. Zanka carried Jabber in his arms, carefully avoiding the open wounds. He could see the gun shot wounds up close, the dried blood and the fact that some wounds were reopened to get the bullets out. Riyo did this?
"Wow." Riyo commented, walking with Zanka down the staircase. "Why're you carrying him like that, Zanka~?" she said, teasingly. Trying to watch Zanka's expression closely. She felt a bit guilty, seeing how Zanka was carrying Jabber this carefully.
"Shut up, Riyo.." he said, defeated. Why was he carrying him like this? But hey, at least they found him. He should probably contact Cthoni. Zanka activated his choker, calling Cthoni. "Zanka?"
"Cthoni. We found him." there was silence at the other end of the line. He didn't know whether Cthoni was happy or relieved. "Dead or alive?" what? Zanka almost laughed. Almost.
"Alive."
"Where is he?" she asked, "can I talk to him?" he looked at the unconscious Jabber, his chest rising and falling steadily. He moved away some hair on Jabber's face, trying to check for any further injuries. "Nah, he's asleep." he said softly, which caught the female Raider off-guard.
"..." Zanka swears he heard Cthoni sigh.
"Alright," she let's out a soft sigh, "I'm sending someone to negotiate." she then immediately hung up, leaving Zanka an the unconscious Jabber in the Cleaner's car. "Who do ya think'll go?" he asked, knowing damn well Jabber isn't gonna respond.
.. He should probably tie Jabber up, just in case he wakes up disoriented.