NOCHE VS. A GENERAL.

1774, NOVEMBER 27th, SUNDAY 10:40 pm.

Noche stared at General Dreg – her eyes trailed down to Moon Moon. The dog was still wagging his tail with excitement.

"DREG! Gee golly gosh, I thought you were fighting the Birds of Death," Shaylin said. "Did you defeat them?"

"No."

Dreg appeared before Boots in an instant; no one was fast enough to react.

"You escaped Cross once," he said. "It won't happen again."

The general grabbed Boots by the shoulder and held tight.

"Everyone — come back and report," Dreg said.

Noche turned towards the heart of the castle. A surge of energy filled her core — anxiety overwhelmed her.

"Dreg... This place... It's connected to my past," Noche said. "Let me explore it a bit."

He turned to Noche. His hard expression seemed softer. If that was possible.

"I understand the importance of this to you," he began. "But there is a war going on. We need everyone's help."

"BUT-"

"-There is more at stake than recovering your past," Dreg glanced at the group. "Soldiers make sacrifices."

Noche was silent; Dreg stared at her – his eyes flickered towards her group and back at the blonde.

"We all have to make sacrifices," he said in a soft voice.

"But the only reason I joined Cross was for this moment," she thought.

A bead of sweat dripped down Noche's face. Her hand rose to wipe it away only to find she was drenched. Her lungs filled with hot air and Noche's eyes widened as the temperature increased.

"Nine circles of the first flame... Level four, release," Vida grinned. "Brimstone."

The Castle began to melt. Stone and DriveMetal began to slump, bend, and waver like plastic put into an ocean. Patches of rock turned a bright red and began to liquefy – turning into lava.

Noche gasped for breath, but the air was too hot; she couldn't breathe. Smoke rose from her burning shoes and her skin would ignite at any moment. Metal began to make deep, warping sounds as it bent behind the brick walls. Fires began to spring up from all directions – even on that which normally could not burn.

The blonde reacted fast. Prismatic energy became a dome of water around Noche and the group. Tak ran up to Noche and raised his hand. Another layer of prismatic energy became a coating of ice over the water dome. Even within the chilled barrier, it felt like the center of an oven, but at least now everyone could breathe.

Vida's laughter echoed throughout the magma castle.

"Strong opponents wait below. People strong enough to kill me."

The blind girl walked towards Dreg; with each step, the floor stuck to her bare feet like red chewing gum and a puddle of lava was left in her wake. Beyond them, a wall began to melt away – revealing the secret passage behind it.

"I'm going down into DeathTech," she turned towards Noche and grinned. "You should come. It'll be fuuuuun."

"I won't let that happen," Dreg said. "You are critical-"

The general blocked a punch in the nick of time – the momentum pushed him and Boots twenty feet away. Vida stood up straight and cracked her fist.

"The strong don't have to obey the weak," she grinned. "Better hurry, Noche. What if this is your last chance?"

A dark curtain fell over Noche's soul. Vida could be right – if she wasted this opportunity... was there any guarantee she'd get another one? She knew the odds were in her favor, but they were not one hundred percent.

Her dream to recover her memories – there was a slim chance she would fail if she missed this opportunity. Fear crept its way into Noche's heart.

She turned to Vida; she glanced at Boots.

"If I go now... I'd have a powerful ally and someone familiar with the base's layout," Noche thought. "If I stay – then I may lose my past forever... Can I risk that?"

The weight of an anchor tugged down.

Fear made the decision for her.

Dreg's fist slammed into Vida's chest – the blind girl was sent flying back. She slammed into the wall, the metal bent like rubber, and lava erupted between the cracks in the brick. A fountain of blood spewed from Vida's grinning lips.

She began to laugh.

"Finally, you're giving me a little pain," Vida burst into maniacal laughter. "Come Dreg! Hurt me more!"

"Masochist," Dreg scoffed under his breath. "Have you gone insane?"

The wall behind Vida exploded – a tidal wave of lava rolled behind the blind girl. She slammed into Dreg.

"WHO CARES! I have purpose! I have a goal!" She shouted. "We all die – so why not go in a blaze of glory!"

The lava rolled to Dreg's legs where a drive barrier blocked it from his clothes.

"Like a powerful, burning fire! All-encompassing and wild!" Vida grinned. "The beautiful sight of that rose bush is forever burned into my memory – what could compare to those red flames? What final moments could be more serene? My death will be like those crimson roses!"

"You're mad," Dreg said.

Her laughter reverberated throughout the entire castle.

As the two fought, Noche took a deep breath. She stared at the melted entrance to the secret tunnel. If she did this – she'd have to fight a General. Her eyes trailed down to her shaking legs. She raised her hand, and it was also trembling.

Noche closed her eyes; the fear of failure stifled her hesitation.

"I'm about to make the dumbest decision of my life," she muttered.

Noche charged out of the ice-water bubble.

Tak shouted for her as she ran towards the secret entrance. Dreg's head snapped to her direction – he appeared out of thin air and stood before her; Boots still in one hand. Vida aimed a kick to the side of his head, he raised his free hand and blocked, and Noche summoned her Omni-Oar.

She swung towards the arm that held Boots – a blast of Vida's fire accelerated the sword to break-neck speeds; Noche's arm almost dislocated. Dreg didn't move to block it; his eyes widened at the last moment. The general released his grasp on the orange-haired boy and the sword cut through air.

Dreg stared at the Omni-Oar. "Insane cutting power," he mumbled.

A fist slammed into Noche's gut – she dropped her sword and was sent flying back. During the attack Boots ran one way and Vida the opposite. Dreg focused on the DeathTech scout in the straitjacket.

Noche shot through the ice-water bubble like a bullet and her blood floated between the chunks of frost. She slammed into the molten brick as if it was mud – her clothes burst into flame; she screamed. A spray of ice and snow extinguished the fire and cooled the rock.

"T-Thanks Tak," Noche stuttered.

The immortal let out a sigh. "N-No problem."

Noche dislodged herself from the wall and landed on stone – the heat wasn't unbearable any longer. Scanning the environment revealed all the molten stone was solidifying and cooling. Her eyes widened and she turned towards the secret tunnel.

In the distance a flickering light grew fainter – it was Vida.

"Hope ya catch up! Ya watery tart!" Vida yelled.

Noche's jaw dropped. "You... YOU BITCH! I'll kill you!"

"Eagerly awaiting!" Vida yelled back.

With that, the blind girl faded from view. Noche ground her teeth; Dreg turned to her.

"What have you done," he said.

Noche took a step back, noticed, and grimaced. "I'm sorry Dreg... I have to do this."

The blonde forced herself to take a step forward.

"Who knows how long it would take before I get this chance again. IF I'll get this chance again," she said. "Even then – who knows how much red tape I'd be restricted with."

Noche grit her teeth.

"No... I'm tired of making no progress, like when I was in that desert," she grumbled. "My past is just beyond that secret door – I won't risk losing it again."

Dreg's glare softened, he closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. When he opened them again his stare could cut stone.

Tak approached Noche's side. "I-I won't let you hurt her."

The blonde smiled and turned her head to Mary.

"You're in a similar situation. Maybe even a worse one," Noche said. "You don't know how much time you have left. This could be your last chance to find a cure."

Mary bit her lower lip.

"Fuck bruh... You didn't have to remind me," she paused. "Damn it, fine. I'd rather be in trouble than dead." 

Alice placed her hand on Mary's shoulder.

"... Together then," she whispered.

Mary smiled and nodded. "Always and forever."

They approached Noche and Tak.

"Gee golly gosh, a chance to tease Dreg? I would never, totally, and completely jump on the opportunity like it's an eight-inch dildo," Shaylin giggled. "Besides, it's not my place to get involved. I'm not officially a member of Cross – Dreg has no authority over me."

Her eyes flickered to the group. She shrugged and approached.

"Buuuuut, I guess someone has to protect these kids."

Noche turned to Boots. "Well dawg, we all have reasons to go down into DeathTech. You could help us... We could save Spark."

Boots scowled. "Your chances of defeating Dreg, are the same as his with defeating the Personification of Existence... Absolute zero."

"I keep hearing about this POE. What the fuck is it?"

"Basically a god," Boots said.

"Well then, stand back and watch me become a god-killer," Noche stepped forward. "I'm saving Spark. If you want to come, great. Otherwise have fun being stuck in a Cross prison."

Boots cursed under his breath.

"Fine," in a flash he appeared by Noche's side. "I'll join you. But only so you don't make things worse."

The six of them assembled.

Dreg crossed his arms. There was a shockwave of Drive energy – it pressed down on everything as if the world itself sank into the bottom of the ocean. Noche slammed her sword into the ground and prevented herself from falling to one knee.

This was Dreg's drive; it was a grand display of his power.

"Noche. I am going to make this very clear. You are not going down that secret tunnel. You are going to take Boots back to Medusa," he said. "There is a war going on and this is a direct order. Consider it your last chance."

Noche grit her teeth and rose to her feet. She released her own drive and used her ample strength to resist the suffocating pressure.

"Everything I've worked towards, everything that kept me going was to find my past," Noche said. "I don't give a DAMN about this war and I don't give a damn about Cross... If I can't do the one thing I joined for – then why am I bothering with them!"

One by one the rest of the group stood up.

"I'm going down into DeathTech – Come hell or HIGH WATER!"

Noche charged.

Dreg got into a fighting stance and waited. Noche came at him, swung, and he turned his shoulder to the side – her swing missed. He raised his forearm into her chest and sent her back ten feet with the impact.

"Forget about forcing your way into DeathTech," he said. "You won't even force me to take a single step."

"Is that a bet?" The blonde said.

Noche used instant riptide and Boots dashed forward with a sonic boom. The orange hair boy launched a kick towards Dreg's head at Mach-five. The general caught it in his left hand. Noche appeared on Dreg's right side; the general swung Boots towards her. Both crashed into each other and were sent flying back.

Shaylin's gaze followed the two bouncing idiots.

"I don't have the energy to fight someone as pathetic as you," Dreg said. "Nor will I expend the effort. Have your tantrum. Once you tire yourself out, I'll take you back to Medusa."

Dreg crossed his arms again, stretched his shoulders, and stood firm.

"Until then, I'll guard this entrance."

Noche's brow twitched. She pulled Boots off her, grabbed her sword, and dashed forward – a backhand sent her flying away; the weapon fell from her hand.

Tak intercepted the flying blonde and she slammed into his body. Both crashed into the hardened, metal wall. It dented on impact and a loud snap came from beyond the blonde.

"Thanks Tak," Noche muttered.

"N-No problem."

Noche stood up, offered Tak a hand, and recoiled when he raised an arm bent the wrong way. A few bone-crunching sounds occurred and the arm straightened itself out. He clasped the stunned Noche and helped himself up.

Shaylin's gaze widened.

Noche stared at Tak. "You... Ok?"

"Huh? S-Sorry, yeah," Tak blinked. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Noche shook her head with wide, unblinking eyes.

Boots approached. "Are you able to see Dreg's movements?"

"No – can you?" She said.

"Just barely," the orange-haired boy said. "He's fast. Too fast. My eyes can follow him, but my body can't keep up."

Dreg bent down and picked up Noche's sword. He flipped it a few times in his hands, to measure the weight, before tucking it away in his belt like a confiscated toy. Noche glowered at him and summoned the sword back to her hand. The general's eyes widened a bit before narrowing at the blonde.

Noche changed her sword into its ultra-greatsword form. She slammed it into the ground and caused the entire hallway to shake from its weight. She ran forward and swung — it stopped shy of Dreg's neck.

The general's pointer finger and thumb pinched the end of the blade. He had stopped two thousand pounds of force with two fingers alone. 

Tak ran up behind Noche. The general's eyes shifted to the immortal boy — a bullet whizzed past Tak's headphones. Dreg's head snapped to the side and devilish smoke emerged from his jaw.

He held the bullet in his teeth.

Dreg crunched down on the metal slug and it shattered to pieces. His eyes widened when an orange liquid trapped within the bullet splattered everywhere.

"Physical attacks may not work against Augment... But the human body is still built the same way," Mary said. "So, if a chemical agent can get in the body – it'll act the same."

A smile crept onto Shaylin's face.

Tak didn't give Dreg a chance to recover – the immortal came in with a flurry of techniques he had copied from Noche. The general countered each one without effort, but as he did so, Tak began to mimic the movements. A punch slipped past Dreg's defenses; a palm to the torso sent Tak flying back before the immortal's fist connected.

The General's expression hardened. He wiped off the remaining orange liquid from his lips. He closed his eyes and became motionless. A moment later his eyes opened again. They seemed to have lost some clarity, but the man was still standing.

Mary's eyes went wide; a smile twitched onto her face. "B-Bruh... That's enough tranquilizer to knock out an elephant."

Shaylin's eyes narrowed at Dreg.

The general slammed his foot into the ground and a slab of rock flew straight up into the air. He punched – it exploded into a shotgun blast of debris. Dozens of stone shards flew towards Mary.

A bang filled the air – a single bullet ricocheted from rock to rock, destroying each one. Alice raised her head from her sniper rifle and smiled at Mary.

Shaylin blinked at the display of marksmanship.

Boots became a blur. He vanished in the blink of an eye – moving faster than a jet plane. The air distorted before Dreg and the general's arms vanished from sight. The entire hall shook from the resulting explosion. 

When the winds scattered Boot's right leg was planted in the center of Dreg's palm. The orange-haired boy's other leg went invisible as he unleashed a barrage of kicks. Dreg's free arm also vanished as it moved faster than the eye could track.

Boots did a backflip away from the general and landed before the group. Sweat dripped down his face and onto the straitjacket.

"I-I can barely keep up with him," Boots grunted. "He's so fast. Insanely fast."

"You're one to talk," Noche said.

Boots glowered at her.

"Bruh, at least you can see his movements," Mary said. "For a second I thought you both lost a limb."

Noche's eyes widened. "Boots — you can still use your faded memory ability, yeah?"

He nodded.

"Do it, I have an idea."

Boots vanished. A moment later there were two of him. Three, four, and five copies of Boots appeared. As his speed increase, so too did the number of his after images. Noche raised her hand and charged up a Dead Light Cannon.

"Hit him now!" Noche shouted.

Dreg blocked a dropkick from Boots that rattled the entire castle.

"You're strong," the general said. "But being a quarter general is a long way from my power."

"Still strong enough to harm you," Boots said.

"If you're fast enough to land a hit."

Noche fired her Dead Light Cannon — Boots vanished, and the storm orb slammed into Dreg. The resulting implosion destroyed all of Boot's clones.

The afterimages detonated.

The hallway was filled with a gale so strong it could rip flesh off bone. Wind shot out of the castle with hurricane force, knocked over nearby pine trees, and sent Cross soldiers tumbling to the ground.

Inside smoke and dust obscured everything. There was a loud clang — the view cleared to Boots failed attack against Dreg. The DriveMetal spike that acted as one of Boot's knee-guards was crumpled up like used candy wrapper. Its spear tip still pressed against the general's unscathed flesh.

Dreg was unfazed; Boots dashed back.

Noche gulped, raised her sword, and charged. A hand landed on her shoulder and stopped her.

"Gee golly gosh — Noche, there's no rush. You're a smart girl. Calm down and use your brain," Shaylin said. "He's a general. Brute force won't work."

"I don't need to overpower him. I just need an opening to..."

"What? Run past him?" Shaylin chuckled. "He's faster than Boots."

Noche grumbled.

"Think about what you're up against. Augment increases one's physical resistances. It does nothing against chemicals, poisons, diseases, suffocation, or energy-based attacks. And-"

"-So use lightning!"

"Well yes, but not-"

Noche shot a beam of lightning at Dreg — it slammed against a skin-tight translucent barrier. The blonde turned towards the ginger. Shaylin sighed and smiled.

"But not when he's using a Drive-fueled telekinetic barrier," Shaylin said. "When the force-field is down, go to town — otherwise energy attacks will be stopped by his energy-shield."

Shaylin paused.

"This is, like, common sense. Didn't you use some drive to protect yourself against Vida's fires — when you fought her? In front of my store."

Noche's eyes widened and darted to the side. "Uhhh..."

Shaylin's mouth hung ajar. "You took all the fire head-on!"

"Pfftt – W-What, no... hah. A-Anyways! Augment blocks physical attacks, Drive blocks elemental attacks, got it!" Noche ran towards Moon Moon. "Here boy, good boy."

Prismatic energy became a sponge in Noche's hand. She squeezed and it squeaked – Moon Moon's eyes dilated, and he began to drool. Shaylin's raised an eyebrow and grinned. Noche ran back towards Dreg, but the ginger threw up her arm to block her path.

"OH COME ON-"

"Relax honey. You're getting warmer, but I don't think volf venom will work either – remember how Mary's tranquilizer failed?"

"Well, if we use more..."

"It might work... But will it work in time?"

Noche raised an eyebrow.

"The castle is melted, there's been multiple explosions, and I think Boot's hurricane can be felt in MoveCity by now... Cross knows something is up. Are you sure Dreg will be paralyzed before soldiers arrive?"

Noche frowned.

"Besides that – Dreg's whole thing is his mastery of how own body. Are you certain he doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve?" Shaylin said. "Even if he doesn't, he's a world-famous general... I'm sure people have tried to poison him before."

"Then what do you recommend?"

Shaylin smiled.

She closed her eyes and began muttering to herself. Noche, Boots, Tak, Mary, and Alice's names came up more than once. When Shaylin's eyes snapped opened a grin emerged on her face. The ginger flipped open a panel on her robotic arm and began typing.

"Occam's razor," she giggled. "Don't worry Noche! Mama's got a plan."

Noche's face grew stern; she raised an eyebrow.

Shaylin's voice lowered to a whisper. "It's a good thing I know people in high places within MoveCity," she muttered to herself.

Dreg's gaze fell over the ginger. Shaylin winked and blew him a kiss; he recoiled.

"Noche, sweetie, charge up your Dead Light Cannon. AND BOOTSIES! Can you run fast enough to make a sonic boom?" she shouted.

Noche and Boots stared at each other and turned to Shaylin.

"Golly, Mary, was it? You know chemicals it seems. Create some flashbangs – and Alice, dear, shoot Dreg in the head as much as you can," Shaylin's eyes were intent on the general. "Tak, baby, cover all the surfaces of this hallway in ice – I need it to be as reflective as a mirror."

The group all turned to the ginger.

"Well, get started you silly billies," she giggled.

Noche shrugged and charged up a DLC. Tak threw his hands out to his side and mirror-like ice coated the floor, walls, and ceiling. Mary created dozens of flashbangs and threw them across the hall as Alice fired round after round towards Dreg.

The blonde let the storm orb fly, the flashbangs went off, and Boots shook the castle with his sonic boom. Shaylin grinned as her plan came to fruition.

The ice acted like a funhouse and caused the Droste effect with its mirrors. It reflected the light of the flashbangs and the electricity – amplifying the intensity to blinding levels. Followed by the cacophony of gunfire, the DLC explosion, and the sonic boom the hallway was deafening.

Shaylin had turned off everyone's senses due to overwhelming stimulation.

Noche recognized the plan. Dreg can't stop what he can't perceive. The blonde ran towards the secret tunnel – a hand clasped onto Noche's shoulder and sent her flying back towards the group.

The blinding light faded, the chaos subsided, and Dreg leaned against a wall with his head resting in a hand. Veins throbbed on his forehead, and he shot Shaylin a glare that could kill. The ginger grinned.

Noche may not be able to make Dreg take a single step, but Shaylin sure could.

"Dreg – you look like you have a migraine," Shaylin teased. "Would you like to buy some more aspirin? Or can I relieve your pain in, other, ways?"

The general vanished and appeared before her. "You've annoyed me long enough."

Shaylin's smile was unfazed – her expression was one of extreme confidence. Dreg's fist came flying towards her torso.

"Momentum redirection."

"Watch out!" Tak attempted to tackle Shaylin; he flew right through her.

Dreg's fist hit the immortal instead and Tak's insides became outsides in an explosion of red. The expression on the hologram of Shaylin became one of horror. It deactivated as the real Shaylin came running around the corner.

"TAK! You mother fucker!" Noche screamed.

She charged towards Dreg – the General was too stunned to notice her approach. She summoned her Omni-Oar and swung down. Dreg reacted on instinct alone, blocking the dangerous attack by hitting Noche's arms, knocking her to the floor, and pinning her there by kneeling on the blonde.

Moon Moon leaped atop Dreg and bit down into the general's neck – the Volf's teeth weren't powerful enough to penetrate the General's augment. Yet the creature didn't deter as it thrashed about on the man.

"Listen Noche! You are weak – too weak to do shit," Dreg scowled. "You may think anger gives you power, but all does is cause destruction."

He pressed his knee down further into Noche's back – it began to crack.

"I've lived long enough to recognize people like you," he whispered. "Keep walking down this path of hate, and I will end you."

"Tak! TAK!" Shaylin shrieked. "You're gonna be ok."

She kneeled next to the bleeding boy. The flesh-filled piñata that was Tak's stomach began to heal itself. Cords of intestines were reeled in like fishing wire. Muscle fiber weaved back together. The immortal sat up and stared at Shaylin with a tilted head.

"S-Sorry, I-I'm ok."

Shaylin was speechless.

Tak stood up and stretched – the hole in his sweater revealing his healed abdomen. 

"Bruuuh, Noche said he was an immortal... But now that I've seen it," Mary muttered.

"Edward isn't the only immortal?" Boots whispered.

Tak's eyes went wide. "NOCHE!"

He ran up to Dreg and threw a fist – the general caught it.

"Mo-Momentum redirection!" Tak shouted.

Dreg was sent flying back; the room went silent.

Tak stood strong above Noche as steam evaporated from his fist. He experienced it once and perfectly mimicked it. Tak had copied Dreg's signature move. 

The general regained his balance, a crack in his glasses revealed cold blue eyes. His expression was stunned – eyes intense on the immortal. He stood up and inspected his hand. His eyes flickered back to Tak.

"Did you... Just use momentum redirection, Zack?"

"S-Sorry, it's Tak."

Dreg's expression became unreadable.

"I've trained thousands of students," Dreg muttered. "None of my students ever mastered that technique."

As the two stood there Shaylin's gaze never left Tak.

"Tak... You have some scary potential," she muttered. "He could become one of the, no, the strongest person on the planet."

Moon Moon maintained his bite on Dreg's neck. The General's attention came back to the beast. He removed it with one arm – the dog whimpered. Noche shot to her feet as Dreg lifted the Volf higher into the air.

Dreg squeezed; Moon Moon unleashed a horrendous wail and began writhing.

The dog's cry triggered a memory in Noche's mind. A scene where she, as a young child, brought the injured puppy to Baxter. Ice clamped her heart as energy flood her veins.

"Dreg! What are you doing!"

He glared at the blonde. "There are consequences for your actions."

Dreg tightened his fist – Moon Moon went motionless.

"NOOOOO!"

In a black void littered with faint golden specks of light, a cracked white orb became more damaged.

The Omni-Oar appeared in Noche's hand – it swapped forms to that of the planet lance. Noche threw it like a harpoon; it shot out like a beam of black light aimed for Dreg's head.

His face went flying back; Moon Moon fell towards the ground.

Noche flickered. She caught her dog before he hit the floor – her shoes replaced with black plate-mail greaves. Behind her was a perfect circle in the wall the exact same size as the lance; its entire diameter was covered in tar.

"W-What," Boots stammered. "How... How did she do that?"

"Do what?" Shaylin asked.

"Noche... She... She moved faster than I could see," Boots gulped. "Dreg was faster than me, but I could follow his movements... Noche – she practically vanished."

Shaylin paused. "What are you saying?"

"Noche was too fast for me – my eyes couldn't keep up with her movements," he whispered.

Dreg's glasses fell off his face. He raised his head and he stared at Noche. His expression was no less incredulous than Boots. His blue eyes flickered to the fallen shades – tar was eating away at the sunglasses.

He turned his head to his coat's collar. Within the black fur was a perfect circle that lined up with the wall behind him. Tar dripped from both. His eyes returned to Noche. The hand she used to throw the lance was dripping with the same tar.

"If I hadn't dodged on instinct..." Dreg muttered.

The general's eyes widened as the sunglasses were consumed by the pool of tar.

"No doubt about it... That's corruption," he said.

He stared at Noche. Dreg's gaze hardened, he tightened his fist, and got into a fighting stance. His aura changed from indifference to serious – everyone flinched from the dangerous presence he emitted.

"DREG! What the actual FUCK is going on here!"

The pressure vanished in an instance. The general turned his head to a fuming Medusa. A green firefly flew off the President's shoulder and landed on Shaylin's robotic finger.

"Gee golly gosh, like I said," She giggled. "Occam's razor."