Chapter 6: 'LockPick'

Proving Grounds: Forgotten Planet; Forgotten City, Beach Front

1821Y 05M09D 0700H

"Cat!"

Azaleah zoomed across the beach. Smirf in verge of tears putting a note on top of her wagon.

Dear, friend please take care of my wagon. We are off on an epic journey.

Love,

Mhirfa

"Yes, Azi... what is it?" Looking down at the sand. Azaleah furious in the morning. "Dumb Cat, what is this for!" Smirf hugs her wagon. "Am leaving a note for anyone who will adopt ma wagon."

Azaleah rolled her eyes along with her head. "Your wagon is not a dog! Don't put it in adoption just because of... arghh... I give up... Mat, take over." She flew low then crash on the sand.

Mat came walking in. "We're taking the wagon down south, get it ready."

Smirf got surprised. "How are we gonna fit ma wagon on the raft?" Mat got surprised more. "What raft? The wagon is amphibious we'll ride it to the south."

"Ar' ya sayin' ma wagon can swim?" Inspecting her wagon intently. She laughs softly. "Oh, ya kiddin me, Right?"

"I did give you the plans for the wagon at the weapons lab, that should include making the wagon an all-terrain vehicle aside from being amphibious..." Mat slowly fell silent.

Smirf spaced out.

"We made it amphibious, I see to it at the lab... sheesh" Azaleah still buried in the sand.

"Good then..." Mat noticed the guild banner changed, 'Fuck Today' was painted over with 'Pluck the Day'.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten Planet; Ruins of Rota Island

1821Y 05M09D 0900H

"Whoa, ma wagon is floatin'." Smirf scooping up the sea as they pass by. "Can us get to Japan with t'is?"

"Cat, it is a yes and a no," Azaleah answered but followed it up before Smirf spaced out. "The wagon is too unstable for an open sea voyage, we need something more suitable for that. A boat better yet a ship. We will throw away its engine and place your wagon as its power source. Simple enough."

Smirf spaced out.

"We're here... Get ready."

The wagon landed at the shore, its tracts instantly grip the ground and started to haul itself out of the water. A group of chimera like mutants greeted them.

Mat jumps down to meet them.

"Cat, release So'liel... call her by her other name. "Smirf nodded. "So'liel — Angelus Custos,"

"Amen," So'liel replied.

A white philosophers' stone shot out of So'liel's back then made a halo. She steps down the wagon and in a robotic voice uttered. "Apparatus Bellicus," two swords shot out of the wagon arming her, one attached to her halo at the back.

'Hmm, a one-winged angel... So, Archangel can not be activated verbally.' Azaleah looking at So'liel's still peasant form. She sat down on her shoulder then grinned heavily. "Sol, I cant wait to see them wings in Overdrive."

So'liel didn't even lift her sword her wing cut everything that came after her. "Ah didn't know Sol can do that!" Smirf all sparkly. "Well Cat, you teaching her your religion and Bible influence a lot on her form and language. So, I am guessing your Bible is in Latin?" Smirf took out her Bible then dust it off. "Yes, Mah gave it to me before Ah left home. She taught me everythin' Ah know."

"The way is clear, let's go." Mat headed the group, the girls rode the wagon till they reach some kind of military installation way pass south of the Rota island.

Azaleah pointed towards a concrete building by the docks. "Mat, the ship is secured inside that facility. It is still on the keel blocks, once we are finish outfitting it we will shift it to the slideways then launch it to sea." Mat nodded then started to traverse the area, he removes obstacles along the way leaving So'liel on guard duty.

There was a solid steel gate more than big enough for the wagon to enter. Mat hammered the locks and started to force open it.

"Azi, Ah smell something weird coming out of the gap." Smirf pointing at the gate Mat is opening. Azaleah instantly flew up then release a pulsing light.

"MAT!"

A huge worm-like lamprey shot out of the gate, pinning Mat between its saw-like teeth. He jammed his extremities around the mouth to keep it from swallowing him whole.

"So'liel help him please," Smirf beg Sol but she wouldn't move an inch.

'Tsk, darn angel wouldn't do anything except protecting the Cat.' Azaleah computing heavily looking for a way out. Mat was getting drag all over the place still unable to do anything. The worms' teeth started to dig in his armor along with acids permeating its mouth.

Smirf shouted. "Mat, there is a dagger on your mantle!" He looked at the wolf's head on his left shoulder. He tried to force the lamprey's mouth open to free a hand but he was dug in too deep.

The wolf's mouth opened, something fired out of it.

'Darn Cat... but thanks.' Azaleah hovered over the Lamprey, her face filled with subtle rage. "I am so pissed right now — I will riddle your pitiful existence with holes, die worm! Hoh ho ho ho" She swayed her hand like there was an orchestra, the dagger 'LockPick' followed her symphony, piercing the Lamprey's body a hundred — a thousand times over.

The Lamprey turned into a bile mess, none can be recognized anymore other than its head.

Mat withdrew himself from its teeth.

Azaleah sat down Smirf's shoulder, then tap her. Smirf look at her then smiled, she crossed her arms then look away.

"Thanks, you two, now let us clear the place and start work."