22Lincoln has been missing for a full four months, with his family unaware on what's been done to him or what he's been up to since his disappearance. With him are a unit of youngsters who were also cybernetically augmented to become the perfect killing machines until they were liberated and are now fighting against those that were responsible for what they are now. Haven taken the name, L, the amnesiac boy has yet to uncover any piece of the person he used to be, or interact with anyone from the past that's unknown to him and now, the forces hiding will make their move.
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The world's always changing.
A fact of life.
Looking back on this world's history, society and its people gradually go through longstanding changes to move forward towards the future and the machinations that have been conducted can argued by them that its just humanity repeating the process of evolving. A majority of the masses would argue that all that they do to achieve their goals were inexcusable, that their actions made them worse than masters and that there was a special place in hell for all the pain and torment they've dealt. But that's just it, they can condemn them all they want, what others think hardly makes a difference for they believe that their work is ensuring a better tomorrow for humanity. That was the principle in which BIO was first founded upon and it was the mindset that they've lived by throughout its tenure.
Professor Amadeus Samford, a tall white male with thinning brown hair that was greying on the temple in a lab coat over a tidied up shirt and tie with expensive pants understood this well. He stood inside a well hidden complex, overlooking the progression of the enhanced formulas, he stood behind some protective glass as workers in Hazmat suits stood over a canister of an odd mixture of sorts. "That's enough for today." his voice spoke through the intercom.
"What of the subjects?"
"Have them sedated until all is prepped for the process." Samford replied tightening his tie. "If you'll need me, I have an important matter to attend to. Be sure to clean up."
He exited the laboratory through automatic doors, he walked through an eerie hallway lined with conduits embedded inside the white walls, passing by armed and masked foot soldiers.
No words were exchanged.
They were colleagues not workplace buddies.
Minutes before, the professor had been notified of reporting to the directorial heads of the organization. That alone was enough to make the hairs at the end of his neck stand up. He stopped at blast doors that only those with the proper clearance could enter and being the head of research and breakthrough was proper enough. Samford began by typing in the code then came the scanners that checked out his hand-prints, retinas, the whole nine yards until the doors finally opened. Inside was nothing but darkness, the only visible thing was a circular pad illuminated by lit up lines and he walked until he stood at the center of the pad.
Around him, holographic screens appeared one by one each showing digitized silhouettes of 10 figures, their appearances masked and unseen. "Greetings, professor Samford." a voice with a distinct deep voice said. All their voices were synthesized so that they couldn't make out if they were male or female.
Holding back a gulp, the scientist bowed his head apologetically. "Sirs. Forgive me for calling you out of the blue, there was...a mishap that I felt you should be notified of." he told them, prepared for the worst. "At approximately 13 hours ago in eastern time, our convoy filled with prepped and ready fresh new subjects was ambushed by the Network and unfortunately, they succeeded in procuring our potential assets."
"Impossible." a distinct British-accented voice denied. "Our forces can handle any offense Network can muster. Unless..."
"They were there weren't they?" a third voice asked, yet knew the answer.
Lightly tugging on his collar, Samford confirmed their suspicions. "I'm afraid it's true. Similar to the previous reports, our convoys, facilities, and even public fronts were raided by Network agents who are in fact some of our own augmented soldiers that we've lost over the years."
"So, they're using our own creations against us." voice number 4, mused. "There's something poetic about that, no denying it."
"But still problematic for us. The sole purpose of Newborn Initiative was to take the first step in our goals, by taking fragile children and remaking them into powerful new breed of soldiers that would personally bring about our vision and for a while, that was undisturbed until the Network started rounding up our young pioneers of the new age. Now, those that were supposed to kill for us are now tasked for the opposite." a Russian voice growled with venom.
"Perhaps an appropriate response is to counteract them with assets that are still loyal to BIO and only BIO." an Aristocratic 6th head suggested. "Simple case of fight fire with fire."
"If I may, sirs." Samford raised his hand. "While I agree that they have made light, yet still effective blows to BIO, they are still valuable resources of ours. We spent so much time, gone through so much trial and error to even have the children live past their physical enhancements that I strongly argue that it'd be a waste to just discard them." he stated. "They are like this because the Network managed to steal them before we could put them through education, if we were to get them back then I could-"
"Professor." he stopped his rantings. "The world is vast, filled with potential. To achieve our shared objective, we have gone to many dark places for the greater good, considering that you were the one who pioneered the initiative in the first place, you must understand that an asset that can be exploited by the enemy is and asset better off dead. You can always find more subjects just as the last."
"Maybe our esteemed head of research has gotten rather close to the children." one head teased in a rude manner. "He did play a hand in their creation, must be angry that he lost his new toys."
"Enough. Samford, we trust you will make the best option, your ingenuity and brilliant mind has made you invaluable to us and we would hate to see you make it all for naught. Whatever solution you have in mind, be sure that it is one that benefits BIO in its entirety, otherwise we will intervene ourselves."
"Of course, sirs."
"That will be all for now. Until our next convening."
Each screen disappeared, leaving a disgruntled scientist in their wake. Samford was a man of rationality, one of many primary reasons why he argued to regain control of the children. It wasn't anything unnecessary such as fondness but because those kids were living examples of his life's work coming into fruition. Even before ever joining the ranks of BIO, he spent the better years of his life researching advanced prosthetics along that were always deemed laughable by the rest of the science community. Then came BIO who recruited him for his forward thinking, having seen how they've come with the technology, Samford was immediately onboard and with their enhancement procedures, that only opened up a door to numerous possibilities not even he thought were possible.
First few subjects were scouted through genetic testing, BIO's experiments needed those who were deemed compatible enough for the process to be successful and the reason for children was because their bodies, minds, and genetic structures were fresh and impressionable. Grown adults could barely handle the stress of the first phases but they managed to actually succeed in creating a new breed of soldiers. Though young, they were outfitted with revolutionary cybernetic prosthetics and enhanced to beyond peak human condition and were to be their crowned jewels until a number of them were stole away by Network.
His own creations.
Samford's worked too hard to get where he is now and he won't let the Network or his own superiors undermine it all.
One way or another, he'll get those kids back and show them all that he's right.
He'll need some help, though. The heads think having another subject kill them is the right move, maybe what he needs is one that will follow his instructions and has a stellar reputation.
A hunter of sorts.
Another mission.
Another day full of blood.
Still, today's op was textbook. Went off without so much as a hitch and accomplished their main objective, all the would-be science experiments were safe and secured. One mind-wipe later and they'll be transported back to their families and go about their days in ignorant bliss. Guess some people really can get lucky every now and then.
For some odd reason, that infuriated L. If anything, those kids were quite unfortunate to have come onto BIO's radar, they have no idea how close they were to going through a kind of hell not many would survive. Those that do would have wished they hadn't, it only leads to nothing but a feeling of hollowness and carnage. "Command just called." Aaron reported, returning back from the pilot's radio. "Kids are safely back at their homes and work's already been done to cover their tracks so that BIO won't come after them again."
"Those worthless suckers won't dream of pulling another stunt like that." Devon remarked, twirling a butterfly knife.
"Indeed." Jack stoically confirmed. "One of BIO's greatest attributes is that they remain a present unknown factor to the world at large. To abduct the same children who had gone missing previously would gain suspicion and they prefer to not be the subject of any attention."
Rick rubbed his neck in slight nervousness. "Won't they..."
"...know it was us?" his twin brother, Nick, finished.
"Let them know." Mia spent the trip in the jet trying to beat her last record of disassembling and reassembling her gun. "That way, they'll know exactly who it is that's gutting them all one by one."
"Yeah and maybe we can cut in some disemboweling thrown in." Tony suggested. "It can be like our calling card. Mom always said that making a lasting impression is good enough."
"Pretty sure the mess we made is enough." Jesse pointed out.
"Can always find new ways to make things go boom, brother." Shirako popped his hands open for emphasis. "Eggheads can cook up some more cool toys."
"For you to make us go deaf with that music of yours?" L turned away with a glower. "I think we're good."
"Oof. Dang, bro, why you always gotta hit people like that?" Shirako asked, feigning being shot in the chest.
"Team, we're approaching headquarters." the pilot announced.
All idle chitchat promptly ended as the team glanced out the window. First week L's been with these guys, he was always astounded by their base of operations. Now though, he's gotten so used to it, doesn't really have the same dramatic flair it did before, the carrier jet was descending down on a seemingly empty space until the ground itself automatically split apart, revealing a hidden entrance into what lies beneath unseen by the prying eyes of the world. It was large enough for the carrier to fit through, and inside was an entire hidden bunker filled with soldiers and ops managers, vehicles built for warfare were parked and stored with their own landing on the pad where waiting for them was a grizzled man wearing a black turtle neck and green army pants.
The team got out and stood at attention in front of the man. "Colonel Marsden, sir." Aaron saluted.
"Casualties?"
"Zero, sir."
"Complications."
"None whatsoever."
Nodding in approval, Marsden looked to the rest. "Head to the labs so that the doctors can check for any system trouble. After that, await for further instructions. Dismissed."
"Oh sure, it's not like a 'nice job' wouldn't have been nice." Mia deadpanned.
"A compliment from Ice wall Marsden." Nick snorted.
"As if."
"Quiet." Aaron admonished.
The team headed to the laboratory just as they were told. L never liked this part, these guys were on his side but the sight of people in lab coats working on his damn arm brought up some bad memories. Of all the things he could remember, that part just had to be about the only thing he could actually recall and nothing more. Off the corner of his eye, he noticed that Aaron after finishing his check up was chatting with the colonel, both sending discreet looks his way but no discreet enough for him to miss, he knew the topic of conversation was him. When Network brought L into the fold, he was deemed a unique asset, sure he was like everyone else what with the whole being abducted and made into a cyborg assassin but unlike the rest of the team, he's the only one with amnesia.
Everyone remembered where they came from, but not him.
Making him unpredictable, except for him walking off once check up was over, distancing himself.
That they saw coming a mile away.
Outside was calm. No firefights, no corpse littering the ground just gazing up at the clear open sky without a care in the world, one of the few times that L felt at ease and relaxed. Sun looked so far from where he sat atop the nearby mountain top that was in close proximity to the underground base, personnel weren't regulated to leave base premises past the mountain unless there was a viable reason, especially for the kids. L could understand that, Network's been busting their asses trying to one-up BIO, the most fatal blow was stealing their soldiers away and having them fight for them instead.
For BIO to take them back would make all of it for naught.
It was also a shared sentiment among the team that they'd rather die then be at the mercy of BIO once again.
He'd be damned if any more of his humanity is taken from him, that and the only semblance of a life he can remember. Thoughtfully, L looked towards the beautiful sunset, and reaches his metal hand towards it. 'Could they be there ?' he wondered in his thoughts. 'Beyond all this?'
The family he can't remember.
Choosing to work with the Network means that any chance of returning to their normal lives were nigh impossible, the others couldn't just re-integrate back to normal after what's been done to him. With L, he had no idea where he came from and was filled with so much anger and hatred towards BIO that it made him that he need to see BIO fall. He never asked if Network could use their resources to find any connection to his lost identity, that he could never feel normal as long as BIO is still at work. Not only that, he had no idea exactly how he'd feel if he actually gets the chance to see them, they'd be nothing but complete strangers.
Still, the lingering question of who really us ate away in him by each passing day.
His earpiece cracked with static. "Yo, L? You read me?'
"What is it, Shirako?"
"Aaron's got something to deal out with the rest of the crew"
L quirked an eyebrow in suprise. "Do we have another mission already?"
"Nah, man. Get down here and see for yourself."
Sighing, L got up from his usual spot and walked to the edge of the mountain where the climbing equipment he used to het up this high was stored, he refitted himself with it and descended back down.
"A day off?"
"That's what the colonel authorized." Aaron said in response to Jesse's question. "It's not mandatory, but it is optional at best. It's scheduled for tomorrow morning but only in case BIO isn't on the move."
"Hell yeah, baby!" Devon cheered at the prospect. "Been spending way too much time in a hole full of stiffs."
"An excursion of this caliber has no clear reason." Jack argued, confusion evident in his tone. "A more productive action that would support our main objective would be to patiently wait in headquarters until we are briefed and deployed on our next assignment. Engaging in such a pointless endeavor holds no value at all so I cannot see any viable reason to even consider it."
"Come on, Jack. Don't be a downer." Jesse chastised his unemotional colleague. "This is our one chance to actually hang out. When was the last time we actually had a day out to not shoot and/or maim people? Quick answer; never. We can finally have a slice of normal civilization like cheeseburgers, cherry swirled smoothies, nothing like the boring stuff they make us eat here that Tony ever really enjoys."
Mia glanced towards her right leg and left arm. "I'm gonna go on a limb here and say there's a plan to hide our robot parts. We are supposed to be a secret so walking around showing all this freaky stuff won't end well for us."
"Then you'd be right Mia." Aaron raised his own appendage where right before their eyes, it momentarily shifted holographically, giving it the appearance of actual flesh that amazed them. "A new feature that's soon to be implanted into the systems. It'll give our prosthetics and other aspects appear organic to the rest of the civilians."
Nick and Rick whistled. "Eggheads really thought outside the box for this one." the former commented.
Tony clapped his hands. "I want mine looking like it has third degree burns!"
Ignoring that disturbing request, Aaron continued. "Before turning in for the night, make sure to have this feature installed and fully charged for tomorrow. That's all."
So that was it.
A heads up about some field trip.
L doubted BIO would actually led up, he's willing to bet a gun that they'll be in a plane first thing tomorrow morning.
'Damn it. I really like that gun, too."
So it turns out that miraculously, there were presently no BIO activity of any kind, triple checks were made and that was the conclusion and it was so, that these cybernetically enhanced youngsters got on a bus and drove off. The headquarters was at a nexus point between several towns that neighbored each other and they were under the guise of foster kids. L looked out the window of the bus with a bored expression, he still couldn't believe that there were no missions for today, the only time they ever spent when not on one is just training or lazing around at base, he doesn't even know what to do besides shooting at his targets.
"Okay, guys. Just a quick reminder that the Colonel wanted me to convey." Aaron announced. "We only have about 4 hours or so, so spend that time very wisely." as opposed to his mission attire, he wore a simple white hoodie over a black t-shirt and green jeans with blue sneakers.
"First thing I'm hitting is the music shop." Shirako said, spinning his earphones around his fingers."Gotta keep up with that's down in the world. Could only do so much with what I have back in the crib." he had a simple neon green shirt with a black outline of a zombie with shades, and black shorts with sports shoes.
Mia sat with her legs raised over the other seat. "When this is over, whatever I bring home is only mine. Just giving you guys a heads up." she wore a violet sleeveless crop top with a short jacket over it and denim shorts.
"Think they'll let us get a game station?" Nick asked.
"'Cause that'd be sweet." Rick nodded vigorously. Both twins wore inverted color of each other, Rick's shirt was white with blue streaks while Nick's was blue with white streaks and the same brown colored khakis.
"If you're getting games, then I'm getting a snake." declared Tony. He wore a lime green t-shirt over a long-sleeved grey shirt with darker stripes around the arms, the shirt was a little torn.
"Animals are not to be present in the headquarters' premises. We were tasked with merely spending a leisurely time and nothing more. Regulations does not also allow outside technology." Jack stated, still wearing his simple hoodie but now sporting a grey shirt and blue jeans. All in all, he still found no logic in this transaction.
"Let the guy dream, Jack. We won't get another chance like this." Jesse pointed out. A seafoam short-sleeved shirt with waves and bright green shorts and sandals were his chosen attire.
For L himself, he tied his long white hair and concealed it with a red beanie and wore a black jacket over an orange shirt and blue pants. They all bore identical wristwatches that acted as homing beacons and communicators in case they get separated. "Hey Aaron, what town we heading too?" he wore a red shirt with the sleeves torn off, fingerless gloves, and white shoes.
"Just a small town called Huntington Oaks."
L's ears perked at the mention of the town's name. The moment he heard it, his mind drifted off to what looked like a community pool that was littered with celery and carrot slices for some reason and there was some kid with a red cap nearby arguing with the lifeguard, but he couldn't quite make out her face, she was wearing a swimsuit but her face was one big white blank. "We're here." lightly gasping, L turned to see the transport had stopped at their destination, a mall of all things.
"This is too good to be true. They're standing right there."
Images of the team in Huntington Oaks was monitored through traffic cameras that they hacked into, and couldn't believe the good fortune that's been presented to them. To be frank, it was almost too good to be true and for the most part it was, which was why it'd be a horrible move to blindly take this in stride and just act upon it. "I never took Network as being so embarrassingly sloppy." he commented from his screen, alongside his fellow heads of BIO that had their own screens around the table.
"I can only surmise there's a hidden meaning." a fellow colleague commented. "Perhaps they are wondering if we're arrogant enough to think we could fix our problems in one swoop."
"How insulting. They underestimate us far too much."
Chuckling, another head couldn't help but see the golden opportunity. "Indeed. But honestly, out of all the fruits of our collective labor, we never did get a chance to properly observe these subjects' aptitude in the field. Though the reports detail them as quite the unit, it's my belief that seeing is believing."
"That would be taking a considerable risk. Nonetheless, are we sure we wish to prove Network right by springing their trap?"
"And waste valuable resources by doing so? We also risk exposure due to them being present in a public area, it'd be a fool's errand to proceed."
"You're assessment is valid." one screen began to illuminate. "Yet, it would be quite intriguing to see their talents as an audience. We may learn something from this. Mobilize the Prowlers."
"Mmm~." Devon savored the taste of the ever so tasty cheeseburger. "See, now this is what real food looks like. Real talk, we push for this kind of service back at HQ, maybe throw in a flat screen TV while we're at it." he suggested. He and the team went straight for the food court, most of the guys were antsy
"You'll make us out to be spoiled brats, Devon." Mia said, sipping at a cool drink. "Pretty sure the boss and the other drones will be too busy with oh I don't know, stopping a shadowy organization making cyborg assassins and all that shit. Unless they suddenly feel watching late night prime time shows with more definition takes priority, then I wouldn't hold my breath."
Aaron looked around frantically. "Keep that talk down. Every word that just came out of your flapping mouth is supposed to be kept secret.
"And don't you dare diss Marvel's Agents Of Shield." Devon pointed at her. "Daisy, and the rest of the crew do important work, it's we're the agents which is kind of true."
Shirako scratched his cheek. "I thought her name was Skye?"
"That was her alias in season 1 before finding her roots as the series goes on, Shirako!" Devon reminded him in exasperation. "Why do I invite you to binge watch it if you're not even gonna pay attention."
Nick leaned into Jesse. "You just had to introduce him that show, didn't you?"
"Fully understanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes more than just watching the movies. You also gotta go with the supplementary material like the ABC series and the Netflix shows." Jesse reasoned. "And don't you dare judge me. You and Rick are always on last night's Dream Boat choice. Who cares if Karen picked that Brock?"
"He wore flipflops to their date." L chimed in, shrugging. "Just saying, I'm not exactly a dating expert but come on, everyone should know that's just a rookie mistake."
"Ah, a fellow Boater." Tony nodded in approval. "FYI, I totally think they should give one of the waiters a shot. Background characters never get the respect they deserve."
L shook his head. "Not a watcher of the show. I just can't help but think of one episode, think I only watched it once after one of our missions." that was a tiny white lie, but it's not like it was a big deal. Truth be told, he may have seen even more episodes of that show before Network, whenever someone mentions it, he can't help but comment on who Karen should've picked almost as if he's used to sharing his input on a series he doesn't really get, how does choosing who goes overboard guarantee a suitable romance? "So, Tony. Still want to buy that snake?"
Tony nodded. "Oh, hell yeah. Haven't figured out a name, it has to be something that expresses how it could easily end a life with just one life, also note to self: save that phrase for a movie tagline. I was thinking Hiss or maybe Veno….or...or..."
"El Diablo."
"Woah. It's like you're reading my mind."
And that's another rando, yet oddly familiar thought that came to mind. He even felt the urge to tell him how to properly take care of a snake, as if he even had to babysit the reptile while its actual owner was out mudslinging? Either he was having the biggest headache imaginable or Tony was starting to rub off on him, which was a scary thought altogether. Speaking of headaches, one was brewing right this second, not to mention some sweat pouring as well, being in this mall and this town, he felt he didn't belong here that he needed to go somewhere else, somewhere that was nearby. But he had no clue on what brought this on. "I'm uh, gonna tour the place a bit."
"L. You know we're not supposed to be separated." Aaron called out.
"You can track me."
He needed to get away.
He needed to think.
If one were to ask months ago what the Louds were doing, those who've been their neighbors the longest would say something about an explosion coming fro the smart one's room or the little blonde overalls wearing girl letting her many pet animals loose. Now, not even one peep could be heard, it's now evident that it can never truly be the Loud House without all Louds being present for their usual shenanigans, just doesn't have that feeling of completion when they lost one of their own. The 4 months without Lincoln has taken it's toll on the family, and despite how hard they tried what with all the posters of him plastered around town and family and friends offering their assistance, it was apparent that any hope of finding him was growing more and more futile, with it, a part of their hearts as well.
"Uh-huh. Okay. I understand. Thank you, Maria." Lynn Sr. hung up.
He had called Maria Santiago, one of their old neighbors, friends, and mother of his daughter's boyfriend. She along with her kids and the rest of the Santiagos were aware of the situation involving Lincoln and had been helping in anyway possible. The Louds were thankful for that, knowing that they weren't the only ones. Bobby thought of him as a little brother and Ronnie Anne, though she and him have denied it, both care for one another more than they're willing to admit in the capacity that Lynn Sr. cares for Rita.
Great Lakes City had it's fair share of runaway kids, but that was a bust as well. The father of 11 turned to see his wife finally exit from their bedroom, looking straight at him. A shake of the head form her husband made her want to retreat back into bed but knew she's wasted enough energy wallowing in her own self-pity.
But it still hurt inside. "Are the girls still in their rooms?"
"They ate breakfast in their rooms again." he confirmed, shaking his head. "How could this have happened? Why did it have to take one mistake, one bad day to make it all turn out like this?" he asked, desperately. He knew raising kids was a challenge, especially when there's about 11 of them but so much insanity comes to their family that they in turn make crazy and rash decisions that affect their family as a whole.
"He's safe." Rita spoke faintly. "He has to be, right? There's no way anything bad happened to him. Nothing could have happened to my...my...baby..." she choked out.
Lynn Sr. wanted to reassure her but as much as he hated to say it, he doesn't have the faintest clue on the status of their only son, not even their brightest, Lisa could pinpoint him. All the patriarch could do was move to sit next to his wife and console her as best as he could, but that wasn't enough, the only way to ease this feeling of emptiness was for their Lincoln to come back and hopefully make up for all that happened that resulted in this situation. A knock was then heard from the door and Lynn Sr. got up to open. In the doorway were two police detectives. He recognized them, they were the ones that would keep the family up do to date concerning the case involving their boy.
"Hello, Mr. Loud?" the first officer greeted indifferently. "Is this a bad time?"
"N-No, officer. Please, come in." he told the, retreating back to his wife and helped her up as the police stood before them. He was never good at reading people, but something in their expressions made the father unease. "Is this about our son? Did you...?"
Both cops exchanged a somber expression and decided they might as well be front with them and not mince words. "Mr. and Mrs. Loud. I'm-I'm so sorry to have to tell you this. But it's been decided that the case involving your son be considered dropped." he looked directly at their distraught faces. "We've spent a lot of manpower and resources trying to find him, but there's just no trace of him in months. Our CSI team has tried finding any indication that would point to him being alive, but there was nothing on that front as well. I'm afraid we're gonna have to face the possibility that he's...dead."
By the time he the detective finish uttering that horrid sentence, Lynn Sr. felt an invisible vice-like grip constrict his throat to prevent him uttering a single word, he backed away slowly, flopping hard to the couch grabbing his forehead. closing his eyes without bothering to stop the fresh tears. One of his own, dead, just gone and no matter how he looked at it, it was his fault. This tragedy could've prevented had he actually acted like a stern father like his own, even if it was a possibility, it didn't change a damn thing. A father should never outlive his child, it just wasn't right, none of this was right.
Rita felt her knees wobbling, tempted to ask the detective to repeat what he just said but opted not to, she knew what he said and she knew what it meant, one of her babies, her boy, could be gone forever. She lost the strength to stand and collapsed to her knees as a rush of despair hit her where it deeply hurts, followed by disbelief, shock, horror, and agony. So much agony. She's no stranger to losing a family member, remembering how much it pained her when her mother passed away. Her son, the child she protected for 9 months until his birth, a part of her, was possibly lying in an alley somewhere all alone, it was too much. She screamed at the top of her lungs, wailing her sorrow making her husband kneel down and hugged her as they both comforted each other in their grief with the detectives laying down their heads.
Unknown to the grownups, they were being watched. Perched on the wall was what looked a common housefly, but in truth, it was one of Lisa's personal spy drones that recorded everything it sees which is then transmitted back to a screen. Upstairs, the Loud sisters were gathered in Lori and Leni's room, their parents had been trying to get them to talk things out and they could bare with it for their parents' sake. But then Lisa got an alert from her drone and put up a screen to show them what had transpired downstairs. None of them were prepared for the terrible news that awaited them, it was like they were experiencing the same nightmare all at once.
Lori's phone was in her hands as always until it slipped from her hands and fell onto the floor, the screen breaking ever so lightly and yet, she didn't care or bother to pick it up. Before her eyes, the past flashed, memories of her little brother, the one she used to feed ice cream to and would occasionally play video games with, who volunteered to be her catty, who sacrificed going to a party so that she could have the best night ever, all leading up to the luck fiasco. She silently started to hyperventilate, turning slowly to her whimpering roommate.
Everyone knew that Leni wasn't exactly the brightest Loud, but she wasn't completely clueless and dense on some matters such as this, as much as it saddens her, the concept of death wasn't lost. But of all people, why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be her Linky? Her level of despair was on par with her mother, as tear drops fell to the floor and she broke down in front of her sisters, she couldn't handle reality but it didn't care, it sunk its claw into this gentle soul. "L-Linky….! He's not..." Her heart and soul was torn asunder, guilt filling up.
For a while, Luna was silent, her head was lowered to shield her eyes and slowly turned over to Lynn and stepped towards her and as she did, her own memories played out like a movie. Those were times that brought her happiness, but now have a more bittersweet taste, she always liked to think of herself as one of the sisters who was truly close to Lincoln. She acted that way to all her younger sibs, being the cool big sis while Lori was being the strict older sis, she and him bonded over a shared love of rock music and then she made his first concert unforgettable, holding him as baby, hearing his first words, their jam sessions.
"Are you happy?" she asked the jock with a trembling tone. "You wanted him gone, made us all think the same, you happy now, Lynn?!" she screeched, grabbing her by the collar of her jersey, she was angry at herself as well for buying to the claims but remembered that Lynn started it. "He was your bro, dammit! My baby bro...!"
While she was fuming, Luan retreated into a corner, as her roommate took her anger out on Lynn, the comedian could only bury her face into the safe confines of her knees. She now realized that happiness is only a fleeting emotion, that it could never be present in life forever, that crushing sadness can come just as easily and arrives at just the right moment, and unlike her puns, the feeling is reciprocated. She hid her face from the world, no joke or punchline could ever make light of this moment, she could put on a routine that could go on for hours and even then, she knows it'd just be pointless to do so in the first place.
Lynn didn't bother fighting back against Luna, she was much too busy being dazed, confused, and broken. Being the competitive sports girl that she is, Lynn hated losing. To her, all there ever was winning based on her natural physical talents and more infamously, her reliance on the concept of luck, no matter how ridiculous her beliefs were, she always counted luck on her side to secure her many sports victories perhaps a little too much which came to an escalation 4 months ago. Losing a game is one thing but losing your own younger brother, a person she's known since birth, the same that she tended to roughhouse with a little too much, arguing that it was all to toughen him up in her own words. This was her own fault, she's come to terms with that, her claims and beliefs led to this.
'I...killed him...?' she trembled hard, crushing the ball she had in her end and didn't notice Lori prying Luna away. Sniffling she fell back on her back, eyes wide with horror.
Quite a sick and twisted world to be born into, that rang true for Lucy. Being the duchess of darkness, the poetic goth did what she did best, disappear without anyone noticing, she found solitude within the confides of the vents and for once, being alone did not ease her sorrow. There's playing the part, but right now, this was what true despair felt like and she didn't like it one bit. Though there were her parents and sisters, she felt her spirits actually lighten up when she's at the side of her big brother as despite him also being put off by her taste in darkness, that didn't stop him from supporting her when helping with her poems, and never saw her dark side as just a phase.
The tears can escape for this moment, she had good reason to.
As a six-year-old 1st grader, Lana, she was still to young and wide-eyed, she was at the tender age where she should never have to face this kind of trauma in her life but life itself didn't simply care about what age someone is. She thought losing a pet would be heartbreaking enough but she's not sure if anything could outshine this. Hops looked up to his best human friend in concern as she wallows in tea. Her signature red cap fell from her blond head and fell to her hand and hugged it close to her heart, pretending that it was her big brother, the same one that's played with since she and Lola were babies, she asked herself why did this have to happen?
Why did he go away?
She would make as many promises such as being a better sister.
Her miss prim and perfect younger twin could do nothing as discord unfolded around her. The last few months she's seen of her brother was when she treated him as a bad luck charm before switching to forcing him to become a good luck charm by wearing that stupid mascot suit under their rule, a rule in which she reveled. But now she realizes that her older brother was gone, the very one that coached her through her many pageants, willing to learn stuff most boys wouldn't do all to help her win such as French braiding her hair. Who actually respected her talent of pageantry by his own volition, not through fear, bribery, or blackmail.
Mascara runs down as she listens on to her mother and second oldest sister break down, Luna barging out in anger, and she could have sworn that she heard sniffling coming from Lisa of all people. All the little Einstein could do was stare at the screen, Lily was the only sister not present having been sleeping in her crib inside their shared room and thought it'd be best to not disturb her slumber, now she's glad their infant sibling wasn't present. The young prodigy's immense mind began to tear itself apart, she always kept her emotions in check under her claim that she's above innate feelings but that wall was destroyed. Now, she was any other 4-year-old who was now suffering, who in their right mind would prepare themselves for this type of answer after a 4-month long investigation.
Even when she had doubts about his return, she held out some sliver of hope that he at least would've been found.
But now...
Succumbing to it, she scurried out to her room and collapsed on her bed, pulling the sheets over so that none could see her tears and muffled her choked sobs.
"Goo?" Lily stirred awake, hearing the noise. "Sa-Sa?" she called, confused yet concerned over her big sister's sate.
Wiping her nose, Lisa peaked out. "E-Everything is fine, youngest sibling. Do not fret."
She hated lying to her and even though she's proven to be more attentive than most babies, Lily was still one nonetheless, none of them had the stomach to tell her that big brother wasn't coming back.
It still felt impossible.
He couldn't be dead.
'Being here makes me feel like I'm dead to the world.' L walked past many people as he wandered the mall all by his lonesome. This really felt surreal, him being in a public place like this. Headquarters, their personnel, and the team were the only people and the only place that he actually hung around, and more comfortable since all of those people were like him in certain aspects. But being among more ordinary people made feel like he stood out like a sore thumb now that he thought about it. Far as he knows, none of them spend most of the time conducting dangerous operations nor do the kids he sees have any hidden prosthetics, the rest of them team could understand since they were like that before BIO, but not L. Everything's he's done is all he actually knows and yet, even that's not enough.
"Hey, what was the deal with that batter from the other team?" he stopped and heard a conversation of a group of children, middle schoolers by the look of it who each wore baseball jerseys.
"Got me, man." one of them responded to the other's question. "Heard she had a huge meltdown in one of the past games that she lost, but then she scored a win until her game got off. Kinda disappointed, I heard the Squirrels were supposed to be the best that Royal Woods had to offer but that chick had a huge anger problem. Costed her the game."
Squirrels...
Royal Woods...
That made him angry and sad at the same time.
And the migraines made a comeback. L went to the nearest bathroom and went inside the stalls to collect himself, it would've made sense to tell some higher ups about these headaches but he didn't want to let it interfere with the mission. He could handle taking lives without a second thought, he should be able to handle this. Of course, goes without saying that taking a break wouldn't be too bad, might give him a chance to actually enjoy some simplicity, maybe that's the reason why this outing was authorized in the first place.
No, that's thinking wat too soft.
Maybe Jack had a point, this whole thing does seem pointless. The door opening was heard and heard light footsteps, acting on pure instinct and training, he moved his feet up to avoid being seen. "You sure it was one of them?" he heard a dude ask.
"Facial recognition confirmed. It was definitely him, the scanner picked up on his arm, and whatever method they used to hide it can't outrun it." another replied in a confident tone.
"And he's in here? Sure that crap isn't busted because all I see are bunch of suckers being a bathroom for no reason at all." a third remarked, thinking this was a waste of time.
His eyes widened as he heard them speak. By all counts, they might as well be working for them, but he needed to at least make sure, didn't want to get busted for injuring possible Network agents. L looked through the small but visible view of the stall door and could identify a group of five men each wearing black turtlenecks with intimidating expressions. L rolled up his sleeve and tabbed his right hand that opened up and released a small probe the size of a fly and flew around the men and did full scan on them. He looked as it beeped red, and a mini holo-screen popped up and identified tags with BIO spelled out in front of him.
No doubting it.
They were with BIO.
"Alright, let's search the stalls, we can't disappoint the-huh?" the men looked down to see a small black orb roll out from one of the stalls and it doused them in smoke, making them scramble and cough. L jumped over the door and landed in between them, taking out a combat knife, he plunged it into the legs of the one with the ugly snout, making him fall and scream but that was silenced when L ran up and slit his throat. "He's hear!"
The familiar sound of guns brandishing was heard, and he repeated the same action by pulling out a SIG-Sauer P320 fit with a silencer and took aim, he waited until a smart part of the fog cleared up to show one target who had a distinguished scar and pulled the trigger. It went straight through his forehead and left him falling onto the sink. He ran through the gas and placed capped twice in one leg, making the other BIO thug drop to his knees and L grabbed him with his robot arm and choked him until an audible crunch sound was heard. "I got him!" he jumped backwards onto the goon that yelled and forced him crash into the sink mirror, some broken pieces embedded into his bald head before being pushed down and double capped.
One final piece of shit remained and he tried firing with his own silenced pistol but L raised his right arm and the bullets bounced off it, but it did dispel the holographic device a bit. Raising his metal fist, it shot forward and latched onto the guy's shoulder and sent out a stinging taser that made the guy drop his gun, allowing L to shoot him through the kneecaps and then pulled him close. "How many of are you there?!" L demanded.
Coughing out blood, the nameless grunt glared hatefully. "As many as it takes...to either get BIO's property back or make sure our enemies doesn't use any of them..."
Snarling in fury, L shot him through the throat, making him choke on his own blood. "We aren't property, you son of a bitch." he noticed something having been on the floor in all the confusion and picked it up. There were several dots on it, 10 neon green dots stood out and multiple red dots. Bio was here and they were after the team.
L immediately went for his earpiece. "Aaron, it's me, we got trouble!" all he got was static. "Crap, they jammed our communications!" he gritted his teeth, that also means they can't radio headquarters as well.
They were on their own with a pack of BIO dogs in a civilian populated area.
Somehow, those migraines would be more favorable.
