Red Meteor Quest Season 2, Episode 5

You, Sanja, and Jane were making your way through the city to where Sadie was located. Thankfully, finding one another wasn't an issue as the suits were all connected to one another. Saya and Helena were on their way too, and would meet you you there. The biggest thing of notice though was just how much of the city was in ruins.

"What the hell happened here?!" Sanja exclaimed looking around at all the overturned cars and broken buildings

"It looks like a tornado came through here..." Jane stated "What on earth could have caused all this?"

"Whatever it is that Sadie was fighting without a doubt." You reply landing on a nearby rooftop. You scan the area, seeing patches of ice and large bodies of water all over the place.

"Man, Sadie did a number on this place,Let's catch up with her and-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"

The words were interrupted as you all saw a blue dot fly several feet through the air and land with a crash.

"Well at least we found her." Sanja chuckled

The three of rushed to her aid, landing near her as Sadie got back to her feet. There were dents and scratches all over her armor as she stood.

"Took you guys long enough...where's Crimson Eclipse and White Moon?"

"Right here!" came the voice of Saya "Crap you look like shit."

"Feel like it too..." Sadie groaned

"So what caused all this?" Helena asked "This is some pretty big damage to the city. Way bigger than that giant rock monster."

"Not a what...a who."

Wait.

"FINALLY!" came a booming voice. "All of you are here, and finally I can enjoy a good fight!!!" You all looked at the man to see a postively massive figure, muscles all over with a sadistic look on his face.

"COME ALL OF YOU. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST. GIVE THE TYRANT THE FIGHT HE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!"

This can't be good.

>6d100

>96,30,95,63,97,100

You wish you had any idea who this 'Tyrant' was, but if he was capable of this level of destruction and with his bare hands no less, you weren't sure how to go about this.

"Everyone, go!"

The six of you, charge into the fray, some jumping to gain a bit of an advantage on the large enemy before you. you deliver a hard punch to his gut and while you can tell he felt the hit. The Tyrant merely smiles sadistically at you, almost as if you're nothing more than a play thing.

"Glorious! This is true strength! This is what I've been looking for!" you think he's going to grab you, but instead. He grabs Jane, who tried to sneak up on him, before swinging her around leg first into Sanja with such force, that both girl's armor visors visibly crack from how hard he hits them.

"Orange, Black, are you two okay?!" Sadie calls out

"I-I'm fine!" Jane calls out

"I'm not...oh gods, I think I'm sober now."

"You were drunk?!"

Sadie, whips out her blaster opening fire "I'm sure I shouldn't have to tell you all, but DON'T hold back, use weapons, this guy is dangerous!"

"You kids should listen!" He taunts the shots from Sadie's blaster seem to have little effect, even as ice patches form on his body. Saya, slams her taiko sticks onto them, breaking one of the patches and knocking him back into a turned over truck.

A truck which Tyrant lifts.

A truck which is now flying through the air at Saya.

It's almost like everything slows down, with no one being able to act, before Helena manages to slice the thing in two.

"What are you?!" She exclaims

"ENOUGH TALK. FIGHT. FIGHT ME!!!"

He and Helena clash, with the white clad warrior just barely keeping him in check. in fact, you can tell she's slowly being pushed back.

>6d100

>75,40,60,66,90,86

You're just going to take Sadie's words on this and so you draw your saber, moving in to deliver a flame powered slice at the Tyrant's body, he breaks his clash with Helena quick enough to just barely dodge you, though you can see that his body is now drawing blood.

"Been a long time since I bled, you're all satisfying me unlike others I've faced before! I LOVE IT! SHOW ME MORE!"

He grabs you and tosses you away, you're flying through the air, but manage to get yourself under control to land somewhat safely just in time to see Sanja go for a slash at him with her claw. She misses, and Tyrant just stomps her into the ground...literally. He's constantly  stomping on her, before both Sadie and Jane rush in to get him off of her. It works for the most part.

Except he then grabs both of them, slams them against one another and then delivers a sickening headbutt to Jane, before slamming her into the ground and giving her a boot to the gut which has her go back several feet.

"Are we even slowing him down?!" Saya cried as she caused some earth spires to fly at him.

"Doesn't matter, keep trying!" Helena yelled, slashing at him several times, as she dodged his punches and kicks

"Ugh...t-think I'm actually sober now." Sanja groans standing up.

>6d100

>72,95,52,68,98,70

The fight drags on. It's becoming a bit more of a war attrition at this rate, as you and your friends fall back for a moment to try and catch your breath. Unfortunately for you, Tyrant is having way too much fun with this, and he chases you all down, flinging all sorts of things at you. It cuts you off, and you're stuck fighting him, quickly feeling fatigued.

You charge your saber up with more power, slashing into Tyrant and as much as you don't want to kill him, you aren't seeing much other choice, you drive it in, the pain causing him to wince.

"Not bad, you're finally getting serious! Just what I want! I won't play around any longer either!"

You feel a knee drive into your stomach, knocking the wind out of you. Tyrant brings both his hands down on your  back, and you swear you hear something crack in your body as you go down to the ground. You think you're going to crash against it, but instead,you feel some hands grab you and pull you to safety. You're in a...completely black void like area

"Are you alright Red?" You hear Sanja ask as she appears next to you.

"Yeah but what is this..?"

"Shadows. Don't worry about this, I have an idea." She stated

The two of you reappear a little ways off, just in time to see Sadie in Mode 3, hurling a giant ice spike at Tyrant...which he grabs and tosses back at her. While she blocks it well enough, she's knocked back by the impact, sending her flying back into Jane.

Saya meanwhile, slams the ground,the rubble all around her coming together into a bouldler that she smacks at Tyrant like a baseball...which he punches...and breaks entirely.

"Oh come on, that's not fair!"

Helena for her part is trying to heal Sadie up a bit from her attack, though it's a bit hard for her to stay focused during it all.
"Red, stay here." Sanja tells you. She runs headfirst at Tyrant, and before you can shout at her to stop, she dodges his punch, instead diving into his shadow and coming back out...with a shadow version of Tyrant.

"Oh now THIS is interesting! I like it! COME ON, HAVE THAT FAKE ME ATTACK, I WANT TO SEE HOW GOOD IT IS!!!"

>6d100

>95,49,87,100,84,98

You completely forgot that Sanja can do things like this. The Shadow stands with you all as you all go in for another attack. You can feel a heat rising within your body, not unlike how it did all the way back when you fought that first monster. you deal some more hits to Tyrant, doing your best to try and wear him down in some way, while the shadow moves in for a punch.

You dodge out of the way of another punch from Tyrant...that goes right at the fake...and destroys it in one hit.

"AAAAAARGH" You hear Sanja cry out. Looks like she felt that hit in some way, as she's now on her knees panting.

"Everyone, cover Black Asteroid!" Sadie calls out, to which your friends move in to put some space between him and her

"Your friend there is pretty pathetic, but the rest of you, come at me!" Tyrant taunts.

And so you all  do. The ghost bit fires, Sadie fires more ice, Saya slams her taiko sticks on the ground sending more earth at him, you use more flame slashes, and Helena charges her blade with power to deal more damage, but even still, Tyrant still stands. Regardless of the wounds all over his body it doesn't seem to be stopping him in any way and he manages to knock you all back.

That's when you feel it. You haven't felt this way in a while, but you weapon starts to glow...the same is happening with everyone else as well. You can remember this with Sadie, maybe if you put your powers together then..."

"Everyone over here!" You call to them, the others return to you and notice the glowing on their respective weapons.

"Uh...what's this?" Saya asks

"Doesn't matter, everyone put your powers together!"

"Oh, I've seen that show! Captain pla-"

"Not now Jane!"

>roll 1d100

>69

All of you pour your energies into the blade. You can feel it, all of your powers become one. It's a somewhat surreal feeling and even the Tyrant can only stare at you all as he's befuddled by the sudden change, and the calmness within you all.It's when you finally feel the power reach a tipping point, that you raise your blade high, instead of  flames, a beam of multicolored light pierces the sky,before you bring it crashing down onto Tyrant.

The light is bright, blinding. No one can see, You try your best to hold the blade in place as the power unloads onto Tyrant. It's  full minute before things die down and you can look around without issue.

"Uh...is he gone?" Sadie asks looking around?

"I dunno..." Lets look around for him." you command

The 6 of you spend about an hour looking for Tyrant, and it's Jane who finds him finally. He was knocked some ways away and his body is now completely still. he's doesn't seem to be breathing either.

"I think...I think we did it." Sanja says with a sigh a relief. One that you all  share.

"So uh...what do we do now?"

"I want to sleep for the next few weeks." Sadie groans

"So do I...that guy was insane." Jane breathes out.

It's then that you get a message from Sally

"Hey there guys, done having fun with...whatever you were doing?"

"Oh yeah...'fun'." Saya spits "What do you want?"

"I finished getting that info on the people who attacked you. Want to stop by for a debrief."

>Let's go everyone
>Maybe later
>WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL US SOONER
>Other/Write-in

>WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL US SOONER

She...what. Really. Seriously?

"WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL US SOONER?!" You shout louder than you meant to.

"Calm down, finding out this stuff took a bit of digging and I only just finished earlier today...then a chunk of the city was turned into a natural disaster and I couldn't find the time. I figured after that weird light show was you guys finishing up whatever happened.

"Well, you're not wrong about that one." Helena said sighing "Let's just go and get this over with. I'm exhausted."

You all agree, you're battered, broken, and bruised all over, but the information could be valuable, especially if it'll help you all survive another encounter. Hell, Sanja is barely standing on her own.

You all arrive at Sally's place of work, entering through a secret entrance she had set up just for you all, and taking the elevator, transforming back into your civilian states and...man do all the girls look terrible. There's a lot more than bruises and such on their bodies. Of course you're no different, as the girls all shoot you a concerned glance or two as well.

The elevator comes to a stop and you come into Sally's little hub area where she usually is. On her  computer is a news report going on about the damages and how much the cleanup for it will cost.

"Man...you guys really did a number on the city out there.

"It wasn't us." Sadie growled "Now get on with it, what info do you have on these people trying to kill us?"

Noting the agitated looks on everyone's faces Sally began to start only for Sanja to interrupt.

"I'm going to bed." Sanja wheezed "Fill me in later." With that she trekked off before anyone could say anything

"Oh...well right then. Who do you want to know about first? It took some doing but I dug up all I could...save for your little friend out there."

>Smokes
>Top Hat
>Hands Off

>Hands Off

"What about Hands Off? That creepy kid who was rhyming?" Saya asks

"Alright then...let's see here." Sally says looking her file over

"Her name is Hands Off...real name unknown. From what I could gather, she was first spotted out on the west coast after having brutally dismembered several police officers 8 years ago. She seems to have some sort of illusionary powers. She can't hurt you with them, but she sure as hell can trick you and then well...you saw the hands I'm sure. How she got control of them is unknown. However, she's considered highly dangerous and if seen, you should avoid her."

"We kind of can't do that though." You point out

"Right, well, this what the file says. Anyway, she's consider highly unstable mentally, and is known to talk in rhyme as if from a kids book."

"Right, so any weaknesses?" Helena asks "Anything we can exploit?"

"Well, there is one report that someone managed to touch her. This caused a complete shutdown for her for about a week before she escaped from custody."

"Touching her...?"

"Yeah, a tap. a pluck, a headpat. Seems like she *doesn't* like being touched...hence the name."

"I figured it was because of the freaky hands."

"Could be. Any way, that's all I got. Who else would like to look at."

>Smokes
>Top Hat
>That's all thanks

>Smokes

"That guy...uh, what was his name? Smoker!" Jane exclaims

"I'm going to assume you mean smokes." Sally deadpanned. "Anyway, Charles Theodore Howard aka "Smokes." 29 years of age and he first showed up about 2 years ago. Seems like he escaped from a place down in Florida, and I'm hoping it's not from where I expect...." Sally lets out a huge sigh, before finding the willpower to continue on

"Anyway, as his name implies, he's got control over smoke. How? Not sure. But he can inhale any kind smoke and expel it out as explosive gas, or even suffocate ppeople with it. From what I can tell he's a hitman through and through, he doesn't really target anyone not in his way, and he's actually smart enough to not draw too many eyes towards him."

"Wonder how he pulls that off with the explosive smoke then..." you mutter

"That's anyone's guess. He's definitely done some jobs over in Europe from what I've dug up. Really this guy is only a threat to whoever is his target.

"Any weakeness on him then?" Sadie asked

"I think the only thing we have is that he is always smoking. A cigar, blunt, cigerrete, whatever it is, he needs the stuff to subsist or so it seems. There's a few reports of him not having any and well...the results aren't pretty. For him anyway."

"Well, not like we can go around asking every store in the city to give up their packs of cigerettes and whatever else." Saya sighed "We may just have to take him out the hard way."

"Well, whatever way you do it,don't level several city blocks okay? I can't go cleaning up after you guys all the time."

"Yeah yeah whatever, is that all?"

"Yup. Anyone else?"

>Top Hat
>Go home, you're too worn out for any more.
>What about the guy we fought today,called himself the 'Tyrant'. Any others out there like him?

>What about the guy we fought today,called himself the 'Tyrant'. Any others out there like him?

"Well, what about this guy we fought today called Tyrant? He was scarily strong, are there any others out there like him?"

"Wait...did you say Tyrant?"  Sally asks, her eyes going wide.

"Uh...yes?"

"Tall, Blue hair, weird tattoo on the chest?"

"You know him?"

"Y-yeah...I...well I know of him. But you're telling me you all fought him and lived?"

"Sally is there something you aren't telling us?" Jane asked "This is no time for secrets."

"I can't believe I didn't notice...I'm an idiot..." Sally mutters off in her own little world. "Look, I'll have to catch up with you later. I need to dig up some more info, just to make sure everything is on the up and up. I'll catch up with you in a few days okay?"

"But-!"

"GO!!!" She hollars kicking you all out

"What was that about...?" You ponder

"Well, we aren't getting anymore out of her, what should we do now?"

>Go home, you're in awful shape
>I'll stay here with Sanja for a while
>Other/write-in

>Go home, you're in awful shape

"As much as I'd love to hang around, I think it'd be best if we all head home and get some rest. I'll head back to your place is that okay Sadie?"

"Yeah, key's under the mat like usual. I'd come with you, but I need to get back to work, they'll be wondering where I am and why I'm not out there helping."

"Right, well, I'll leave it to you then. I'll see you home then?"

"Yeah..."

"She let out a yawn, indicating how tired she actually was. You had to give her credit for going back to work after being knocked around like she was.

"We should be getting back to our classes  as well." Saya added. "We'll just explain the cuts and bruises as getting caught up in the attack, while we were out grabbing a bite or something."

"I still have to go to school?!" Jane whined

"Yes. Yes you do, now shut up and come on." Saya replied dragging her along

"No, Red save meeeeeeeee~!"

You stood there and watched as she was dragged off, chuckling a bit before heading out yourself. The travel towards Sadie's home was fine and without issue, looks like the Tyrant shook up the entire city as there is no one outside at all. You head inside, and see the trusty couch, that you have spent many a night on and today will be no different.

You plop onto the couch and fall asleep without issue...

Once more you find yourself in this white void like area and once more you see the familiar figure.

"Hello Red, you've done well."

"You again...Xumir right?"

"That's me, and you know, I was watching that fight today. You did great Red, so I thought I'd congratulate you. But you probably don't care about that. I'll hold up my end of the bargain from last time. You have 3 questions that I'll answer. But remember, only three!

>What do you ask?

What is it you want from me, because I want you to not count this as a question since it doesn't end in a question mark.

"Oh Red, you're a lot more clever than I thought! That's one question down either way though, but I'll happily answer it."

He takes a deep breath, a more serious voice coming out this time. "What I want from you and your allies is to continue being the heroes that the people look up to. People's belief in justice has been waning, they think it doesn't truly exist, but with you and your friends doing what you do, I can feel them believing again. It's working out great actually, if this keeps up, I'll be back to 100% in no time. And that, Red Meteor, is  your first question answered.

Belief huh...

"I see...thank you, that was a bit eye-opening."

"No problem at all, you've got 2 left."

>Got another question?

>Who was I before all this?

"Okay...here's another one. Who was I before all this? Why do I get the feeling you know?"

"Now that's...quite the question Red. I will be honest with you, I know who you are...or rather, who you were. The real question here is do you want to know?"

You remain silent for a moment, not wanting to waste your final question, and Xurmir seems to take the hint, deciding to continue on

"If you wish to find out who you truly  are, then we must...dive within you. The memories of who you were aren't gone. They are merely...locked away so to speak. Now I can undo that lock...but you'll have to face a lot of painful memories. I do not mean to force your hand with your final question...but do you think you're up to handling it?"

A part of you wants to instantly shout out yes, but another part of you is held back in an abject fear and horror of what you could find out. It is almost as if a part of your soul is screaming and begging you to decline this offer. But either way, Xurmir is waiting...

>I'll do it
>I...can't

>I'll do it

You quiet down whatever doubts you have within yourself. You've wondered who or even *what* you were before all of this. For you, being Red Meteor has been your entire life, but right now? Right now you feel the uncontrollable urge to find out just *who* you are.

"I'll do it." You say resolutely

At this Xirmur lets out a heavy sigh "Very well. Take my hand would you?" he extends it to you, and for a moment you can't help but hesitate before firmly grasping it.

"What we're about to see is something I hope you're ready to put up with Red, I don't know if you're going to be able to handle it."

"I will."

"So you say."

In a flash of light, you are no longer in the white void that Xurmir was located, but instead you're in front of an apartment building. It's nothing too amazing, a 'moderate' looking building if anything. However, one word runs throughout your mind as you look at it. This isn't just some random apartment building.

This place...is home.

>To Be Continued...