Chapter 4 - The Fifth Member

In the middle of the night, an old married couple are cleaning up in their small rice shop. Starting to get ready to close. But suddenly, a hooded figure walks up to the counter.

 

Old husband: Hello, sir! I'm sorry, but we're closing up. if you want a drink in a paper cup I'd be happy to fix it up for you!

Hooded man: Oh, that's okay…

 

The hooded man raises his Sync, a small cannon in the shape of a bazooka that covers his hand. It starts glowing with a fireball building inside. The old man's wife immediately rushes to his arm as he raises it in front of her.

 

Hooded man: Hand over the money!

Old husband: P-please! Don't hurt us! I'll get the money!

Hooded man: Good, and make it snappy! Oh and if I see one Guardian following me-

Dae: Stop right there, scum!

 

The robber turns around, to see a black haired teen girl holding 2 hangers with sharpened edges, and wearing a poorly cut bed sheet made to look like a small robe with an "A" on the chest written in marker.

 

Hooded man: Heh?

Dae raises her hanger to the robber.*

 

Dae: Drop the gun, or get dropped!

Hooded man: …I'm not playing Guardians and Robbers with you, get lost!

Dae: alright bud, don't say I didn't give you a choice!

 

She throws one of the hangers, forcing the robber to block, with his action taking his attention, Dae dashes over the street. She reaches him and tackles him down. Pinning his Sync hand on his back, and holding the hanger to his head.

 

Dae: Get lost. Last warning!

 

She gets off the robber, letting him run away.

 

Old wife: Oh! Thank you so much ma'am!

Old husband: Hey- that robe! Are you one of those super-school kids?

Dae: Yes sir! Aura member Dae is at your service!

Old husband: Please! Let me fix you something, as thanks for saving me and my wife!

Dae: Aw, thanks. But, us guardians don't do these things for rewards- *sniff sniff*... well, it would be rude to decline a generous offer!

 

The married couple quickly gets to work fixing a bowl of their most popular item; Fried rice with crunchy bits of chicken.

 

Old wife: I can't wait to tell the school of her heroic acts! 

 

"..."

 

Saiko: Uh… we were in the house during midnight, sir.

 

Team Aura stands in front of the desk of District Leader Lucas, with the light from the window behind him illuminating the marble room.

 

Kai: Yeah, I was kicking Ano's butt in a fighting game!

Ano: You mean you unplugged the controller when I wasn't looking?

Kai: Aw, come on. Just admit I was on A game yesterday!

Zeke: Actually, it's true.

Kai: Huh?

Zeke: Watching you play was like watching a drunk guy box someone while having a breakdown. I had to help!

Kai: Huh!?

 

Lucas: Well, an old lady called. She says someone performed a prevention of robbery and claimed it to be an action of Team Aura last night.

Kai: What? We've only completed 1 mission so far. And that was 2 days ago!

Saiko: I'm afraid that's correct, sir. We did voluntary early patrolling yesterday and-

Lucas: ran into no activity. Yes, I've read the report. Speaking of which…

 

His eyes turn to the Captain.

 

Lucas: Where were you during this, Captain John?

Captain John: Oh, I uh… did the mission I was assigned, and… spent the night recovering from a bar fight.

Lucas: Hm… We should find this person before they get hurt trying to fake being a Guardian. It's illegal, but this girl's safety is our primary concern.  

 

Kai: Yes, Sir!

Saiko: We should scout the city around midnight, and see if we find her attempting to stop another crime.

 

And just like they said, midnight falls. And the team patrol around, waiting for the event that draws out their supposed 5th member.

 

Captain John: Oh, and a cup of coffee, please.

Old Husband: Coming right up!

 

Captain John walks over to Saiko, who's pulling her contacts up on her phone.

 

Captain John: Well, I got all the details I could from the shopkeepers. 

Saiko: And?

Captain John: Aside from the fact that she's a black haired teen with sharp toys, we don't have much to go off on.

Saiko: Great, I'll check up on the others. 

 

The 3 others answer Saiko's group call.

 

Saiko: Tuc street and it's shop square are all clear, you guys?

Ano: nothing around Dove park, Kai?

Kai: Still no signs of action, Zeke?

Zeke: Same here… nothing interesting happening.

 

Zeke swings his legs while sitting on the edge of a rooftop. Before he detects something familiar.

 

Zeke: Huh? This Aura… it's close.

 

Zeke decides to follow his senses, and it leads to a gap between 2 buildings. He looks down and realizes his strong ability to sense aura led him to the scythe welder. In an alleyway, Slain sits on a dumpster with his 2 buds sitting on boxes.

 

Carlos: I'm just saying, those guys feel dangerous!

Michael: Yeah, we wouldn't want you to get killed cuz of those weirdos!

Slain: Still… it'd give you guys a consistent place to sleep and eat. 

Carlos: Us? What about you? 

Slain: Meh, I can take care of myself. But I'm not leaving my defenseless friends out to dry.

Michael; Could've left the 'defenseless' part out.

 

After laughing at this friend's reaction, Slain notices a figure standing at the sidewalk wall of the alleyway, peeping in.

 

Slain: You! Don't try and hide! Who the hell are you!?

 

Dae gets startled, but clears her throat and runs to the middle of the entrance, throwing on her confidence.

 

Dae: Sorry, boys. But I overheard you joining something that's "pretty dangerous", and I'd like to know what!

Dae (in thought): Man, it's a good thing I heard these guys while I was walking during patrol.

Michael: Slain, that's the girl that stopped me from robbin' that rice place!

Zeke: Wait, that's her?

Slain: This punk? …*cracks neck* ok, get lost, or get bent.

Dae: That's not how that works around here, but oh well. I, Dae from Team Aura will bring you bad guys to justice no problem!

Zeke: Hm, I wanna see if she can actually hold her own. It'd be cool to get a new teammate!

 

Dae charges at Slain and slashes at his head.  Missing as he ducks under  and sends back a butterfly kick, Dae attempts to regain her footing with a backflip but is caught off guard by a kick to the face before she fully lands. And a quick sweep-kick brings Dae down to her back.

 

Slain: Really? This kid?

Michael: Hey, she got lucky with that toss, okay?

Zeke: uh oh, intervening time!

 

Zeke hops down and dashes by Michael and Carlos, jumping over Slain. He picks Dae up and makes sure she's alright.

 

Slain: Hey… you're the lighting kid that egotistical ass was fighting with… 

 

Sensing a threat, Slain draws out his Sync. Zeke's concerned look at his action changes as he feels Dae getting her surroundings back.

 

Dae: …No way! It's you guys! You're a part of Team Aura!!

Zeke: Uh…. The team you're supposed to be on? Yeah?

Dae: Wait, I-

 

Slain swings his scythe at Zeke, causing him to wall jump up to the roof.

Carlos: Shit… they're totally gonna find us again!

Slain: …We're sitting ducks out here. Hiding in alleyways ain't gonna cut it anymore. Alright, we'll split up to be less conspicuous, and head to that Lozy warehouse Wallus told us about.

 

Zeke hears this, as he sits on the roof with his hand covering Dae's mouth. He stands up and uses his phone to do a group call.

 

Zeke: Guys… we have trouble.

 

Back at their house-

 

Dae: *screams* I can't believe I'm meeting you all!

Saiko: Zeke… who is this?

Kai: And why is she hurt?

Dae: Ouch! Can you ease up on the pinchy ointment?

Ano: uh, sorry.

Zeke: She's the girl who pretended to be a member of our team.

 

Zeke holds up the robe he took from her, to show the evidence.

 

Saiko: What!? You! Explain yourself!

Dae: Oh, sure! My name is Dawn. I go to the same school as you, actually! I wanted to become a Guardian, but my parents made me join their stupid family business. I have Wind Power, and my Sync lets me shoot large booms of wind. So I'm perfect for testing the durability of products… but I saw the blue haired boy and Zeke fighting some tough looking guys on the side of my apartment. And I realized I still wanted to do something!

Ano: The Elite Guardians have fan clubs, so I guess having an imitator could happen.

Kai: That explains why you're doing this.

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Saiko: Actually, it doesn't. You know acting in the vain of a Guardian without actually being one is against the law, right? This whole thing is reckless, not to mention stupid.

Zeke: Jeez, Saiko. She just wanted to help-

Saiko: And you, Zeke. Why did you think it was a good idea to let her fight?

Zeke: She took down that other robber, I wanted to see if she had what it takes!

Saiko: You let a citizen fight a battle they could've died in!

Zeke: Kai?

Kai: I'm sorry, Zeke. But she's right. That's too dangerous!

Saiko: I know you're the youngest of us, but you have to stop being so reckless!

Zeke: i!-... I just thought it was a good idea. I shouldn't have let her fight, okay?

Saiko: Okay, look… Zeke, you said you heard the biker guys from before say they were meeting at a warehouse. Do you have any idea where?

Zeke: All I know is it's supposed to be "Lozy".

Saiko: Lozy… I think that's the closed down warehouse where those Lozy dressers used to get stored. 

Kai: Where's Captain John?

Saiko: When Zeke told us about finding the fraud, he told me to just lecture her, and said he was going to a bar.

Kai: Alright, let's hurry and find those guys!

Zeke: Okay!

Saiko: You're staying here and taking Dae home.

Zeke: What!?

Kai: sorry bud, someone has too.

Saiko: We don't have time to babysit. You're getting a warning. But do this again, and you're in big trouble.

 

Kai, Saiko & Ano head out the door.

 

Dae: Sooo. Electricity Power, huh?

Zeke: Yeah. I can zap around and shock people. I can also charge phones! Well, I did once… but then I broke the battery.

Dae: Cool! Well, except for that last part. I wish I had a cool Power like that 

Zeke: You don't need a cool Power, you just need to think cool!

Dae: Oh, please. Only people with the awesome kind of stuff get to shine.

Zeke: …Well, my uncle told me I'm… like… I need extra help in school, and talking to people… but I became a rookie Guardian!

Dae: I…  Well, why did you wanna become a Guardian in the first place?

Zeke: It seemed like fun!

Dae: …That's it?

Zeke: Well, yeah! …That and… 

*Zeke's cheeks start to turn red a little bit*

I wanted to be near someone, a lot. How about you?

Dae: It just felt like the right thing to do!

Zeke: That's fair.

Dae: Can you teach me? How to fight? 

Zeke: Uh… I don't think I should.

Dae: Come on! I need to hold my own against creeps like those for my city!

Zeke: It's probably not smart to go back out there… but I guess I can't stop you, can I?

Dae: Yes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

The 3 Aura members make their way over buildings until Saiko stops them on the rooftop of the warehouse.

 

Kai: It's a good thing we picked up the pace.

Talin: That place looks way too small for a company to store their stuff in.

Kai: Oh, hey! You've been asleep for awhile.

Talin: Yes, sorry about that. I think I'm getting used to staying awake now.

Kai: That's good to know.

Saiko: Stop talking to your Sync, Kai. We need to focus.

Talin: I will not be sidelined like that, ma'am!

Kai: She can't hear you, man.

Ano: That's still weird.

Saiko: We drop in through the glass ceiling, and take them by surprise. Okay?

Kai: I'll message Zeke our location.

 

Slain and his 2 buds stand near the middle of the warehouse, talking to Wallus sitting on a box.

 

Wallus: I appreciate you taking me up on the offer, but perhaps you could've decided sooner than 2 in the morning.

Slain: Lucky for you, a good night's sleep is on my agenda, beefcake. It's getting dangerous out there, and the basic rule of survival is so whatever needs to be done. So, I'll take you up on your offer, and in return my comrades get a stay at wherever you guys stay at.

Wallus; I'll have to take you to My leader, see what he thinks. I'm sure he'll-

The sounds of the ceiling windows breaking takes the attention of everyone in the room.

 

As they fall down, Saiko threads a broken pipe from the wall and throws it at the others, with Slain taking his Sync and cutting it up.

 

Slain: You 2, stand back!

 

Michael and Carlos stand in the corner behind Slain and Wallus.

 

Ano sends a wave of ice, but it fails to reach as Wallus breaks it apart with a punch. Slain slashes at Saiko who backflips away, and threads a nearby box. Breaking it with a slice, he attempts another slash quickly, forcing Saiko to jump over it and crash into the wall. Another attack dodged as she threads multiple pieces of the wall together.

The dust causes Slain's attention on Saiko slips up as she threads a handrail from a higher pathway. She hops on a tall box and swings across the air, slamming the threaded bag of brick pieces in Slain's face. But he quickly swings the bottom of the scythe into Saiko, and uses a firey explosion out of the top to throw her into a wall across from them.

 

Ano chucks a long ice shard at Wallus, who quickly grabs it. But it's explosion gets him by surprise. He barely dodges an ice skewer that passes his waste, and throws a punch that launches a force of aura that breaks through Ano's ice wall and blows him back. Wallus turns around and sees Kai about to shoot a blast of energy out of his hand. Knowing the strength of those attacks, he presumptively crosses his arms covering them with his aura to block, and the impact still brings him to his knees.

 

Wallus (in thought): Damn it… His ability really is damaging my aura! And his blue markings… Xaylian told me to make someone like him a priority, but I can't do anything just yet. 

 

Back at the house, Dae is almost passed out on the backyard floor.

 

Zeke: Okay… maybe I should've gone easier teaching the kicks.

Dae: Ya think!?

Zeke: Hm, maybe some standard squats should be easier?

Dae: Yeah, that sounds more up my ally!

Zeke: Besides those guys?

Dae: *chuckles* Shut up!

 

Zeke's phone rings*

 

Zeke: Hm? A location text? We should go!

Dae: Do you think I'm ready?

Zeke: No.

Dae: Wait, wuh?

Zeke: Don't get involved in the fight, you'll die. Just watch us.

Dae: Oh… okay.

 

Zeke piggybacks Dae across several buildings before making it to the warehouse. 

 

Dae: Woah! They're really going at it! 

Zeke: Yeah, which is why you don't leave this spot! Okay?

Dae: Fine.

 

Ano dashes to the side by dry icing the bottom of his feet, avoiding a punch from Wallus. But Wallus' quickly catches up and almost lands a punch but is struck from the back by lightning.

 

Ano: lightning? Wait… Zeke!?

Zeke lands from airborne, and dashes over to Ano. He picks him up and dashes back to Kai, who was across from behind Wallus.

 

Kai: Zeke!

Zeke: Don't worry, we can take them now!

 

The fight continues escalating as both sides frantically turn the tide against each other. Dae continues watching, hesitating on what to do.

 

Dae: Damn it… I wanna join! But… Zeke's right, I'd probably get killed! But… I also don't think they can win this! …Wait… I got it! If I use my Sync, I can cause the bad guys to lose their balance! And then Aura can win!

 

Dae hops down the broken roof, getting the attention of everyone.

 

Saiko: What the- Zeke!!

Zeke: Dae, I told you to-

Dae: I got it!

 

Dae claps a giant explosion of wind, making the place crumble down, forcing the kids and the adults to escape. Some time passes as Aura and Dae stands outside the now destroyed warehouse.

Dae: woah… I uh, messed up didn't I?

Saiko: You think? That's it, you're getting arres-

 

Zeke walks by Saiko to Dae, and snatches her robe.

 

Dae: Huh!?

Zeke: You didn't listen to me! You could've gotten everyone hurt! I'm officially revoking your status in training!

Dae: Wuh-what?

Zeke: Now… go convince your parents that you deserve to become a Guardian!

Dae: Wait, really? You're just letting me go, like that?

Zeke: You'll have to take responsibility, so you're gonna volunteer to help people at our school to make up for this! And then, when you become a Guardian in training, you'll get this back!

Dae: ... Okay! Till we meet again my friends!

 

Dae runs off down the street.

 

Saiko: Huh… I'll admit, that wasn't the correct way to handle this. But you still put her in the right place.

Zeke: She would've just gone back to doing this, anyways. I just had to reach her personally!

Saiko: …See? You have that type of stuff in you,  But-

Zeke: I know, I know. Next time, I won't be this reckless.

Ano: I'm glad we're growing as a team, and everything. But can we go home, now? I'm tired.

 

Everyone's attention turns to Captain John, running down the sidewalk.

 

Captain John: I just got Saiko's message… What the hell happened here?

 

Kai Ano and Saiko look at Zeke.

 

Zeke: It's… a long story.

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