Episode 40: Meltdown of the Resistors

[Markus Hederick]

Zack's arm movement ceased when this lady surrendered her life to Markus and Gargulion. The poor man gave a dirty smile after that. The forces involved were very pleased.

"You'd prefer for me to be one of those. He wants you as an experiment. As for what I want..." As Markus was saying that, Gargulion eased up on the control he had over Zack. This Bakugan had to be dealt with before any sacrifices could be made. "I want you dead."

Zack suddenly pointed his right index finger a little under Snow's feet. A green trail left the finger tip and merged into the ground underneath her. The flames were instantly dispersed by the obvious power difference between her and Gargulion's spirit form. She found herself being body snatched by Gargulion before she had a chance to do anything.

As for Zack, he dropped to the floor unconscious, because he could not bear the amount of pain that he was currently under. Snow turned around to face Andrea and pointed her staff at her body.

"Unlike you...I know exactly how your body will react to what I'm about to give you..." Markus rose from the ground right behind Andrea. He was clad in Gargulion's Darkus Frame. He grabbed her by her head and twisted her around just so she could see his face. He wanted her to know he was doing his. He wanted all of them to know that he was beyond angry.

"You destroyed their bodies from the inside," Markus reminded her. "So now I'm going to destroy yours."

Clayf - in his robed form - could not do anything about what he was currently watching. Markus must have knew he was in there since his and Gargulion's positioning were perfect. He was sure to get yelled at for killing an Eden Bakugan if he attacked, and the reaction would get worse if the assassin duo phases through any of his attacks to make Andrea get struck by accident. The best he could do was take out a miniature version of his axe and repeatedly tap the floor. This sent a tremor throughout the building, light enough to make them aware that Clayf was doing something and to not level the entire place.

[Andrea Wolfang]

Snow angrily growls at what happened.
There is absolutely no way she will let this happen, no way she will let this psychopath get his sadistic satisfaction. "Let her go... you terrorist swine." She speaks in a threatening tone. Blue flames quickly begin to reassemble on her body and diamond in the middle of her staff beings to glow.
Name of her staff is the 'Spirit Wielder' and it can act on its own accord; it stores spirits of the dead that Snow befriended and those spirits have sworn to aid her in battles. Them being complete spirits allows them to ignore most ailments and attacks that hit and affect Snow, except when it comes to pure anti-spirit attacks- like the ones Kuzuha does to annihilate any spiritual creature.
Flames of the spirits surround her and free her from Gargulion's effect. She slams her staff against the ground pushing Gargulion back and then surrounding both Markus and Gargulion in flames. Flames cannot harm the body, but they can damage soul of the opponent and after some time soul is detached from the body and body slowly dies.

"Snow...stop..." Andrea cries out not wanting any sort of interference to be going on anymore. She found herself guilty of what happened and she was ready for the punishment she thought she deserved. "It's all my fault... I injected it..." She cries out again hoping she would convince Snow to let her go and remove that guilt forever. "ENOUGH NONSENSE!" Snow angrily responds to Andrea's begging.
"Only an ignorant moron can blame YOU for what happened. And we happen to face two. If you want to cry in front of psychopaths and terrorists be my guest. Feed their sadistic hearts, but I will not. I will defy all gods if I have to, but I will not let this to go on." Snow madly yells in response to Andrea, ready to deprive both Markus and his Bakugan of their life for what they did to Zack and for what they are trying with Andrea. She would rather be damned than letting such insane person run freely among normal people- he has to be neutralized one way or another. She will call out for Alex and Dante if she has to just to defend her friend from this insanity she has been tangled into.

[Markus Hederick]

"You're really annoying..." Markus did not let this ignorant magician get away with her bullshit. A shotgun-style blast was launched from Markus' mouth that struck both Andrea and her guardian. They were encased in stone upon impact.

Gargulion's spirit form rose from the floor. He appeared one centimeter from where Snow was standing, or where she stood, because he backhanded her in her temple to knock her out instantly.

"You talk too much. It sickens me," Gargulion spat. He walked over to her downed body until he got to the staff. He tapped it with his big toe to envelop the entire thing in a green haze. It was nowhere to be found when the haze disappeared.

"What a deluded Bakugan who can't even see the truth even if it shot her in the face," Markus commented on Snow's apparent blindness to her brawler's actions. "As for you, Miss...you know what you're going to get. You know what you deserve."

Gargulion "soul stepped" to appear right in front of Andrea in a flash. He tapped her forehead gently. That was all he needed to do. She was going to die.

"I'm not going to do you a disservice by killing you instantly. I want you to writhe in pain just as my family would have if they were conscious, and just like I did mentally when I got word of what you've done," Markus explained. "A Bakugan is now growing inside of you. It will build up in your body until it forces its way out of you. It's a dishonorable death that is fitting for scum like you."

[Andrea Wolfang]

Despite the situation Snow stubbornly refuses to give up. 

Her motherly feeling towards Andrea, same as that Hydra has towards Maria, will not let her watch her ‘child’ suffer because of someone’s insane sadism. It was simply not acceptable. “Even if she did it on purpose…” Snow begins to resist again as her body emits more spiritual flames that convert her body into fire along with the staff and then recovering them with no damage whatsoever. “Even if she knew what doctors gave her to inject patients with…” Snow angrily shouts at the psychopathic duo. “There is law for a reason- to bring the judgement and decide one’s fate. That is not yours to control!”  

Her staff charges with spiritual particles and turns them into violent whips that smash both Markus and Gargulion away from Andrea. Snow leaps forward towards Andrea to shield her from further incoming attacks.  

She gives Andrea a gentle motherly gaze making sure Andrea knows- she will never abandon her, she will fight for her no matter what and no matter what against.  

Andrea continues to sob, still not ready to accept what Snow says, still believing she deserves death more than anything after what happened with the patients. 

“And worst of all… she did NOT do it on purpose… she could NOT have known what was in those vaccines… She put her trust into the doctors, like every assistant… like every student to their teacher. It is them who failed…” Snow says from what she has seen, heard and read in those events. A dozen of doctors worked behind everyone’s back. Not even Seven Angels or leader, Irene, knew of those secret plans. Assistants and several other doctors were there during regular preparations of vaccines, but they had no clue of ‘secret ingredients’ those other doctors have put, they had no clue there was Tank’s blood in there.  

And they, despite that, have suffered and died because of this Resistor’s blind vengeance, his pure stupidity and inability to think before acting, inability to find evidence and data before making conclusions. “…AND NOT HER, YOU SICK FUCK!” Snow madly yells out at Markus.  

“…and it was same for half of them… their families will never see them again, their mothers will never have answer to the child who asks ‘where his dad is’… all because of someone’s stupidity… and all because of you… I doubt… I doubt that little girl would feel proud seeing her big brother becoming a terrorist… again…” Snow continues. 

Andrea begins to sob and cry even louder after hearing this. 

Up to this point she did not know who this guy is. She is not familiar with identities of Resistors, but Snow’s words hit her deep in the heart- this man was deprived of his family because of what could have been prevented if she had known that there was a dangerous substance. “Andrea does not even know who Tank Stryker is…”  

Snow grabs and tightly holds Andrea refusing to let go. If thousands of swords and spears have to go through her it will not matter- as long as Andrea is not harmed. 

Warm light begins to glow around Snow in attempt of getting rid off whatever Gargulion did to Andrea. If she uses angel spirit she could fix her, but it is risky because enemy is too close. 

[Markus Hederick]

Markus and Gargulion did not bother to waste any more of their time with this Bakugan's antics. Andrea was on her way out. They didn't need to do anything else to them. By the time Snow finishes whatever she is doing, the Gargulion would have amassed enough power to pop out of Andrea's body. She was struggling against the inevitable, something Markus was not going to have any part of any longer.

"If the law is there, then how come I made it to you first before your superiors reprimanded you?" Markus countered. "They died by her hand, and she is allowed to walk these hallways free from the judgment you think is there from the due process of law. You excuse medical malpractice on account of you not knowing. Guess what, genius? Those poor souls didn't know either, and now they're gone. There is no excuse. If you do not know what you're doing, then don't touch anything. You don't get a pass just because you thought you knew what you were doing."

Markus placed his hand in Snow's direction and activated Soul Eater. The power from her staff was progressively siphoned away from her into his and Gargulion's body. The flames that he intentionally ignored earlier were dissipated from this absorption process as well.

"I know Eden doesn't care, but I do. If you're going to show me how much you don't care by walking away from the situation - forcing a former friend to come to me about it - then I'm going to show you how much I don't care about you. A Bakugan belonging to a killer of innocent people is calling me a terrorist... You've got be fucking kidding. Consider yourself lucky that you're even still alive."

[Tank Stryker]

Six portals opened underneath Markus, Gargulion, and Snow, two for each individual. Bear traps emerged from them and awaited contact with their feet. They clamped down the moment they felt flesh. Their tight hold ensured that the three of them would not move.

There was a glass ceiling at the top of the room. In spectacular "Tank" fashion, Gladion broke through the glass to get down there. He landed near Snow who might be unhappy that Gladion decided to attack her too. He had his reasons, which the arriving party would surely make clear to her and Andrea.

"You really don't know who I am?" Tank - who revealed himself on Gladion's shoulder - questioned Andrea after faintly hearing what Snow just said. "You must be living under a rock, or, the doctors here didn't bother to tell you assholes NOT to use my blood."

Lars Lion arrived in the room from where Tank and Gladion entered. Her splendor had miraculously repaired the broken ceiling and removed any hint of glass that hit the floor. Tracy and Skystar were following behind her as well.

"What an interesting day I have ahead of me. I get to deal with more bodies. Yay," Lars Lion sighed.

[Markus Hederick]

Markus' eyes bulged when he saw Lars Lion. He knew he put Clayf in a tough spot, but that was never going to work on Lars Lion. Fighting her was not an option. He had to get out of there.

"Hm...maybe I was wrong..." Markus began, intentionally sounding like he had remorse for what he just done. "...I probably should have dealt with you, Tank, before I got here. I thought you had more sense than the rest of them. I did not expect you to betray me like this..."

Gargulion converted himself into an orb to escape his bindings. He flew straight into Markus' body. All he had to do now was phase through his shackles and get the hell out of there before he gets enlightened by Lars Lion. He did want to watch Andrea meet her quick end though. Her skin had cracks forming through them. It was only a matter of seconds before she bursts.

[Tank Stryker]

"Quit talking bullshit, Markus, and listen to me once in your life!" Tank angrily retorted, pointing his finger at Andrea to drive his point. "This isn't normal! Look at what you're doing! How the fuck are we supposed to beat these bastards when all you're doing is going against everything you stood for by stooping to their level!? They're the ones who need to be judged, not you! You didn't have to go this far!"

Lars Lion ignored Gargulion and Markus for the time being. She focused on Andrea. Knowing what was about to happen to her, she materialized a golden book. Opening it and flipping through the pages, she arrived to a page full of Vestroian words that barely anyone in there could possibly understand.

She chanted what was written, almost as if she was singing a song. The Gargulion that was growing inside of Andrea was extracted from her body. It flowed onto the page Lars Lion was reading from. She then closed it, causing the Gargulion's energy signature to disappear permanently. The book disappeared into thin air from there.

"What say you, Resistor?" Lars Lion asked Markus and Gargulion without giving them direct eye contact. "Hiding in the darkness is unhealthy. It holds zero allies. Come with me, for you will still find light, even in the darkest hour."

[Markus Hederick]

Markus was stunned that the assassination process was curbed so easily. There was no doubt Lars Lion cemented her place as the Haos Legendary Soldier, but this was ridiculous. She didn't look the slightest bit disturbed with having to remove the Gargulion from Andrea's body. She took it out like she was grabbing a stinkbug to throw away.

"There are always allies," Markus disagreed. "You just have to know where to look..."

With that said, Markus phased through the floor with Gargulion's help. As he left, he got out some parting words.

"You pretend like you know what I stand for. I stand for equal justice. Attacking me is one thing, but attacking my family is an unforgivable sin. If you kill them, it is only fair that I come to kill you as well. That's how it is. Have a problem? Come find me."

[Tank Stryker]

Lars Lion looked down at the floor as Markus was leaving. She could see where he was going. She waited a bit to get a feel for where he was going to end up before she did anything.

"Why...?" Lars Lion wondered.

"Where is he going? Tell me," Tank urged.

"I will not tell you," she replied.

"What was that?" Gladion turned to Lars Lion with a peculiar look.

"I will send you there ahead of him," she clarified. "You requested that you be the one to deal with him, and I agree with you. There is a lot of compassion underneath that tough exterior of yours. Someone in here could learn a lot from you."

"You think that's funny?" Clayf blurted out. He walked closer to her knowing that she was taking a dig at him.

Gladion knelt in Lars Lion's presence to pay his respects. The Legendary Soldier was more understanding than he thought. "You're truly kind, ma'am. Thank you. I won't forget the kindness you've shown us."

"You'd do well to remember it." A pillar of light surged from underneath the ground all the way up to the sky. It covered both Tank and Gladion. When the pillar disappeared, the duo was gone. Lars Lion returned her attention to Andrea and Snow. She had something to say to them.

"It's time to follow what your guardian has preached, young lady. The Seven Angels request your presence before your leaders."

"Wait a minute...why were you acting so carefree about this? Do you realize what that kid just did?" Clayf interrupted.

"I am aware of what he did. Quite an assassin. I consider their assassination method to be a forbidden art. The victims cannot be resurrected through normal circumstances."

"You can't...?"

"The way they killed those people is how the Gargulion species is made. Their spiritual appearance is the personification of a being's life force. They migrate to Vestroia to join an attributed world, then they wander tirelessly in an effort to regain their bodies. Gargulion like the one that just left has found solace in making his own, but he will never be satisfied."

"So because the being ends up becoming a Bakugan, you can't touch them at all to put them back in their place?"

"That is beyond my power."

[Tracy White]

"The Seven Angels...someone's in trouble..." Tracy whispered. This sounded like a sticky situation. She didn't want to be a part of this...

"You're coming too, my star pupil," Lars Lion announced to Tracy.

Totally busted.

"Wait, what!? What did I do?"

"You really don't know?" Lars Lion did not have to outright say what Tracy did that gave Markus the identities of his targets. She knew what was going on. "The Seven Angels are not aware of the full details of what happened between you and the assassin. I will send you after them in due time, but I do not want him to get agitated with you there. You would be a nuisance right now."

"Oh...okay then..." Tracy was starting to get nervous. "The Seven Angels...Eden's version of the Silver Knights' Mighty 5 division. They're all strong and have imposing authority here. It's best not to get on their bad side, or it could mean trouble," she thought.

"I'd hate to act bossy on this organization, but Clayf...I want you to follow me wherever I go from here, even if it's away from Eden entirely," Lars Lion said.

"Go on. Enlighten me."

"I had a conversation with the Aquos Resistor when he sought my help. Even though blood may have been shed, there is a point in their motives. It is not fair for any of them to be labeled as terrorists if Eden does not hold the select people responsible for their actions. If they are not willing to punish their own comrades for wrongdoing, then it is not permissible to go after an outsider for what they do. That is why no one here will know where those two are until I say otherwise. If I see one single Eden member go near them, I will walk away and repel them myself."

"Sounds like a plan," Clayf agreed. "Alright, ladies. Take it away. Time's wasting."

[Markus Hederick]

Markus and Gargulion were on approach to a familiar place, "No Man's Land," the site where all of the trouble seems to have originated from. Gargulion was back in his own body, and Markus was released from the minuscule pressure the power put on his body.

"Well...where to now, sport?" Gargulion asked.

"Gargulion...tell me something. What made you follow me?" Markus wondered. It was a fair question. Gargulion initially didn't want to kill Skystar, but he ended up doing it anyway. Now he became a full-blown killer.

"The equal justice part...I agree with it," he acknowledged. "I only allowed myself to fight Skystar on that level because she was defending those scoundrels. I had no plans on getting my hands dirty in Eden, but...when I saw them walking free in there...it made me sick beyond belief. It does not take that long for sanctions to be imposed for that kind of behavior. If they take that long, then it means they are not willing to hold themselves accountable. If no choice was going to be made, then I was going to make it for them. Now they'll regret how slow they were in making a decision."

"Yeah...I was right not to trust them to deal with them, wasn't I...?"

"The only thing I'm regretting right now is what I did to that man. I got carried away," Gargulion admitted. "Aside from that...I am hurt to be labeled as a terrorist now, but the people who killed your family are not... I should have killed that lousy bitch when I had the chance."

"Relax...it is over...for now. We will make sure she gets put away later. Right now, we must seek shelter. I'd rather not go to Princeton right now. They may try to run me over with Tuskor again." Markus and Gargulion were walking along that doomed path until they made an abrupt stop in their tracks. Markus looked across from him and was far from pleased.

[Tank Stryker]

Tank and Gladion were the ones across from Markus and Gargulion. They stood in their way on purpose. The way they were going leads nowhere. If Tank could do anything to prevent Markus from taking that trip, he was going to do it. Markus has been through too much. It was time to bring all of that to an end.

"I know why you're here, Markus. The predator with the mask...he's in there, isn't he?" Tank understood. "To think you would come back here for this... I thought it would be me losing control like this, but you...I'm at a loss for words. You taught me to keep my composure in these situations, and now...you're just making everything you told me turn out to be a lie."

Tank turned on his BrawlX in front of Markus as a declaration of battle. He didn't want to have a fight this way, but Markus left him no other choice.

"I won't bother trying to convince you with talk anymore. I know there's only one language that you understand right now. I'm going to bring you back down to Earth, even if I have to drag you down."

[Markus Hederick]

Markus nodded in acknowledgment of what Tank was suggesting. It hurt him too that Tank was not on the same page as him. He expected Tank to be more angry than this, because he indirectly assisted with the atrocity in the form of his blood.

"Alright. I expected for you to do something like this. Talk is cheap now, right?" Markus switched his BrawlX to battle mode as well. "I told you that everything can change when someone blinks. What I felt before may not be how I feel in the future."

"Speaking of which, I never thought that I would want to get rid of you so you can stop getting in my way, but things change. Now that I've become more acquainted with what I'm capable of, I no longer need you around as a rival. It's about time we've brought that to an official end, right here, and right now."

Gargulion stepped in front of Markus. He got himself ready to face Gladion in a fight like they've never had before, maybe even to the death if it gets to that point.

"Don't expect the formalities. I'm fighting to kill. Do what you will," Gargulion challenged.

(Boss Theme: Division 2)

[Tank Stryker]

Gladion looked over his shoulder the moment his life was directly threatened by Gargulion. That made him want to turn loose without any restrictions. Markus thinks he's the g.o.a.t. after winning against some mechanical Bakugan and putting numerous Eden members to death. This pompous attitude was only cool when Tank was doing it. "Tank," Gladion started, "I say we humble them a bit, just like old times."

"Agreed," Tank seriously accepted. Deep down, a feeling of excitement rushed through his body, making him very anxious for battle just as a brawl like this would demand from him. At the same time, he had this uneasy foreboding that he might not be taking this seriously enough. That was strange to say, because Tank is already aware of what Markus has done so far. Those feelings were really reserved for the off-chance that Tank would actually have to use lethal force.

"Let's see if you're still all-talk," Tank thought in his head. He got an ability out to begin his campaign. "Ability activate! Weapons Cache - Handaxes!"

Two portals appeared next to Gladion, one for both sides. Out of them came a pair of handaxes. He twirled them around in his hands before methodically charging for Gargulion, zig-zagging on his approach to throw him off. When he closed the distance, he bounced off of the ground and threw the one in his left hand towards Gargulion. He intentionally chose to miss Gargulion by an inch, the axe landing just a few inches away from him. The force of it caused rocks to erupt from the ground, clouding Gargulion's vision and stunning him. In the midst of the confusion, Gladion used the other axe in his right hand to perform an overhead swing.