The Parasite Conspiracy

Once Raven's robotic arm came back online, he got up, dropped a few smoke bombs in locations where no one would see him, and jumped up to the nearest tree branch to get away. "Too bad about dinner, huh," Raven joked to Blitz as the battle continued on. "I know this awesome Italian place that's pretty good, but I think it'd be better if I went by myself. See ya around, kiddo!" Raven then jumped from branch to branch, quickly getting away from the chaos. Some of the revolutionists went after Raven while one seemed to be sprinting back to town. Somehow, this particular teenager managed to snatch Raven's staff without him knowing it. The rest of the brash teenagers tried to use their numbers to win the battle.

"Speak only when spoken to, government dog," Malware said, meaning to direct his insult to Blitz. "Wolf! We know you're there. Our allies will escort you to our nearest base of operations. Once there, we're going to have a talk," Malware stated as a few more of his allies closed in on the wolf. "Just come with us, and you won't get hurt," the young female teenager ordered the wolf, aiming her weapon at the wolf. "People, the staff is in our possession," Malware informed his allies. "Once we've done what we need to do here, fall back. And as for you, fox, You're so typical!"

Malware went on further, stating, "The government is just using you to further gain control! Stop killing our allies and let us reveal the truth to you. We are tired of your governments and your corporations screwing us over. What makes the man in the penthouse any different than the thief on the street? Join us, and I will tell you." Malware's speeches were a bit annoying to those who were opposed to him. Although his speeches were annoying, people couldn't help but listen to him ranting on and convincing people why his ideals were perfect.

Blitz emptied her bullets into anything that wasn't an android, when she looked back up she saw that about 7 teens aiming at her with rifles and shotguns. She slowly spun around in a circle, though this guy really knew how to carry on a speech, it was just useless words to Blitz. She sighed. "Look, I don't care about whatever your goals are, I've got one rule and I follow it: If you got the money, I got the time. Otherwise stay out of my way. And another thing, I ain't part of a government and I ain't a dog. I'm a kitsune and I'm damn proud to be!" She stated, flicking her three tails.

The wolf watches as several teenagers close in on him. He lets out a breath slowly as he stands. He realizes that several of these people are carrying firearms which is the only thing that keeps him from trying to press his luck in the current circumstances. He fixes his gaze on the teen issuing orders to him, but he doesn't move or respond to her, rather he just waits for them to make the next move.

The female teenager was confused about what to do next. Usually, people would just ignore Malware's orders. This time, Malware's followers just stood there, bewildered that the wolf wasn't exactly following orders but wasn't disobeying them at the same time. "Just retreat," Malware's voice ordered as his followers did as he asked. "We have the staff. That is sufficient enough. If these brainless zombies don't want to open up their eyes then so be it. Our freedom will soon come." The teenager then turned off the tablet and all of Malware's followers retreated back to the nearby town.

Raven had beaten up the teenage Mobians who went after him. "Randall, the mission's off. Malware has the staff containing the parasites, but don't worry. I'm getting it back," Raven informed his employer. "Good. Listen, I'm sorry for giving you an unrealistic goal. I probably should've expected this. Just get your staff back and I'll be sure to give you something," Randall apologized after realizing his foolish mistake. Raven then contacted Torque.

"Finally, so who's the new girlfriend," Torque joked around. "No idea. Listen, can you give me a layout of the town and search for anything electronic in there," Raven asked. Torque used his computer to pull up a satellite image of the nearby town and sent it to Raven's robotic arm. "Seems like Malware has your staff in an abandoned casino. Any idea on how to get in there without going in all guns blazing," Torque asked, seeing no possible way to get in there without alerting the alarm. Raven had a risky idea. "I know someone who can help whether they like it or not," Raven stated.

A few minutes later, Raven was seen by Blitz yet he didn't seem interested in her. When the androids raised their guns at him, Raven shot back with a fiery response, "Oh save your bullets! It isn't always about killing the target, you useless pieces of scrap metal." Raven reached the wolf and his attitude changed from calm to angry. "Wolf," Raven called as he attempted to grab the nameless wolf. If he was successful in grabbing him, Raven would've slammed him on the ground and put his boot on the wolf's face, but that was IF he was successful in grabbing him.

A few minutes passed by and Blitz just stood in an area of corpses. Is it just me, or do people not understand the concept of Legendary Killer? Morons dropped faster than GUN does. "Major! What's our casualty numbers?"

An android with a Major rank walked up to Blitz. "We lost about two squadrons and 6 CDC units along with one helicopter sabotaged. Our medics are repairing our wounded and reinforcements are on the way. Orders?"

Blitz sighed. "I want a company of Special Forces Androids in every populated area in the entire zone! I want two jets with napalm on the ready and B-52's with carpet bombs on stand-by on the double! Have at least 3 recon units with .50 Calibers over-looking every populated area with the companies sent there! I WILL NOT lose those weapons!" The Major saluted and went to relay the orders while she brought up her wrist comm unit. "THETA! Bring the LOKIS satellites brought online over the Efrika Zone! We're testing a new weapon!"

"Ma'am, am I correct in thinking that you want 'Hallucinator' brought into the drop pods?"


"Correct Theta, I want 8 containers of the gas in each pod. They are going to be a reserve plan, but be ready to fire the pods. Bring the Naval Fleet and border the entire zone along the ocean coasts with the entire fleet. I will get those parasite weapons even if it means I have to kill the whole population!" She shut off connection and got on a helicopter getting ready to take off. She walked up to the pilots. "Get me to the nearest town!" The pilot nodded and the helicopter took off while her Armada followed her orders. She picked up a hazmat helmet just in case. Time to teach people the reason when you mess with me. I always get what I'm after.

The wolf watches as everyone then begins to withdraw from the area.

*I... have no idea what is going on here anymore...* he thinks, *Well... to be fair, I haven't had any idea what is going on here at all. Things dropping from the sky. People showing up in huge numbers and then leaving shortly after. Fighting for no apparent reason. It would've been MUCH better if the people in that farm town had given me wrong directions.*

Now with all the teens gone, he can see the fox nearby with her supporters, but he pays little mind to her. He is quite surprised when he sees the human Travis making his way back over to him, walking with purpose. The wolf watches as he approaches, but when Travis reaches out to grab hold of him after calling at him, the wolf ducks under the outstretched arm and somersaults away. He comes back up on his feet, crouched and ready for a follow up.

"Well... that didn't take long to change." he says, "What do you want?"

Blitz going after Malware's allies complicated things even further. Raven heard her plan thanks to an upgrade in his helmet that would pick up any mysterious sounds. If she were to succeed in killing everyone, then Malware would win and blame the government and the corporations for the genocide of "innocent" people. All of this was starting to give Raven a headache. Now, not only would Raven have to deal with a crazy teenager, but he had to stop the genocide of a whole entire town. "Listen, kid," Raven began. "I know I may seem like a bad guy, but right now, we have bigger things to worry about. That crazy woman might destroy the whole entire town just for a few parasites and if Malware escapes, not only will he blame the genocide on those he hates with a passion, he'll infect the cities with the parasites that I was ordered to bring here. At least help me get my staff back. After that, you won't have to worry about me."

Raven had doubts that his plea worked. He would just have to see. Meanwhile, Malware dressed up a few of his allies in the same outfit he had on and gave them metal pipes that resembled the staff that Raven had. "You all are doing a good thing. With your sacrifice comes our victory," Malware said as he made final preparations. "Get everything ready, but leave the staff here. I don't want to become a target."

It took some time, but Blitz armada was slowly surrounding the continent with sureness that no one would be able to get by. Each town had an entire Company of Android troops who searched the towns without remorse. Her snipers waiting to pick off any of the strange teenagers followers. Luckily for her, the CDC unit managed to capture the parasites from the merc's first attempt and successfully transport it to her securest staging base in the Green Hill Zone. Her scientists and disease philosophers managed to capture a unique signature from the parasites that could be detected but would take time. Blitz began to have her satellites scan the continent for the unique signature. She was sure, now, that she could get that weapon for her own purposes if she could get it. She was sure she would get it, no matter how long it took. 

But then she thought of something, but decided that she would enact the order if she could not get the parasites. This new thought would be a reserve order if she couldn't get the staff. The staff itself would provide weeks of data carrying the parasites. For now, she waited as the helicopter brought her to the next town. As she was looking out the side of the window she saw something out of the norm. It was a town, but completely abandoned. She brought up her wrist comm. "Theta, how many abandoned places exist within the Efrika Zone?"

"Around 50, may I ask why, madam?"


"Send a additional androids, same as the populated areas, to these abandoned areas. We may have been looking in the wrong places but I just want to be sure."

"Understood. Around 50 additional Company's and Recon Units are being deployed to the abandoned places. Anything else?"


"That will be all, Theta. Just keep the satellites scanning and the troops doing their jobs and we'll find that weapon." Blitz dismissed. She crossed her arms and continued looking out the side of the helicopter.

The wolf tilts his head to one side and stares at Travis incredulously.

"Seem like a bad guy? I've only seen you fighting and killing for no reason at this point." the wolf repeats, "Now... you also say that because you were doing something bad, that that fox who was here is likely going to do something worse, and that if she does, some other guy who took something from you, that you were using to do bad things, will blame the worse things she's going to do on someone else while he goes out and does the bad things that you were originally doing, only he'll do more of it. And now you want me to help you retrieve that thing you lost, which you were planning to use to do bad things, and presumably will do more bad things with. Does that about sum things up?"

He moves back from Travis a couple more steps.

"But even if I was inclined to help you specifically, I don't see what help I'm going to be against people who just call in more helpers on a whim." he then adds.

Raven grew angry, knowing that the more time he wastes, the higher the chance that Malware or Blitz will do something drastic. "Look, damn it," Raven screamed at the top of his lungs. "I'm a mercenary! I kill people or accomplish tasks for money or any other rewards that I'm interested in. Sometimes, if I have it in me, I'll sacrifice my health for others. I can't help it if my past put me on this dark and scary path. I've sacrificed a lot to help one woman in my life get a chance at life and I'll be damned if I let your reluctance stop me from saving a lot of people!"

From the way Travis spoke, it almost sounded as if he were a hero. He then sat down on a rock, putting a hand under his chin while he looked down. He seemed like he was ready to give up. "After my employer realized his mistake I was planning on destroying that staff. I was going to get you to infiltrate wherever Malware's nearest base is since he seemed so interested in you," Raven told the wolf with a truthful tone in his voice. "Screw it! I don't care. Do what you want. I was expecting a calm night. Not a disaster." With that, Raven got up and began walking away in defeat. He had failed contracts before but this one mattered.

Meanwhile, Malware was well-hidden in a delivery truck that was approaching the United Federation's boarder. "I have what I want. I just can't believe that I tricked them so easily," Malware laughed as he opened up his backpack to get the remaining capsules that contained the parasites. "With this kind of power, I can make governments and corporations tremble at my feet! All the politicians, businessmen and women, all of the celebrities, the rich, the police, the military, that idiotic United Federation President, and everyone who capitalize on the fact that the common people have no voice. And it's all thanks to you, my loyal followers."

Malware's followers felt good that they were finally going to make a change for what they believed was for the best. "So when do we strike," someone in the truck asked. "Not now. For now, they're expecting us to strike now. We must strike when they least expect it," Malware answered as he grasped the capsules tightly.

Right as the helicopter landed, Blitz stepped off as a Company of androids brought order and interrogating when need be. The Captain walked up to her. "Ma'am! Captain 'Victor' at your service. Everything here has been smooth with the expected ruffs trying to be brave."

Blitz sighed. "At ease, Captain. What of your search for the specified staff and its weapon or any more of those teenagers that attacked me?"

The two began to walk down the road. "No luck with the staff but we managed to take a few of those pathetic excuses for soldiers. We got info from the one in charge of them saying that the staff was taken to their ultimate leader--his term. We covered about three quarters of this town and no such luck finding anything else."

Blitz sighed with disappointment. "Understood. Resume your activities and notify me if anything new comes up." She walked away from the android in charge and brought up her wrist comm. "Theta, how's our progress for the staff?"

"The troops managed to secure about half of the towns in Efrika, but so far the information reported is the same. Just the occasional teenager in that cult that attacked you. The satellites are fully loaded and ready on your command."


"Keep them in stand-by mode for now. How of the search in those abandoned places?"

"We actually met more resistance in those areas so I have calculated that your objectives are more than likely in one of those places. We got additional data from the techies but it's just data like log entries from the common teenager or report on activities before now that have nothing to do with our activities."


"Keep those areas under lock-down and search every nook and cranny in those places. Notify me if you meet resistance that seems to be the 'elite' of this cult. I have reason to believe that this cults leader may have the staff. I've had my battle with cults like this, a top tactic would be duplicates of their leader. Order the androids to scan anyone that looks like their leader in the eye. These guys are crafty and will use dirty tricks. Ghost out." She brought her arm down and walked back into the helicopter and it took off.

The wolf listens to Travis' contradictory rant and watches as he stands to leave.

"You're trying to put a lot of this situation on the shoulders of a stranger in order to fix your own mistake. Maybe you do have a conscience in there. But you expecting me to be able to get back what you've lost on my own is insane." he tells him, "I'd like to help save all these people who are potentially in danger if I can... but I'm just a regular person. I have limits in what I can accomplish on my own against something like this, and I don't know anything about these others you're fighting with. For me to take on something like this is suicide and likely won't save anyone."

He lets out a breath.

"But, if you have some idea of how to make this a more plausible task... to retrieve or destroy this staff you mentioned before it can be used to do any harm... I'd be more willing to help you." he adds.

Raven exhaled heavily as he stopped where he was. He didn't expect for the wolf to help him. "Okay. I can do that," Raven accepted, spinning back around to the wolf. "Malware thinks he's smart, but after a certain point he starts improvising since he rarely gives things a good thought. So here's what we're going to do. You're going to contact him after I attempt to hack his electronics. He's full of himself so once he disables my systems, appeal to his ego and lead him straight back here. Also, by appealing to his ego I mean tell him that you captured me and that you will take me to his nearby base. By the time we reach the base, my systems will come back online and I can help you out."

Raven seemed like he knew what he was doing, but the truth was that he just made this up on the spot. Yes, Raven does know about the personality of Malware, but he doesn't know whether or not Malware's one-upmanship would make allow him to make such a stupid mistake. It was worth a shot. "Also, take this," Raven ordered as he handed the wolf a shotgun filled with rubber bullets. "The ammo is rubber so that you don't have to worry about killing them. Now, give me a second." Raven looked through a history of recent hackers who had disabled his systems and eventually found Malware. Hopefully, Malware hadn't changed devices. Raven began his attempt to hack Malware's electronical devices.

It worked perfectly and Travis feel to the ground as an electric shock was sent throughout his body. "Pathetic," the real Malware sneered as he spoke through the communicator installed onto Travis' robotic arm. "I hope that hurts, you slimy, promiscuous mercenary." Back in the abandoned casino, Malware's followers were observing Raven's staff which was empty of all the parasites that Malware himself took. "Man, the look on whoever steals this will be priceless," one of the teenagers snickered.

During the ride back to another abandoned town, her computer AI contacted her through her wrist comm. "What is it Theta?"

I wish to inform you of very good news. I found another abandoned area that you may want to know about. This town is nearly untouched and a casino inside the town has a strong signature of the parasites that the satellites picked up. Not only is it a strong signal, but heat-scans pick up several signatures inside the building as well as around it. I am 87.65% positive that this is the place that holds the weapon. Please note that I am 50% positive that this is just a lingering effect of the parasites coming into contact with something for a long period of time."


Blitz laughed a laugh that would've sent Scourge the Hedgehog running for cover. "Very good Theta. Re-direct a divisions worth of androids unto the location you have discovered. Right before the Division attacks, send a single Hallucinator Pod onto the roof of this Casino. If they don't have gas-masks it should render quite a few of them invalid. Time for invasion." She directed the pilots to take her to this place.

When she got within sight range, she saw the pod just land on top of the abandoned and the fear gas leaked down to the teenage troops below. The gas made them see things of their greatest fears. If someone didn't know what would happen with the gas, they would assume the troops went insane. She stepped off the helicopter as her troops began to execute any who resisted and arrested ones who weren't really moving all that much. She put on her gas-mask and walked up to where the rear androids were. "Bring me the Jugg Units, we'll burn 'em out!" She ordered to the Division's Major General. She looked at the building as she saw her androids meeting heavy resistance. They can put up a fight as long as they want. They'll either surrender, run out of ammo, or die. I know that staff or weapon is in there, and I will get it. The battle has begun for weapons. Willpower vs. technology.

Following Travis' directions, the wolf set about attempting to contact Malware.

"Um... hmmm..." he says softly as he handles the communications device, having some trouble with it despite Travis' guidance, "Hello? I'm attempting to contact the one known as Malware. You spoke to me earlier. I'm the wolf from before... and I believe I have something that would be of interest to you."

"You," Malware questioned as he realized that it was the wolf. Malware blinked as he tried to understand what was going on. Malware came to the conclusion that the wolf was convinced that Malware's views were the right ones and was delighted to have him join his group. "Ah! Yes, now I remember. So you want to know the truth, huh," Malware conversed as he used a hand motion to order the driver to head back to base. "Bring that monster, Travis, to the casino. I have the capsules to the parasites that he had owned and after I tell you what we will do with the parasites, not only will we bring about a change for the best, we will finish that serial killer, Travis."

Travis' plan was working perfectly. It would take a while for Malware to get back to the casino where his allies were shooting and killing each other out of fear. It took only seconds for Malware's followers to die, leaving the empty staff vulnerable to take. "This really hurts," Raven stated as his systems shut down. Fortunately, his arm didn't shut off so Raven was free to move despite his suit attempting to start back up again.

It took some time, but Blitz' androids managed to clear the casino and the room with the staff. Blitz walked up to it and held the staff up. The container for the weapon. Now to find the weapon and secure my prize. She opened up the staff only to discover it was empty with no weapons inside of it. At least it's original, I can gain much from this. She walked back outside and to the helicopter. She put the staff in a case and sealed it, connecting it to the helicopter with a lock. She looked to an android. "Make sure this gets to base. I need this for study." She notioned for the pilot to take off and she watched it as it left the Efrika Zone and to her base. She turned to the rest of the soldiers under her command. "Execute the insane and scatter the corpses in the streets then hide in the adjacent buildings. We'll set up an ambush for anyone that may come later. Let's move people! We're burnin' daylight!" She said as an android shut off the gas valve producing from the pod on the building.

The androids executed the soldiers and scattered as per ordered. Then they fled to the empty buildings, some in dark areas, some laying on top of roofs, others inside run-down vehicles and a few hiding among the corpses. They carefully watched every pathway into the town and Blitz was hiding among them, not to be found until she desired so.

"Very well." the wolf replies to Malware, "I'll see you there."

He looks at Travis and hands back the communication unit to him after shutting it off.

"Well... that's taken care of." he says to Travis, "I suppose we should get going. You should take the lead. If anyone sees us, they'll see you walking at the point of this weapon."

He indicates the shotgun Travis had given him.

"Got it," Raven grunted in pain as he held his hands up. For Raven, it hurt to walk since he could still feel the effects of the electricity in his body. The suit's systems began to start rebooting a few systems as Raven and his temporary ally made their way towards the casino. Within an hour, they had reached the casino. Raven was unaware of the ambush planned out by Blitz as was Malware. "You captured him! I can't believe you actually did," Malware exclaimed with excitement as his allies stood around him, ready to kill anything that came too close.

"So, wolf, you've finally opened your eyes to how evil the government and those corporations are. Give Travis to me and I will tell you all about what our group stands for," Malware ordered, wanting to strike a bargain with the wolf.

As the exchange was going on, they were interrupted by a gunshot behind them. Behind them, at quite a distance, was Blitz with her pistol aiming in the air. "Alright lads, here's what's gonna happen. You are going to give me those parasites or..." She shot into the air twice. "...You're gonna have te deal with the Android Armada!" Right after she said that every android within the vicinity popped their heads out of their hiding spots, from behind doors and boxes, to on the roofs and balconies; they popped up everywhere. Over 10,000 androids surrounded them, easily an entire division. Each android willing to fight for Blitz, their Empress. Blitz reloaded her revolver and spinned the chamber as it went back into place. "So what's it gonna be lads? Surrender and live, or die for nothing?"

"Shazbot..." the wolf says softly, "I'm really beginning to not like her."

He looks over at Travis and then at Malware.

"Any suggestions on how to handle this?" he asks.

"A few but none of them are good," Travis answered, still acting like he was captured. Malware simply laughed as he walked towards Blitz. "I've got you to commit genocide," Malware announced as he stopped in front of her. "Nearly all the people in this town trust us and once they see what you have done to us, the streets will fill with those who are tired of being scared. The difference between you and the common street criminal is that you have a boss! What makes you so better than us? The fact that your mother and your father were rich enough to guarantee that you had an education that none of us could ever have or is it-" Malware was cut off by the annoyed groan of Raven. "Those parasites don't do anything! They just give you stomach pain," Raven revealed. "You can't modify them because they die if you do and they only live for three days. You can get more dangerous ones on the Black Market."

Malware was shocked to hear this. Although he was right that those parasites were part of a get-rich-quick scheme, but he thought he was saving people from their deaths. "So they... just give you stomach pains," Malware repeated with a confused tone in his voice. "What soldier is going to slow down because of stomach pain? None," Raven exclaimed.

Blitz sighed and shook her head. She looked up as she learned. "This is for the record. History is written by the victor. History is filled will liars. If I die and you live, your truth becomes written - and mine is lost. You will be a hero. 'Cause all you need to change the world is one good lie and a river of blood. You could complete the greatest trick a liar ever played on history. Your truth will be the truth...But only if you live, and we die." She brought down her pistol and pulled out one round. She put the pistol back in its holster and pulled out a sharp object and began to engrave the bullet. She did the same for two more bullets and placed them all in a pocket on her harness. She pulled out her right revolver and put three more rounds into the chamber.

She looked up and shouted, "OORRAAAHHH!!!" Followed by the same yell from every android around them. And then...they attacked, they shot their guns in a blaze and threw explosives like baseballs. Some even jumped down with jump-packs and went in with their knifes and swords, Blitz...disappeared among the chaos.

The wolf spent the time that was spent by either side making their speeches to look around and study the surrounding area for any sort of cover, or hiding place, or escape route, as well as preventing the imminent panic attack that threatens to take hold of him.

*Keep calm... stay in control...* he thinks to himself, *This is an extremely bad situation, but you need to keep thinking. This isn't a situation to just react to.*

He finally spots a potential option, and just before the onslaught from above begins, he dives behind the protective cover of a nearby abandoned vehicle. He tosses down the shotgun he was carrying and begins working furiously at a slightly ajar manhole cover. Then the air was filled with weapon's fire and explosions and flying debris.

He's peppered by bits of debris and the vehicle behind him shelters him from much of the weapon's fire. A nearby explosion rocks the vehicle towards him, knocking him off his feet and shifting the manhole cover aside to reveal the opening to him. He then scrambles forward and practically dives through the opening and into the sewers below the town.

Raven's initial reaction was to go straight up like an Asian carp. He rapidly jumped from beam to beam, eventually reaching the ceiling's window. Raven broke through the window with his fists and jumped out of the casino. Although Raven did escape, he was going to get a few extra scars from the bullets that hit him. Malware simply ducked down and attempted to crawl away from the chaos. "Why didn't I just try that sooner," Raven asked himself, bewildered at the fact that he could've avoided a disaster if only he told the truth. "I need a shower and some sleep," Travis groaned. Travis then grew annoyed as he realized that the sun was starting to rise. "Great," Raven growled as he activated his communicator. "Torque, I need an extraction. And a shower. But mostly a shower. Also, make that extraction quick, I'm bleeding a lot."

Raven then began to move as far away from the combat zone as possible, but he was also worried about the wolf that he put in danger. For now, Raven could only hope that he made it out safely.