Chapter 7/transcript

***At the neighbourhood bakery, Fuggeda is standing with Slick Tommy, who has a bandage around his leg.***

 “the traitor shot me in the damn leg and made a run for it, as if that was gonna save the poor bakers he felt so bad for…”

 “where are they?”

 “i held them at gunpoint for a while so i could wait for my backup to arrive, but the fool and his wife tried to overpower me and make a run for it…”

 Fuggeda looks over at Slick Tommy.

 “they paid the price... braces and a few of the boys showed up, so thankfully, they were stopped on their way out the back door…”

 Braces steps out of one of the backrooms, brandishing a bloody knife.

 “no way they can squeal now. they’ll be bringing their secret to the grave with them”

 “all that’s left to do now is cover this mess up and find bignose…”

 Slick Tommy glances over at Fuggeda.

 “...speaking of which...  ain’t that your job to find him? what are you wasting time here for? you’re on the clock. every second you waste he gets further away, the rat that shot me in the leg and betrayed the family”

 “i wanted to come here so i could use it as a starting place and see what happened. you should get back and get your leg seen to, it’ll need proper treatment”

 “oh no way, not yet, not until the mission is done. the boss might have the most confidence that you’ll be able to find him, but the rest of us are still to be on the hunt... by chance you might not encounter him… after all, you can’t be everywhere in town at once”

 Fuggeda turns for the door.

 “i’ll find him”

 “and you’ll bring his head to the boss? louie is your pal, are you gonna manage that?”

 Fuggeda exits out of the bakery. Tommy and Braces exchange a look.

***At the post office, Pugnator and Brock’s battle with Elena rages on.***

 Elena is casting bolts of lightning from the palms of her hands at the two boys.

 Brock leaps forward toward her with a kick.

 She shoots a bolt of lightning directly at him, zapping him.

 Brock is launched back by the bolt, stunned. He lands on the floor next to Pugnator.

 Pugnator looks over at his fallen companion.

 “too much for you?”

 Brock jumps back up to his feet, panting.

 “not at all! i could go all day!”

 “foolish young delinquents, you cannot possibly hope to defeat me... now... we’ve been playing long enough… so return my letter to me”

 “that letter was never yours to begin with! we’re going to get it to principal sy cotic where it belongs!”

 “yeah! and avoid getting suspended from school!”

 “poor little blackmailed knuckleheads, this is your last chance to give me the letter before i have it pried from your dead bodies”

 “bring it on bitch!”

 “oh how dare you… your parents must be raising you poorly for you to use such language”

 “shut up! my dad says that to my mom all the time!”

 Elena flicks her wrist, summoning a glowing blue ritual circle around her. She stands in the centre of it and begins to chant.

 “we have to stop her pugnator! we can’t let her use another one of her powers”

 “right... well you can't get too close to her or she’s gonna get the letter… so i’ll---”

 “don’t worry pugnator, i have a great idea for an attack to stop her!”

 “NO YOU IDIOT YOU HAVE TO STAY BACK”

 Brock begins to charge forward.

 “YOU IDIOT”

 “you can take the letter!”

 Brock tosses the letter to Pugnator.

 Pugnator catches it.

 “YOU CAN’T JUST DO THAT”

 Noticing Brock running toward her, Elena casts a bolt of lightning at him while she continues her summoning ritual.

 Brock is able to evade it, dodging to the side. He continues to run toward her.

 Pugnator clenches his fist angrily, and then looks around, spotting a bench nearby.

 Brock rolls forward to avoid another bolt of lightning.

 “you’re too predictable, now you’re right where i wanted you to be”

 Elena casts a wave of electricity aimed at Brock. The miniature tidal wave sweeps across the floor and hits Brock before he can move. He is electrocuted on the spot, stunned.

 “and most perfect timing too… the summoning is complete”

 Elena cackles.

 From underneath her dress, Cave Spiders begin to spawn, crawling out of it.

 Brock gasps as the cave spiders begin to crawl toward him.

 Elena approaches her cat Onyx, who upon falling unconscious, has lost its giant form. She kneels down next to it and begins to heal the beast with a green aura, as if to wake it.

 Brock stands up, kicking one of the cave spiders across the room as it lunges toward him. He floors another one with a powerful punch.

 But there are too many, the vicious little cave spiders were beginning to overwhelm him, each intending on injecting their poison into him with a fatal bite.

 “DUCK IDIOT”

 Brock looks over at Pugnator, and then dives to the side.

 Pugnator launches a bench across the room into the horde of spiders, crushing a few of them and giving Brock a chance to return to him.

 Brock returns to Pugnator’s side.

 “thank you pugnator!"

 “you’re lucky i was able to help you idiot”

 He forces the letter back into Brock’s hands.

 “what are you doing?”

 “she’s gonna wake her stupid cat back up, i have to stop her”

 “how are you going to do that?”

 “time to think about how we’re gonna do it isn’t a luxury we have right now”

 Pugnator runs off toward Elena.

 “but pugnator! what about me?”

 “you have plenty of things to deal with. just look IN FRONT OF YOU”

 Brock turns to face the front again.

 A large group of cave spiders are advancing toward him.

 Brock gulps, though he gets into his fighting stance, determined.

 While healing Onyx, Elena looks up to see Pugnator speeding toward her.

 “you little brats just don’t know when to quit, do you?”

 Pugnator leaps forward, preparing a punch in the air.

 “give it a REST”

 Elena casts a bolt of lightning at him, launching him backwards. He hits the floor.

 “you little brats may have been able to defeat onyx and my chomper plant, you may be able to hold off against whatever i summon, but you cannot possibly hope to defeat me... impossible... i’ve seen you use your same old tricks and now you’re predictable”

 Pugnator slowly stands back up.

 But Elena simply shoots a bolt of lightning, zapping him and sending him back to the floor.

 “now where... is my… letter…”

 “screw off bitch you aren’t getting it”

 “i’ll teach you to treat a woman with respect”

 Elena shoots another bolt of lightning at Pugnator while he is still on the floor.

 Meanwhile, Brock continues to fight off cave spiders. He kicks one into the air and elbows another. He backflips over one and lands on another, crushing it with a powerful stomp. He rolls to the side and grabs one by the leg, picking it up and throwing it away from him.

 The spider he throws collides with another and they both collapse to the ground. The cave spiders become more aggressive, all trying to lunge for Brock at once.

 Brock evades these attacks as best he can, and is able to defeat the cave spiders. He looks ahead of him.

 Elena is electrocuting Pugnator, sending bolts of lightning at him while she heals Onyx.

 Brock begins to run toward the two.

 Onyx’s eyes open.

 “oh there’s a good boy, you’ve returned to mommy, now DESTROY her attackers and get her letter back!”

 Onyx transforms back into his beastly form, roaring.

 “uh oh”

 Onyx2 charges directly into Brock, immediately headbutting him and sending him across the room.

 Brock crashes into a wall, causing the clock placed on it to fall to the ground and shatter. Brock lands next to it with a thud.

 “you best hand over the letter before your little friend here dies”

 Elena prepares to shock Pugnator again.

 “okay! wait!”

 Brock offers up the letter with a frown.

 Elena cackles.

 “smart boy... onyx darling... fetch mommy’s letter”

 Onyx approaches Brock to take the letter.

 Brock jumps up, grabbing the shattered clock and leaping onto the beast. He runs along its back and jumps off of it, throwing the clock like a disk.

 As Elena goes to cast a bolt of lightning at Pugnator, it is blocked by the thrown clock.

 Pugnator takes the chance to jump up to his feet. He returns to Brock’s side while Onyx returns to Elena.

 Brock looks over at Pugnator.

 “if we just work as one we can defeat her pugnator! i know we can!”

 “well you’re the one who rushed off the first time!”

 “and then you the second! but i see this isn’t a competition at which of us can bring her down first, we’re a team! we were able to defeat her cat before for that exact reason! “

 “okay... give me the letter”

 Brock hands it over to him, puzzled.

 “it's smarter if i stay back, you excel when you’re moving quick and in their face… i can throw things from afar”

 “excellent suggestion pugnator! and i can add to that!”

 Elena looks over, watching the boys discuss tactics from afar. She turns to Onyx.

 “okay darling, they are discussing tactics... so maybe we should discuss something too so that you don’t keep getting baited by the SAME TRICK... so what have you got?”

 “meowwwwwww”

 “oh fucking hell”

 “PUGNATOR NOW!”

 Pugnator hurls a seat toward Elena. Followed by another.

 Elena effortlessly raises her hand and casts a bolt of lightning, destroying one of the chairs mid-air.

 Onyx jumps up and bites into the other one, splitting it in two.

 “ha! is that really all you had? that was your plan?”

 “AND NOW”

 Pugnator picks up Brock and launches him across the room toward Elena and Onyx.

 Soaring through the air toward them, Brock is able to dodge a bolt of lightning.

 While this happens, Pugnator sprints forward just underneath him.

 Onyx leaps up into the air, preparing to dig his teeth into Brock and eat him.

 But Pugnator jumps up after this, uppercutting Onyx with a powerful punch.

 The beast is launched into the air where it collides with the roof above Elena.

 Shocked, Elena is forced to move to the side and cancel her next lightning attack directed at Brock. She stands aside as Onyx crashes to the floor next to her.

 “you tried to have him crush me, why you--”

 Brock dropkicks Elena and lands on her, sending her to the floor.

 Elena hits the floor, bewildered.

 “HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE”

 “landing successful!”

 “HELL YEAH”

 “no… no….”

 As Elena is knocked down, her aura of chakra is cancelled out, as are her summons. Onyx disappears in a cloud of smoke, as does the defeated chomper plant and beaten cave spiders.

 “THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE... THAT LETTER CAN’T BE ALLOWED TO REACH HIM”

 “good will always prevail over evil in the end! this letter is going to principal sy cotic! mission success pugnator! we have triumphed!”

 “so what about her?”

 ***Later, after Pugnator and Brock have left, Elena is left hanging from the ceiling of the post office by a rope tied up. Police sirens are heard as the building is surrounded. Officers Bruce and Taits enter the building.***

 “jesus woman, you’re the one responsible for all this mess? not groovy”

 “wow she’s hanging upside down hehe!”

 “she must be into some pretty kinky shit, best not question it”

 “no... you don’t understand... i was apprehended by two delinquents and attacked--”

 “can we just clean this up and get her locked up, i have breast implants at four”

 “oho yeah! the neighbourhood police force gets bulkier!”

 ***Fuggeda is standing in Louie Bignose’s apartment, having let himself in. He looks around, noticing that it’s been left in a messy state, and Louie must have left in a hurry. He takes out his phone and dials Louie’s number on it. After a moment of ringing, he is sent to voicemail.***

 On the run from the mafia, Louie Bignose tries to stick to alleyways and quiet streets while escaping town. He looks down at his phone, seeing a missed call from Fuggeda. He comes to a stop as he sees the train station across the street. He places his suitcase down as he gets another call from Fuggeda. Hesitantly, he answers it.

 “fuggeda?”

 “louie you’re in deep waters now, you’ve caused a shitstorm, i’m tellin’ ya”

 “can i trust you?”

 “you know you can trust me, i need you to tell me what’s going on”

 “i was going to call you when i got out of town, a train is leaving in twenty minutes, i plan to get far away, i’ve packed a case”

 “yeah, yeah i know you have, but you’re a damn idiot, you should’ve told me about this, i’m not in an easy position, the boss is out for your head”

 Louie, while listening to Fuggeda on the phone, begins to cross the street, heading toward the train station. He is wearing a thick jacket, and puts the hood up to avoid being recognisable.

 “jeez i’m sorry fuggeda, i just, i had to--”

 While he is walking across the street, he puts his right leg out to take a step, though it is abruptly hit by a car going just over the speed limit. Louie hits the road with a twisted leg, dropping his suitcase and his phone. His hood falls down.

 Rajeesh Pardeep reverses his taxi, rolling down the window. He is also on the phone.

 “yes no problem sexy lady i pick you up then, for now i must enjoy a full punjabi breakfast”

 Louie looks up, wincing in pain as he struggles to move his leg.

 “no i do not care that it is not breakfast time my tummy aches you selfish whore now goodbye”

 Rajeesh puts his phone down and pokes his head out of the window. His eyes dart to Louie.

 “hey you watch where you walkin’ ay? you should not be running in front of cars ay?”

 Rajeesh then comes to a sudden realisation.

 “ah ah ah... you be the bad man that mister big wants to find, eh? yes yes i have been informed, just you wait here while i tell him of your whereabouts, ah?”

 “no… wait…”

 Rajeesh drives off, his taxi seen speeding down the road as he ignores a red traffic light and hits an old woman.

 “aww fuck…”

 Louie crawls toward his phone, his right leg crippled. He picks it up.

 “fuggeda... are you still there?”

 “yeah i’m still here, the hell happened to you?”

 “i’ve been hit by mister big’s new driver, he’s probably calling them all about where he saw me right now... they’ll be coming…”

 “aw goddammit, get to a secluded place and i’ll make sure i get there first”

 ***At ‘Weebs R Us’ Jenerikku is in a standoff with Mister Socky.***

 Mr. Honda is lying on the ground, the poison causing him great pain.

 Mister Socky points the lollipop hammer.

 “listen kid, it's not so bad, there’s going to be one less weeb in the world when this old freak chokes on his last breath.”

 “i’m not gonna let you kill him you freak”

 “kill him? he’s already dead... the poison has entered his system, it is only a matter of time”

 Jenerikku looks over at Mr. Honda, lowering his greatsword Hagane with a concerned expression.

 “focus jenerikku... do not let him distract you”

 Jenerikku glances back toward Mister Socky.

 Mister Socky has already lunged forward, he swings the hammer down to swiftly end Jenerikku.

 Jenerikku narrowly avoids this, side-stepping to the left.

 Mister Socky brings the hammer down, though it simply smashes into the floor. He raises the hammer again and composes himself.

 “not bad kid, i came to the conclusion that you are also in fact a weeb, and must therefore split your head open like a watermelon”

 “bring it on googly eyes”

 “oh you’re asking for it you little shit”

 Mister Socky charges toward Jenerikku.

 Jenerikku braces himself for the attack.

 Mister Socky deceives him, slowing down the last minute and instead swinging his hammer into a nearby shelf, sending it down on Jenerikku.

 Jenerikku rolls out of the way, narrowly escaping it again.

 “stay still goddammit, how am i meant to bash your skull in if you keep moving”

 “the only one getting their skull bashed in is you!”

 Mister Socky stares blankly.

 “with your sword?”

 Jenerikku stares at him.

 “you have a sword-- that must’ve sounded way cooler in your head. god you’ve watched too much fucking anime you filthy weeb. swords don't bash things dummy!"

 “you talk too much”

 “i’m just saying you should be aiming to stab me, your sword isn’t gonna-”

 “i’ll bludgeon you with the handle if i have to!”

 Jenerikku quickly leaps back up to his feet and charges forward. He swings Hagane at Mister Socky.

 Mister Socky raises the lollipop hammer and blocks the attack, both weapons clashing. He quickly gains the upper hand, overpowering Jenerikku in the clash and knocking him to the floor.

 Jenerikku crawls backward as Mister Socky pursues him like a slasher, preparing to raise the hammer.

 “jeez kid, is that all you’ve got? you know i’ve only practiced a little with this thing. that means you should feel very embarrassed, okay?”

 Jenerikku leaps up onto one of the shelves, pulling himself up onto it. He stands above Mister Socky, readying Hagane again.

 “you should know by now that doesn’t WORK”

 Mister Socky swings the hammer, crashing it into the bottom of the shelf Jenerikku is standing on, causing it to collapse.

 Jenerikku jumps over to the nearest shelf as the other one falls apart.

 “what, you want me to vandalise this store until there’s nothing left? because i will!”

 Mister Socky lifts the hammer again and approaches the shelf Jenerikku jumped onto. He swings again, bringing his hammer down onto it and obliterating the shelf.

 Jenerikku jumps to yet another shelf nearby.

 “god you’re fucking boring kid, do you even know how to fight? at least i’m getting to destroy all these dirty weeb comics”

 Mister Socky lifts the hammer again, tearing it from the now wrecked shelf, preparing to strike again.

 Jenerikku watches this, thinking to himself.

 every time his hammer hits something, he’s vulnerable for a second, if i can just use that…

 “this is getting old real quick kiddo”

 Mister Socky raises the hammer and performs a powerful swing that smashes directly into the shelf Jenerikku is standing on. As the hammer collides with it and it begins to fall apart, Mister Socky is occupied.

 This time, instead of jumping to another shelf, Jenerikku jumps over and lands behind Mister Socky.

 Mister Socky rips the hammer out from the broken shelf in a desperate attempt to defend himself, though it is not fast enough.

 Jenerikku swings Hagane at Mister Socky, forcing him to jump back to avoid it, abandoning his hammer.

 The greatsword slices Mister Socky’s tie off as he just narrowly escapes being cut down.

 Jenerikku gets back into a defensive stance, pointing his blade at Mister Socky. He guards the lollipop hammer.

 Breathless, Mister Socky takes a moment to recharge across the room.

 “you were anticipating that weren’t you? filthy fucking weeb. well then… why don’t you ANTICIPATE THIS!”

 Mister Socky lowers his hand, quick-drawing his luger.

 “surprise!”

 Jenerikku is forced to take cover behind a nearby shelf as Mister Socky begins to fire shots at him rapidly.

 “heh. fucking loser”

 Mister Socky begins to advance on the lollipop hammer’s position, keeping his gun aimed at the shelf Jenerikku is hiding behind. He approaches the lollipop hammer, kneeling down and picking it up.

 Jenerikku reveals himself and sprints at Mister Socky with Hagane at the ready.

 Mister Socky fires a shot at Jenerikku point blank as the boy charges toward him, though it simply hits the boy’s sword with a ping.

 Jenerikku swings Hagane at his opponent with all of his strength. He slices Mister Socky’s right hand clean off. Both the hand and his luger hit the floor.

 “ow… ow…. OW! GOD YOU FUCKING LITTLE TOXIC PRICK THAT HURTS”

 Jenerikku remains focused, going to swing again, this time at Mister Socky’s head.

 Mister Socky ducks, holding his hand in pain. He sends Jenerikku stumbling with a quick jab to the face before he crawls back to the lollipop hammer on the ground and picks it up.

 Jenerikku recovers, getting back into position.

 While wielding the lollipop hammer again, Mister Socky continues to eye his hand that had been sent across the room, the luger with it.

 “oh now you’ve done it you little shit, i may be a sock puppet but that hurts like HELL god i fucking hate you”

 Jenerikku looks back to Mr. Honda, who is still on the floor.

 “how’re you holding up mr honda?”

 “i’m alright jenerikku. you are doing well, do not worry about me”

 Jenerikku thinks to himself as Mr. Honda coughs.

 mr. honda looks unwell, he looks weak, i need to wrap this up and get him some help fast.

 “oh you should be worrying about him, but it doesn’t matter, i’m going to make sure you die right alongside him you little fucking punk. i only need one hand to beat you”

 “do your worst shithead”

 “i don’t need an INVITATION”

 Mister Socky charges at Jenerikku with his hammer, engaging him with three swings in rapid succession.

 Jenerikku dodges each one with care and precision, maintaining his focus.

 Mister Socky continues to swing at him as the fight moves throughout the store, destroying things in his path as he sends his hammer into shelves and glass cabinets while trying to hit Jenerikku.

 Jenerikku swings Hagane back at Mister Socky, though it is blocked, and the two end up in a clash once again, each in a struggle to overpower the other.

 Mister Socky headbutts Jenerikku, taking him off guard and sending him to the floor.

 Jenerikku hits the floor with a thud, dropping his sword.

 Mister Socky strikes quickly, raising the hammer and bringing it down on Jenerikku’s position.

 Jenerikku quickly rolls to the side as the hammer smashes into the floor, digging up the floorboards and sending splinters of wood around the room.

 Mister Socky begins to rip the hammer out from the ground.

 Jenerikku quickly leg sweeps him, tripping him up. He then runs to retrieve Hagane.

 As Mister Socky brings himself back to his feet, hammer in hand, he sees Jenerikku back in position with his greatsword in hand.

 Before long, the two of them are back swiping at each other, their weapons occasionally clashing throughout their constant dodging of the other’s attacks.

 Mister Socky’s attacks become increasingly aggressive as he grows impatient.

 Jenerikku keeps his cool, simply trying to keep his head in the fight and not on Mr. Honda’s condition.

 Mister Socky starts to gain ground on Jenerikku with his ferocious swings of the lollipop hammer.

 Jenerikku begins to step back, blocking Mister Socky’s attacks as he does so.

 Realizing he is gaining the advantage, Mister Socky keeps up the attack, leading Jenerikku to where his hand and luger had landed.

 Jenerikku continues to block the heavy attacks as best as he can, rarely getting a chance to form an attack of his own.

 Mister Socky performs a new strike, quickly poking Jenerikku roughly in the stomach with the stick of his hammer, causing his opponent to stumble and hit into a shelf.

 Jenerikku smacks into the shelf with a thud, though he quickly recovers.

 Mister Socky runs to pick up his hand and luger.

 “oh no you don’t”

 Jenerikku jumps up onto the shelf he was knocked into and begins to run along it, catching up to Mister Socky quickly.

 “get fucked you little bastard don’t you try anything!”

 Jenerikku springs himself off the shelf and lands, sliding along the floor where he kicks both the hand and the luger away from Mister Socky. He then jumps back up to his feet just in front of him.

 “if you’re going to play dirty like that, then i am too you little fucker”

 Mister Socky charges at Jenerikku, bringing the hammer down on Hagane, clashing with it.

 Jenerikku holds off the hammer as best he can.

 wait a second... he wasn’t aiming for me... he wanted to clash… but…

 Mister Socky reveals he is wearing dagger shoes, one of the blades revealing itself from the front of his right shoe. He kicks Jenerikku in the lower right leg, the blade piercing it.

 Jenerikku cries out in pain, falling down to one knee.

 Mister Socky goes for a higher kick aimed at Jenerikku’s head, though the boy is able to dodge it just in time.

 The blade cuts across Jenerikku’s cheek as he just narrowly escapes being stabbed through the head. The fresh cut on his cheek begins to bleed.

 Mister Socky raises the hammer, this time like a golf club, and swings it into Jenerikku’s side. The boy is launched across the room and sent into a glass cabinet which shatters and collapses on him.

 Cut badly by all of the glass, bleeding from his cheek, stabbed in his lower leg, and whacked by the lollipop hammer, leaves Jenerikku barely able to move. His head had smacked into the cabinet as he collided with it. He lies, trapped beneath the cabinet in pain.

 ***Having sat himself down in a back alley, Louie tends to his crippled leg in pain.***

 Fuggeda enters the alleyway and approaches Louie.

 “jesus christ”

 “i am sorry fuggeda…”

 “you betrayed the family, jeopardized everything, but what were you thinking, seriously? you honestly think any of it was gonna work? they control everything, they have a tab on everything.”

 “i did what felt right. after all those years i stood by watching them commit atrocious acts, i had to do what i felt was right…”

 “you betrayed the family”

 “how can you call them that? fuggeda look at all they’ve done to you, look at how they’ve tormented you over the years, they castrated you for christ sake, as a punishment for something you never even did! i’ve seen you suffering over the years since i met you, you might not show it but i know you are, and it’s always hurt to see that because you’re my pal”

 “you shouldn’t have been such an idiot and pulled this stunt, you should’ve planned it more carefully, kept me informed, now there’s no chance of your escape louie... even if i let you go, someone else will find you and bring your head to the boss. you’re lucky i found you first”

 “they need to be stopped fuggeda, they’ve had this town crushed under their boot for too long”

 “that’s because they can. they can do whatever they want. there’s no stopping them.”

 “somebody has to try right? i regret not shooting that bastard tommy in the face, but even then i couldn’t bring myself to do it, even though he deserves to die, i still can't bring myself to take someone’s life like that, and that’s why it hurts to see them killing so many innocent people”

 “do you think you saved those people’s lives back in that bakery? you didn’t, they were killed--”

 “they were gonna get killed either way... they were overdue on their payment… it doesn’t matter what mister big tells you... that’s why i shot tommy when i did... when i found out he was just there to kill them... that’s why i regret not killing him... haven’t the mafia killed enough people fuggeda?”

 “you-”

 “i know. i’ve come to terms with the fact i’m probably going to die today now. they’ll be suspicious of you if you don’t do it fuggeda... if you don’t bring my head to the boss... you should keep yourself alive”

 “this isn’t how i wanted it to be”

 “fate is cruel. i’m just happy i can know i didn’t die serving them... even though it’ll get covered up… even though i’ll just be forgotten... they’ve killed enough people in this town…”

 “i’m sorry it's come to this. you shouldn’t have done what you did, you could’ve been smarter about it…”

 “do you hate them too?”

 “despite my loyalty to the family... i told you earlier… remember?”

 Louie thinks back to their earlier conversation.

 “but don’t you think it's awful? don’t you resent what’s happening at all?”

 “every single day and every single night, but loyalty to the family that raised me is more important”

 Fuggeda looks down at Louie.

 “every time I shoot a man, i imagine it’s mister big, that’s how i’ve gotten by throughout my years. i don’t feel the same remorse you do for killing, but i do hate what it's done to our town”

 “then maybe... maybe it will be you… maybe you will be one of the people who is able to help stop them…”

 “don’t count on it”

 “other people in this town... must want the same thing... they’ve made a lot of enemies... if someone could just... bring them together... expose them… defeat them once and for all… it’d be saving a lot of lives. i believe you are someone who in the end, will make the right choice, fuggeda, so that both you and this town are free of their grasp... but for now…”

 Fuggeda looks down at his friend.

 “...for now you need to do what you need to do… to stay alive. so that maybe in the future, your chance to take them down will come.”

 Fuggeda reaches for his colt pistol. He takes hold of it and aimes down at Louie.

 Louie looks down at the ground.

 “i’m sorry it had to come to this”

 Just nearby, Slick Tommy and Braces have arrived at the train station. The two of them hear a gunshot nearby.

 ***At the high school, Principal Sy Cotic is standing holding his letter. He looks over at Pugnator and Brock proudly.***

 “you have no idea how much this means to me boys, you did excellent, and i am forever in your debt”

 He tucks the letter away in his drawer.

 “anytime principal sy cotic! it was a case of doing what was right! and not just that, but we got an amazing chance back there to put our skills to the test for real!”

 “so are we free from suspension now?”

 “of course, nothing more will come of the ruckus you caused in the courtyard yesterday, fear not. you have both proven to be skilled warriors, being that you have managed to defeat my ex-wife. you are truly something that i believe this town needs, boys, it seems you make quite the duo. i’ll be interested in hearing more of your teamwork and good deeds around the neighbourhood”

 “oh we’re not--”

 “of course! we’re very grateful to hear that sir!”

***After being dismissed from the principal’s office, Pugnator and Brock are walking out of the school together.***

 “well then, that was an eventful day, wouldn’t you agree? how about some more training?”

 “are you for fucking real i’m going home to pass out”

 “well then, perhaps you’d be interested in keeping this up?”

 “keeping what up?”

 “i felt what we did today was productive and an amazing chance to continue honing our skills as warriors!”

 “we almost got ourselves killed today to avoid a school suspension”

 “oh i see. so you don’t think you’re strong enough?"

 “SHUT UP. I’M STRONG ENOUGH”

 “then i am sure this town needs our help! people like principal sy cotic who are facing injustices to evil people! we could be like… vigilantes”

 “yeah well i don’t wanna be a vigilante of the citadel like you! i already told you it’s not what i want”

 “but don’t you want to shape your own destiny pugnator? you try to act like the tough kid who doesn’t care but i think you like helping people. did you really put your life on the line to stop being suspended from school, something you don’t care about? or to stop your mother from finding out as if it matters when your family fights so much already? i don’t think so... i think you joined me because it was the right thing to do, and you also knew you’d get a chance to put your skills to a real test that isn’t just a battle with your friend”

 “yeah well that’s because i’m gonna prove my dad wrong!”

 “but that can be done without having to devote your life to proving him wrong pugnator! you can still become a strong warrior while going down your own path! so how about it? if we hear of any mishappenings, will i be facing them with a partner?”

 Pugnator crosses his arms.

 “hmph. we’ll see. depends on if i don’t wanna let you take all the glory”

 “i think that’s a yes! we’re going to be local vigilantes! gay sensei is going to be so proud of me!”

 “ok ok just shut up about it”

 ***Mister Socky leisurely strolls over to where his luger and hand had been kicked to. He kneels down, propping the lollipop hammer against the wall and picking up the luger. He checks for ammo.***

 “i’m in luck. one shot left”

 Jenerikku struggles, slowly crawling forward out from underneath the cabinet.

 “looks like you’re down for the count. oh i’m going to enjoy this…”

 Jenerikku continues to crawl along the shattered glass, trying to squeeze himself out from under the cabinet.

 Mister Socky looks over, noticing this.

 “jesus kid, what’s the point in continuing? i mean look at you”

 He approaches Jenerikku slowly, offering him a hand mockingly.

 Jenerikku continues to crawl, ignoring Mister Socky. He spits blood onto the floor.

 “suit yourself”

 He aims his luger down at Jenerikku’s head.

 “let's consider this a mercy kill”

 Mr. Honda, with the little strength he can muster, having clambered onto his knees, throws his katana across the room like a javelin. The katana smacks into Mister Socky’s hand and he yells out, dropping the luger to the ground. The luger fires off its last shot as it hits the floor, now empty.

 Mister Socky looks over, alarmed.

 Mr. Honda stands up, preparing to take on Mister Socky in hand to hand combat. He coughs, still very weak as the poison eats away at him from the inside.

 “get up when you can jenerikku... i will buy you some time”

 Mister Socky simply smiles to hide his frustration.

 “how are you even standing, that’s impossible”

 “i’m not going to waste what energy i can muster speaking with you. your cheap tricks can only take you so far”

 Mister Socky scans his surroundings, seeing the lollipop hammer propped against the wall across the room. He then spots Hagane on the floor nearby. He goes to grab it.

 Mr. Honda charges forward, wobbly on his feet as he does so. He leaps over a shelf to land in front of Hagane, blocking Mister Socky from reaching it. Breathless, he begins to cough again.

 “let’s see just how long you can keep this up for old man”

 Mister Socky throws a punch with the only hand he can.

 Mr. Honda catches it, grabbing the puppet’s fist and holding it in place. He twists Socky’s arm and throws him over his head.

 Mister Socky is slammed into the floor. He gets back up and begins to circle his opponent, looking for an opening.

 Mr. Honda keeps his guard up as he follows Mister Socky’s movements. He cannot keep it up for long though, as he begins to cough again, causing him to lose his focus and balance.

 Mister Socky takes this time to strike, rushing forward and punching Mr. Honda in the face. He then grabs the old man by his collar and headbutts him into the wall.

 Mr. Honda slides down the wall, collapsing. He weakly looks up at Mister Socky.

 “lights out old man”

 Jenerikku is able to pull himself out from under the cabinet. He begins to weakly crawl toward Hagane.

 Mister Socky prepares to kick Mr. Honda with the blade from his dagger shoe. With all of his might, he sends a powerful kick in Mr. Honda’s direction.

 But the kick is stopped… Mr. Honda had halted the blade from reaching him by jamming his hand into it and holding the shoe back with all of his might. He winces in pain, the blade having gone right through the palm of his hand.

 Mister Socky looks down in shock.

 As he coughs, barely able to stay conscious, he reaches forward with his free arm and grabs Mister Socky’s leg. He rips his hand out from the blade’s piercing grasp and stands up before his opponent. With the last of his strength he punches Mister Socky with such force that the puppet is sent flying across the room.

 Mister Socky lands against the wall across the room, falling next to the lollipop hammer.

 Mr. Honda collapses to the floor, drained of all strength and energy.

 Mister Socky stands back up, stumbling. One of his eyes has been knocked out of place and is hanging down his cheek off of a thread. He reaches up, feeling for it, before approaching the lollipop hammer and picking it up.

 Jenerikku, beaten and bloody, places a hand on Hagane’s handle. He clutches onto it. His father’s words echo throughout his mind.

 “it is used to protect the good people in our region and our clan”

 With no words, Mister Socky begins to approach Mr. Honda, dragging the hammer along the floor.

 Jenerikku endures the pain and slowly clambers up onto one knee, still holding onto Hagane.

 “that is what our clan does, and has done for centuries, and we will do it for centuries more.”

 Jenerikku slowly stands, mustering everything he can and focusing. He is able to form the blue aura of energy around his hand, which quickly connects with and absorbs around the handle of the greatsword. The blue aura surrounds both his hand and the handle, as it continues to spread up throughout the blade of the sword until the entirety of Hagane is engulfed within the blue aura of chakra transmitting from Jenerikku’s hand.

 Mister Socky looks over, and opens his mouth as if to say something smart, though he goes silent, simply bewildered by what he was seeing.

 The weakened Mr. Honda looks over with amazement.

 “jenerikku... you’ve done it…”

 Jenerikku, now fully standing, points the sword forward at Mister Socky with just one hand, the weapon now as light as a feather to hold. The blue aura of chaka only gets thicker and stronger as it begins to glow brighter. The gemstone on the handle finally begins to glow.

 “it's the gemstone that gives the sword the power it has, it was made hundreds and hundreds of years ago”

 As the gemstone glows, the sword begins to disassemble, the pieces all gravitating toward Jenerikku.

 Mister Socky stares on in shock.

 “what the fuck”

 Before long, the greatsword Hagane has fully reassembled as a suit of armour around Jenerikku. Now enveloped in full body armour, Jenerikku is completely covered and unidentifiable, seeing everything through his newly formed helmet.

 “so what, you got a fancy little suit of armour… you’re still just the same stupid kid under that…”

 Mister Socky raises the lollipop hammer and charges forward.

 Jenerikku raises his fists, now gauntlets, to block the attack.

 As Mister Socky swings the hammer, the attack is instantly blocked by Jenerikku.

 “bullshit”

 Mister Socky goes to swing again, though Jenerikku was now considerably taller than him in his suit of armour.

 Jenerikku catches the following attack and plucks the lollipop hammer from Mister Socky’s grasp, now wielding it himself.

 “BULLSHIT”

 Mister Socky turns to make a run for it.

 Jenerikku grabs him and punches him across the room.

 Mister Socky lands in the centre of the room, crashing into one of the last shelves still standing.

 Jenerikku marches over to him, towering over the puppet, who is weakly crawling along the floor.

 “i am jenerikku of clan shujinko, and you should never have tried to kill my mentor”

 Mister Socky smirks, despite the immeasurable pain he is feeling.

 “you fucking idiot. HE’S ALREADY DEAD”

 Jenerikku looks over at Mr. Honda.

 Mr. Honda is motionless, slumped over against the wall.

 “i told you the poison entered his system... i may have lost the battle but my mission was a SUCCESS. so SUCK IT”

 Mister Socky begins to laugh maniacally.

 Enraged, Jenerikku picks him up and begins to batter him with one punch after another, slowly destroying the puppet. He effortlessly grabs the lollipop hammer and prepares a powerful swing, smacking it into Mister Socky.

 Mister Socky is sent through the store’s front window screaming, the glass shattering. He lands out in the middle of the road, battered.

 Jenerikku stands in his armour, breathing heavily, drained of all energy. The armour disassembles from around him as he falls to the ground and Hagane returns to its greatsword form.

 Mister Socky rises from the ground like a zombie. He begins to stumble down the road decrepitly. His suit torn, his face ripped open, a missing hand, and with only one eye.

 “oh no you don’t…”

 Jenerikku collapses, passing out.

 ***Louie Bignose’s decapitated head is thrown onto Mister Big’s desk in a bag.***

 Mister Big smiles, satisfied.

 “well then... it’s been sorted"

 Slick Tommy limps forward.

 “it has... the bastard was caught... myself and braces came across it ourselves”

 “that’s right boss, he showed no mercy to the traitor... thankfully i still got the honour of removing the head. heh”

 While they all talk, Fuggeda keeps his eyes glued to the floor to avoid looking at the head.

 Mister Big peaks in the bag, admiring his new prize.

 “truly a fine piece of art, i’ll need to find somewhere discreet to display it…”

 He steps over to Fuggeda, and then smiles.

 “i knew you’d come through for me, all you ever need is some tough love, a push in the right direction, and you never fail to amaze me”

 Fuggeda remains silent.

 Jimmy Needles comes running in.

 “BOSS!”

 Mister Big looks over at him.

 “it’s mister socky! he’s back and he’s barely functioning!”

 “WHAT?”

 “don’t worry boss, we’re having him rushed to our own infirmary so we can stitch him back up and thread him together, he has major injuries but its nothing that we can’t sort, i’ve already taken the liberty of calling up your best surgeons and telling them to get here on the double”

 “i need to see him, move outta the way!”

 Mister Big rushes out.

 Jimmy Needles rushes after him.

 “he was able to utter that the mission was still a success sir, the target was successfully poisoned and will most certainly die before the end of the night”

 Hearing this, Fuggeda thinks to himself. He exits Mister Big’s office, crossing through to Mister Socky’s. When nobody is looking, he opens the door, letting himself in. Fuggeda rushes over to a cabinet, opening it up. There, he sets his eyes on a familiar briefcase.

 ***At ‘Weebs R Us’, Jenerikku wakes up, still lying where he passed out in the wreckage of the store. He sits up, looking around.***

 Mr. Honda croakily yells over to him.

 “jenerikku…”

 “mr. honda!”

 Jenerikku rushes over to his mentor, kneeling down next to him.

 “it’s over... you won... i’m…”

 Mr. Honda coughs.

 “i’m so proud of you... you have truly demonstrated your skill... your unlocking of hagane’s power proves it… that fiery spirit of the shujinko clan is strong within you”

 “mr. honda! just sit tight, i need to tend to your wounds, it’ll only be a matter of time before people see what happened here, we can get you some help!”

 Mr. Honda begins to fade.

 “he has darted me with a deadly poison, jenerikku... i’m fortunate my immune system was strong enough to even allow me to move for as long as i did, let alone fight… but i think…”

 “don’t tell me that! it’s not too late!”

 “it’s not too late.”

 Jenerikku turns around, seeing Fuggeda Boudett enter the store.

 Fuggeda steps in, surveying the wreckage and seeing Mr. Honda’s condition.

 “you have a lot of nerve showing up here, what are you, backup? coming to make sure the job is done? well you have to go through me!”

 Jenerikku struggles to stand.

 “you don’t need to worry about that…”

 Fuggeda reaches into his pocket, taking out a little jar.

 “then… what are you doing… what’s that?”

 “an antidote that will save his life”

 “how can we trust you?”

 “maybe you can’t, but he’s already dying to the poison isn’t he? you’re all out of options, and i’m offering a new one.”

 “why?”

 Fuggeda thinks to himself for a moment, before approaching Jenerikku and placing the antidote in his hand.

 “i think the mafia have killed enough people, don’t you? i’d appreciate if you kept this between us… can you do that?”

 Jenerikku nods.

 Fuggeda walks out.

 Jenerikku looks at the antidote.