This is Rated R for blood, violance and similar themes. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Do Angels Fear the Reaper? CHAPTER 8 "Oh hey Yuri," Kei answered the phone. She had been working as a bartender for a few years now, and the tips were only increasing. It was a pretty nice job after all despite the ruffians who would appear now and then. One time a big fight broke out (no thanks to the dirty pair) and she kicked all of their butts. Even the pair went home sore. Kei got a great laugh out of that, although Pete was not happy losing some customers in the process. "What? Damn, that's not right," Kei flipped the channels from porn to news. Some of the guys complained. She just glared at them to shut up and sit down. They complied without a fuss; they knew what Kei's anger meant for them. Kei couldn't believe the news and had to hear it for herself. "Funeral arrangements have been issued for the Lovely Angels. They will not be held accountable for this failed mission and I apologize personally for calling them by their unpleasant nick name, here's the picture of the station once again." Kei went silent for some time. Yuri knew she was still there though. "Kei?" "Yeah, sorry, lost in thought. You have any idea what could have done this?" "No," they both watched the live footage. The entire station was completely ripped apart along with numerous United Galactica cruisers and heavy cruisers. "Frankly if something could do all that, it's not dead yet," Kei thought aloud. "I know," Yuri said softly. "I gotta go, see you later, Kei," Yuri hung up the phone and got out of bed slowly. Robert helped her off to the bathroom. "Well guys, drunks, you see how hard missions are for the angels?!" Kei shouted trying to hide a tear from her eye. Scenes of carnage from her past missions came to mind. Any one of them may of meant their death, now seeing this on the news, she realized the news might as well be reporting their own demise. She was very shaken up. The room was silent, some were saddened, some happy but refused to show it. Many were too drunk to care. Kei grabbed a bottle and ripped the cap off. She drank down a third of it and slammed it on the counter, so much for giving up drinking. -- "We are gathered here today to commemorate the Lovely Angels Jade Inoe and Riza Forte with the purple-heart and pay tribute to two great agents. The purple- heart is a prestigious award given to those killed on a mission. This award was passed down by the United States military since before the galactic war and the foundation of the United Galactica army. Then it was meant for those wounded or died in battle. Although I was not there to witness the mission, I will assume they fought with everything they had to take out whatever devil sought their and the station's demise. They will be known as the Lovely Angels not for pity on the unfortunate situations and apparent reputation, but because that is their code name and they deserve it. I will now hand it off to Kei and Yuri who we were fortunate enough to escort here today," Chief Gooley stepped off the microphone. Kei pushed Yuri's wheel chair over to the microphone with Robert close behind. "Thank you chief," Kei spoke, "I've watched many months as they grew up, they greatly reminded me of us. Riza Fonte was every bit of the hot headed, brash individual as I once was. She nearly out drank me one day at my er my boss's bar. I know first hand how horrible missions can be and often death would stare me in the face. I rarely laughed back to be honest, I just did what had to be done and hoped our reputation wouldn't get any worse. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered under our and their internment. I also hope this will go to show that we do the best we can, I will always remember those brats," Kei wiped her eyes and stepped aside. "Well said, Kei," Yuri smiled and wiped her own eyes, "They saved my life back on the paradise planet, I will be forever grateful despite the fact they interrupted my honeymoon. Those two are heh, sorry, indeed brats, but ever so much as the brats we were when we started many years ago. I will miss them as well, I also hope whoever murdered them will be stopped. On a gentler note, with my child on the way, I am fortunate to go on with my life. Sadly, Riza and Jade will not have that chance, it is the one thing that hurts the most. Agents, please be careful and count your blessings," Yuri choked back some tears and backed away from the microphone. Both Robert and Kei put a hand upon her shoulders to comfort her. Chief Gooley walked back over as they wheeled away, "Thank you, Kei, Yuri, Robert, the space station memorial will be erected in a few days and a massive service will be held, I thank you all for coming, I pray for better days and for all those who have died to be at peace." "Peace?" a white cloaked individual walked along the sidewalk nearby the crowd of agents. "Heh, peace," it laughed in its own tormented way. -- Back where Kei and Yuri have been living much of their lives now, Robert watered the lilies once again. It had been a few months and he was fortunate enough to find some more of those precious flowers. He was able to give them to Yuri this time as well. Yuri would give birth some time this month while Kei was given the bar all to herself now that she could run it well enough. Robert was promoted as well and added a zero to his pay checks. He ran a construction business with aims at surviving mass destruction possibly caused by the Dirty Pair. New Angels were commissioned, but they were not the best of the league anymore. They were now known as the Pigeons. They wouldn't cause massive destruction, but missions would often fail because of ridiculous circumstances. Things were not looking up in the 3WA. They did have hopes of training agents even further as technology continued to improve however. Kei walked into the apartment once again with another bag of groceries for the new week. "Pigeons, can you believe that the new set of Angels is being called Pigeons?" Kei tried not to laugh for whatever reason. Yuri was looking worse for wear, the baby was on the way indeed. "Yeah, heh, ow," Yuri tried to move a bit from her place on the bed. "What's for dinner?" "I brought pizza, rice, and tacos, what do you feel like?" Kei smiled. She would be an aunt soon. Maybe a god mother, she couldn't decide which was better. Then again she could be both. "Telegram for Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki," a man said from the door way, he slipped the message through the slot and walked away. Kei walked over and grabbed it. "It's from the 3WA," Kei said and opened it quickly. She read it slowly and all but dropped it upon the floor. "What is it?" Yuri asked from her bed. "We have to go, the planet's in danger and may not survive," Kei spoke dryly. "What!?" Yuri was nearly in shock at the statement. "The 3WA have informed us that whatever caused the space station to be destroyed and the Angels' deaths may have come here to this city. Entire buildings have been leveled already. United Galactica forces have been sent secretly along side 3WA investigators and their new branch which coincides with United Galactica troops. Some sort of hybrid force between the two," Kei explained as she walked over. She handed the letter to Yuri. "H-how am I going to leave? Wait, call Robert for me," Yuri tossed the letter aside. "Ok," Kei grabbed the phone and dialed up his cell phone. "Mr. Suzuki here, oh hello Kei," Robert spoke from his office. "Eh, that's not good, yeah I've heard about the buildings. Those weren't built by me, I can assure that. Leave? Yuri's in no condition to leave now and I have a job to run, I'm afraid we can't just leave unless there's an evacuation ordered." "But this is an evacuation order for the three of us!" Kei shouted. She understood the situation well enough. "I'll do what I can on this end, you take care over there, Robby," Kei hung up the phone. "What is it?" Yuri asked. "Robert insists we stay put until we have more information. I don't trust the situation frankly, we should leave as soon as we can, but," Kei looked over at Yuri laying there upon the bed. "What?" "This is horrid timing," Kei replied. -- "Troops, surround that building, the perpetrator may have hidden inside!" the air commander ordered. A dozen heavily armed and armored battle suits rocketed off of the platform style cargo ship and onto the building. They landed upon the ground below as another force landed on the roof, they would storm the building with full prejudice. This demon was to be stopped without care for any civil rights. "Hey Rachael!" a woman with stark blonde hair shouted through the comlink upon her ear. "Yeah yeah, Volandia, I'll be right there," Rachael spoke as she rode her motorcycle up to the front lines. There the field commander known as Sheevus awaited them. "What the f, damn, they sent in the pigeons!?" he complained silently as they arrived. "Hey, Lovely Angels!" Rachael shouted as she got off her bike. Her partner walked over and awaited instructions from the field commander. "You will have your orders once we receive word from the troops," Sheevus stated. He was a stoic man with many honors, rather heavily built and wise. He was revered by his troops. Volandia stared at him in awe much to her partner's annoyance. At that moment the entire building exploded, collapsed and exploded again. Nothing was left. The troops were lost in the wreckage with hopes that their suits would protect them. Other troops quickly pulled the wreckage away despite the fact that the demon may still be nearby. Rachael almost knocked her bike over as her partner screamed in shock at the explosions. She couldn't stand women screaming and almost regretted being one. The ground shook once again with another massive explosion, the wreckage rose with a great force expelling all of the troops, dead or alive in every direction. Standing in the middle of the crater was a single being in a pristine white cloak. "Who are you!?" Sheevus shouted across the battlefield. "Dirty Pair," it spoke in a wretched steel voice as if it came from all directions. "What?" Rachael shouted in disbelief. "We're the Lo," "Pigeons!" Volandia shouted, she read the situation rather well and decided to act upon it for a change. It would be best not to be associated with the angels or the dirty pair. "Pigeons!?" Rachael tackled her partner at the apparent betrayal, she wasn't angry enough to hurt her any though. "Pigeons?" the voice spoke again. It soon rose into the air and rocketed towards them. Troops fired off multiple blasts resulting in no damage. The cloak remained white as if that made any sense at all. It landed before the two rookies and looked through the hooded cloak which adorned its body. General Sheevus grabbed his revolver and shot at point blank range into the demon's head. No damage. He quickly got his arm torn from his body and himself blasted over the barricades. The two Angels stared in disbelief, "Please go away," Volandia squeaked. Both she and her partner were trembling in fear before the apparent immortal demon before them. "Dirty Pair," it spoke again. "P. Pigeons, that's our nick name," Rachael spoke hoping it watched the news. "Pigeons? Rookies, show me where the Dirty Pair are," it spoke. "We don't know," Volandia replied. She was still shaking. "Dirty Pair," it rose into the air and rocketed off far in the distance to another part of the city. The two angels collapsed onto the ground not caring that they were all tangled up in each other's limbs. They had been spared. -- "This just in, entire blocks have been destroyed, thousands believed dead from an unknown machine rampaging through the city, in other news famed base ball player." Kei turned the TV off and fell into a chair. She would miss work today and maybe her job. At this rate she could lose her life. She could only imagine one force capable of such abilities and that one died on Nexus. "Yuri, we need to evacuate, with or without Robert," Kei pleaded. "I know, ow," Yuri muttered and breathed heavily. "You ok?" "I think so, oww dang it," "Those better not be contraction," she sighed, Great, let's get to the hospital then. Ambulance would take forever, so I'll call a friend." "Alright." Kei could only smile at the sight of her friend, she went on with her life and she could still be a good part of it. She grabbed the phone and dialed. -- "What? Most of the buildings that were destroyed were ours!?" Robert shouted. "I'm afraid so sir," a balding man replied. They were having an emergency meeting on the situation. "What the heck were they made out of?" Robert calmed down a bit, but he was still furious. "High grade steal and concrete, they were like bomb shelters with shock absorbers," he explained. "How did they collapse?" Robert was sweating now, he was afraid of the answer. "They didn't, they exploded from the inside," "A super natural force then?" "We don't know what did it, but that may be a theory," he answered. "Great, I need to leave, take care, lock up when you are done," he got up and grabbed his coat on his way out. The business was one of the largest yet he always treated it as a corner store. This was one reason why people loved working for him. His phone started to ring, "Hello? AH Kei, alright, I'll meet you there, thank you," he hung it up and left for his car.