Chapter 2

Several months later…

 

"It should be long enough to learn my name, you a*****e," Bones cursed.

The meek boy could only stutter.

"Duh, duh, duh. Shut the f**k up," she mimicked.

His eyes watered up and his lower lip quivered.

"Flower, please forgive the boy," Fist requested.

She boomed, "I'm not Flower anymore, God damn it!"

Pistol Fist flinched.

Broken Bones seized his shirt collar, "If you call me Flower one more time, I'll chop your balls off with a dull knife, got it?"

"Ye… yes. Sorry."

The man on the lounge chair coughed, "Sit the hell down, Bones. You shouldn't be wasting your energy bitching at everyone."

He was the only person Lillian heeded.

She couldn't see his eyes behind the sunglasses but she expected to see some smug expression.

Despite her immediate anger, she followed his wishes, "You're the genius, House. What now?"

The aging man removed the revolver from its holster, "I'm dry. You, Fist?"

"Same. Bones?" He responded after checking his satchel.

"F**k. I'm all out."

House laughed to himself, "Well, Pistol Fist's muscles never run out of ammo. And neither does our combined brain power."

She sighed, "This is hopeless. They are 20 plus foot soldiers armed to the teeth, not to mention a handful of technicals. We have a meat head, a middle-aged a*****e, and a f*****g crybaby."

"And a pessimistic b***h," House added, "Do you forget we're inside a bar? Bar equals booze, which means Molotov cocktails."

Swaying Palm's team of Spore created a total of 54 cocktails.

"How are we going to get them to the enemy?" Exhausted Thief, the youngest of the group, inquired.

House looked around then stopped at Bones' chest, "Take off your bra. Please."

She blushed.

"I'm gonna use it like a catapult to launch the cocktails," he explained.

"All you fuckers turn around," she commanded before removing her bra.

After Bones handed the bra over he stretched it, "This'll do. Thief on my mark, hit the windows."

House wrapped the bra around his neck like a scarf.

"Hold up! Weren't you gonna use it as a slingshot?" Bones protested.

 "Uh, no. If I die out there I want to at least smell b***s," he explained, "Okay! C**k it back and let it fly!"

54 flaming cocktails streaked like meteors in pantomime, trailing flames through the foggy night. Several jeeps caught aflame, bonfires attracting the moths and mosquitoes from the coast.

"Fist, get the door! I'll take Bones west to the beach. You should head back with Thief to the safe spot," House instructed.

Pistol Fist knocked the door down with a strong kick, followed closely by Thief.

"C'mon, honey. The ocean awaits."

Bones joined House outside as they took to the alleyways for cover. The burning vehicles served as a perfect screen, allowing the Spore to escape without complications.

House ducked into an alley, taking Bones with him, "Hot damn, that was pretty close. Here take your bra back."

She snatched it, "Next time, I'll shove my fist down your throat."

He ignored the threat, "Let's take this little car."

He opened the driver's door; Bones joined him.

"Do you know how to hotwire a car?" She asked.

He frowned, "No. But there should be a key…"

House brought down the visor and a key fell into his hand, "Here."

Federico Pastor's parents bought him a Ford Pinto after he graduated from medical school. They warned him about leaving it unlocked with the key in such an obvious place.

"What's so important about the beach?" Bones asked.

"There's someone you should meet. You'll know when you see him," House answered.

A solitary fishing boat rocked silently against the tide. Bones could make out someone leaning against its railing, smoking a cigarette.

House and Bones approached the captain of the ship.

"It's been too long, Lilly."

Despite the time lapse, she would never forget the taunting voice of Teddy ringing in her nightmares.

"I need your help, Broken Bones. I started something way out of my control."

 

Once inside the ship's cramped kitchen, Teddy poured himself a drink after his guests turned down the offer.

Teddy croaked, "I wanted Hoover for myself, you see, but I needed Oak dead first.

So I talked to some friends. Namely Mark West."

"The West Bank's CEO?" Bones asked.

"Right. Mr. Checkmate from the Saturday kids' show our generation watched. Apparently, West was into some heavy s**t, being an Extra-human and being smart as f**k, kidnapping some of his own kind to further the 'evolution of mankind' or something."

"Yes, I know," House poured himself a glass of rum, "Bones, you don't know this but the Leaf that got a hold of the 'Horseshoe' briefing report was actually me. In reality, the facility housed people on the verge of maturing their Extra-human attributes. West used the place as a front for his experiments on these innocent people."

"What was his goal? I mean, why go through all that trouble instead of just taking the people he needed right off the bat?" Bones asked.

"Well," Teddy started, "It's a great idea to use a physical building since he can do as he pleases without arousing the suspicion of his daughter and her vigilante squad."

"Right, Mary West led a group of adolescent Extra-humans. The entire time, West Sr. sought to create a human weapon strong enough to defeat those 5 other Extra-humans. Instead, he actually succeeding in turning the group on itself since each experiment failed," House added.

"How do you know this, House?" Bones wondered.

"Wayward Pine's members hear and see more than the Oak's Leaves," House replied.

Of the vigilantes, "Teddy continued, "One was the son of Dark Horse. He too suffered the fate of his father. West generated the first of the artificial humans using DNA from people diagnosed with spontaneous adaptation and photographic muscle memory, heightened cell reparation, electric field manipulation, and ultra-dense muscle fibers."

"He combined the ability to perfectly mimic, to heal almost instantly, and to have abnormal strength into one being," House clarified.

"What about the electric field manipulation?"

"People with this quality could augment the voltage output of the body and concentrate it into amps with enough strength to stop a man's heart. Reaper could do this. That's how he could open any type of lock," House explained.

"But the simple tag-team of Mary West and her companion made mince meat of the first army," Teddy stated.

"But more followed. West felt pity for his daughter and turned the following armies loose here in Latinamerica. He struck a deal with Mexican ruffians and sold them several thousand units of 'Alexander's Guards'. Those same clients are using the Guards to eliminate their business rivals," House added.

"Your precious Trees are now caught in between," Teddy remarked.

"Earlier you said you needed our help," Bones reminded.

"Yes, I still do. I robbed several West Banks, framing Leaves in order to trick the man himself into destroying Wandering Oak."

Bones slammed her fist on the table, "Why would you do that?"

"I was in charge of the Tree Fraülein left behind. After she died, I took leadership, renaming Redwood as the Machine and using the call sign Der Krieg Hime. I wanted to chop your Tree down but knew I couldn't with the limited power of the Machine. So I tried to trick West into attacking your people. He got wind of my plan and is now targeting Gears and Leaves alike."

"How are people like us going to stop that army?" Bones asked.

"Let me answer this one," House interrupted, "You forget how resourceful Leaves can be. There are countless Extra-humans all over the world, some of which offer their special traits to the Trees. We just have to funnel that power and unleash it on West."

Teddy offered himself another glass of rum, "West still seeks to perfect the Guards. The first test run will be here in Cuba. As you have noticed, the government itself bought Guards and is planning to use the units to destroy this country's Tree."

"I see where you're going. It may seem unfair, but this would be an excellent chance to experiment before the real deal goes down," House remarked.

"Of course, I only just arrived here in Cuba. All my information comes from the Machine's Gears back in Hoover," Teddy confessed.

"House, are you serious? How can you just trust him like that, after what he did to Reaper, King, and who knows how many other Leaves? " Bones demanded.

"I hate to admit that he's right about everything, Bones. Let's work together and see if we can't stop the destruction of this Tree. It's our job as Spore after all."

Teddy called Bones' attention, "I'll tell you what happened to Reaper. It's up to you whether you want to believe it. Understand?"

Bones silently nodded.

"José Rosa had a bounty on his head after he escaped from prison, something you may know. Several murder charges and the occasional kidnapping earned him a stay in the Hoover Correctional Facility. After he bounced, quite a hefty bounty was placed. My Machine captures the Leaves with bounties."

"You took Reaper because of a bounty. Is he dead?" She inquired coldly.

"Alas, he is alive and now inside a maximum security prison with no chance of ever leaving."

House put his hand on her shoulder, "You okay, Bones?"

Teddy leaned back in his chair, "So, you're Bones now," he nodded his head, "I have one ask to question you."

"Shoot."

He brought the chair down on all fours, "Why, Bones? Why did you blindly follow Fist when the ferry started to leave?"

Bones didn't answer.

"I mean, you killed Razor, abandoned Champion, Mouse, Wandering Oak. Why, Bones?"

"You don't have to answer. At least not to Teddy," House stated.

"Oh, you! Just call me Hime, like you used to," Teddy teased, "Have you talked to your brother lately? He has a daughter now, and from what I've heard, he and his Lady are leaving Oak."

House stood abruptly, "Let's go, Bones. Thank you for the rum, Hime."

He waved, "Stay in touch. Wait for me by the church tower during a rainy day. Bye!"

House resumed the conversation after taking Bones back to their car, "What's the matter?"

She remained silent, staying so for a minute before answering, "I left Hoover because I killed that Razor woman. I fled."

He pursued, "Why'd you think you had to leave?"

"Don't you get it? I murdered someone," she repeated.

"Murder isn't a big deal among the Leaves. I imagine you feared jail time."

"In some part, yeah. But now I'm here with Swaying Palm."

House smiled, "I'm glad you're here. Relations between Oak and the Machine have turned sour, you know? It would explain why Dragon left."

"The Machine," she repeated, "I can't believe how close I was to the Machine's Hime. We were almost engaged.

"And what if Teddy, I mean Hime got his claws into me before Dragon introduced me to the Leaves?"

"This would be one different rodeo, Bones."

She sat up straight, "House, you moved here when Pine Wilted, right?"

He nodded.

"Well, I was wondering what happened to King, Dashboard King."

After a deep breath, "King never wanted to be in the city because of his former partners, the Kakuza Clan. He didn't want anything to do with that lifestyle so he stole a fortune from the Clan, faked his death at the Hoover dock accident of '11, and retired in Matterhorn under a different name.

"Or maybe he left because he suspected a falling out among the Clan after Think set out to destroy them."

"Wow, he was in pretty deep for that to include him."

"Indeed he was. The Clan's clients jumped at the opportunity and attacked the weakened smugglers, tearing the Clan apart like hyenas at a carcass.

"King and the top generals were nowhere to be found so bounties were placed on their heads. The one to collect King's bounty was Hime."

She turned to the window wordlessly. Christmas was just around the corner; countless lights swarmed, busy, luminous fireflies congregating among themselves.

"King did die that night," she  finally said.

"You were there?"

"Actually it was the same night Hime abducted Reaper and when I boarded the ferry with Fist."

"Must have been horrible."

"Not really. I always doubted him. But now…"

"Things have changed, haven't they? What with having Thief around."

She huffed, "God! I hate that brat. Mostly because of his status."

"That's right. Being the Trunks' only son is quite dangerous, as well."

"But why do we have to take care of him?" She pouted, "There are plenty of other Spore units."

He smiled, "Obviously, Baby Spider and Nice Dream saw potential in you. Spider talked to Grenade looking for suggestions. Grenade recommended Merchant. I was elected to be the Spore's representative after Pine Wilted. But instead, Spider took you and Fist."

"Yeah, Palm started recruiting a lot of Spore to defend against the government's aggression. Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you about the extra-humans working for the Trees."

"What about? We have a long way to go before we reach Palm."

"Oak had extra-humans, too?"

"Yes, they are referred to as Thorns. You knew some personally."

Her expression showed excitement, but she spoke in a slightly uninterested tone, "Really? I didn't know."

"Yep. Reaper is one of them."

Bones kept her composure, "Oh, I had no idea"

"Yeah, Bones, and he never told you?"

House detected a hint of annoyance in her voice, "Reaper never told me."

"It's the sole reason as to why they let Reaper take you as his dependent. He had the electric field manipulation condition and he used it as a radar to detect the presence of other people," House explained, "It was why he could open any lock, knock out surveillance equipment, and escape from prison."

"The Machine must have several extra-humans, too," she assumed.

"Quite," House acknowledged, "Hime inherited a strange strand that allows him to alter the pigments of his skin."

"I remember he blended himself to match my cat's fur. Also when we fought at the West bank he did his disappearing act."

"I believe Hime actually killed Fraülein," House confessed.

She shook her head, "Fraülein's Tree went down over 30 years ago. If he had anything to do with that he'd be past 50. But I'm curious as to why you believe that."

House shifted in his seat, "Well, you can never be too sure about these types of people, if you can call them that. Those afflicted with heightened cell reproduction actually live to be past a century. I'm not particularly sure about Hime, though."

"Hime is a really high risk. Aren't there other people who can help us?"

"Like who?" House asked quickly.

"I… I don't know," she sighed, "This problem with the government is only getting worse. I'm just imagining what would happen if you add those Guard things to the mix."

"Cheer up, Bones. No army is invincible."

She resumed staring out the window, tracking the lights that reflected through the glass. With a mood of dread setting inside the car, nothing was discussed during the last leg of their trip.

 

Cantina "Los Hermanos" or the Brother's Bar is situated only a few miles from the church tower. House and Bones met in the underground room after meeting the Spore, Alto Diablo, or Tall Devil. Despite being an unseemly woman, her spunky personality made up for her appearance.

They found her cleaning the counter.

"Hola! How are we today?" She exclaimed.

Bones hugged her, "I wish we were better, Diablo. Are the Trunks here?"

She puts her hands on her hips, "Always business with you people! Why can't we chat? Yeah, niña, Spider is down there."

She let them come behind the counter, opened the door to the back room, and unlocked a heavy, iron door. It led outside to a walled-in garden. Picturesque roses of all colors adorned the thorny plants, peeking from the foliage like eager, exited eyes; the cobblestoned pavement echoed dully against their feet in the enclosed area.

Diablo bent over, taking hold of a seemingly-random rock. Members of the Swaying Palm know that it is actually the handle to the secret door which led to Spider's Web. After making quick guess work, House figured it would take a dozen men to lift the heavy door. Diablo beckoned her guests into the basement, staying above ground herself.

The staircase under the door was damp and cold, a condition that would've upset the old Lillian.

An expensive chestnut door connoted the entrance to the Web.

Bones knocked before entering, "Hello?"

She took a step back in anticipation.

The door swung open, rustling her bangs.

"Come in, come in! I just made coffee," A red-cheeked  woman beamed.

They sat on lounge chairs situated around a large television.

Spider sipped her black coffee, "How's my girl?"

"I'm fine, really," Bones replied.

"And you, Immortal House?"

"Oh, I'm well."

"Good. That's good. Any word on my boy?"

House answered, "Thief is with Pistol Fist. I instructed him to take the boy back to Nightcap."

She exhaled, "Well, that's a bit of good news. I think we should drink to that!"

Bones snapped a glance at the mini-bar Spider had installed, noticing several empty bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey.

"Baby Spider, where would Nice Dream be, if I may ask," House inquired.

"Dream? Hell if I know. He's probably off trying to take down the government," she mumbled. The boney woman left her chair in exchange for the bar stool and poured herself a shot.

"Spider, we have some important issues to discuss," House pressed, "And these require the full attention of both Trunks."

She drank the cup, following it with another, "I regret the day I became a Trunk. Dream always wanted to do it, but I wanted to live a life away from the Tree. Look at poor Thief. He's only 12 and has the government after his head!"

"Spider, this is irresponsible."

"No, House! You should know, damn it! You were a Trunk, too!" She snapped.

"But I would never, have never, put myself before a Tree. Be it Wayward Pine, Wandering Oak, or even Swaying Palm, I have always done what was beseeched of me."

Spider retorted, "Which is why you don't have a child anymore," she gasped, "House. I'm so sorry. Truly sorry for saying that."

Bones detected a twinkle at the corner of House's eye.

"No, Spider, you're dreadfully right. Had I been more aware of my daughter and not my duties as Seed then she'd be here," House croaked

Spider embraced House, rubbing the man's back, "Ranger died doing what she loved. Whether or not you were a Seed, she would've dedicated herself to being a Root."

House sniffed, "I'm sorry that you're seeing me like this, Bones."

She kept quiet.

"I'm sorry," Spider repeated, "I have problems with Dream, not you. I shouldn't take them out on other people."

House released Spider, keeping one hand on her shoulder, "I forgive you, Spider. No one can say it's easy to live knowing your child's life is in jeopardy."

"Okay, House. The least I can do now is listen. Dream's too headstrong to sit and talk for a second."

They took a seat; House took a shot of whiskey.

Spider started, "Thief. Little Thief. I don't even call him Jorgé anymore. I'm relieved that he's under your charge, House, Bones. Were there any complications on the way?"

Tentatively, "Well… a small armada cornered us inside a bar. Bones' aggressive defense warded off our attackers. Fist should drop a line from Nightcap any minute now."

With the bottle nestled between her thighs, she leaned back, "He actually did. But he didn't mention you'll be coming here, the reason of which we have not addressed yet. Please, House, go on."

Before he started, House took another swig of whiskey, "I spoke to Der Krieg Hime. He goes on the speak of an army generated by Mark West. Do you follow so far?"

She nodded, "What's up with the army? Elaborate."

"We have reason to believe they are extra-humans. According to Hime, 'Alexander's Guards' are sold in units as mercenary squads to the highest bidder. We as Leaf are caught in the middle due to a ruse devised by Hime to trick Mark West into attacking the Trees. He went about it by framing Leaves for various bank robberies. West got wise to his plot and turned his sights on the Machine. The Trees are also on his list as he sees us as serious to significant threats."

She smiled, "A multi-billionaire creating a super army? Sounds like we are up s**t creek without a paddle."

"That is the news I wanted to relay to Nice Dream."

Bones joined the conversation, "Hime proposed we form an alliance. Like a 'your enemy is my enemy' deal."

She ran her hand through her hair, "I don't know. Theodore is a wild card. He's not someone I'd like to associate with."

The last sentence seemed directed at House.

They both turned to him, waiting for his rebuttal.

"I'm looking at all our options."

"You see Hime as an option?" Spider pursued.

"It's not like that. I'm seeking every possible way out of this," he explained defensively.

After a long drink, Spider responded, "Still, I don't like the idea of turning to the Machine. We should first call other Trees. Besides Oak, I mean."

"Who'd you have in mind?"

"I'll set up a ferry to go south. To Trinidad. In the meantime, go out and fulfill your Spore duty or whatever. When the arrangements are completed, I will advise you."

"Thank you for your time, Baby Spider," House shook her hand before making for the door, Bones following closely behind.

"I love you, my babies," She called as they ascended the stairs.

The door opened with Diablo grinning on the other side.

"How'd it go?" She asked as they went inside.

"Fine. We'll be back in a few, but don't stay up waiting," House answered.

"Actually, I'd like it to borrow Bones for the night. If that's okay?" Diablo requested.

"I don't know. Bones? Is it okay?" House redirected.

Bones shrugged, "I guess."

She clapped, "Awesome! We'll see you tomorrow, House."

The man exited the bar, leaving behind Bones.

She took a seat on a bar stool, "What's up, Diablo?"

"A Leaf is going to be placed under you. Her name is Sandford Goose and…"

"Stop right there. I'm not even a Brown Leaf," she protested.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Bones. You're just an escort."

"A what?" She asked.

"Never mind, niña, let me take you upstairs where you'll sleep; we'll talk tomorrow," Diablo showed her the way to the stairs. She opened the door of a small room, empty save the night stand and the bed.

"Sweet dreams," Diablo whispered before shutting the door.

In the new found silence, Bones can hear Diablo's heavy footfalls as she descends the stairs.

"Like the hooves of the man himself," Bones muttered before collapsing on the bed.

Rusty springs protested against her intrusion, subsiding when she lay still, resuming when she readjusted.

Like customary, the events of the day played behind her eyes, Bones' version of counting sheep.

Break

Morning comes about without a sunrise during the winter; she awoke through pure custom. The windowless room offered no defense against the darkness. Footfalls marched up the stairs.

"Hey, Bones, you up?" Diablo asked.

"Yep. Hit the lights, yeah?"

The light revealed Diablo standing beside a girl of about 17; the lanky teen loomed over Diablo.

Bones left the bed to introduce herself, "Hello, I'm Broken Bones, Second Spore."

The child revealed a radiant smile, "Good morning, Bones, my name is Sandford Goose, Green Leaf. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Diablo spoke, "Goose, Bones here will be your host. She was a Leaf before joining Nightcap, if you have any questions, doubts, worries, she's yours."

"I understand. Bones, I hope this experience will be insightful as well as exciting," Goose beamed.

"Likewise. Say, is it raining?"

"Actually it is, why do you ask?"

"I have an errand to run. Do you have a car?"

"You can borrow one of mine," Diablo offered, "It's a black BMW parked out front, you can't miss it."

Bones checked her pistol before holstering it, "Okay, Goose, you ready to head out?"

At the sight of the handgun, her eyes widened, "Sure."

The black sedan responded well, even in the pouring rain. Goose had strapped on her seatbelt, straining to maintain her composure.

"How you doing, Goose?"

"I'm okay, just a little carsick," she squeaked.

"I want you to know that this may be dangerous. I don't know who thought it'd be safest to leave you with a Spore. Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at you. It's just that if they wanted you secure they could've assign you to a Brown Leaf."

"Well, I asked for this, Bones," she clarified.

"Listen to my instructions, okay? This contact is extremely dangerous and I don't want this to be your last day."

She nodded, "I understand, Bones. Does this make you my Sun?"

The word sent a shiver down her spine; she ignored it, "I guess it does."

"Um, who is the contact?"

"A man who goes by the name Der Krieg Hime,"

"The war queen? I thought you said it was a man?"

"It's a long story, one that I will tell when the time is right. For now, just stand back and don't say anything, okay?"

"Sure, Bones."

The church finally came into view, unimpressive and modest as it was. Angels and Saints offered their hands to Bones and Goose as they passed through its heavy double doors. Upon the stage, an empty podium presided over the empty pews while a crucifix fastened on the wall overlooked the empty, acoustic church.

Goose pulled on Bones' sleeve and whispered, "There appears to be no one here."

"That remains to be seen," she replied.

"Quite a pun, no, Bones?" A third voice announced.

Startled, Goose hid behind Bones.

"Who's this little cupcake, Ms. Bones?" Hime joked, "She looks delicious."

"Hime is a ventriloquist, Goose, and he could be projecting his voice from anywhere in this cavernous room."

"And there she goes, ruining the magician's trick. You're the kind of person that doesn't enjoy magic, huh?"

She ignored him, "Why'd you summon me here, Hime?"

"To pay homage to the Man Himself, why else? Today is judgment day! As we speak, a troop of Guards is headed for Nightcap. That's right, the Cuban Police already made their move and are on the offense. If everything goes accordingly, Nice Dream and Stupid Owl will clash with these support groups and burn to a cinder."

"I thought we had more time! This meeting's over, Hime," Bones hollered.

Hime's stood behind her, "I'll drive."

Hime commandeered the BMW while Bones and Goose rode as passengers.

"We're going to another church located about 6 or 7 miles from Nightcap. I initially thought you'd be there since you're a Spore, but I thought again and waited here," Hime confessed.

"Wouldn't it be weird if you were wrong and Bones never showed up?" Goose wondered.

"Why, yes, little lady. But you must always think ahead."

"I said to not speak to him, didn't I?" Bones scolded.

Hime spoke, "Well, Bones, you should know why I'm taking you to that church and not Nightcap."

"Do tell."

"I don't mean to brag or anything, but I have Bots standing between Nightcap and the big, bad Guardians. The Bots are Extra, too. This should make for an interesting battle and, from the church tower, we have front row seats," Hime stated.

Spoken with utmost confidence, Bones felt she could rest assured the so-called Bots will put up a formidable defense.

Hime's vantage point came into view a few minutes later.

"There it is," Goose exclaimed.

"Good eye, Goose. They should call you Hawk," Hime complimented.

"Hawk," Goose mulled over, "I like that."

Hime parked the car, "Everybody out. Follow me to the very top, okay?"

After passing through the locked tower door, they ascended a spiral staircase which ended by a large bell.

"Quasimodo should chill out here," Goose commented.

"I like this girl, Bones," Hime smiled, "From this box, we have the entire street in our sight. The Guardians should be marching through here."

"Why are you so confident that the Guards will show in broad daylight? I can see it's raining but traffic still runs despite that," Bones pointed out.

He sighed, "They will."

"Here they come," Hime shouted, "My Bots should intercept them."

From their vantage point, the scene unfolded:

In 5 neat rows of 20, the bleak-faced platoon filed down the rainy street with rhythmical progression as their feet stomped the ground in uniformed unison. Each Guard carried a rifle slung on their shoulder and a service pistol on their belts. The black uniform bore no resemblance to the Cuban uniform.

"The tension's killing me," Hime said excitedly, "The signal."

With a loud whoop, he rung the church's bell, signalling his Bots to attack.

The windows overlooking the street flew open, each with a gunman behind it. Below, several cars slammed on their brakes, blocking the street from both ends.

The guards stopped, but didn't break for cover. In one movement, they equipped their rifles, took a knee, and shot out the window snipers.

"Wow," Goose breathed.

They withdrew their weapons, advancing to the blockade.

At the blockade, the drivers opened fire, successfully tagging a few Guards. They returned fire, taking down every gunman with synchronized lethality.

The injured Guards were on their feet almost immediately.

"Your men are getting destroyed down there," Bones reminded.

"Wait for it," he replied without looking away.

In an instant, the street level doors burst open, from which a legion of melee-armed Bots flooded out onto the street. The first Bot clashed with his opponent, launching through the air and impaling the Guard with a pitchfork.

Much to Bones' surprise, he simply clutched the man by his neck and ripped the Bot's head clear from his shoulders. Gradually, the wave of Bots trickled down to the last warrior. Wielding only an ax, she shrieked her last battle-cry before rushing the Guards. The soldiers shot her down in her tracks.

Hime offered Goose and Bones each a pair of binoculars.

Bones inspected the Guards, "This one has a butcher's collection of knives stabbed deep into him. That last one still has the pitchfork bisecting him."

Goose gasped, "They're helping each other remove the Bots' weapons. All of them shouldn't even be able to move!"

Bones shot a glance at the always-confident Hime, which looked somewhat disturbed. This confused her because she always expected him to have a plan b.

"No, Bones, there is no plan b. The majority of the Bots were self-healers. As you can see, the injuries they sustained were far to grave to recover from. We have to warn your Nightcap. They have to evacuate," he advised solemnly.

"We haven't time to lose. Let's go."

After they boarded the car, Hime drove the trio back to the bar.

"I'll wait here, Bones. Go talk to Spider and see if you can't reach Nightcap," Hime recommended.

Along with Goose, Bones entered the bar, noticed Diablo behind the counter, and called her attention.

"Please tell me Spider's in," Bones pleaded.

"She is. Upstairs in her study. Go on up," she answered.

In the upstair's study, they found Spider conversing with another bottle of whiskey.

"Baby Spider, you need to contact Nightcap. The Guards we mentioned earlier are making their way up to the Mushroom," Bones exclaimed.

"What? I thought we had more time. Damn it, can you confirm this?" She asked.

"Of course, we just saw them clear out a legion of Der Krieg Hime's Gears."

"I guess you were wrong about House's advise, huh? Very well, I'll drop a line to Nightcap. In the meantime, stick with Hime, it's the safest place to keep Goose," she instructed.

Outside, Hime waited somewhat impatiently.

"What's next, Hime?" Bones asked.

He snapped, "Let me think, damn it. Okay, there, in Nightcap, how many Spore do you think we’d find?”

“I don’t know, Hime, there is no way of ascertaining how many Spore would be meeting there now. Maximum, I’d dare say, roughly 50 to 70 active Spore including Nice Dream and Stupid Owl. Dream’s Nightmare consists of 10 personal Thorns including Owl and Dream. I'd say there should be another handful of Thorns hanging around. Taking into account the random Spore that drops by, the total number could be higher. That's not counting the amount of staff running Nightcap; they're not equipped to defend themselves,” Bones answered.

“Did you make sure to tell Spider that evacuation is the best solution?”

“The issue isn’t that. The real problem would be getting Dream away from Nightcap.”

“You’re right,” Hime admitted, “The headstrong Dream would rather hold his ground then retreat.”

“I have faith in Spider; she’ll find a way to keep Dream away from the threat.”

“Something strikes me as strange, Ms. Bones and Mr. Hime,” Goose confessed, “Why would the Cuban government send their elite squad in broad daylight and into such a narrow street with zero cover? If you ask me, that’d be the worst strategic move: trapping your own people.”

“I thought of that, too. I also assumed they knew that I knew where they’d be,” Hime answered, “It was just a display of their power. They succeeded in their Shock and Awe campaign.”

“You played right into their hands, huh?

“It seemed too good to be true, but I didn’t want to miss out on such an easy kill. The street was secluded, the adjacent buildings were abandoned, and they didn’t use any ordinance, so I expected them to try and silently slink to Nightcap.”

“How many Bots did you lose?” Goose wondered.

“One is too many. “

“Hime, we have to do something,” Bones urged.

“Let’s go upstairs with Spider. We’ll talk it out.”

…

Spider’s complexion didn’t seem to falter, even though Bones could clearly notice the color had drained. Of the four, Goose was the only to sit down; Hime stared out the window.

“We can’t have a single person stay behind in Nightcap, but if we have them leave, it’ll render the base defenseless,” Spider repeated.

“How much time do we have left before the Guards arrive at Nightcap?” Bones asked.

“They march at a steady rate of about 3 miles an hour. From their last known location, and given they’ll stay on foot, it’ll take them 6 hours,” Spider calculated.

“We can deter them, can’t we? Have you reached Nightcap?” Hime wondered.

She shook her head, “I didn’t. In reality, I wanted to talk to House and Bones about you, to see if we can recruit your help. Seeing as how you were one step ahead, I felt your Extra-human force could overpower the Guards in terms of numbers.”

"I actually believe that's a good thing. Any transmissions could be intercepted by a signal hijacker nearby. That could help the enemy triangulate the exact location of Nightcap if they didn't know it before."

“What was that earlier, Hime? About deterring the enemy?” Bones requested.

“Nothing, Bones. I was just being a Goose.”

Goose offered her opinion, “Think about it for a second. Since there aren’t any alternatives, we should just make them!”

“What are you on about?” Hime asked.

“Why is Nightcap such a vital place?” She asked.

Spider answered, “That’s where all the Spore head for their orders, payment, housing, and medical treatment if necessary. It’s too important a location to leave behind.”

“Okay, let’s say we move!” Goose exclaimed.

Bones spoke first, “Goose, I’ll assume you’ve never been to Nightcap, but the facility is too large. There are barracks, mess halls, and infirmaries. Not to mention a basement full of firearms. As Spider had said earlier, Nightcap is too precious to let fall.”

“What about the other Trees? There should be a Tree out there willing to lend us some Spore.”

“No, Goose! Fighting them head on is not an option!” Hime barked, “If you aren’t going to say something useful, then keep your stupidities to yourself.”

Crestfallen, Goose slunk in her chair. Bones continued to run solutions in her head.

Even if 6 hours is enough to generate a force twice that of Hime’s, we’d first need 100 plus Spore armed and informed. The 9 mile distance won’t be there forever, we’ll lose 3 miles for every hour passed. Best case scenario? I can’t think of one where we save both Nightcap and avoid casualties. If we can’t find the best case, then we just need the lesser of two evils. It’d be better to lose the few Spore for the majority’s sake.

“Who’s to say the Spore will be able to eliminate the Guards?” Hime asked Bones.

“Huh?”

“I know what you’re thinking and even that won’t work. Even Nightmare isn’t up to task. It's hopeless from every angle," Hime summed up.

"Well, that's a mistake," Goose interrupted, "And what if we treat this like a simple problem?"

Hime shook his head, "I said enough, Leaf."

"No, the solution is simple: we'll just shoot them directly in their heads! I didn't see a single head injury to those guys today. I literally know next to zero about what those things are, but I recall Mr. Hime saying something about self-healers so I assumed the men back there are self-healers as well. But if we shoot their brains out, they die instantly before they have a chance to heal."

 Spider supported Goose's idea, "Maybe we overestimated their capacities as well. It's worth a shot, you know."

"That's the spirit, Ms. Spider," she beamed.

"Actually, I'm a Mrs."

"Oh, there's a Mr. Spider?"

Bones sighed, "Just shut up, Goose."

"Okay, we've wasted roughly 2 hours, 3 max. That'll leave them anywhere between 6 to 9 miles from their last known location. We better make our move," Hime hurried.

"Listen up. You can definitely beat the Guards to Nightcap. Your job will be to pass them the information you've relayed to me just now," Spider ordered.

"We'll leave right away. Should we send someone here?" Hime asked.

"No, go on, quickly."

Once in the car, Hime sped off, racing to the Guards' final destination.

"Listen, Goose, you're the most inexperienced of any person we'll come in contact with at Nightcap. Stick with Bones or me at all times, okay? You saw what the Guards are capable of; even an Extra is helpless against them."

"Got it. I'll be careful, promise," Goose swore.

"Hime? How do you think they got a hold of Nightcap's location?" Bones inquired.

"Easy, it was during the hectic recruiting Dream ordered. Usually, Spore recommend candidates, which are evaluated physically and mentally. You were one of the spontaneous recruits, right?"

"Sort of. When I first arrived, Pistol took me to Nightcap. Right then and there, they replaced my Leaf status for Spore," Bones responded.

"With other cases, Spore actively sought after recruits, instead of traditionally waiting for a Leaf or Root to step up. It's safe to assume Nightcap recruited the wrong people," Hime explained.

"Moles, huh? Well, if we keep the decision-making between the Trunks and us, the potential moles can only do minimal damage."

"You're right. How close are we to Nightcap?"

"A few miles, perhaps 3. We should be there momentarily. Just keep an eye out for a blue hotel."

3 miles later, Hime pulled up to a hotel in a state of severe disrepair. Bones directed Hime around to the back where the hidden entrance was located.

Everyone left the vehicle and followed Bones. She retrieved a few pebbles and tossed them lightly at several windows. A moment later, the wall adjacent from the door opened inward, revealing the lively inner workings of Nightcap. The men behind the wall saluted Bones. She waved back with a smile, patting the men on their shoulders.

She called the attention of a gorilla-like man, "Dream!"

He bellowed laughter, "About damn time, Bones! I was beginning to think you ran away entirely."

"Not until I kick your old a*s. Listen, is this a bad time?"

He shook his head, "Always got time for my favorite Spore. Come on, let's go."

The group fell in behind the grizzly Trunk, through the rowdy Spore and up a few flights of stairs until they reached Dream's office.

After everyone had taken a seat, Dream spoke, "How are you, Lilly?"

Bones refused to answer.

Again, Dream bellowed laughter, "Bones, my girl! How the f**k are you?"

"Excellent, sir."

"Right on," he chuckled, "What steps can I take to make you get the hell out of here as soon as possible?"

"Just sit back and listen, and please don't interrupt," Bones requested.

"Good day, Nice Dream, I am the Machine's Operator: Der Krieg Hime. I humbly accept you as my host and sincerely wish for your audience."

"Just spit it out, man," Dream commanded briskly.

"As you request, Nice Dream. Broken Bones has been chosen as my handler by Baby Spider. I've collected information, which can be confirmed by the High Branch, Immortal House, that is of the essence. As we speak, an army 100 soldiers strong is slowly headed towards Nightcap."

"100? Is that all?" Dream huffed.

"The 100 soldiers, we believe, are of Extra-human origin. We have yet to ascertain the full nature of these fighting units but they seem to be able to recover from even the most catastrophic bodily damage. On top of being flawless marksmen, these soldiers may also have prodigious strength. Also, they might have been sent by the very Cuban government as an attempt to wipe out your Tree," Hime explained.

"Well, I don't want to stand around and figure out why you're here, instead, I'll just use you as you are. Do you have any Gears to lend?" Dream asked.

"Alas, I've none. We attempted to eliminate the enemy earlier, resulting in the loss of my entire Cuban fighting force, the Bots. It was here where we gleaned the true capacities of the Guards."

"Huh. So, what's the plan. Obviously, yelling at the top of our lungs and charging like a maniac won't work. Have you figured anything out?"

Hime pointed at Goose, "Actually, Sandford Goose came across a rather simple solution."

"Oh? What do you suggest?"

"Um, well... What if we shot them like zombies?" She muttered.

"Right between the eyes? How would that work?"

"Since the brain controls everything, why not take it out? How can they heal if they have no way to do it?"

"We agreed this would be the most practical alternative since we can only hope to hold our ground," Hime added.

"Okay, little Goose, have you ever fired a rifle?" Dream asked.

"Countless times, Mr. Dream. I grew up around rifles. If it's in my range, I can hit it," Goose bragged.

Dream laughed and slapped her back, "That's the spirit! In that case, you'll lead my Nightmare. With this master markswoman, we can turn this around."

"We've estimated them to arrive within the next 3 hours," Hime informed.

"More than enough time! Let me borrow Goose, Bones. In the meantime, get yourself downstairs and sound the alarm. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

Bones and Hime left Goose behind and headed downstairs. Bones led him to the mess hall where most Spore congregate.

She lept onto a table and called everyone's attention, "Listen up! Nice Dream woke up! Positions everyone, this is not a drill."

Nightcap's Spore sprung into action, leaving the mess hall single filed and marching towards the basement's stairs. In turn, the Spore went downstairs and retrieved a rifle, an ammo satchel, and a handgun. They returned to the mess hall, awaiting their next order.

"Alright, Spore! We have confirmed an enemy army amassed by the Cuban government. As of now, we have 2 hours to fortify our position and to devise a battle plan. But Nightcap ain't slow! We don't even need 20 f*****g seconds to know we're gonna make them regret even threatening us!" Bones' speech was met with a roaring approval.

After the crowd subsided, "This is the plan: aim for headshots. This isn't a request, it's a motherfucking order! Get that bead and plant that shot. Got it?"

More deafening roars showed approval.

"Choose a window, but don't get comfy; this won't take long. Get moving!"

The animated Spore whooped as they left the mess hall, some even patting Bones' back on their way out.

After the room had been cleared, Hime spoke, "Wow, Bones. I gotta say that was cool."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, that was like Braveheart," he complimented.

She ignored him, "Let's go back up to Dream and see his process."

Once back in the office, Dream turned away from a large map tacked onto the wall, "How'd it go?"

"All your Spore should be situated at a window with their fingers itching," Bones relayed as she joined him

"Okay, I'm done, too. I appointed Owl to look after Goose. He's going to send out Thorns as recon to get a firm idea of the enemy's position. After this is done, he'll radio in to pass on the info. The next step is to lead the rest of the Thorns and all of Nightmare. By doing so, Owl hopes to bottleneck the Guards from the north and south towards Nightcap's west side where I gather our Spore are locked and loaded, right?"

"Correct, these fuckers are fueled up."

"That's what I like to hear!" Dream exclaimed.

Dream's radio burst into static-ridden ravings, "I didn't catch that. Repeat, over."

Between the static, "Enemy... Four miles... We got this..."

"Didn't catch your last. Repeat, over," Dream replied.

This time, the voice sounded clear, "Nice Dream, it's Thorn Fuego Blanco, we have a confirmed visual of the enemy approximately 3 miles from Nightcap. Intel suggests a fighting force of 100 soldiers, we have but 50 such soldiers. What's going on? Requesting additional details, over."

"How could 50 beings disappear from view? Widen your scope to a larger radius!" Dream instructed.

"Sir, we have only 11 Spore working a 4 mile radius. Communications are limited as they are without having to include security measures."

"Are you complaining, Fuego? I overestimated you."

"That said, we'll be sure to make contact with the rest of the Guards."

"What info can you safely release regarding their armament and equipment? Over."

"At first glance, each soldier seems to wield an M-14 "iron sight" sniper rifle as their principle weapon and a Glock 9 as their sidearm. No special ordinance or high caliber weaponry has been reported as of yet. I suspect they are protected by class 1 Kevlar bulletproof vests and not much else," Fuego informed.

Dream scratched his head, "Are their heads unprotected?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Their faces! Could you shoot their brains out if you wanted?"

"Of course, sir," Fuego answered.

"Nice. That's excellent. I'll send out the rest of the Thorns and they'll have the follow-up order. Out," Dream signed off.

He addressed Bones, "You're in charge of Nightcap's Spore. Direct them at your whim. The microphone on my desk controls the intercom."

"Where are you headed?" Bones asked.

"I said I was going to release the rest of the Thorns, didn't I? That includes me. I leave Nightcap to you."

A few hours later...

The Guards suffered heavy damage at the hands of the Thorns. Fuego and Nightmare managed to thin the numbers drastically before having to retreat. Losses on Nightcap's side remained at zero, but the distance between the Guards and the base had reduced to a few hundred yards. Bones' Spore opened fire as soon as the Guards came into view, taking down the once-invincible soldiers one by one. Dream was among the Thorn fighting from outside of Nightcap with Goose tailing behind. She had proved herself a worthy warrior and earned an invitation into Nightmare as the only basic-human member.

Inside, Hime and Bones sat in Dream's office, viewing the battle unfold.

He sensed Bones' uneasiness, "It's too easy, huh."

"I don't like it. You saw earlier how quick they were to shoot out your Bots. So far, they haven't fired a single shot."

"What does Dream say?"

"Nothing but 'According to plan.' I don't think he sees much," Bones complained.

"And Fuego?"

"I had no idea he was a member of Nightmare," Bones confessed.

"No, I meant what does he think," Hime clarified.

"Oh. I don't know. He's a smart f**k, but I'm not really familiar with his mindset. You also have to keep in mind that the only people who witnessed the Bots were Goose, you, and I."

"Yeah, you're right. But what could they possibly accomplish by letting their Guards die so willingly?" Hime wondered.

"Maybe those Guards are the first wave. Think about it, they send out these mindless flesh puppets to provoke us and to gauge our power. This is successful because of their Shock and Awe campaign. The first part of the plan was to inspire fear, which was accomplished when they wiped out my Bots and the news was quickly spread to Swaying Palm and Nightcap. Maybe they know we're in cahoots or something. The second part consisted in the slow progression of the Guards. With this, they psychologically drove us into a corner, giving us the option of fight or flight. The third part consisted of targetting Nightcap, a vital landmark. We offered fight as our response, falling straight into their trap. Now, we are playing their game, and they are sitting back and watching everything about us: our tactics, numbers, strength, hierarchy, and capacities."

"The only thing in our favor is the remote location of Nightcap. At least no one gets caught in the cross-fire," Hime added.

"That's a plus. If anything, we can at least buy some time before their next assault to amass a greater force."

Nightcap's Spore simultaneously cheered in victory, shocking Bones from her previous state.

Dream's radio alerted her, "Broken Bones! It's Green Leaf Sandford Goose, but you already knew that. Anyways, the last of the Guards just went down! We won!"

Bones retrieved the radio, "That's it? Every single Guard is taken down?"

"No doubt about it. We have Spore on the ground counting the bodies and doing double taps just in case. I'm on the roof of the tallest building closest to you guys. Look out the window!"

Bones did just so, spotting Goose and Dream atop the highest structure. She fixed her gaze on the street below, completely littered with motionless, expressionless corpses.

It's over, she thought.

Hime joined her at the window, "Hot damn, that's quite a lot. Do you think we'll find 400 bodies?"

"I hope so. I better address the Spore," Bones said as she switched on the microphone.

"Attention, Nightcap. Broken Bones speaking. You fought an excellent battle and emerged victorious with zero casualties. But you know what? I, and I'm 100% positive that you didn't either, never doubted our triumph! Nightcap isn't a bunch of push-overs; we're tough, fast, and merciless. So I invite the Guards to come back whenever they wish. This is a hotel, is it not?"

The Spore cheered and applauded in agreement to her speech.

Hime also clapped, "A commander in the making. Good job."

"I didn't do anything. It was all Goose really," Bones offered to redirect the compliment.

"And to think, the mastermind behind this was none other than that weirdo. What a thing, huh?"

"I guess," she replied uncommittedly.

The radio buzzed once more.

"Broken Bones, Spore speaking," she answered.

"Bones? It's Immortal House. Spider considered it safe to use the airways since the immediate threat was eradicated. I'll put her on so you can speak."

The microphone rustled as they exchanged it, "Hey, it's Baby Spider. The situation is controlled for now but we must not wait around. I've arranged for a flight to Mexico to speak with the Cactus, Unyielding Nopal in Merida. They have the largest force of Spore and Extras out of all of our neighbors so we need to get in good with them. The Mexican cartels have purchased quite a few Guards. The development is that the Guards are being used to take on Nopal. We're sending you, Goose, and House as representatives in the matter. The Spore are gathered at their headquarters, Village 101 under their leader, Burnt Wasp. Nopal itself has 5 Trunk total: Cheat, Old Joke, Fallen Ghoul, Benign Demon, and of course, Burnt Wasp himself. Currently, they haven't had an encounter against the Guards; this proved to be the first real encounter against the fighting units. You are but one of the representatives present. Trees from all over North America will be at the summit to give the Guards a run for their money so be on your best behavior."

"I understand, Spider. When will the arrangements be made?" Bones asked.

"Soon, actually. You have approximately 5 hours to get your things and to meet us at the East end of the island. Don't bring any weapons, please."

"Understood, Baby Spider," she put down the microphone.

"Mexico, huh? I heard that Nopal is on the coast of Yucatan, very beautiful actually. If I wanted-"

Bones cut off the last of his sentence with a well-placed kiss. She broke away and headed downstairs, leaving Hime behind with a confused, satisfied smile plastered on his face.

Goose squealed when she caught sight of her, "We won!"

She grabbed her wrist and led her outside, "Get in the car; we have business back at Palm."

She followed Bones' order, "Not bad for my first official day as Green Leaf. Who'd have thought Dream would be asking me of all people to join Nightmare! I'm not even Extra! What's going on, by the way?"

"There's going to be a summit at a Tree in Mexico. It will be about the Guards and how to properly defend against them," she explained.

"Really, when?"

"I don't know, but for now, we have less than 5 hours to prepare for the trip. A High Branch will be accompanying us, Immortal House."

"Wow, a summit. Will there be other Trees there?"

"Many from what Baby Spider tells me."

Goose smiled excitedly, "Will Hime come, too?"

"No, you have to keep in mind that Der Krieg Hime and his Machine are disreputable. Association with that man is frowned upon."

Her smile turned into a smirk, "Then why'd you kiss him?"

"What? How'd you know?" She demanded.

"I didn't. I just bluffed," she replied.

Bones' face turned red.

"Oh my God, Ms. Bones! This is quite the predicament. Were you his past lover or something?" She poked.

"It's none of your concern, Sandford Goose. You respect your superiors."

"That's why you left him back at Nightcap. You aren't very smooth, huh?" She teased.

"Goose! Quit it, will you? Bones demanded as she tried to hide her smile.

"There's that smile, Ms. Bones. Come, do tell. We're a couple of mature ladies; we can have a mature-lady talk, can't we?"

"You are a child. I've no intention of pursuing this frivolous topic."

She blew air out her nose, "Whatever. You're no fun."

To Bones' delight, Swaying Palm came into view. She parked where they had recovered the car and led Goose inside. This time around, the bar was empty; Diablo didn't even stand behind the counter like usual. Not wanting to idle, Bones went behind the counter and upstairs to her room. She didn’t own a lot of clothes so packing took less than a minute; Goose’s luggage was never unpacked to begin with. The next stop took them to Spider’s study. Before entering, she knocked.

“Come in, Bones,” Spider invited.

“Did we take too long, Ms. Spider?” Goose asked.

“Not at all. Presently, we are waiting for Immortal House to arrive. I sent him out for a bottle of whiskey. In the meantime, coffee?”

Goose turned down the offer while Bones took it up.

“So, Goose, I heard Dream invited you to Nightmare,” she stated.

“Mr. Dream is a nice man, very handsome, too. But I want Ms. Bones to be my Sun. The idea of being in Nightmare didn't really attract me.”

“You realize Bones is a Spore? They have no formal rankings.”

“She used to be a Leaf, too. Besides, I don’t care about that.”

Spider chuckled, “I like you, Sandford Goose. You are very eccentric.”

“Thank you!”

A knocking on the door interrupted them, “Spider, may I come in?”

“Sure thing, House. We were waiting for you.”

House walked in looking older than usual, tired perhaps, Bones noticed.

“Are you ready?” Spider asked.

“Yes, the pilot is waiting for us at Sandino. From there it’s a short ride to Mexico.”

"No, I meant where's my whiskey."

"Ahh, here," he handed the bottle to Spider.

She poured some into her coffee, "Well kids, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here."

Author's Note

Comment, like, rate, or whatever. Thanks for reading.