[_____V_____]

(Contd...)


SECTOR D:

DISEASE looked bored. He was hearing explosions from his left and right and knew his teammates were having a wonderful time all around him. He wondered if he was missing out on the action, so he stood up.

He started to walk over to the nearby Sector, just as a cloaked, near-invisible thing passed right over his head, apparently headed for a secret destination.

Disease broke through plenty of bushes, and came across Rayne from the right. He peered forward and rubbed his eyes once. Licking his lips for finding such an easy target, Disease lifted his Grenade Launcher.

THUNK!! THUNK!!

Both grenades flew right at Rayne's feet, who did nothing to save herself. In fact, she didnt even move.

Disease wondered.

BAM!! BAM!!

Both grenades shook the area with their intensity, opening Rayne's lifeless body up some more. Her already bleeding wounds started gushing out more fresh blood, but Rayne's brains had stopped functioning already.

Disease thought over everything carefully, and began to wonder if he had wasted his shots. Oh well, its done anyway, he shrugged, and dropped his empty Grenade Launcher, before heading towards the Gates.


Elsewhere, Despare bit his lips, fighting the pain which engulfed his body. He had only 1 HP left from the ones gifted to him by Rayne, and knew he was in trouble the moment one more Slayer came across him.

A shadow loomed over Despare and he looked up in a big bout of alarm, wincing in pain.

PAUL THE MONK stood over him, and sat down by his side.

"Sorry I was late, my friend," Paul began. "I was too late for someone else too..."

Paul trailed off, and instantly Despare knew.

He mumbled,"She was a brave and selfless soul. Unlike the others in our team."

Paul nodded. "Indeed. If only I was there earlier...I would have given all my HPs to save you both. But..."

Despare nodded back with a sigh. Paul took a bunch of HPs out from his bag and stuffed them into Despare's HP bag. "The least I can do is hope there isn't any more casualties for our team," Paul remarked, his face stony-hard.

Despare extended a hand and Paul pulled him up with a rush. Despare groaned in pain and fell to the support of a nearby tree. Paul looked around in alarm, and patted Despare on his shoulder.

"Take care of yourself."

"And you?"

"I will be around," Paul grinned once, before his face became hard again. "I have some unfinished business to attend to."

Despare looked at him with a puzzled expression. Paul nodded, more to himself than to Despare, and hurried off in another direction. Despare looked around, and moved in the opposite direction slowly, with a hobble.


SECTOR A (again):


BWIND looked ahead with a huge smile. He had chanced upon Despare who came stumbling through the trees. He lifted his Grenade Launcher, and fired quickly.

THUNK!! THUNK!!

Despare whirled. The grenades landed right in front of him and blasted before he could do anything.

BAM!! BAM!!

Despare was knocked off his feet from the impact, landing backwards. His already bleeding wounds opened up some more and he bled profusely, a very weak hand reaching for his HPs. Patching himself up back again to the fullest, Despare took a deep breath and lay down quietly, letting the HPs do their work. I must move out of here soon, were his thoughts as he fought back huge waves of dizzyness and nausea.


(Final continuation next...)