#‘I hope Allen gets mauled by a dog today’

[catboirights]

They are so funny to me

[idreamofasriel-blog]

Metal Slug Past Life Ch 9

It was a long trip from Head Quarters to the train station for Marco and Fio. Marco ordered Tarma to stay behind to keep watch over Kartu and Fio asked Eri to dig up more information on Kronos Corp and she obeyed. Marco pulled the Jeep up to the station and found the train covered in bullet holes, deep dents, charred marks, and smoke smoldering from some of the box cars. They both got out and Fio couldn't keep her eyes off of the damaged train and box cars. Ralf and Clark were already giving orders to have all supplies and ammunition removed and any fire put out. Fio happily greeted Leona and Clark with an energetic wave and the young woman waved back and greeted Fio. “So what happened here, Colonel?” Marco asked, eyeing the mess on the train and its box cars. “We got ambushed by The Rebels and it looked like they got help too once again.” Said Ralf, who was covered in bruises, cuts, and a swollen eye that's in need of an ice pack. “Morden got help again? Do you know who's helping him?” Marco asked Ralf. Ralf shook his head, “No but they were wearing animal masks over their faces and gave all of us a good beating.” Marco raises a brow. The memory of his dream came flooding into his mind of the animals he saw in his dream and the train they were chasing after. “Ralf, you better tell me the full story about these masked fighters and Morden getting help from them.” It was after their meeting with the PF Squad when General Heidern gave his orders to the Ikari Warriors to protect the newly found mechanical Drake they transfer from the Kalahari desert. After removing loads after loads of sand to bring the metal beast out of the ground, they transfer it with a flatbed truck and then carefully flew it all the way to where PF Squad's headquarters could be reached by train. Ralf saluted to the general and promises him a swift and successful job and left the briefing room with Clark, Leona, and Whip. So far, the trip has been rather quiet except for the rhythm of the train going over the tracks and the tranquil view of the desert. Clark looked out the box car's window and smiled a bit when he see a Roadrunner chasing after a snake to make into its today's meal. “You should get yourself a Roadrunner, Ralf. They sure love to eat snakes like spaghetti.” Clark joked and Ralf playfully rolled his eyes at him.  “More like a pet for Whip. Have you seen how fast those birds move when they grab one? They swing them around like they're made of rope. Makes you think if Whip was a Roadrunner in her previous life.” “Maybe I can train it to bring snakes back to you, Ralf since you're so fond of them.” Whip retorted back. Ralf shivered at the thought of a dopey looking bird running up to him with a snake, dead or alive, in its beak and offering it to him as food. Whip smirked, it was funny to her to see the man who harasses her with the nickname Whippy squirming at the thought of a bird feeding him a snake. Leona couldn't help but smile, watching and listening to two fully grown men and a teenage girl talking about a bird that lives in the desert and eats snakes for dinner. Her smile soon ended and a concern expression began and she got off the crate she was sitting on and look out the window. Seeing a Rebel Motorbike going at a fast pace to keep up. “Ralf, we're being chased!” The whole box car shook violently and they grabbed on to something to prevent themselves from falling. A Rebel Soldier shot a missile, leaving a massive hole big enough for the others to climb in and start shooting at them. They took cover and started shooting back at the Rebels. Clark punched a rebel in the face, instantly knocking the soldier out and more moved in to get a better shot at The Ikari Warriors. Ralf exchanged shots and they hear more of them on the roof of the boxcar and two heavy ones accompanying them. Leona cleared the area with her explosives earrings and they moved out while gunning down any rebels still coming in. Ralf swung the door open and a R-Shobu flew in to gun them down. They were quick to take cover and shot back at the pilot and it was Whip who took down the R-Shobu with a throw of a knife. It loses control and crashes into the desert, bursting into flames. “Nice throw, Whippy.” Ralf smiled at her and they quickly climbed onto the roof of the boxcar. They thought the heavy footsteps were coming from Allen O'Neil and his son but they were in for a surprise when they saw who was making those heavy footsteps. Standing before them was a huge muscular of a man. He wore a blue jean coat with the sleeves ripped off and he had a tattoo of a wild stallion bucking it's hind legs into the air, throwing the rider off of it on his arm and he wore a thick chain necklace with a silver horseshoe attached to them. He wore a hand carved and decoratively painted horse mask to conceal his identity and his black hair flowing wildly in the wind. He wore black fingerless gloves and he cracked his knuckles then moved his neck around to crack it too. “I was about to come down to see if you need any help getting your ass kicked,” He said, with malice grin appearing on his face. “Funny coming from a guy who mask should be a horse's ass.” Ralf replied and getting into a fighting stance. Climbing from the other side and taking one big leap to land on the box car's roof is another man but this one was wearing a dog mask and he was Ralf's size. His brown hair was a butch cut and he got claw and bite scars all over his arms and neck. He wore a spiked dog collar and a black shirt with a picture of the snarling heads of Cerberus breathing out fire. “Need any help, Bronco?” He said, staring at the Ikari Warriors face-to-face. “Just in time, Hellhound. I'm going to need some help taking these four down.” Hellhound scoffs, “No problem while Poe and Celestial take care of their special cargo before the boss gets here to claim it.” “Over our dead bodies!” Ralf shouted and charged at Bronco. Bronco's punch was like getting kicked in the face by a horse and Clark tackled the man as if he was a bag of flour. “Leona! Whip! Get to the flatbed while Ralf and I take on these goons!” Clark shouted and dodging Bronco's punch. Leona and Whip obeyed Clark and passed the men and climb off the roof of the boxcar while fighting off any Rebels who dares to attack them. It'll take more than a punch in the eye to stop Ralf Jones from fighting. He was back on his feet again and ready to fight against Hellhound. “Most men Bronco punched would have just given up and run away with their tail between their legs,” Hellhound laughed “But you, huh, I'm going to have so much fun mauling on you.” Ralf grinned at him, “Big words coming from a mongrel.” Hellhound loses his temper and charges at Ralf. Ralf moved to the side and he kept blocking punches that Hellhound threw at him. He even threw some of his own back at Hellhound. He did punch him in the jaw and Hellhound punched him back in the chest and the men kept blocking and dodging their moves with Hellhound giving Ralf a fiery uppercut that burned his chin. Ralf was not going to give up and land a blowing kick on Hellhound and he hopes that Whip and Leona could read the flat bed on time to stop Celestial and Poe. Clark, meanwhile, locked hands with Bronco in a struggling shoving match. Both men with sweat dripping down their faces and shirt stained with it. Neither of them wanting to be pushed back by the other and waiting for the other to slip up. “Not bad for a man who works out all day,” Bronco huffs and shakes the sweat off his face, “But are you strong enough to defeat a man with the strength of a herd of wild horses?” Clark smiled, “Yes. Let me show you.” Bronco's jaw dropped and felt Clark getting a good hold on him and grabbing him in an arm lock. Struggling to free himself, Clark slams him and himself through the roof and into the box car. Leona threw a Rebel against three of them and they toppled over and fell off the train while Whip reflecting their bullets right back with her weapon. The path is cleared and they made their way to the next box car and swung the door open. Looking around the quiet box car, Leona and Whip crept inside,  they made their way to the next door when a blade flew and stuck itself into the wall, nicking Leona's ear. Standing behind them with throwing knives ready in hand is an athletic woman, wearing a raven mask and black pants and hooded sweater with a white Celtic knotting of a Raven taking flight. She wore a silver dragon ring with its tail curled around her middle finger and silver feather earrings and chopped up blond hair. “So this is Poe,” said Whip, getting her whip ready to fight. “But where is this Celestial character those two meatheads were talking about?” Her question is answered when Celestial smashed the window in and swiped at Whip with his talon made gloves, only grazing her arm and a thin man with a Rooster mask slipped through the door. He has a red Mohawk and wore torn blue jean pants and black boots with talons crafted onto them. He has an orange bandanna tied around his neck and wore a leather vest with a patch of a Rooster with its wings spread out and talons slashing in the air. “Funny, I thought we were expecting some roosters to fight, not a couple of hens,” Celestial laughs, “Let's cut them up, Poe.” Poe took on Whip, leaving Celestial to fight against Leona in an arm-to-arm combat. Leona dodges and weaved away from Celestial's slashing talons and kicks and caught his wrist in time to punch him in the face and let out a small cry when she felt the other hand claw at her other arm. Grabbing that one too, she moved in for a headbutt, causing Celestial to stumble and making a move to rapidly land blows after blows on him before he regains his stance to fight back again. Poe kept throwing knives at Whip but she got the upper hand on her with her whip. Spinning it fast enough to create a barrier to keep the knives from touching and took a quick step to the side when Poe charges at her with a combat knife. Poe plunged the knife in the wall and freed it turn her attention toward Whip. She took her whip and transform it into a blade and the girls clashed against each other with their weapons. Pushing back against each other, locking into a fierce staredown before pushing each other back. Poe came back charging at her and only to make a cut on her uniform before getting kicked in the stomach, knocking some wind out of her. Back to Ralf and Clark, Bronco was getting up before Clark got him into a headlock but not for long after Bronco smacks the back of his head against Clark's face to free himself and giving Clark a broken bloody nose. The masked man let out an aggressive cry and slams his foot on the ground so hard that the impact rocked the entire box car, shaking everyone around him, and striking Clark with a massive shock wave. “Has anyone ever told you not to mess with a stallion when it kicks back?” Bronco cracks his knuckles and raises his fist to punch Clark. Clark caught it just in time swung the man over his shoulder and gave him a beating of a lifetime. Bronco's mask is half shattered but not his spirit. He landed a powerful right on Clark's back to make the man fall over. Bronco smirk, getting cocky now and thinking that he got the fight in the bag. He lands another kick but felt Clark's hands grabbing him by the ankle and with one amazing swing, Clark breaks him right through the Box car's door and watched the man wildly tumble and roll across the dusty dry ground, laying there as the train rapidly pulled away and all he can see is a fading figure slowly getting up. Hellhound and Ralf were a mess. Hellhound didn't care that his mask was dangling by one strap and his face can be seen. All he cared about right now is winning his fight against Ralf and his blood is boiling that he's not winning. “You have given me one Hell of a dog fight I got to give you that,” he said, spitting the blood out of his mouth. “Now it's time put this fight to sleep.” Ralf has a nasty black eye and blood coming out of his mouth and he wiped it away and charges at him. In unison, they landed one punch after another on each other fists and Hellhound swoops his leg to knock Ralf over. He grinned and slammed his elbow right into Ralf's stomach and returned the favor with his kick. They did feel the box car violently shook from Bronco's wrath and focused on not losing their balance and went back to fighting. “Time to put you back in the dog house!” Ralf took him by surprise and moved in with his lighting speed punching. Poor Hellhound never had a chance. He felt like a piece of meat being tenderized by an angry chef and felt every blow. He could no longer stand on his own and Ralf KO him right on the spot with an uppercut and watched him fly into the air and then crash back to earth through the hole that Clark made. Ralf jumped through the hole and found Clark inside, “Let's go help Leona and Whip.” “For two hens, I'm impressed by how well you two fight,” said Celestial, he moved in to keep fighting with Leona and his attacks kept getting dodge and know all too well that Leona is getting tired and he lands scratches on her. She is getting tired of this and summons a powerful aura from her hands and feet. “Time to clip this bird's wings.” she said and with one swift of her hand, Celestial's gloves became useless and the man stood in horror, watching the talons clinking across the floor, he's been unarmed and it's not looking good for him. Leona moves in for the finishing move and made a nasty cut across his chest and kick him hard enough that he flew across the room and hit his back against the wall. Celestial slid down, defeated. Whip was just wrapping up her fight against Poe and finished with the crack of her whip. They smiled and high five each other and turn their attention toward the door when Ralf and Clark came in, “I see you two don't be needing our help after all.” said Ralf, seeing Poe and Celestial knocked out. “We stopped them from reaching the cargo just in time.” said Leona and flinched from her pain. “We better get you to a medic right away.” said Ralf, checking Leona's injuries and Clark checks Whip's. Poe groaned and grabbed her throwing knife and aims for Leona's chest. Ralf notices this from the corner of his eye and shoves Leona to protect her. It happened so fast with Ikari Warriors. They thought at first that they were going to lose Ralf on their mission but they didn't predict what happened next. A stream of light zoomed by them in a blink of an eye and everything around them came to a stand still. Ralf and the rest can see and hear but their bodies were frozen in place and the throwing knife was an inch away from stabbing Ralf in the heart. The box car's door slid open and stepped inside was a young man wearing a goat mask. His hair is a mess even if it was in a ponytail. He wore a hooded cloak and ash gray tunic underneath it and leather boots. He carries a satchel swung on his shoulder and he walked by Ralf and stopped and turn his attention to him and the knife. Ralf couldn't defend himself and this was the perfect timing for the man to kill him. Instead, he reached out and removed the knife and stored it in his bag. “Poe, my grandfather said no killing anyone.” he scolds her and ordered the Rebels to remove Celestial and Poe to safety. He opened the door and step to the flatbed and close the door and lock it. Everything was quiet and they can hear the young man ordering the rebels to remove the chains and tarps of the Drake and ordered them to remove the chest plate to insert the heart he has in his satchel. It went quiet again and the whole train began to rumble and shake and they heard a loud thunderous roar and more violent shaking around the train. Booming footsteps faded away and the young man didn't come back inside. Time sped up for them again and the train is moving at fast speed again. Ralf kicked the door out and the Ikari Warriors to find the flatbed empty of their precious cargo. “What do we now?” Leona asked Ralf who was taking his anger out on the cut chains on the ground. “First thing first,” Ralf turned to them, “We're going to do damage control and report this to General Heidern and the PF Squad.” When the story ended, Marco's dream was no coincidence to him. It was no doubt in his mind that it was some kind foretelling of the train robbery and even if he was awake early to warn them of it, he'll look like a fool in front of everyone if they were to ask him where he got this vital information on this plan. “But the young man mentioned his grandfather who's the master plan behind this robbery. We better dig deeper into Morden's plan and see who behind the theft and the new weapon they gave him.” said Marco. Ralf nodded, “Meanwhile, the Ikari Warriors and I are getting to get medical help and see what we have to do next.” Marco and Ralf saluted to each other and departed. Marco tells Fio that it's time to go even though she was helping Clark and Leona with their injuries. “Don't worry about us, Fio. We'll be in good hands.” Clark smiled at her and she waved goodbye to them and ran toward the jeep. The ride was awfully quiet and Fio can see that Marco is deep in his thoughts. She can tell when Marco moves his lips but not open them. “Are you okay, Marco?” Fio asked him with concern in her voice. Not saying a word, Marco drove the jeep to the side of the road and placed it in park. The Jeep sat idle and Marco turned to Fio, “I don't know if anyone will believe me or see me as a madman, Fio but....Last night I dreamt about the train robbery.”