"That's... that's impossible the Hallows line..." Hyuse went silent. It wasn't. Turning his head to the older captains, they all looked as though they were hiding a major secret. As Machi tried getting up, he felt a warm presence keeping him seated there. Everyone turned, not recognising him then sensed it, believing it was a ghost before realising the truth. "Stay seated Master Machi," he spoke, "you aren't in a condition to move."
Machi nodded and closed his eyes, allowing him to speak. "You. You're Cain Briers." Charlotte spoke. "Former Knight of Victor and his Majesty--" He cut Charlotte off, making sure they remembered this was a different time, and that was all the past.
"My loyalty lies with Master Machi and his ideologies."
Rocco noticed Machi falling asleep and he chuckled before listening. "Is it true?" Xox asked. "Is he a Hallows?" Carbine sighed and resumed his position behind Machi. As one's Vice Captain would do.
"Victor Hallows had a child. A human child with Eternal blood running through his veins. Before he went missing, he and I had concluded a massive battle with the Captain previously known as Refed Jaeger. At the apex of the battle, Victor had transferred my consciousness into his son, my body then destroyed by Refed."
Everyone went silent. They didn't... couldn't fathom his strength. Victor Hallows could have been King but didn't want that life and left to ensure the safety of the settlement, leading Yuma to look for a new potential candidate. "Watching the battle from his son's mind, I watched as Victor disappeared from Earth. His son's name was Rylan. Rylan Hallows, Machi's father. And when Master Rylan came into his powers, his Wonderland possessed dolls, one of which I now inhabit. I had no form before that moment."
Hearing his words, hearing his story, it made the Captains wonder what sort of monster had been unleashed into the world. The universe even. "And as such, I will not allow Machi Harkness to resume the role of the 10th Captain by your command," Carbine stated, "as his stay here will not only be temporary and informative, his home is Academy City."
King Yuma thought about his request. Seeing Machi wake, he noticed all the eyes and looked to Carbine. "Refed is our cause, it would be negligent of us to allow him to wreak more havoc on the world," Shale spoke. "Victor knew this. We..." he didn't fancy saying these words considering his uncle was a few seats down, "we can't forget, and have to accept responsibility. If we didn't put Refed down, the universe would be stable."
Unveiling a list, Machi looked to Shale and wondered what he was doing. "There are 5 powers on Earth we deem as a potential threat to our safety, just by their pure power. Two are already present here," looking at Machi and Karma and Karma was shocked, "and I'd like to confirm about the others."
Seeing a small nod, Shale read out the names.
"Isaac Kalona?"
"Machi's stepdad," Rocco answered.
"Lord Hellyer?"
"Leader of Ashmire and Karma's leader."
"Josette Black?"
Machi went silent. 'Josette was the last one?' Carbine nudged him and Machi nodded. "Academy City's analyst and healer," Mira answered. Machi was shocked Aunt Jo was known by the Eternals.
-
After that was determined, Shale was given the order to meet with all 5 powers and discuss a course of action. Jin, Silver, Emery, Jae Ravize, Hyuse and Codex would come along.
"Now. Can we return home?" Machi asked the King and he nodded.
"It will be painful. For those without spiritual energy."¤
Kai watched as the monitor began beeping and he caught 11 signals dropping in on the outskirts. Sending Nakamura who was chasing boars since he was bored and they were destroying fields, he arrived at the gate and saw a massive crater.
"I swear to god I hate falling from the fucking sky!"
Unsheathing his sword, he watched as someone climbed out. "Rocco?"
"Nakamura?"
The others left the crater and he recognised some but saw new faces. "Machi? What the hell you disappeared without a trace! Where did you go?"
Seeing how pale he looked, Nakamura called over for Jo. And also Evermore.
Machi watched as Jo arrived and caught him. "Kid, what happened?" Jo asked.
"Got sliced in half," Rocco revealed. Jo froze and noticed how the wound was expertly healed but wasn't complete.
"Healed somehow but left the healing too early because we ran into Freed again," Karma added.
Jo opened his shirt and went silent. Administering emergency first aid, and mixing ki into it, they all watched colour was regained into his face and Jo sighed. "Did you fully heal him?" Karma asked.
"No. He'll live though. He has to learn a lesson." Machi rolled his eyes and looked to Jo who smiled.
"Gee, thanks." Machi sassed and stood up. "So, I bet you're wondering--" Jo furiously shook her head.
"No. No, I am not. As the guy who flew in on a Dragur ship with dragur rebels, seeing you with new people is low on my shock factor."
"But who are they?" Jo asked.
"Long ass story but they come from the place where my father's family are from," Machi said. Ignoring the part of Freed.
"You're gonna give me a headache. Ever and Zac are out for the week, over in Ashmire with Hogwood. Ever put me in charge so what do you want me to do?" Jo asked and everyone had now exited the hole and looked to Machi.
"You are in charge..."
Sighing, Jo flicked his forehead and chuckled. "Machi. We all know that despite the power your mother holds, you're a shadow leader. You know things we can't ever comprehend. The day I see someone else go up against as many things as you have at a level 2 alone, I'll challenge you." She assured and Machi trusted her judgement.
-
Shale noted the tech facilities that Machi took him to. Jo joined and watched as the new figure. She could sense a large dormant power within him as he geeked out about the advanced tech before him.
Kai watched with caution but seeing Machi carefree had warranted some comfort. "I see why your kind rely on tech so much. It is so advanced it really seems like a dream." Shale stated and Machi chuckled.
Karma walked in. "Having fun?" Jo was asked and she chuckled.
"Oh god no. I think I'd rather be stuck with tech-obsessed over there than the others."
Seeing Machi shrug, he looked over the current things running and noticed one was tracking them.
¤
During the meeting in Ashmire, Evermore got word that there were things she needed to urgently see but remained speaking to the leaders.
"Still unable to track them?" Hellyer asked and they nodded. "I think Machi removed the tracking system. He always knew the loopholes in tech even without watching us build it." Evermore sighed and Hogwood did worry for his daughter.
Hellyer for Karma.
And Evermore for Machi and Rocco.
That's when, in the middle of the room, a rift opened up and someone came tumbling out. "I seriously don't get him."
The next two to walk out were Machi and Karma and they hopped down from the table. "You could have warned me!" Shale yelled.
"No one on their right mind would run into them unless they knew exactly where they'd land," Machi argued and Shale huffed. Despite the 550+ age difference, Karma wondered how they acted a lot like Rocco and Machi.
"What's going on....?" Klaus Sunridge asked. Yeah. He was here. Noticing it was Machi again, he looked at his mother and she was just as confused.
"These are the people you wanna speak to Shale," Machi said, "just tread carefully." Jo entered last after sorting out arrangements and smiled at her husband.
"Josette?"
Shale turned to her and went wide-eyed. "You're the Josette Black--"
Machi slapped his mouth shut. Karma smacked her head in disbelief. Everyone turned to the pair and Karma sat on a spare chair and chuckled. "I'm lost..." Jo muttered and Machi groaned.
"Humans, Shale, are rather sensitive beings. Please remember that as you go on."
Letting go, he rubbed his temples and sighed. "Lady Josette Black of Life. Lady Karma of Blood. Master Machi of Energy. Master Isaac Kalona of Time. Lord Hellyer of Mother Nature. The 5 powers of Earth." Shale repeated. "Are they all here kid?"
"Plus the leaders and major powers of Earth. My mother Evermore Harkness. Aunt Jo's husband Dawson, and Mira's father Lord Hogwood. Agent overseer Klaus Sunridge."
Nodding, he began as such.
"You do not know me. But I know of some of you. And before you decide to lash out at some of the things I am going to say," Karma noticed his eyes brighten and his spiritual energy crushed everyone but Machi, Jo and Karma (she still had the necklace) in the room, "I won't hesitate to slaughter every single one of you if you lift a finger against me."
"I swear to god, Shale what did I just say?! I get in kahoots with the weirdest people." Machi sighed.
Shale chuckled. "Also, I get what you're gonna say is really bad, but death? We have enough of that going around right now. I feel like I have one foot in the grave since Maria." Machi argued.
"It's a precaution kid," Shale answered, "after all, I've come to understand that the state of the universe right now is due to my kind's negligence."