บท 35: Out of Time, Out of Place #35
Elena and I stood amidst the aftermath of our fight with the Syndicate thugs, the ground littered with groaning bodies and scattered weapons. I took a deep breath, wiping sweat from my brow, and made my way toward the carriage they had been so zealously guarding.
"Hey, is there any particular reason you had me hold back?" Elena called out, holstering her shotgun as she approached me. "You know, not killing anyone?"
I sighed, pausing to look at her. "I don't want to kill anyone unless I have to. Thugs or not, I don't want any more blood on my hands. I've already seen more than enough back at the Wildlife Sanctuary."
Elena shrugged, a casual acceptance of my reasoning. "You're the boss."
I pulled back the cloth covering the carriage, revealing a large, metal box. Raising the lid, I frowned, puzzled by what lay inside. Vito materialized beside me, letting out a loud whistle. "Jackpot."
Noticing my reaction, Elena came over to have a look. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight. "A minigun?" she muttered, eyeing the oversized firearm, its five barrels glinting under the sun.
I sighed, shaking my head. "There's nothing mini about this thing. Who even called it that?"
Elena chuckled. "The name doesn't matter. What matters is the firepower. And it doesn't get much better than this."
I looked at the weapon, feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. I couldn't imagine a scenario where I'd use a gun almost half my weight and over half my height without being gunned down myself. "We can take it back and leave it at the base," I muttered, starting to close the lid.
But I paused, feeling a vibration on my wrist. Glancing at the wristwatch, I noticed a Pal Sphere materializing in my hand, as if it had a will of its own.
Instantly, I knew what Pal was within the sphere. Turning to Elena, I said, "Looks like Grizzbolt wants out."
Elena's eyes widened with surprise and concern. "Grizzbolt? Now?" she asked, but she nodded and stepped back, fully aware of the creature's usual hostility towards her.
I waited until she was a good distance away before hurling the sphere to the ground. The sphere shattered, releasing a burst of energy that materialized into the formidable form of Grizzbolt. Elena and I both watched, our expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
To our surprise, Grizzbolt didn't even glance at Elena. Its eyes were fixated on the minigun in the carriage. With an expression of confusion and exasperation, I watched as Grizzbolt effortlessly picked up the minigun with one hand, raising it high and rubbing its cheeks against it as if it had found a long-lost treasure.
I scratched my head, baffled by the creature's behavior. "Looks like we just found a better use for the minigun."
Elena winced at my words. "Great. Now, other than being electrocuted by that thing, I'll have to worry about being turned into Swiss cheese."
I laughed, despite the absurdity of the situation. "I'll give you a heads-up before I call it out again." Turning to Grizzbolt, I said, "I guess you can keep it if you like it that much..."
As I called Grizzbolt back into its sphere, the minigun vanished along with it, turning into light that was contained within the sphere.
Elena smiled wryly. "At least we won't have to worry about transporting that thing."
I sighed, shaking my head. "No, but now I have to worry about bullets. That thing looks like it could empty my pockets in five minutes of firing."
"I'm sure you'll manage," Elena said with a chuckle. She then pointed to the sky, which was darkening rapidly. "Should we head back to the base now? It's getting late."
I shook my head. "You go on ahead. I have some business to tend to, and I might be away for a while."
Elena didn't argue. "Alright. But don't forget to take the guns from the Syndicate thugs. We can either use them for our Pals or sell them."
I nodded, appreciating her practicality. "Good idea. I'll take care of it."
As Elena began her journey back to the base, I started collecting the weapons from the downed thugs.
The task was monotonous, giving me time to reflect on the day's events. The Grizzbolt's peculiar attachment to the minigun was unexpected, but it could be useful. And while I hated the idea of leaving Elena to travel alone again, I knew she could take care of herself and my presence was needed elsewhere.
With the weapons secured, I took one last look at the Syndicate's convoy before setting off in the opposite direction toward the nearest Great Eagle Statue.
...
Materializing back on the private island, I took a moment to reorient myself. The familiar sounds of waves gently lapping against the shore and the distant cries of seagulls greeted me, but my focus was immediately drawn to a peculiar sight near the pond.
The Cattivas had done an excellent job digging out the pond for our water-type Pals, and it had become a serene spot on the island. Today, however, it hosted an unfamiliar figure. A man, broad-shouldered and muscular, sat on the grass.
Though his shirt was neither small nor tight, his impressive physique was unmistakable, as was his striking blonde hair. Yet, it wasn't just his appearance that caught my attention; it was the fact that he seemed to be sitting in quiet companionship with Depresso, a pal who wasn't exactly sociable in any way, shape, or form.
The two appeared to be at ease, enjoying a moment of companionable silence.
Curiosity piqued, I approached the man cautiously and cleared my throat. The sound startled him slightly, and he turned around slowly to face me. Piercing blue eyes met mine, and I instantly recognized him. Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America.
My eyes widened slightly at the realization. I had guessed who he was by his back figure and the fact that I asked to see him myself, but seeing the man in person was still a novel experience. The aura of calm strength he exuded was almost tangible.
Alternating my gaze between Captain Rogers and Depresso, I couldn't help but smile. "Am I interrupting anything, Captain Rogers?"
He returned the smile, a genuine warmth in his expression. "Just Steve will do... And no, you're not interrupting anything." He gestured toward Depresso, who was now grooming itself lazily. "I was just sitting with the little guy here. He looked lonely, out of place."
My eyes widened yet again, the weight of his words sinking in. "Not unlike you, though you're more out of time rather than place."
Steve's smile turned bitter, and I quickly realized my mistake. Clearing my throat, I changed the subject. "Well, it's called Depresso. And before you ask, no, I didn't come up with the name. Folks took to calling it that because of its perpetually grouchy look."
Steve looked back at Depresso, who now seemed content as it stretched and yawned. "Doesn't seem all that grouchy to me."
I laughed, the sound breaking the tension. "It isn't grouchy at all, despite its look. In fact, it's known to feed and even look after creatures of other species that get separated from their packs, or so I've been told."
Steve glanced back at the Depresso, his expression thoughtful. "Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover." He turned back to me, his demeanor shifting slightly. "You must be the person in charge here."
I nodded. "Vito Moretti. A pleasure to officially make your acquaintance." I extended my hand, and Steve grasped it firmly, the handshake feeling like a solid connection—one that transcended mere introductions.
"I was told you have crucial intel," he said, releasing my hand. "And that you only intend to share it with me."
I felt the weight of his words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. He trailed off momentarily, then added, "But first, I should thank you for helping to get me back to the land of the living."
A bitter smile crossed my face. "You shouldn't thank me just yet, Steve. Your struggles are far from over."
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of defiance glimmering in his piercing blue eyes. "I've been fighting against the odds my entire life. I can handle it." He trailed off as if to ready himself. "Tell me, what do you have for me?"
I sighed, realizing this conversation was about to take a darker turn. "Well, what doesn't I have for you? First of all, There's a genocidal warlord from outer space intent on wiping out half the living population of the universe, then there's a so-called god gearing to invade Earth, and, worst of all, HYDRA has been recreated—now more powerful than ever."
Steve's brow furrowed, his skepticism evident. "What kind of joke is this? Alien warlords and gods aside, I sought the destruction of HYDRA myself... I personally defeated their leader..."
I nodded, the memories surfacing with a grim clarity. "You did, and their leader is out of the equation. But during the Cold War, your old pals at SHIELD recruited a bunch of Nazi scientists, including Arnim Zola. Now the entire organization is basically an outer shell for HYDRA..."
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