Hey guys! Chapter 3 is up! Still working on that adventure… o.o sorry guys! It's a lot more difficult than I thought to juggle 2 stories and consistently update… I have so much to do, it's insane…and I want to make this good for you guys! I don't believe in crappy stories because 'I didn't have time.' Make time. (Or don't update yet). So I tweaked things a bit with the real plotline, this is just a heads-up. Of course, since the Espada died the whole story is out of plot ;).
Also if you want to be a part of the story, check out my adventure-story Shunned Adventure.
Thanks to all reviewers! Yemi Hikari, Kero-mero, darkmachines, and TheCatWithTheHat! Thanks so much you really make this so much better and more enjoyable to write! Thanks for your support! And thanks to those who joined the adventure; hopefully I'll be able to put it up soon! If I forgot to respond to you review (don't think I missed anyone :\ ) my deepest apologies!
A bunch of people added this to story alert or favorite; if you guys like this, or have comments, please review! Even if it's only one line or so, it means a lot to me, and it makes me feel motivated and really happy when I get reviews! Thanks to you all! I love you guys; you help me keep going!
I know the last chapter was not that exciting; this one is faster, but with heavy dialogue; this chapter is really meant to set the stage for the coming chapters and the story. Hope you enjoy it! I am especially pleased with the parts of Szayel in this chapter; I feel that what he says really aligns with what he would have said. Let me know what you think!
Now on to the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach and all that, blah blah. Credits to Tite Kubo!
Chapter 3 – Human Island
The three Espadas stood on the edge of the populated island, looking at their maps.
"Well, well, these certainly are accurate," Szayel drawled, scanning the paper.
Harribel only nodded in agreement.
"Pfft. Sounds like you expected something less."
"Well…" the corner of Szayel's mouth twitched. "…I expected to see something that might have been an abstract symbolism of chicken scratch. I didn't expect it to be so… neat. Well, I'm sure Lilynette will be happy to learn that you can write so nicely."
"Oh G-d, don't."
Szayel grinned maliciously.
"Well, I suppose I don't have to say it explicitly…I do hope she doesn't get these papers somehow…" He shook his head in mock sympathy.
Stark sighed.
"All right, what do you want?"
Szayel grinned enthusiastically.
"Well, let's see…the budget could be raised from nil, I would like some new equipment, test subjects would be nice, oh, and permission to try some, er, new developments, your signature to bring in some –"
"All right," Stark interrupted. "I can see you want a lot of things. Now test subjects and permission, I think we can work out. Signatures and equipment – I should be able to arrange that. As for the budget –" Szayel opened his mouth to respond, but Stark cut him off.
"Don't even get me started on the budget. You know as well as I do, Szayel Aporro, that we haven't got a penny or a single Soul Dollar to spend on hamburgers, let alone the Scientific Revolution. So don't ask, for money.
"… On second thought, tell you what. We'll make a deal. You don't show Lilynette those papers… and I'll let you work for your pay."
"Work…?" Szayel asked, mystified.
"That's right. But not research."
"—? What do you want me to do, mow lawns?"
Stark shrugged. "I don't know. But I will find you someone who can see spirits –"
"—and can stand your incessant 'perfectitude talk,' your awful accent, –" Harribel cut in.
"—pink hair – " Stark broke in.
"—arrogant attitude –" Harribel continued.
"—sadistic pleasures –" Stark added.
"—and terrible sense of fashion!" they both cried simultaneously.
"Whaat?" Szayel looked indignant.
"Well…" the blonde-haired Arrancar began slowly. "…who wears purple heels and finds them fashionable? –other than Cuulhourne, but that's beside the point."
"That's my released form! I can't control that!"
"You relish it," she stated flatly, looking straight at him.
"So? Might as well. Look at what you're wearing." He glared at her accusingly.
"What about it?" She asked in her low voice, making her seem even more intimidating. She stepped towards him, her eyes betraying nothing her voice didn't.
Szayel backpedaled rapidly.
"N-nothing! I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just, uh, kind of revealing, you know, not that there's anything wrong with revealing clothing, hah, uh, but, I just thought…that…uh," he stuttered as Harribel slowly advanced on him.
"Thought that what?" She hissed, looming over him.
"Man, why am I always stuck in this?" Stark sighed.
Szayel gulped, blanching.
"Well it just might be hard to keep all those guys off you with a body like that!" Szayel said with false cheerfulness, sweating profusely.
Harribel looked at him.
"I think I can handle them," she said coldly. "Not that you find me beautiful; with your oh-so-brilliant mind, you can't comprehend the attraction between those of the opposite sex at all."
"Ouch," mumbled Stark.
"Yes! It's precisely as you said. People are naturally drawn to those with similar views, interests, and physical attributes as themselves! Short people are better with other short people. A short person like the Squad Ten Captain simply does not look good with taller persons – well, that would be most people. So, following those lines, males should pair with males, and females should stick to themselves."
"And how do you suggest the human race survive, may I ask?"
"You may. I enjoy sharing my opinions with other high-level thinkers. Unlike that ignoramus Mayuri Kurotsuchi. My answer: I don't. I find the human race quite vulgar. In fact, everything about humans suggests extreme vulgarity," he said obnoxiously. "Quincies, as well," he added, a gleam in his eyes.
"And children?" She asked mildly.
A look of disgust passed across his face.
"And those brats are the worst joke of all. You get married to raise a handful of screaming, whiny, aggravating monsters. Children should be thrown on the streets the moment they're born. Teach them to grow a spine, so they are prepared to take on the world when they grow up. And the weak would be discarded. That's simply nature. Any truly 'good parent' would give up something if they truly 'loved' their child."
"That's Hueco Mundo." Harribel said in her usual low, melancholy voice.
"Exactly! It's simply the basic nature of life. It's Darwinism: survival of the fittest. Possibly the most brilliant human in my humble opinion, simply for stating the obvious."
"I see. That's –"
They stopped, hearing soft, angry muttering from their other, forgotten companion. Stark was waving a map up and down in aggravation.
"Stupid thing. Doesn't make any sense," he mumbled moodily.
"Let me see." Harribel gently took the map from his hands.
"It's turned like this." She turned it over and held it at an angle.
"It's tilted…" he murmured.
"Yeah." Her voice was even softer than usual.
"Wow, that was stupid." His voice mostly returned to normal. "Lilynette would have had my head if I did that." He smiled, his mind wandering. "And…thanks."
Harribel only nodded silently, her eyes landing on the first thing on her list.
"Stark – look," she said, pointing to the list.
"Oh, darn," Szayel said, not sounding at all disappointed. He, too, had seen the list.
"We missed the first 'activity.' And we're going into the second."
"Ohh, shit." Stark grated.
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"GO, GO, GO!"
Stark panted as they raced down the streets. The passerby paid no attention to them – obviously, since they couldn't see the Arrancars.
"Split!" he called out as they reached an intersection.
"What is this, Bananagrams?" Harribel muttered.
Stark either didn't hear her or ignored her. They ran off in different directions: Szayel went right, Harribel turned left, and Stark continued straight.
I'll tell it as it is. (Read this like a joke). A blonde, brunette, and pink/redhead are running down a street. The brunette stops at a small quaint white house with a neat little yard. A woman comes out to greet him and puts her arm around him. The two go inside. The pinkhead waits on the street, and a car pulls up. He gets in the car, and it takes him to a mechanic's shop with gears and bolts in the window. He goes up the steps and rings the doorbell. He hears a voice from inside say "come through the back." He tries the side door, and, finding it open, he goes inside. The blonde is walking down the street and reaches an alley in a seedy part of the neighborhood. She walks partway in, stops, looks around, and says, "I guess I'll just wait for someone to pick me up, too."
(Okay, bad joke, but when I was writing this, the scenario just sounded like one of those blonde, brunette, and redhead jokes. At least they're better than the jokes my bio teacher puts on his tests – which isn't saying much: 'why is it called a fluid mosaic? a) proteins b) phospholipids c) it's semi-permeable d) because of Moses (get it? MOSaic?)' Yeah, he wrote that. Including the 'get it? MOSaic?' part.)
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"Heyy, girlie, looks like you're all alone," a man leered at her.
Harribel kept her back to him, her arms folded over her chest. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a short man that looked to be around thirty. He was wearing ratty clothing and there was stubble on his chin.
Harribel paused, taking in her surroundings. The alley was mostly bare, with trash littering the ground. The stench was choking. Despite the stink, Harribel was still, with almost nothing revealing that she was even alive other than her standing on her own two feet.
He laughed, a harsh, guttural sound.
"Not answering me? Do you want to join me? I'm sure you didn't mean to be rude. You –"
Harribel suddenly twitched, and he stopped mid-sentence.
"Of course." Her back was still turned to him, and he didn't see her mouth move because her jacket seemed to cover the sides of her cheeks. Even so, she had quite the voluptuous body, perfectly shaped and curved, just how he liked it. He grinned lecherously. This was going to be fun.
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"Of course!"
Stark relaxed. Things here were going faster than he had imagined. That was good, seeing as his next task could be quite difficult.
"All right, I'll send him over tomorrow or the next day."
"You say he's purple hair? And he's a scientist?"
"Pink. And he isn't exactly the type of scientist…"
She laughed. "Basically, he's not the kind of person I'd find in the doctor's office. I'll handle him."
"If he gives you any trouble about the chores, tell me," Stark warned her. "He's not exactly the type you boss around."
"Don't worry, there's plenty for him to do. And I'll make sure he gets paid nicely, so he can't complain."
"Thanks so much. I've got to go." Stark stood up quickly.
"All right, see you!"
Stark opened the door, and then turned back. "Again – thanks."
She just smiled and waved.
Stark jogged quickly down the street, around a corner, and out of sight.
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The short man reached out, about to put his hand on her shoulder. Fast as lightning, she snatched his wrist, turning, and threw him to the ground. He grunted and rolled to the side, but was stopped by her foot. She stood over him, on foot on either side of his body. He lay on his back, staring up at her, as she slowly lowered herself onto her knees, still on top of him. He licked his lips, trembling with barely contained excitement and delight. He watched lustfully as she slowly reached up to her jacket's zipper that rested under her breasts.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she began to pull it up.
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Stark sprinted off through the neighborhood. He needed to get this done quickly and efficiently. He also had to complete this before the others came looking for him.
Stark quickly stepped into a side street. Sweeping his gaze one last time over the peaceful town, he wondered what they would bring to it. He took a breath, clearing those thoughts from his head. He fixed his cold blue eyes in front of him as he tapped the air.
The portal yawned wide, swirling mists revolving in the abyss. Watching the street, blue-gray eyes pierced the air as the blackness closed around them.
The hole reopened into a dark room. A chair stood at one end, with a small pedestal right nearby. The figure approached it with a few silent, undetectable steps. Keeping his raitsu low, the Primera Espada allowed his hand to hover over the small pillar. A light glow briefly penetrated the room, and then died down as the layers slid open, revealing a small, marble-sized orb.
Streaks of white swirled in the purple sphere. Power and mystery emanated from the orb; its aura was intoxicating. Stark slowly reached for it, inching forward, his eyes fixed only on the wondrous marble before him. Two fingers grasped the sides of the sphere, lifting it up. Stark suddenly caught small noises from outside the room, and he quickly covered the Hogyoku with his gloved hand and tucked it into his clothing, leaping from the balcony.
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The blue-haired Arrancar opened the door to Aizen's chambers, peering around the blackened room. There was no trace of anyone or anything out of the ordinary. He closed the door with a snap.
A heavy silence lay over the dark, empty void of a chamber, as it faded into darkness.
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Grimmjow was bored. There was nothing to do on the island now that everyone was gone. He had thought of venturing off to the islands, but that damn pet Ulquiorra wouldn't hear a word of it, let alone allow Grimmjow to go by himself. Now that his precious master Aizen was gone, Ulquiorra just became the pet of the next leader among them – Stark. He couldn't even be independent for once! Like really, did that moron not realize that he was just a tool? But once a pet, always a pet.
Additionally, not only could Grimmjow not leave the island, but he couldn't even explore the caves because Ulquiorra was 'using' them/'inhabiting' them, and Ulquiorra had stated that he "would split the rocks simply by using his voice." How stupid was that? [supposed to be ironic because his release splits rocks from screaming.] As such, he was bored to death. "Hey Nnoitra!" he yelled. "Wanna spar?"
Nnoitra grinned, revealing his piano-teeth. "Sure thing. That is, if you think you can keep up with me."
"Oh you are SO on!" Grimmjow hollered.
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Ulquiorra watched with absolutely no amusement at the scene taking place in front of him. Grimmjow and Nnoitra were destroying everything in their wake with a violent brawl, and Lilynette was making enough of a racket doing whatever 'sport activity' she was engaged in to wake up the whole of Hueco Mundo from here. (Yes, despite the fact that they weren't even in that world).
"…"
"Trash…"
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Szayel Aporro Granz stared, amazed at the glorious sight before him. Lights flashed and reflected off his glasses in the darkened room. Here was a piece of technology, so great, that even all of his equipment back in his storehouse couldn't compare to a quarter of it. He simply gaped, awestruck, at the glowing monitors before him.
"Wow…" he uttered, stunned.
"Yes. The world's fastest, most improved supercomputer ever created. And this is the only model. The only prototype. There is none other like it. This computer is 10 times more powerful than those in the American NSA. In fact, this single computer is more powerful than every supercomputer of that level combined."
"Incredible." Szayel breathed. He began to regain his speech and thinking ability as his shock and disbelief morphed into excitement. He had never been this excited in his life, not even when he was on the brink of a life-changing discovery. All the possibilities! How far he could go with such a beauty! Its remarkable speed transcended anything he could have dreamed of. This device was the paragon of perfection – and yet. And yet…Granz felt he could make it even better. The reading… Yes, that was the key. The datachip reading in the interdrive could be amended. If he added a moderately complex invention…then rewired the backing, changed the slots and the level of input, he could make this computer 20, no, 100 times faster!
Suddenly…Damn. His alarm was ringing. It was time to go.
"Can a schedule an appointment for you some other time?"
The mechanic's eyes gleamed in understanding, reading everything flickering across the Espada's eyes. "I'll be waiting for it."
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As he headed aboveground, Szayel felt the fluctuation of a powerful spiritual pressure. As he neared the surface, he abruptly felt the intensity of a very powerful spiritual pressure – it was suffocating and stale, and exactly like the Segunda Espada.
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The two sides of her jacket fell completely away, revealing her bottom jaw and face, and the hollow mask attached. Harribel watched coldly as at first, his eyes began to widen in horror as the bottom of her hollow mask became visible. She saw how slowly he turned ghostly white and began to shake. When she finally unzipped the whole thing, his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted, also leaving a soaking stain by his private area. The area he wished to share with her…so…not so private for a very long time.
She stood up, brushing off her pants, and zipped her jacket back up – I mean, down. She began to walk off, but she hadn't walked very far before she felt the crushing raitsu of the second Espada, Barragan Luisenbarn.
Her eyes widened in shock. She had wondered what had happened to the other Espadas, but she had figured that they had perished for real. It would seem that she was gravely mistaken. She also felt the distinct spiritual pressures of the other three, which were blended in with the Segunda.
It was then that she made her decision. She began to make her way to the source – but not before reaching into the fainted man's inside breast pocket and pulling out a slip of paper.
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Szayel and Harribel picked their way through the crowds of rush hour, to convene at the park in a small part of the neighborhood, close to where the others could be felt.
"Stark?"
"I'm here," he grunted, stepping out of a Garganta. Both observed silently, and their notice was not lost on Stark. However, he mentioned none of it.
"Let's go."
The three stepped around a cluster of trees, directly to the source of the spiritual pressure, and found themselves face-to-face with a group that they recognized all too well.
They stared at each other for a split second.
"—Hey." Aaroniero said.
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A:N:
Haha! That's where we leave off for next time! Hope you liked this, plz review, please thanks! I love reviews they make me feel great so just take the two seconds! Questions or comments I'll be glad to take.
-Darkbandit01