Intoxia Warriors - Mizuka Blood (Book One)

by De'Karhi Philpot

  "Sorry about that, Sonya. I'll let you know when you can come up and here and work with the S.R.I," Lola replied, even though her apology wasn't as personal as Sonya wanted it to be.

  Crystal looked on at the room, curious about other things that were more important that folders, "Lola, can I ask you something?"

  Lola peered over in the direction of Crystal's voice. Hiba stopped laughing but kept a smiling mask.

  "What is it?" Lola kept her eyes straight and not narrowed.

  "How does the S.R.I groups know exactly where the activies are taken place?"

  Considering Lola had forgot to mention it, Shizuka took over and allowed Brook to show the others around the room. The Mizuka General wanted to take a breather from explaning more, seeming that she could only describe what her job is as a General when it comes to the S.R.I.

  "I'll let Brook and Shizuka take over. I need to take care of these profiles and look over some of the notes; so, I'll see you in my office within the next two hours. There's still a bit of time left before supper begins. You're free to come down to my office on floor five-hundred," Lola applied, taking the folders out of the bins. With an accumulating total of seventeen-hundred-thousand, four-hundred and eighteen notes inside of over two-thousand folders.

  "You said floor five-hundred?" Hitachi asked, which seemed highly impossible for him to believe. "Holy cow."

  "Yes, Hitachi. That was my first impression when I first took the position of General from the start," Lola replied with her eyes focused on the room. It didn't take long before the rest of the members and Hiba had to get on with the tour before supper got underway. "I will see you all in three hours. I really need to get this done so I can have some missions for you all later this year. You're all in the training process, so don't be too quick to get on your feet just yet."

  Leaving the floor of one-hundred, sixty-one, Lola had stopped by the Weaponry Center to purchase a few more materials for the her new trainees to spar, train and practice with. She heard endless clattering, banging and hammering to sharpen the swords. More than sixteen people were working themselves to the bone, but took a break when they aw the Mizuka General standing before them.

  "Afternoon, General," they all saluted before returning to work. Lola responded while walking over towards the shop with her phoenix wallet out from her pocket.

  "Hey, General, what do you have on your mind today?" The store owner; Hasosuke Hinura, asked with a strong smile on his face. Blue eyes forcing Mizuka to pay attention to him.

  "I would like to have AA-12, AAI-SBR, Ares LMG-1 and Arisaka Type 30 Rifle," Lola asked briefly without going into full detail. Knowing the General's tactics, Hasosuke usually have everything ordered out for Lola before she could even buy it. "I take it that you got the pre-order, right?"

  "Yes, ma'am. I also have some other things that would be useful in the near future. ST Kinetics 40 GL," Hasosuke requested, pointing in the direction to where the launcher is located. "I am aware of the Bloo-- Wait come to the back of the office real quick."

  "I can't. I've got work to do," Lola took out her wallet with a total of one-hundred thousand dollars inside. The accumulating total of the items she's purchased reached up to four-hundred dollars. "You know I can't help but be busy."

  "Honestly, that's usually the problem with some people when it comes to them working so damn much that they never get the time to enjoy their free time It pretty much explains why no one bothers to come upstairs, or treat you out anywhere," Hosasuke spoke truthfully. It didn't bother him if Lola reacted horribly to the criticism, seeming that she's heard it more than once during her previous life.

  "Well, hard work gives you recognition, you know," Lola took out the money and extended it towards the store owner. "I know that being a worker sucks; but from my perspective. I clearly enjoy it. Don't take it out on me just because I'm the General and you're a store owner. My job is just as vital and crucial as yours is. Offering weapons to help support the group and being the leader is just as tough as keeping them in check."

  Hasosuke couldn't argue back, suspecting a bit of sympathy, thinking that Lola doesn't know how to handle constructive opinions from others.

  He did add one thing that pleased him, "At least you didn't bring money into the conversation. That's a blessing."

  "True. Even though money has no business in an arguement. That's the one thing that spoil ass people love to do is bring money into a topic. Saying, "Why talk down to someone whose making more money than you ever will?" When that shit has nothing to do with it. That's like saying "Just because we're blood relatives, doesn't mean we're family."

  Lola's response had a ring to the discussion; brightening Hasosuke's day even more. The Mizuka heroine may have a bad habit of speaking her mind in the worse course of actions, but she makes for them at the end of the dialog.

  "Well, I'm going back to my office and I'll call you if I need anything else," Lola stepped away front the store with the bag of weapons in hand. She winked casually at the store host, watching his face grow more paler than winter snow.

  ***

  The training room's the next stop of the tour before Shizuka and Brook went up to the office for one last conference before dinner. Countless soldiers had all emerged from the room with sweats and smelling reek.

  "Ew, how long do they be training their asses off?" Sonya asked in disgust.

  "Sonya, don't disrespect them like that. All that sweat comes from a hard work in the training room. I'll show you how large the room is and then we'll show you how much you can cater to it. We'll give you a few moments of the room before we give you guys your own private rooms," Shizuka patted Sonya's shoulders.

  The room was the size of a Chrysler building. The ceiling above three-hundred feet above the surface of the exercise room. A variety of obstacles sparked Sonya, Alex, Hitachi, Crystal and Hiba's interest even more. Well, mainly Hiba's interest when she first graduated from the Academy a few years back.

  "Hiba," Shizuka said, continuing to glance at the room with some warriors heading over towards the water fountain, locker rooms and out the door. "Would you like to give out some of your experience with the training?"

  Hiba smiled before responding casually, "I have plenty of time to show them around the building. Besides, I don't have much else to do for the time being. You think it's best if you let me take it from here, Shizuka and Brook?"

  Asking that question had made both fellow Generals of Lola think about the extra meeting they're supposed to be attending at this very moment.

  "Now that you've mentioned it, Hiba, we'd expect you to be done with them within the next hour and bring them all down to the cafeteria for the supper. Understood?"

  "You don't have to tell me that twice," Hiba replied with a smirk.

  ***

  All three Generals all came together to discuss their final meetings before going separate ways with their facilities. Lola had strengthened her confidence by informing Shizuka and Brook that she may need their help to fight Bloodlust Revelation.

  Shizuka was the first to enter, watching Lola as she took a sip of tea from her mug, wearing reading glasses and turning each page of a packet she took from the Bloodlust folder. Lola looked up and saw the two generals approaching her.

  "It's about time you guys got done," Lola said.

  "Hiba volunteered to take over since we needed to get this conference over with," Brook suggested, smiling as she grabbed a chair and placed her forearms on the desk. "What do you have so far?

  It took milliseconds for one of them to respond, all three women each had their own starting sentence to keep the topic on point instead of changing subjects too soon. Lola had thrust her right arm in the air to keep her hand from underneath her general sleeve jacket.

  "As far as Black goes, he usually has his own agenda and loves to think six, seven, hell even fifty moves ahead of his opponents, no matter how lucky or unlucky they think they are. I'm pretty certain that our first-- or your first move, Lola, would
be to keep Crystal underground until things go smoothly. Can't expect for him to be a fool and not force his way into the building," Brook suggested with her eyes concentrated on the black table after glancing Lola dead in the eyes.

  "I can figure that part out. Black is very good at pinpointing a child's birth and then strike. However, the last General might've made a proposition to stop him from doing so. But he wanted to wait fifteen years later to do it so that way whenever he tried to extract the Symbols from her, it wouldn't backfire on him," Lola's always had a habit not making any obvious assumptions of what kind of task her warriors would be assigning themselves to.

  "Now that I think about it, you can go ahead and say that Marscilla is one of Black's best comrades," Shizuka sadly replied.

  "Ever realize something else, Mizuka?" Brook asked in suspicions. "Black wouldn't bother assigning either himself or the other members of the Bloodlust group just the minute they completed a mission prior to that. How else would he think to show much dedication to his role as a leader? He plans things ahead before giving those that worship the respect they deserve."

  Brook pressured herself with Lola's perspective coming to fruition All the colors of her thoughts are as stiff as she could think. Due to her experience with Bloodlust, Lola could only have a strong remembrance of her gloomy and disturbed past with the infamous criminals.

  "Don't get the wrong idea, my dear friend. You and I both know that Black is clearly no fool who'd answer to anyone," Shizuka simply exceeded the acts of knowledge for Black's talent as a murderer who has a strong passion of homicide "I've been looking through the a few of these folders and noticed the colors that are next to the names and what the colors represent. Take a look at this page of the packet."

  Lola grabbed the packet and peered at the evidents the S.R.I have obtained. The colors show the rankings of each mission, observing through what missions are beyond suitable for them.

  Within seconds, Lola let out a short gasp, eyes remaining narrowed.

  "I clearly don't get it. Why, unavoidably try to assign each of your own warriors to different missions if you're all the same--," Lola stopped and thought of something Brook or Shizuka didn't realize.

  Lola giggled with a cheap smile, "The radical strategies that this bastard can do is, like you said, Brook, thinking more than a few moves ahead of those that suspect him"

  "What's seems to be the situation?" Brook felt concerned even though it may seem obvious from Lola's view. "Black isn't your typical warrior who would let out some unfortunate information right off the bat.

  Before Diamond gave up her title of Core General and her life, she taught Lola that being General doesn't make you the better person. It takes more than strength, intelligence and strategy to be a beloved and strong leader of an organization. She taught the Mizuka General that it takes the quality of an organization or business and how turns those weaknesses into strengths.

  "Diamond has taught you very well, Lola. And for that, I am privileged to be fight alongside you and Brook," Shizuka had spoken her token of gratitude and admiration. She stood from the desk, walking over towards the counter. "But I do have one more question before this meeting comes to the a climax. The Bloodlust Revelation seems to be under a few circumstances that when you gave out some strong information of the colors, but it appears that they intend to switch roles during certain times of the year. Do you know the whereabouts of where Black and his group will strike next?"

  Lola's eyes grew dark and more intense and her response was, "Since Bloodlust only takes on a mission as a group once every five years, I'm pretty certain that they're come here for Crystal and try to take her away from the team and myself. Like I said, I am not the one that will let that happen. For fifteen years I've raised that girl, whatever she needed rather if it was clothes on her back or food in her mouth, that's where I came in. Don't get the wrong idea. This meeting is over and you're both dismissed."

  ***

  The tour had come to an end, but Crystal asked calmly from Hiba if she could see Lola before the start of supper. She felt her heart was drowning into her stomach. Crystal entered the floor Lola's office is located and took her time to knock.

  A few of her hands have struck the door gingerly, loud for the General to hear. Lola quickly peered up and noticed the sound.

  "Come in," Lola deeply gawked at the door after answering. "Oh, hey, Crystal. You're suppose to be with the others."

  "Well, I wanted to talk to you about something crucial," Crystal admitted, not hiding how she falsely feels, knowing that Lola doesn't like to be lied to and yet she hypocritical. "Is that OK?"

  "Sure, sweetie. Just give me a minute. We'll walk and talk at the same time," Lola answered, standing up from the table with her cup of mug.

  Lola had trailed over toward the counter and placing it in the red bucket of warm water for she could wash later. She soothingly slid her elbowed gloves before walking over. She slightly rubbed Crystal's chin with a straight face.

  "Come on," Lola opened the door, allowing the young Aruba to exit beforehand.

  "I have the biggest chance of understanding what you're trying to talk to me about, Crystal," Lola had a good habit of learning what most people would like to have a conversation with her about before they could even get a chance to utter it first.

  "About those books that you read to me hours ago. You knew more than what you could tell from your own perspective," Crystal said.

  "That's very persistent for me because I love to do research on a lot of clans. It clearly runs through my veins. You want to know more about the power of the Symbols, huh?" The question wasn't a lucky guess or if it was coincidence.

  Crystal utterly breathed calmly with Lola's words reaching toward her, realizing the General underestimated the words she'll blurt out that'll drive suspense into the white-haired teenager.

  "I'll tell you my own little story about Diamond Aruba and what kind of person she was. You don't have to believe the legends of knowing she's been one of the most successful Generals of her time. It'll be a click," Lola stated, turning the corner as she caught an escalator. "It all started fifteen years ago."

  "Ha, what a coincidence," Crystal giggled.

  Lola's expression felt more stronger and more vital than Crystal could ever expect. The emotions that drilled within the Mizuka warrior had collapsed with color of black and white feelings amalgamating. Admist by the heaviest weight resting on Lola's shoulders, she felt as if her mind had been swallowed by the hungry jaws of hell.

  "Lola?" Crystal seemed worried with sudden sweats trying to escape from within her forehead. "Are you OK."

  "Now listen, Crystal. You need to understand that not all stories have a good ending. Most of them ends up hurting so many people's feelings. Some of them write emotional stories to let out all their troubled experience or some of them would read them," Lola couldn't bear to tell Crystal the truth of what happened a long time ago.

  "OK. Is that all?" Crystal seemed frightened, seeing Lola's twisted sight growing stronger. "You're really scaring me here."

  "You're right, my dear. But I mustn't tell you that much. The only thing I'm going to tell you about Diamond Aruba is that she was one of the greatest warriors of her time. She had given out strong knowledge to those who were losing confidence within themselves, giving out some of the strongest advises that any human being would be able to hear," Lola tried to give out a brief description of the Aruba warrior. "That's all I need to tell you."

  "Oh. Is she still relevant to everyone? She seems to have the last name like me. I wonder what my relationship is with her?" Crystal couldn't take anymore of the suspense.

  "You'll learn more about her when you're a bit older," Being careful, the Mizuka General found the correct words that'd softened up the situation. "We need to get downstairs so we can eat."

  ***

  Crystal continued to talk with the Mizuka General about her feelings when it comes to battling against enemies that wants to take her life.
Lola could understand where Crystal's heart remains, seeming that the Aruba family aren't meant to kill for the sake of the world.

  As they both continued down the hallway, Lola lectured Crystal about her training and what it could lead her to. All the effort she'll make and the punishment she'll absorb in the near future. When it came to a situation like that Crystal could go green and end up losing her life if she ever thought of hesitation at the wrong time.

  "Now, Crystal. We need to have a little chit-chat about something else. How often do you think you can learn more about the specialty of your powers?" Lola asked.

  "Well, this is a legitimate problem from my point of view. But I think it's interesting if you went into a bit more detail because I don't know what kind of powers I have," Crystal implied. "All I know is that you told me that I've obtained powers from a mother that I don't even know."

  "That part is true. You are right on that aspect," Lola uttered, watching as she saw a couple of soldiers boarding the elevator. "Good day to you all."

  "Oh evening, General," three soldiers said in unison.

  Soldier one noticed Crystal and said gingerly, "Hello there, Crystal. You did great out there, tonight."

  Crystal's pale face turned a light pink. Her blush is what had Lola laughing at a medium tone.

  "Crystal, what do we say when someone gives us a compliment," Lola smiled, rubbing her daughter-figure's right shoulder.

  "Thank you. I really appreciate the support and not the harsh criticism I got from everyone," Crystal replied genuinely; glancing back up at the General. "Lola. I don't know what else to say."

  Crystal's one of those non-typical teenagers that doesn't try to earn respect by forcing her way into a crowd that'll give her little to no attention, whatsoever. Nevertheless, the white-haired trainee had yet to learn about being bold; like Hiba had taught her a while ago. On rare occasions, Lola would use all her force into having Crystal speak out for the world to hear her voice. Being compassionate, Lola's purpose as a General was and still is to care for the likes of others that comes and work for her; not that she'd do anything to cut them out of the pack.