Crusaders of Justice

Starting New

Their first couple of days were focused on building a new place they could call home. Fox didn't give them any time to grieve, saying: "The time spent on grieving is time wasted on not moving forward."

So everyone held back their feeling and focused on their respective tasks. It was hard at first, but when the wheel started rolling it became much easier to not remember what they had lost.

Everyone worked based on their abilities.

Leo used his stone power to make the new buildings. He made quite the mess the first time around, so Fox suggested that the seer oversee Leo's work. Everyone else agreed, except for Leo who hated being ordered. Safe to say, in the end, it was a good decision to keep Leo under the Seer's leash. 

While Leo was making the buildings, Lisa and Naomi used their power to make a farm so they could produce food themselves. Well, Lisa did all the work. All Naomi did was watered the plants. But they didn't stop there. They made some more plants around the buildings to make it look more nature-friendly. After all, they were surrounded by a forest. Lisa had to admit the change of scenery was nice, hearing the whispers of the plants on where to plant and what plant she should grow. The academy was also filled with plants, but there weren't that much around compared to their new place.

Petra, on the other hand, kept the perimeter around them secured, at least that was Petra's answer when Naomi asked her about her task. Though in reality, she used her shadows to do her job while she spent her own time accompanying Clara.

And Clara, who also wanted to help, used her inventions to help or automate a lot of stuff. From watering Lisa's garden to even help Petra survey the area around them, Clara would create some sort of invention or robot to do a specific task. Any materials and components she needed were provided by Fox.

Speaking of Fox, the masked protector kept appearing and disappearing at random times without any explanation. The only time that he was guaranteed to appear was when it was time for dinner. Even then, he always disappeared immediately after finishing his meal. It was like he didn't sleep at all. One time Naomi watched Lisa scolded Fox for his lack of sleep, but of course, he ignored her.

Naomi couldn't help but Fox felt off ever since they arrived. He became more distant, more... cold.

A week passed by since they started their project of building a new home.

It was a sunny day, the perfect time for everyone to do their tasks.

Lisa sat on the edge of the farm at the side of the main building, watching the robot Clara made watering the farm. Naomi was both amazed and upset at the robot for taking over her job as it made her feel even more useless.

Suddenly, Fox appeared beside her. She was used to him appearing and disappearing at will so it didn't surprise her anymore.

"Is Nova still in comatose?" the masked protector asked.

Lisa shook her head before answering "Not yet. His condition is stable, but he showed no sign of waking up."

Nova wasn't the only one that Lisa worried about. She was also worried about Naomi, who took Nova's comatose quite hard. Naomi tried to hide her worry by busying herself with as much activity as possible, but Lisa knew her i***t friend well.

Deep inside, Naomi couldn't take her mind off Nova. It pained her to see Nova laying there lifeless. And despite the man standing beside her was also close to Nova, he seemed indifferent about Nova's condition, though it was probably because Lisa couldn't see his expression under the mask.

"Onyx's attack must have done some damage to his brain," Fox said as he pulled a small smooth-stone out of his cloak's pocket. He played it around for a bit as he contemplated an idea in his mind. After standing there in silence for a bit, he made up his mind and threw the stone at Lisa.

Lisa caught the stone and immediately examined it. The grey colored stone was surprisingly light and shiny, not to mention it was emitting some sort of faint energy that Lisa never felt before.

"Tell Naomi to put it on Nova's chest and let the stone be until he wakes up."

"Alright. Are you coming here just for this or are you going to tell us about what you have been doing in your absence all these times?"

But Fox didn't answer her question. He just disappeared.

"I heard Fox's voice! Where is she?!" Naomi suddenly appeared from behind the building. She was watering the plants there that Clara robots missed.

"He is already gone," Lisa said.

"Goddamn Fox! What is he doing anyway?" Naomi said in frustration. It had been a week after they arrived, and Naomi was sure she barely saw Fox all those times. She could only wonder what he was doing and where he went to, as Fox never answered her questions about them.

Lisa shrugged. She also had no clue at all.

As it turned out, what Fox was doing was less violent and more on the diplomatic side.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The figure words stopped the man from pushing the button under his table. The button would alert security across the whole building and in mere minutes his office would be filled with secret agents and soldiers. Alternatively, he could just scream at the guards standing outside of his office. But the figure's voice and word convinced him that it would be a futile attempt.

Leaning back on his chair, the man asked the figure, "Who are you? And what are you doing inside my office?"

"Fox. And I need your help."

Naomi placed the stone just like Fox's instruction. The stone light became bright as soon as it made contact with Nova's chest.

"Where did you get that?" a voice suddenly asked from behind Naomi.

Naomi turned around to find the Seer, standing on the doorway.

"Fox gave it to Lisa, and he told me to do this," Lisa said as she walked to the doorway.

"I see... Do you know what that stone is?" the seer asked as she gave way for Naomi to close the door.

Naomi shook her head as she closed the door. She was just following Fox's order with the hope that it would help Nova.

"It is a magic stone, created using the power of a wizard. The stone would allow someone else to use its creator's power but with limited usage. What makes me wonder is why would he told you to put the stone on Nova and not using it yourself..."

"So Nova is currently using Fox's power even though he is unconscious?" Naomi asked.

The seer nodded.

"Wait. If I use the stone, I could know Fox's power right?" Naomi said, excited that she would finally find out what Fox's power was.

"But do you dare to? Fox put his trust in you. Would you do something like that?" the seer asked. Fox always had his reasons, no matter how weird his order or message was.

Seer words seemed to piss Naomi.

"But he is rarely here! He is supposed to lead us! But in reality, he just left orders and tasks for us to do before going off doing God knows what!" Naomi started raising her voice.

"Fox is doing his best, Naomi," the seer suddenly hugged Naomi. "Please, trust him. I'm sure he knows what he is doing."

Naomi was about to hug the seer back when Fox suddenly appeared.

"Touching moment, but I need your help seer," Fox separated the two. He grabbed the seer and the two disappeared, leaving Naomi to wonder what the f**k just happened. She was going to try the stone herself but decided to trust the seer's words and left the stone to do its work.

"I'm guessing you are..."

"One of the survivors, yes," Fox walked up to the man.

"I didn't expect you would dare show your face here. So, what is your reason?"

"I need your country to prepare an area for the survivors. You have a lot of federal lands, I'm sure you could spare some of them."

"A-are you mad?! The UN declared your people to be a danger to humanity! What makes you think I would just accept your kind here?"

"As I said, you have a lot of spaces."

"No. You're a lunatic. I will not do it."

"You know... the code to the nuclear missiles is within my grasp. And as you already could see, getting to even the safest place in earth is possible"

"I-Impossible!"

Fox recited the code to the man. With each number Fox said, the man's face grew paler and paler. He realized Fox was not someone he could underestimate.

"Y-You... We were right to kill your people," the man said as he smashed his fist to the table.

"You forced my hand, Mr. President. I'm sure another war with the Russian would be quiet an unfortunate event, for the whole world that is," Fox smirked under his mask. All this time, he held himself back to ensure that wizard and witches' image wouldn't be ruined. But after what the humans did, he couldn't hold back anymore. The world will remember why they once feared him.

"F-fine. I will do it," the president said. He had no other choice. He could only stare at Fox with hatred, who knew that whether he accepted or not, he had already won.

"Good. Then, I shall give you a couple of hours to prepare. When I return, make sure everything is ready."

Fox disappeared, leaving the president to be once more alone in his office. The president immediately called up people he could trust to meet him and discuss some matters.

As he was about to dial the Hunters, Fox suddenly reappeared behind his chair and held a knife on his neck.

"You are going to tell them, aren't you?"

"W-who?! I-I-"

"The hunters. Don't lie to me, I already know."

"B-But how?!"

"I just know. A fair warning, if you tell them about any of this, then I would immediately launch the nuclear."

"A-alright, alright!"

Fox nodded before he disappeared once more.

The president now felt there would be no place that was safe from the masked figure.