Treasure Hunting 101

Chapter XXIV

Luke

Music: Big Core from Gradius V

When we enter through the basement door, the boss of this weird-ass organization is standing on the opposite side of the room, his arms crossed and a stupid grin on his face. A white bag containing our artifacts is wrapped around his shoulder. The entire room is empty, save for the presence of him and our group of eleven. I've been more pissed off at other enemies we've gone against, but I still want to kick this guy's ass. This douche has caused us so much grief and trouble this entire day, and he nearly kept us from getting our hard-earned treasure.

"Good work. You actually made it all the way here," he smirks upon our arrival.

"Give us back our stuff," I demand. "We have you severely outnumbered, so it'll do everybody here a whole ton of good if you give in now."

"But why would I do that?" the boss laughs, walking around the room slowly. "Our group has been after the Kaori's Treasure for years, but we always have to deal with pesky treasure hunters like you kids. And now, thanks to you, this is the closest we've ever been to getting the treasure." He waves the bag around mockingly as he says that. "Now, we're able to--"

He doesn't get to finish his sentence, because he gets knocked forwards to the ground by Mia, who snuck up behind him without being noticed as he was speaking. The bag falls off his shoulder when he hits the ground.

"Hey! What the hell?! I was still talking!" he exclaims, rubbing his forehead.

"No one wants to hear a shitty-ass monologue," Mia growls.

"Someone, get the bag!" Skylar yells.

Sean and the boss dive for the bag at the same time, and both of them manage to get ahold of it. They have a quick tug of war fight with it before Sean wins thanks to Shanna karate-chopping the boss' hand, causing him to briefly let go of the bag and let Sean take off with it.

"That's IT!" the boss screams, getting out a rifle. "I'm THROUGH with you little rascals!" He fires a shot at Skylar, who rolls out of the way just in time. The bullet flies through another open door in the room and hits a washing machine, causing it to explode into a ball of flame.

As the boss is about to fire another shot, Avery comes at him like a bull with a foot extended and kicks him right in the sternum. He stumbles backwards, dropping the gun. Then, Mackenzie twirls at him from behind and knees him in the back, sending him onto the ground face-first once again. This time, Brea sits on his legs to keep him from getting up, and pins his arms behind his back. I create my sword arm using my Rock of Doom and hold it inches away from the back of his neck. Sam and Heath get down on either side of the boss and point their guns right at his head.

"This is your last chance, jackass," Brea growls, twisting his wrists and causing the boss to wince in pain. "You gonna stop harassing us?"

"Never," the boss hisses.

As threatening gestures to get him to cave in, I place the blade of my sword right against the boss' neck, and Sam and Heath click the triggers of their guns. The boss starts to squirm and sputter. "Alright, alright! I surrender! Uncle!"

"Good choice," Brea nods, slowly getting up. Sam and Heath keep their guns pointed at the boss' head, and I don't change my sword arm back until the man is fully stood up. He puts his hands up to show us he's truly giving in, then Brea tells him, "Now get the hell out of our sight and let us get what we rightfully deserve."

Music: Historic Soldier from Gradius ReBirth

"U-uh... alright," the man stammers, running towards another door in the room. This door leads to a garage with a white, battered-up BMV in it. On his way through the door, he fishes through his pocket and throws a small, shiny object at us. Heath catches it with his free hand. It's a small, rusted key.