The Plan Proceeds, Part 6

 The days following Oran's presentation, great progress was made on the House. On the interior, that is. They wanted to keep it inconspicuous, so as not to draw attention to their place of shelter. They covered up all of the windows to keep anyone from seeing in, and for better security. Metal plates were welded around the window frames to keep them secure. Since the House was a large home, it fit many Strays and Heroes alike comfortably.
 In the coming weeks, a new female Hero named Bree Lotus was found, a good ways away from the Alliances hideouts. But, with the new Squares, and knowledge of the Villain's patrols, members of the Alliance were able to venture further with a smaller chance of getting caught, and access to supplies was improved as well.
 Zakor, while on one of these treks to find more Strays and possibly Heroes, noticed the Villain patrols were more consistent, and that the platoon of Villain Searchers who was going on random searches was nowhere to be found. He assumed they must have given up their search, if they were looking for him, that is.
 As was becoming oddly usual, Hunters were not seen around as much as before. Likely because they have established their own places to live, or what not. It was a bit mysterious, still.
 Later on, the Alliance was able to create radar boosters in secret places, giving them eyes in places where there was no risk of lives. They would be able to detect Villain movement well before they could get to either Alliance hideout.
 The Plan was going well, with little to no casualties. There were a few close calls here and there, and one or two shuffles with a gang of Hunters, but, each group of Alliance Strays was accompanied by a Hero, and the groups were able to subdue the Villains.

--

 In the Villain Research Lab, experiments proceeded as usual. Mainly on things created there at the Castle. 

 The Project, the Villains attempt to create a Super Soldier, was still in progress. But, The Project had been put on the back-burner for the time being. Mainly because of the incident where the experiment escaped the Lab, and caused trouble. 

Now a new project called "Weapon" was being worked on. The goal of this new project was to create a being that was very intimidating, ruthless, extremely deadly, and did not look humanoid. It would be used to search out any Heroes, Strays, or, if it ever came to it, Hunters that the Villains were in a desperate search for. 

  They were going for something that would have many extremities, many weapons, and strike fear into the inner beings of all who opposed it. Or, worse, the very one's being hunted. It would have extreme senses, and a monster-like personality. Also, depending on the target, the Weapon, as it would be called, that or by it's nickname, would either destroy the target on the spot maliciously, or hold on to them until the Weapon made it back to the Castle with it's captured individual. 

 Darkon figured this would be a good idea for the time being, and hoped it would please the Villain Leaders. 

 Before they began work on project Weapon, Darkon had discussed the idea with his Research team to see if they were up to it after the incident with The Project. They all agreed. One of their secret objectives with this new project, though was to help them find the escaped experiment if it turned out still being alive however likely or unlikely it might have been. 

 So, Darkon proceeded to present this idea before Black Phantom, as was required of them before work on any new projects. The Black Phantom, still shooken up about the seemingly pointless search for the experiment decided it would be a good idea, and granted him permission, after a meeting with the rest of the Villain Leaders. 

 Darkon gladly returned to his Lab and began work. 

 He already had an idea in mind for what his first creation would look like, and they all brainstormed and stared sketch ups and design possibilities. They also discussed weapons and weapon systems that were currently in use by the City Guards and Searchers, and how they could be improved and implemented on this new creation. 

 "I'm sure the Villain Leaders will be impressed with our creation once it is complete!" Darkon stated, proudly. 

 "The ones being hunted down by this Weapon will stand no chance!" He exclaimed with a big grin and a loud laugh. 

 The rest of the Villain Researchers agreed with evil laughs of their own.

 Darkon rubbed his hands together and said, excitedly, "Lets begin!"
 His eyes glowed with anticipation.

--

 The lifeless body of a Searcher fell to the ground from the blade of the Hunter, Ahaz.

 The rest of his Hunter gang giggled as they helped take out the rest of the squad of Searchers that was passing by.

 "You should have listened to me, boy. I told you that Stray was mine!" he said to the dead Searcher, as he usually did. It was just one of his customs, to speak briefly to his terminated opponent before leaving the robotic carcass to rust. 

 The rest of his gang, seven in total now, came in, one clenching the arm of a squirming male Stray, named Bray. 

 Ahaz stared at the Stray with a wicked grin. He could see the fear in the Stray's eyes. 

 The Hunters heard a voice from outside. 

 "What was that?! I thought you destroyed them all!" Ahaz exclaimed.

 "I was sure we did, sir!", one of the other Hunters said. 

 "Stay here with the Stray," Ahaz told the Hunter holding on to Bray. "I'm not finished with you yet," he said to the Stray, pointing a finger at him. 

 "Give me your weapon." He instructed one of the other Hunters. They did just as he said, with no hesitation.

 "You, go around the other side," he told one of the others. "Whoever this guy is, he's not getting away." They exited the building, where the whole toil with the Searchers trying to capture the Stray, took place.
 "They heard me!" a voice said from around the destroyed building. Ahaz and the other Hunter dashed around opposite sides of the building, and saw the lone Searcher scurry away, frightened that he had been discovered.
 Ahaz pulled up his gun, sights on the fleeing Searcher. "Follow the fool, but stay out of my line of fire, will you?" he said to the second Hunter. He did so.
 Ahaz got his sights lined up once again and fired.
 BANG!
 The Searcher body fell to the ground. It was dead.
 The Hunter who was in pursuit stopped abruptly, and looked back at Ahaz.
 "Take the Searcher's worthless body back to the building. We'll show those Leaders who gets their way around these parts."
 The rest of the Hunters were eagerly waiting inside the broken down building.
 "We'll show these Leaders that I can do what I want, how I want, wherever I want without them getting their rusty hands in my business!"
 The other Hunters grunted and whooped in agreement.
 "Tonight we will leave the bodies of these Searchers at the gates of the Capitol City. We'll do it quickly. We mustn't be seen by any of their City Guards."
 So, that night, that's exactly what they did. They had the Stray watch the whole thing. They had him gagged so as not to alarm anyone, and had been threatened not to make a peep. He heeded to their warning. Bray couldn't believe the things he had seen earlier. How ruthless Hunters could be, and how Ahaz could actually take on quite a few Searchers, or maybe, even City guards all by himself.
 Since Ahaz couldn't decide what he wanted to do with Bray the next morning, he decided to keep him around. To just tie him up like some sort of creature at night to keep him from getting away. The Hunter gang never really harmed him, but they were rough with him when taking him from place to place. So, he would live to see another day.

--

"What!?" The Black Phantom shouted angrily, responding to the news he just heard. 

 "Yes sir." The City Guard member said, looking downward. Their bodies were found early this morning at the front Gates."

 "Who did this to my Searchers!?" the Phantom said, enraged.

 "By the looks of it, and from my experience, sir. . . Hunters. Also, we received a distress signal from that very squad. It wasn't very clear what was going on, all we knew was it was an emergency. We sent out a team of Searchers to find them, but they were unsuccessful."

 "GRR! We must find the Culprits at once! Tell those bots at the Lab to work harder on that Weapon project now! Also, inform them I'll give them all the supplies they need." The Phantom responded, infuriated.

 "Yes sir." The Guard said, turning around.

 "NOW!!" The Black Phantom practically screamed, with eyes literally glowing with utter rage.

  Mordeki quickly opened the door, and pointed toward the Lab, glaring at the Guard as he usually did to anyone who was leaving the Throne Room when the Phantom was mad, regardless if The Phantom was mad at the individual or about a situation. 

 The City Guard took off in the direction of the Lab, slightly frightened from the Phantom's outburst and the glare he got from Mordeki.  

The End.
For Now.