Chapter 4- Alliance
"A Remnant Cardcaptor? Are you sure?" Sakura said. She had the phone
straddled in her shoulder as she munched on a bowl of caramel popcorn.
"Never heard of them."
"Um excuse me," Kerberus chimed in. "Did you just say REMNANT
CardCAPTOR?!!"
"Uh, yeah, why?" Sakura inquired. Kerberus padded over to her on his
small, bear-like feet, then fluttered onto her shoulder.
"Oh, no big deal, really, except Remnant Cardcaptors are like THE
STRONGEST IN THE WORLD! HELLO! IS THIS GETTING THROUGH?!" He screamed
into her ear.
"Ok, ok, no need to scream!" Sakura said. She turned back to the phone.
"Listen, Li, how about you, me, Tomoyo and Kerberus meet-... OK, no
Tomoyo! I get the idea. Meet ya at the park on Fairview and Maiden,
around five. Uh, better make it six; I've got homework to deal with. Ok,
see ya then." She hung up the phone. "You know, all these people shouting
in my ear isn't really helping much. Ok, Kerb, what's a-"
"Don't call me that, Sakura." He said, playfully annoyed.
"Ok, Kerberus," She said something under her breath about everybody
being so picky today. "So, what *is* a Remnant Cardcaptor?"
"Besides one of the strongest types of Cardcaptor you're ever likely to
meet, nothing much." Kerberus stated matter-of-factly. "Just figured you
might wanna know. By the way, what brought Remnant Cardcaptors up?"
"Li thinks that guy that saved out tails a few nights ago might have
been one. Said he hasn't ID'd the Card, but he's pretty sure."
"How sure?" Kerberus probed.
"Hey, has he ever been wrong before?"
"There have been times..."
"Ok, give the guy some slack. So he didn't know the answers to my last
exam, so?"
Kerberus gave her a 'you've *so* got to be kidding me, right?' look.
"Well he didn't!" Sakura stated. Kerberus rolled his eyes.
"Ok, there's a few surefire ways to tell if he was one of the Remnant
Cardcaptors, who by the way have been extinct for centuries." Kerberus
stated. "Firstly, did he carry a big sword that transformed out of a
cross?"
"Yeah? How'd you know?"
"Standard equipment for Remnant Cardcaptors, but that doesn't clinch it.
Not just yet." Kerberus looked Sakura straight in the eye. "Well," he
suddenly admitted, "It *almost* does. At any rate," He looked Sakura
square in the eye again. "What else was he carrying?"
"A bottle of medicine and a fireball Card, I told you that already."
"I know that!" Kerberus sighed. "I mean what else was he carrying? And
definitive creature Cards?"
"Not that he showed us."
"Ah, *that* clinches it!" Kerberus stated. Sakura gave him a questioning
glance. "Remnant Cardcaptors usually prefer to use their swords in fights
than and creature Cards. Houston, we have a problemo."
"C'mon, he saved our lives. He's on our side, Kerberus."
"Today he's on your side, tomorrow maybe not. Such in the way of
mysterious Cardcaptors." Kerberus said, trying to sound ancient and
mysterious.
"Yeah, whatever Kerb." Sakura waved him off.
Gabor had been following the two children around for the past several
days, using a special Card of temporary invisibility to hide himself
while he guarded them in secret. He knew Li was on the right track with
the Card he'd given him, and as soon as they discovered he was definitely
a Remnant Cardcaptor he'd see if he couldn't forge an alliance with these
two. After all, he always seemed to be short on allies. That's what
happens when you're a loner and a roamer. Suddenly, while following Li to
a park on the west side of town, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Gabor, we need to talk, my friend." Kai stated. Gabor spun to see the
mighty ArchAngel, his friend and mentor, standing just behind him. Kai
had golden armor that contoured to his body, as well as a long white cape
that flowed behind him. He gave off the impression of an ageing man, his
trim beard and mustache flowing together as one with his white hair.
Around his head was a golden headband with a set of gold wings arched
outward in front of his forehead.
"Kai! You ever heard of knocking? You scared the living daylights outta
me, and you know I can't stay invisible if I can't focus! He's gonna see
me any second now!" He pointed to Li.
"I didn't see a door nearby, and don't worry, you are still quite
invisible. At any rate, there's something in the works that looks to be
the work of Necros and his minions."
"Again? Aw, geeze, Kai! Don't they ever learn?"
"Of course not. And this isn't the regular attack setup, either. Necros
is withdrawing his forces all across the board."
"Massing them for an attack, huh? No sweat."
"Normally, we'd consider this an idea opportunity to attack before they
can, but I have reason to believe they're planning something special.
When I said he's withdrawn all his forces I didn't say to where. They're
massing just north of here, mostly centered on a building right next to
the Church my forces helped found a few weeks ago. They wouldn't dare be
so close to a place of prayer and worship such as that unless they're up
to something desperately. They're up to something, Gabor, and it wouldn't
surprise me if Necros wants us to know that."
"So what do I do? Maybe that crackerjack warrior of yours, Peter was his
name, right? Maybe Peter and I can get in there and show those demons
who's boss."
"Peter has a lot on his plate right now. We're trying an important
operation that may help us rescue a key factor to defeating Phalyn and a
new overlord who's taken up residence. You're not going to get too many
reinforcements this time; you're mostly on your own."
"So, what do I do from here on in?"
"I'll tell you that as I find out myself. In the meantime, keep
following those two Cardcaptors. Necros wants them out of the picture
pretty badly, and you need to find out why."
"I'm on it, Kai. Leave it to me."
Kai vanished in a flash of blue and white lights, and Gabor, after
checking his invisibility Card, raced off after Li.
Catsy pulled out a large case that took up the all the space under her
bed out. Opening it revealed a large collection of swords and daggers of
many different kinds and shapes. Ninja swords, toothed swords, S curved
swords, single-edged swords, double edged swords. She stopped when she
got to the double edged swords.
"Yeah, one of these should work best. And I'll take a pair of these
along, too." She said to herself, grabbing a pair of small, easily
conciliable daggers and a long, trim broadsword. She grabbed the sheath
for it, and strapped it over her back. She now wore a set of long, black,
high-heeled boots, a smooth dark green miniskirt, long black rubber
gloves that went all the way up to her elbows, and a loose forest green
tank top. With the sword strapped over her back she suddenly resembled a
character from Xena. She grabbed a Card off of the top of her bed, and
with a dark flash she suddenly bore a pure black cloak and hood that
covered her face. Another Card unveiled an amulet that glowed the color
of fire. She smiled mischievously. She was really starting to enjoy this.
She walked over to the room's sole window, starring out into the setting
night sky.
"Where are you, you little weasel? Come out come out wherever you
are..."
"He's definitely a Remnant Cardcaptor. I've ID'd this against every Card
in the books and this isn't any known kind." Li stated, in his Cardcaptor
outfit. Sakura was likewise in hers.
"Yeah, Kerberus said so too. Any idea how we can contact the guy?"
Sakura asked.
Suddenly, there was a sound like rushing wind right nearby.
"I'm right here." The silver warrior stepped out of the night. Li ans
Sakura gasped in surprise. "No need to ne alarmed, I'm on your side. And
by the way, you're right, Li. I am a Remnant Cardcaptor, one of the last.
Hopefully not for long, though."
"Gabor? How did you do that?" Li asked.
"A temporary invisibility Card. It's part of my 'deck'. Listen, we need
to talk." Gabor stated, pulling his hood off to reveal his full face and
long, Chestnut hair. "You guys have stirred up a can of worms. You've got
some enemies in high places who want you out of the picture,
permanently."
"Hey, look." Li looked Gabor right in the eye. "We can handle ourselves.
You're not the only powerful Cardcaptor here, buddy."
"Listen to me. You're dealing with forces not of this earth, and they're
not gonna be effected by anything short of superpower Remnant Cards."
"I don't think so. We're-"
"-You're nothing if you're dead, Li. Remember the storm that nearly
killed you and Sakura."
"We could have handled it. We just needed to use our Cards quicker,
that's all."
"Li, listen to him." Sakura pleaded. "He obviously knows what he's
talking about."
"Listen, the fact of the matter is that we need to work together if
we're gonna keep those demonic scum-bags at bay."
"That's something else I wanna know." Li stated, looking Gabor in the
eye. "What are you talking about, 'demonic'. What is that supposed to
mean?"
"Never read the Bible, huh?"
"As a matter of fact, no. Why?"
"Because that's where Remnant Cards get their power."
Li broke down laughing.
Sakura gave him a 'Why are you doing this?! You're embarrassing me!'
look.