Waterfall Tears Like Paper of Black by
M_BlackHawk
Chapter 1:
Helping one in need.
"How is she doing," Mike BlackHawk asks his wife, Lara.
"Jessie will be just fine," Lara answers, "She just needs some rest. When I'm not with her, Maya will be."
"Thank goodness. And how have you been holding up?"
"As well as can be expected. That little adventure in the forest kind of wore me out. I'll be ok, though."
"OK," the HUmar father says, "I'm going to go see if there are any jobs to be had today. With all that's happening with Jessica, I feel I've got to do something."
Lara nods as her husband walks out of their daughter's room. The past few days have been especially tough on Mike, his hopes of introducing his wife and child to his family crushed by the explosion that rocked the colony that Pioneer 1 had set up. Their new friends, the Angelus brothers, having problems of their own, tried to stay in touch, but that was just as impossible at times.
Mike walks from his home to the transporter to the central ship, where the hunter's guild office is located. He is greeted by Miranda, but notices a small, green-haired girl talking to several hunters, not having much luck striking up a conversation. the HUmar approaches the guild clerk, Miranda. "So," he says, "What's new on the job board?"
"Nothing of note, Mike," Miranda replies, "Just a few odd jobs that really aren't paying all that well. The quality of jobs just isn't up to par these days."
"No joke. Last week, some girl from the administrative office staff asked me to go get her a cake. Quite a battle just for someone to get a sugar rush," Mike noted, making Miranda laugh, "So, what's the deal with her?" Mike points to the green haired HUnewearl still trying to get hunters to listen to her.
"That's Kroe Waynes," Miranda explains, "Her sister, Anna, has disappeared. As a matter of fact, several hunters have gone missing after taking on quests into the caves. You returned from there unscathed after that quest for the cake. What's down there, Mike?"
"A bunch of mutant monsters," the HUmar answers, "I wonder what down there is making all those hunters disappear. Thanks, Miri. I'll go see what's up with Kroe now."
"Good Hunting, Mike," Miranda tells Mike, "You'll probably need it."
"Ms. Waynes," Mike says, walking up to the small HUnewearl, "I hear you have a problem."
"Do I ever," Kroe answers, "My sister, Anna, disappeared two days ago. I don't know where she got to, but she has to be found. I think this may have a connection to a string of disappeared hunters in the caves."
"I'll tell you what," Mike answers, "Let's take a walk and we'll talk more, ok? I'm interested, but I want to get a partner for this. Someone I know."
"Ok. Where to?"
"My home. You can wait there for us to get back. I'm sure Lara would love the company while we're gone, and the help with our daughter."
The two hunters walk back to Mike's home, where Kroe explains the happenings to Lara and Maya.
"Thing is," Mike finishes, "I'd like to have Maya come with me on this one. Her ability to spot traps could come in handy. In the times I've been in the caves that place has had mines strewn all over the place."
"Makes sense," Lara answers, "Kroe, would you mind staying here for a while, till Mike and Maya get back? Jessica's been sick a lot lately, and I could use some help."
"Of course, Lara," Kroe answers, "I'd be glad to."
Mike and Maya had teleported down to the entrance into the caves. Both checked their weapons. Maya had decided on a sniper rifle, while Mike carried his katana, with a handgun for a sidearm. When the two hunters had reached the first door, they heard voices coming from the next chamber. Mike peered around the door and saw 2 people talking. He saw a girl who bore a resemblance to Kroe talking to a strange RAmar. The RAmar points Mike and Maya out, and the diminuative HUnewearl charges right at the HUmar swordsman. Mike blocks the dagger strike by drawing his katana from its sheath. "I don't want to hurt her," Mike thinks, "This must be Anna Waynes. If I hit her, it better be with the spine of my sword. I can't use the sharp edge without killing her." With that he turns the sword where the blunt side would be the side that hits. She charges again, this time, faster than before. Mike goes airborne, evading the attack and diving at Anna. His katana's spine hits her on the shoulder, knocking her down. She gets up, looking injured. She is carried off by a mysterious ranger who was hiding in the shadows the whole time. Elsewhere, a firefight had started between Maya and the strange ranger. Maya noted that this RAmar's hands were somewhat shaky, as if he hadn't been in a real firefight before. His shots missed the RAcaseal by a mile. "This guy can't be for real," Maya thinks to herself as she shoulders her rifle. She fires a shot that knock the ranger's own rifle out of hand, and then fires once more, clipping him off at the knee. The unknown ranger falls to the ground, as Mike walks over, having finished his own battle. "Ok," the HUmar asks, "What's going on here?" "We had heard rumors," the ranger answers, "of someone being commissioned to find the hunters that had gone missing. We didn't want anyone getting this payday but us." "Good try, pal," Maya says, putting her rifle barrel to his head, "Now, tell us the truth, and you'll get a telepipe back to the medical center on Pioneer 2." "If I tell you, I'll be killed anyway. The Black Hound will find me, no matter where I go." That said, the strange ranger pulls the handgun from Mike's holster, puts it under his chin, and pulls the trigger. Mike looks right at Maya, who just shakes her head. The pair of hunters proceed through the caves. Just as Mike had predicted, the place had mines strewn all over the place. Maya makes quick work of them, while Mike's katana makes mincemeat of the mutated monsters inside the caves. Oddly enough, there's no other human opponents awaiting them at the transporter to the next level of the caves. The two take the teleporter and reappear in a cooler climate. "Maya," Mike tells his RAcaseal best friend, "If we find Anna again, don't fire. I'll deal with her. We've got to bring her back home. Kroe's waiting for her." "Ok, Mike," the ranger answers, "Just don't kill her with that sword either."
"Oh, I've got a way to beat her without killing her." The two finally reach a room that has come to be known as the "waterfall room", where they are met by Anna Waynes again. She draws her daggers once more, charging at Mike. Maya stands back, while the HUmar goes airborne, leaping over Anna, and drawing his katana. He uses the blade to parry Anna's dagger strikes, while doing his best not to kill her. Anna tries a lunging attack at the HUmar swordmaster, but he evades, rotating around. Mike uses that rotation for extra force, knocking Anna out again with a slice in the back. When she falls unconscious, Mike picks up the small girl. Maya drops a telepipe back to their home, where Mike carries her to the guest room. A few hours pass, as Mike is looking in the hunter registry for the strange ranger that killed himself. Kroe walks up behind him. "How's Anna?" he asks.
"She'll be fine," Kroe answers, "What are you doing?"
"Anna was with a ranger in the caves," Mike explains, "He killed himself after telling us that if he talked, the Black Hound would kill him. Does that name ring a bell?"
"No," Kroe replies, "The only person we've had recent contact with besides you and Lara was a man that goes only by a nickname. Everyone calls him 'Black Paper'." "Black Paper, the arms dealer?" Lara asks, walking downstairs, "I've heard of him from Seifer. He's apparently really bad news."
"You heard about him from Seifer?" Mike inquires, "So they called recently?"
"While you and Maya were out," Lara answers, "He and Diego haven't heard from some friends of theirs in a while and were getting worried."
"Hmm," Mike thinks, "Maybe this 'Black Paper' knows more than we think about these missing hunters. And what of this 'Black Hound'? Kroe, I think it best we take this information and forumulate a plan to find the other hunters. Lara, call Angelus Manor and have Seifer and Diego come over. When Anna regains consciousness, we'll come up with some way of bringing down this guy."