Hanna arrives back at the riverside, exactly where her friends were kidnapped the day before. A light rain is just starting to fall; Hanna isn't fazed. She spots the truck's tracks. Good; they still look fresh. A moment's pause to recall which way the truck departed; direction remembered, Hanna takes off, following the trail.
The trail takes Hanna past a familiar house; she slams on the brakes. Mother…
Kathy hears the growl of an ATV at speed; looking out of the window, she sees Hanna halting abruptly. Heading outside, she sees the conflicted look on Hanna's face.
"I didn't expect you back so soon," Kathy greets.
"The trail I'm following leads past your house," Hanna explains.
"I get the feeling you have a lot of questions for me."
"Yes, but they can wait. Right now, I need to find my friends. And to do so, I need to find Captain Aquila Kawaguchi-"
"Kawaguchi?" Kathy exclaims. "Hold on a minute; I'm coming with you." Kathy dashes back into the house before Hanna can protest; a minute later, she re-emerges, wearing her faded red scarf, armed with a pair of steel nunchaku. Uncovering an old ATV, Kathy starts the engine; she rides out to join Hanna.
"I have a score to settle," Kathy explains with steely determination.
"You and me both," Hanna grins. "Nunchaku. Interesting choice."
"Same as you I see," Kathy observes. "Though you also have sai."
"They're Rob's," Hanna explains. "Normally, I prefer using my claws."
"Same here," Kathy smiles. "We're very similar, you and I. Almost as if we're related…"
"Coincidence, I'm sure," Hanna lies. "Anyway, let's not waste any more time." Kathy nods an agreement; together, they ride away, following the trail left by the truck.
"The patrols are retreating, captain," the lieutenant reports. "We'll be able to launch at nightfall."
"Good," Captain Aquila smiles. "Hopefully, we'll be gone before she finds us."
Shortly before nightfall, Hanna and Kathy reach their destination; they spot the charred remains of the small truck parked next to a black shuttlecraft.
"It may be a charred husk, but that's definitely the right truck," Hanna declares. "My friends must be on-board."
"As must the captain," Kathy adds.
"We can hope."
The shuttlecraft's engines fire up.
"Go!" Hanna commands. She and Kathy leap off their ATVs and sprint to the shuttlecraft; they pounce onto the boarding ramp just in time. A quick scan in the fading light; there are no guards.
"I forgot how much I miss this!" Kathy whispers, revelling in an adrenaline surge.
"It's addictive alright," Hanna agrees. "But right now I'm more concerned about finding my friends, and why there are no guards-"
The bay lights flare on; Hanna and Kathy are temporarily blinded. When their vision recovers, they see Captain Aquila; he is flanked by a retinue of four, all pointing their rifles at the vixens; they draw their nunchaku.
"So, you both survived," Aquila growls.
