A/N: Here it is. My first "real" fanfiction. I just want to apologize up front for any of the characters I butcher. No disrespect is intended. This is a harem fic through I do plan to take it a little slow. How slow you ask? The first actual sex scene isn't until chapter two. With the first three chapters sort of serving as a prologue setting up how and why Takashi's training under Master Roshi. Anyway any thoughts are appreciated, so please comment. Now that said on with the show...
"There is no substitute for strength. Body, mind or spirit. With it you can crush mountains. Without…heh, I assure you such troopers don't remain long under my command." Colonel Silver.
The island didn't look like much to Takashi. Standing at the front of the small speed boat as it slowed coasting towards the island. Noise of the engine dying away as the spiky haired teen jumped out into the water to wade it to shore.
The speck of land seemingly scarcely large enough for the three, shady palm trees it supported, a manicure lawn of green grass and the bright pink house which sat in the center of it all.
A feminine squeal sounding from behind him as water splashed into the boat. The pink-haired Saya seated at the motor turning away shielding herself from the worst of it as she shouted at him. Several droplets landing soaking through the white tank top she wore. Very snugly fitting her large breasts. Creamy, white flesh pushing, squeezed together out through the top and beneath the tiny garment. Fabric turning translucent allowing glimpses of the utterly inadequate string bikini she wore underneath. A small triangle pressed dividing the front of each heavy melon. The globe pushing out around the sides threatening to envelop the tiny patch.
"Hey! Don't be so stupid, stupid! Do you think I want to flash the entire island?" She shouted at him with embarrassment.
Even as she did there was a hint of blush in her voice and face showing her affection for him. Glancing up at him as he steadied the boat pulling it onto the muddy shore. Saya killing the motor, face darkening to nearly the same shade as her hair as she accepted Takashi's help climbing out.
"Whoops. Sorry." He apologized.
Cracking a smile as he lifted her out something she hadn't seen him do in a long time. A bit of his melancholy breaking as he held her, his hands snugly wrapped around her waist slipping underneath her rising shirt. His fingers brushing across her flat stomach as he turned setting her down on the dry, grassy shore. The embrace over far too quickly as she hastily tugged back down on her shirt. Face burning with blush Takashi mistook as solely from embarrassment.
"But I wouldn't worry about that. There doesn't seem to be anyone here." He said to her looking at the house.
The words "Kame house" written across the front of it in big, red letters in a shade that brought to Takashi's mind nothing so much as lipstick marks. And seemed an unlikely choice for a famed, reclusive martial arts master.
"Are we sure this is the place?" He asked uncertainly.
Raising a hand to rub at the back of his head a bit of a nervous expression on his face. Still wary of his childhood friend's fierce moods and outbursts. Becoming more sheepish as she frowned at him, a hand on her shapely hip, as she reflexively started to push up the rim of the glasses she no longer wore as she'd always done before lecturing him when they were children.
"Not that I'm doubting you or anything. I just don't want to have gone all this way and it turns out this is the wrong guy…" He said quickly, a nervous sweat drop appearing on the side of his face.
"You really think it's a different turtle loving hermit living alone on a deserted island?" Saya finally said in a teasing manner rather than her usual anger.
Leaning forward unknowingly allowing him to peer down her diminutive tank top. Her squished boobs escaping out the top overflowing against the sides as they were pushed together deepening her cleavage into an impossible ravine. The boy barely noticing as she playfully flicked him on the nose to "chastise" him.
"Boy, you are hopelessly stupid sometimes. Besides years ago my father tried to hire him to train a new bodyguard for himself." She said standing back up.
Large breasts wobbling within their confines from the subtle motion threatening to spill out even more than they already were. The triangular pieces of her bikini shifting underneath the white fabric of her top struggling to contain her slippery boobs.
"Who's more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him, hmm?" Takashi couldn't help but quip with a laugh, relieved he'd avoided one of his friend's lectures.
Content the boat wasn't going to drift away he led the way to the front of the house a short distance away. Making an attempt to stand straighter as he knocked on the door wanting a good first impression with the famed turtle hermit. From the other side he could hear the muffled sounds of a television, the feminine voice of an aerobics instructor seeping through.
"So what happened? With your father I mean." He asked Saya as he waited.
Despite being friends since childhood he'd only ever actually met her father once. Only able to describe him as an immense man. Both in sheer, personal strength and force of will. As a child he'd appeared to Takashi as a grim-faced giant or demonic Oni from legend. If there was still a mortal man he feared it would be Souichiro Takagi.
"Kamesennin refused and my father, angered, challenged him on the spot. It was the only such challenge my father ever lost." Saya said becoming serious as the door opened.
Both of them then tilting their heads down towards the floor and the leathery brown turtle on it. Somehow holding the door open with pebbly flipper. Extending his wide-eyed head towards them the creature somehow managed to smile up at his unexpected guests.
"Why isn't this a surprise." The turtle, whose name was Turtle, said with a jovial, slow and soft-spoken voice." I wasn't expecting company."
"A talking turtle." Takashi said out loud blinking in surprise.
Suddenly wandering if he'd drunk any saltwater on the long boat to the island. Through Saya's expression beside him confirmed she was seeing the same thing he was. Bobbing its head up and down the creature nodded mistaking his statement for a question.
"Oh my, yes. Through there might be a tortoise on my mother's side." Turtle said helpfully to him.
"I didn't realize your title was so…literal." All Takashi could think to say in response.
Turtle staring at the two of them in confusion for a moment before realization dawned in in his reptilian eyes.
"Oh you must mean Master Roshi." He said scooting backwards further into the house.
Following him then Takashi saw, seated in front of the glowing television, the form of an old man asleep reclined against a low-seated cushion. A glossy magazine, a scantily clad woman on the cover, perched over his face as he gently snored.
"Hey Master! Wake up!" Turtle said excitedly or as excited as a turtle could get at least causing the old man to sit up.
"What that? Did the pizza finally arrive?" The man asked in confusion.
His magazine falling off his face into his lap. Reaching a hand up to adjust and steady the dark, red-rimmed shades he wore obscuring his eyes. Standing up, with the help of a gnarled walking stick, the somewhat diminutive man wore a Hawaiian shirt and shorts as well as a weighted turtle shell on his back. The latter prolonging his efforts to rise as his stretched popping a knotted muscle in his neck, added weight nearly making him tumble back down onto the couch.
Completely bald the lower half of his face below his glasses were hidden beneath a thick, snow-white colored beard and mustache. Through even through it Takashi sensed an omni-present smile lurking. Even as the old man complained.
"Thirty minute delivery my left foot! I can't seem to get it in less than thirty hours." Master Roshi grumbled leaning back on his cane.
"No Master. I think another person has come to train with you." The exasperated reptile said.
Lost in his own tangent Master Roshi blushed beneath his beard as he stroked his furry chin. Making a very distinct laugh.
"Heh-heh! Course the delivery girl does wear the cutest little-huh? Someone to see me, Turtle?" He asked noticing Takashi for the first time." Hmmm…I'd have preferred a redhead in a miniskirt but-"
Old man shrugging his bony shoulders as he attempted a more dignified posture than his normal stoop. Leading with his cane he approached looking Takashi over thoughtfully. His other arm folded behind his back. An orange jewel about the size of Takashi's fist hanging from a string from around his neck. Three red stars glistening on the polish, amber surface of the orb facing him seeming almost to glow with its own light.
"You're Kamesennin?" Takashi blurted out before he could think better of it.
Finding it hard to reconcile everything he'd heard about the legendary martial arts master who was on par with the famed and mysterious Jackie Chun with the man before him. Roshi's own face deflating at having his identity questioned. Seeing his doubt the spindly old man's face fell obviously expecting to be recognized straight away.
"Of course I am. If I wasn't Master Roshi, could I do this?" He asked dropping into a battle stance.
His withered, aged body suddenly filling with new dynamism and life as he launched a fist that narrowly avoided hitting Takashi's face. The whip-like crack of expanding air beside him the young man's first warning as the Turtle Hermit delivered his other fist to the other side of Takashi's face before leaping back spinning through the air. Catching the cane he'd thrown into the air at the start before landing and delivering a perfectly timed spinning kick that avoid Takashi's chin by fractions of an inch.
Only to be undone as he dropped his leg back down by his slipper sliding off his foot flying up to smack the old man in his face as, unbalanced, Roshi tumbled backwards. His hard turtle shell sounding like a gong as it hit the floor. The old man rattling around inside of it as a panicking Turtle rushed to his side.
"Master! Are you okay?!" The marine reptile asked worryingly as Roshi brushed him aside sitting up.
Sunglasses sliding down his face to show unfocused, spiraled eyes as he looked in Takashi's vague direction.
"See? I told you I was-erk-Roshi. And that goes for your two friends there too!" He said pointing a bony finger at the empty air beside Takashi.
Groaning he slumped back down unconscious chasing dream girls through the corners of his mind. At least judging by the smile curling in the corners of his mouth and the intermittent laughs he did between mutteringly asking for "Puff-puffs".
Much later, his weighted shell removed, he awoke on his couch with a cold, wet press on his forehead and came to two distressing conclusions. One that his favorite exercise program "Wide-Thigh" Aerobics was over, replaced by some boring male newscaster. And second Takashi still hadn't become the cute redhead pizza delivery girl.
"You're a persistent one, aren't you?" He said sitting up removing the cold bandage as Takashi bowed.
"Because I have come far in search of the invincible master, for I have great need for his teaching." He said told Roshi as he rose.
The old man standing up again, very spritely for his age, as he stroked at his beard. His expression completely serious for a change looking Takashi up and down. Finally he spoke, in a voice so quiet Takashi almost doubted he'd heard anything at all. Just two words as he leaned on his cane peering over the rims of his dark sunglasses.
"Tell me." All he said.
Prompting Takashi to bow again in humble gratitude. Rising he paused thinking how best to explain. He'd had a speech prepared, a convincing argument for why the Turtle Hermit had to accept training him. Carefully reason and thought out. But that wasn't really why he'd come all this way, was it? Beneath the probing gaze of the old master he instead said the plain, unvarnished truth.
"My father was destroyed by a great evil." He simply stated after a moment's hesitation.
His face hardening reliving that night. The memory saturated in his mind a dark, mottled crimson as if the shimmering droplets of blood rising of the fingers of the dark shrouded figure's sweeping hand had soaked through discoloring everything. Suspending the moment in amber telescoping out in front of young Takashi cowering back down the grimy side alley. The figure turning, only his eyes visible in the darkness. His eyes and the white fangs, pale as moonlight, which glowed beneath the burning red suns that were his eyes.
His father, a pale gray in his memories, slumping against the grimy alley wall his hands at his throat. Ribbons of red running down through his gray fingers. His eyes locked on Takashi, mouth forming words he couldn't say. Telling him to run.
And with a voice as cold and decrepit as the grave the stranger laughed at Takashi as he rushed forward. Trampling the bags of groceries spilling out onto the damp alley floor he and his father had ventured out for. Loosing track of time and the setting sun despite the "Night Slasher" eluding the police. A phantom boogeyman he used to frighten Saya or Rei at the playground chasing them around across through the park. A trick to sell newspapers. Or so his father believed.
Contemptuously knocked aside by inhuman, unnatural strength. The blow quicker than his human eye could see, stinging slap blistering on his cheek as he fell to his side. Tears streaming down his face.
"A creature born of darkness." Takashi continued hands balling into shaking fists." My father-I tried to save him but I…I wasn't strong enough."
Turtle looking appropriately horrified by his story, the reptile's face a mask of sympathy. Master Roshi's on the other hand remained unchanged. Seeming to consider and weigh Takashi's words.
"I see…So you wish for my training so you can take your revenge against this evil?" He asked slowly. "To punish him for the pain he caused you?"
Takashi feeling as if the old man was testing him as he shook his head. Remembering the miraculous appearance of the kindly, old man. Splashing some caustic fluid in the Night Slasher's face which burned and hissed brandishing a cross as he forced the creature back. Too late to save his father but not for Takashi himself. Dramatically announcing himself as "Peter Vincent, Vampire Killer" assuring a poor, frightened boy to have no fear as he leveled a revolver at the cornered Night Slasher.
Silver bullets, he'd learned. And through the first shot missed shattering a brick most of the rest struck into the creature's center. Into his black, accursed heart.
"No. Thankfully that evil is gone from this world forever." Takashi said quietly.
Having watched the creature's body, its anathema power abated, rot and putrefy before his eyes. Flesh and bone dissolving, the weight of eons passing across it in the span of moments, into a putrid slime. All that remained of it besides its crumbled, stained clothes. Only then did he allow himself to be taken away. Held up in the old man's arms, sobbing his face buried in his thin, bony shoulder. Carrying him to the police station.
Years later, with Saya's help, he'd tried to find this Peter Vincent. But what little information he could find on the mysterious man it seemed that death had finally caught up with him. So that avenue was denied.
"I don't need to avenge my father but when this evil came for him I couldn't do anything. I was helpless. I want-I need your training so that when it happens again I'll have the strength to protect those I care about."
Like Rei he thought, his childhood friend along with Saya. They'd been inseparable when they were little. She'd given him his first kiss. A childish, innocent thing neither of them fully understood. Chasing each other through the park. He remembered when she fell from the monkey bars skinning her knee and he'd helped her. Her soft, reddish-brown eyes seeming so large on her cherubic face as she looked up at him with such pure adoration. Knowing he'd always be there watching out for her, protecting her.
Holding his hand as they both promised they'd get married someday, to always look out for each other. Pinky swear and everything as silly as it sounded. Kids stuff. Didn't think she thought of him like that anymore, not that he blamed her. She was concerned with school work, of going to karaoke after school to unwind. And he hadn't been. Going through the motions even before the idea of his plan had taken shape.
Listening Roshi nodded, seemingly deep in thought as he considered the young boy's request. Leaning on weight of his seemingly frail body on his knotted staff he shared a glance with Turtle before answering.
"Wishing to protect others is a noble quest and speaks to heart of martial arts." He finally said.
Causing Takashi to look hopeful as he couldn't help but excitedly ask a follow-up question.
"Does that mean you'll train me?"
"Oh heavens no!" Roshi answered with a laugh nearly causing Takashi to face plant on the floor." I am far from convinced your body is ready to endure the techniques of my training. Perhaps in another few years…"
Trailing off as he heard Saya working in the house's small kitchen turning his head to see her as she stepped out. Holding a tray with a steaming bowl of ramen noodles and a tall glass of juice. The feisty woman not looking happy at all at being "domesticated" like this relenting only because she didn't want to deal with the Turtle Hermit directly. Knife-like eyes narrowing as she stared at the man, corner of her mouth turning up in a small smirk.
"Guess baldy's still alive after all." She said clearly unimpressed.
Beside Takashi, Turtle lowered his head into his flippers as he muttered "Uh-oh" to himself. Master Roshi's gaze immediately dropping down to Saya's see-through shirt. At the squished globes trapped beneath the tight fitting triangle. Sliding around beneath the wet fabric as she walked. Putting an exaggerated sway to her step she always managed when she was around Takashi.
"Oh Hubba-Hubba! Baby!" Roshi cried peering past his sunglasses with the biggest smile Takashi had ever seen.
Saya stopping and following his gaze. The motion causing her two giant scoops of vanilla to rise squeezing even more together. Boob-flesh expanding outward from either side of the two wrestling globes until a hint of pink appeared on her creamy, white flesh. Roshi's eyes bulging out as two fountains of blood erupted from his nose. The old man poorly attempting to staunch the bleeding with a handkerchief Turtle provided him.
"He's like this every time a girl comes to the island." Turtle explained as Roshi slumped back down into the couch physically spent." You should see what happens when pizza is delivered."
Walking over Saya looked down dismissively at the purported invincible master as she shoved the tray into Takashi's hand. Roshi laying down staring up at the ceiling smiling, two trickles of blood discoloring his white beard.
"Maybe I spoke too soon. I think I killed him." She said folding her arms over her chest.
Causing them to look even bigger as they rose spilling out above her arms. Roshi sitting back up, sunglasses falling down his face, pressing his handkerchief against his face again as fresh geysers erupted.
"Okay! Okay, I give up. I'll train you!" Roshi said weakly waving Saya away." Just call her off."
The Pinkette giving a grumpy sigh as she allowed herself to escorted by Turtle out of the poor master's line of sight. Takashi hearing her mutter "what a perv" under her breath as she walked away. Finishing sitting up, a red-faced Roshi tried to catch his breath as Takashi sat the tray beside him. Quickly bowing his head again in respect for the aged master.
"You will?" He asked as the Turtle Hermit weakly nodded.
Quickly regaining his former strength and stamina, such as it was, now that he wasn't staring temptation in the boob…er…face. Radiating with an inner strength and resolve wholly at odds with his frail appearance.
"Yes but only on the condition that your friend…she…uh-she stays too." The old master said his face becoming perverted as he blushed.
No fool when it came to the fairer sex. It was obvious the girl was crazy over him, deliberately flashing him like she'd done. Poor girl, he'd have to let her down easy of course. Convince her she needed someone closer to her own age like his young student perhaps. But until there wasn't any harm in enjoying the girl's company. And in the meantime he'd get to enjoy staring at some of the biggest coconuts not on a tree he'd ever seen in his life.
"Sure. I guess that'll be all right." Takashi said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head as he looked at Saya pleadingly.
The soft marshmallows of her chest still bulging out over her arms as she squeezed her shirt in a display that, had he'd seen it, would have probably put Roshi back down on the couch again. The strong-willed girl sighing again as she looked down at Turtle beside her.
"Are you sure this guy's really some kind of martial arts master?" She asked.
Turtle nodding quickly or at least quickly for him. To everyone else it would have been a slow, profound head wobble.
"Oh yes. Kamesennin has won the "Strongest under the Heaven" tournament every year he's entered." Turtle assured her.
Saya rolling her eyes imagining the months ahead being filled with "accidental" gropes and worse from the perverted master. But it was also the chance to get Takashi to herself and away from Rei the Pinkette had been waiting for. Seeming like the brown-haired girl was always with them in one shape or another despite the pair of them drifting apart.
Brightening up at the thought of months' worth of "accidently" letting her bath towel slip down in front of Takashi. Of skimpy bathing suits and "friendly" requests for him to oil her back. By the time she was done he wouldn't even remember Rei's name.
Baldy would be a problem of course but Saya was confident she could handle him. A devious smile forming on her face as she nodded.
"Fine. But Baldy better behave himself!" She insisted.
"Scouts hon-gah!" Roshi tried to say holding up two fingers before catching another glimpse of her breasts pressing against her transparent shirt.
Convulsing again as he fell back on the couch, Turtle rushing to his master's side. Giving Saya a taste of what was to come. Shaking her head she walked around grabbing Takashi's arm. Being sure to mash her breasts up against it as she tugged pulling him towards their moored boat.
"You are so going to owe me for this one. Come on, if we're both staying you can at least help me with my bags." She said, the two leaving as Turtle hastily fanned a red-faced Roshi with a towel.
Pausing as he considered his next dazzling move the fearsome and indomitable Commander Red held his bishop in his hand as he studied the chessboard before him. Stroking his chin with one powerful, muscular hand. A cigar wedged between his first two fingers, a lazy trail of smoke rising off of it adding the crisp, scented tobacco of the smoldering stubs in the ashtray at the Commander's elbow.
The dark, red-haired man's brow knotted with intense contemplation and care only one of his breeding, vision and virtually limitless talents could appreciate. The lavish office which was his own, personal domain at this, the fortress and heart of his Red Ribbon army, littered with the relics of histories past "Great Men". A portrait of Charles the Hammer captured at the moment of his triumphant battle of Tours from which the very course of Western Civilization had been decided. A replica of the Gordon knot and sword Alexander had used to sever it preserved in a glass display. In one corner stiffly stood the pockmarked armor of Weng-Chiang, twelfth century Asian warlord, mystic and self-styled avatar of a carrion god. It didn't pan out, the tyrants put-upon peasants and own samurais turning upon him, but Commander Red certainly appreciated the ambition of it none the less.
A man who strove to put the entire world, even the afterlife, within his grasp. That was the sort of man Commander Red strove to be. Hard and unyielding. Never satisfied with his "lot" in life. And he had a lot not to be satisfied with.
A physically unappealing man, made more so by his notorious ego and vile personality, he had a weathered-beaten face and a pencil thin mustache covering his upper lip. Right eye marred and covered with a soulless, black eyepatch. A lingering reminder of the fragility of his own life, and its weakness. The dull, constant ache, a sort of itchiness inside his socket, a reminder for him to press on never relenting.
But most striking, his most self-hated feature, as he sat in a chair suitably imposing and intimidating befitting someone of his rank and ability was how stunted and miss-sized his body was. Short, muscular legs dangling off the end of the chair unable to touch the thick, woolen carpet. Arms the same. Big, powerful but with child-like proportions.
With his expensive suit, not to mention various other military regula he wore when inspecting the troops, omni-present cigars and glittering, diamond studded ring on one thick finger he cut an almost amusing figure. Almost because anyone who'd laughed in the Commander's presence would be lucky to only lose an eye to the benighted creature sleeping in the man's lap. One of Gero's early experiments it was vaguely feline but only in the broadest outline.
Bat-like ears folded against its skullcap, malic yellow eyes closed, it lay curled up on its master's lap. Diamond hard claws tucked underneath its small but agile body as it twitched occasionally. No doubt dreaming crimson dreams.
Making a decision, his eyes lighting up like a hawk's, Red slide his piece removing another of the black pieces from the board. Adding it to the growing pile.
"A-ha! What do you think of that?" He demanded, reaching to take a puff on his cigar. "Check!"
There being only the slightest trace of his Scottish accent which usually only flared out when the emotional leader was truly upset or angry. The cat-creature on his lap making a soft, trilling sound as he laid his other hand against it. Gently stroking the creature's back and neck.
"Very good sir. A most excellent decision." The unimaginatively named Staff Officer Black answered supportively.
The towering figure also studying the board for his next move. Carefully weighing his options as he decided how to best prolong the game for his commander's amusement before letting the smaller man win.
Aid, confidant, bodyguard and second in command of the powerful Red Ribbon army the dark-skinned sat stiffly in his chair as he contemplated the board with a military-induced discipline. If any single word described him it was reserved, his every action calculated for maximum advantage.
Where Commander Red's suit was ostentatious meant to invoke his power and wealth, Black's wore a simple business suit and tie crisply ironed. Every facet of his appearance studious chosen. Even the red ribbon protruding from his handkerchief pocket signaled his allegiance to the organization and the man before him.
The man's skull cleanly shaven, the better to prevent someone from grabbing hold of him in a struggle. Again to the exquisite care he chose with his appearance. Seeing his move, and how the commander could ultimately triumph over it a turn or two down the line, Black moved his rook removing his king from danger while in turn relying on it to protect his rook from being destroyed. A delaying action, nothing more, while Red moved his other pieces into position. One that would-Black blinked as Commander Red very triumphantly traded his bishop for the rook knocking the black piece from the board.
"All true leaders must be prepared for sacrifice, Staff Officer Black. Never let your attachment to any single piece delay you from victory." Red smirked misreading the other man's expression." I'd have thought you'd have learned that from me by now."
"Yes sir." Black said somewhat wearily as he removed the bishop from the board as well.
Mentally adding another three turns to their game at least before the Commander won. Pleased with himself, Commander Red lowered his cigar as he blew another cloud of smoke into the air grinning down at the dwindling board.
"So tell me. How is *MY* army doing? Any great news to report?" He asked, scratching the ear of his sleeping pet.
"Efficiency is up five percent over last quarter, sir. As are profits. The Libyan conflict in particular is proving to excellent source of income with all involved parties requesting more men and materials. It has also served as an excellent testbed for our new weapons systems."
"As I predicted. War is good for business. And for Red Ribbon. We can't afford any weaklings. They must be pruned away leaving the strongest, the best to serve us!" Red shouted waking up his pet cat with an angry hiss.
Yellow eyes opening to knife-slits as it peered looking for someone, anyone, to take its ire out on. Dabbing at a nervous bead of sweat shining on his bald pate, Black tried to maintain his composure in its presence as both of them heard a knock at the door.
A uniformed guard opening the door as a buxom blonde swaggered into the room. Steel wrapped in the most exquisite silk was the only thoughts Black had to describe the long-legged woman. One shapely limb shown off, the pant leg cut away, from her vaguely biker inspired attire. On less of a woman it would have appeared mannish but no amount of leather could hide her curves or the swell of her breasts squished ill-fittingly inside of her top. The tiniest hint of cleavage spilling out, tightness of her clothes and bra pressing her globes together causing her cleavage to mushroom pushing out above the rather rugged looking vest she wore.
On her naked leg she wore an empty holster, weapon confiscated long before she could have gotten near the Commander. Through for most men, if she was so inclined, Black doubted she would have need of any weapons in order to kill them.
Thankfully her only interests were in money and who could pay her the most of which the Red Ribbon was the very topmost on that list. Using the master thief Hasky several times over the years to obtain what they otherwise couldn't. Including several of the more priceless objects decorating the Commander's office.
"Well, well this is a surprise. Yours I trust?" Red asked looking to Black who shook his head.
"I was as unaware of this as you are, sir." The other man answered dutifully standing to rise.
Reassured, no matter how unlikely a confrontation, by the feel of cold steel against his breast on the inside of his suit's jacket. An accredited quickdraw and marksmen there were few men Black feared at the barrel of a gun. Ignoring him, moving with the cat-like grace and speed which made her so effective, Hasky pulled his chair out from behind the Staff Officer sitting down in it herself.
"A true gentleman, standing for a lady. There's so few of those left in the world." She smirked sticking her long legs up on the table between Black and Red.
Giving her mane of long, golden hair a shake like she was some model in a fashion shoot rather than an intruding agent in the presence of one of the most powerful men on Earth. She turned and cocked her arm resting her head against it further emphasizing her large chest as it stuck out. Creamy flesh bubbling out over the top as the material sunk down a few fractions of an inch.
"And what do we owe this intrusion?" Black inquired, allowing the smallest of frowns on his tightly controlled features.
"Quiet shorty, this concerns me and your boss." Hasky dismissed smiling at Red.
The Commander practically glowing at the snide remark towards his overly large aid returning the blonde's smile.
"Yes, Black. The important people are talking." He said waving Black off.
His attention wavering between Hasky herself and her inviting cleavage pleased with both.
"Sir if she's here to sell you another trinket may I respectfully suggest your office is already lavishly furnished." Black said without much hope.
A very large percentage of the Red Ribbon budget going to Hasky for the baubles displayed around them. Money, he believed, could have been better allocated into the R&D of the Battle Labs or procurement rather than to feed one man's vanity.
"What about the entire world, Luv? Is that's worth my fee?" She smirked looking up at the towering Black. "What about ten times it? Since I'm going out of my way to give it to you."
Giving her a dubious look, the Staff Officer raised one thinly arched eyebrow. Taking a deep breath before he spoke.
"And how do you propose delivery?" He finally asked wary of the woman's tricks." The world is an awfully large item to steal, even for you."
"Yes. I'm curious as well." Red asked sitting back in his chair, his hands folded together on the table.
Undaunted, cool as steel, Hasky laughed reaching for a small pouch hanging from her belt which would have been searched and removed of any hidden weapons. So Black remained largely unconcerned allowing the motion as she produced a small, rag wrapped bundle."
"The Ebihara expedition uncovered this a few days ago excavating the forgotten ruins of some Romanian castle. That I managed to take off their hands as it were. Now its only part of a set but I figure you boys, now that I've pointed you in the right direction, can figure out how to find the rest." Hasky said slowly unraveling a bright, orange glass ball or bead roughly the size of a man's fist.
Seeming to glow in the room's light. A single, bright red star set inside across the front of the orb as Commander Red leaned forward looking at it. His distorted reflection looking back.
"Either of you fine gentlemen ever heard the legend of the Eternal Dragon Shenron?" She asked knowing she had at least Red's interest." And how he can grant any wish to the one who summons him?"
