****Castle Wyvern
"Yeah!" shouted Lex, whooping in triumph as he watched his adversary's battleship explode to space dust and he was then declared the winner.
A game chat room box then popped up on his computer screen with the words;
_That's so unfair! You totally cheated! That's so bogus!_
LexT_I did not! *Smiles wily* So don't tempt me._
Sting Ray_I challenge you to a rematch! Right Now!_
LexT_You're on! And don't be such a sore loser!_
Sting Ray_I am so gonna kick your tail!_
LexT_What makes you think I even have a tail!_
Sting Ray_*Rolls eyes* Oh, ha-ha! Real funny, Dweeb. Now let's get on with the rematch so I can kick your ass from Aarlakk to the next quasar galaxy!_
The whole time Lex was bantering with his online opponent, the wing's private phone rang twice before Othello finally answered it, grumbling in annoyance to himself that Hudson would not answer it but remained in his custom made ez chair and staring at that magical talking picture box he was so fond of.
The receiver barely touched his face as he rumbled, "Hello? Ah, sister." He happily recognized Elisa's voice.
"Good to hear you, too, Othello," Elisa said, "But no time for chit chat, something's going down tonight. Gather the clan and tell them this right away. . ."
Othello listened carefully as Elisa told of the tip Matt received earlier.
"Lexington, Elder," he rumbled as he hung up the phone, "We must gather the others, we may have a mission tonight."
Lex gave a groan of disappointment as he typed to his online friend;
LexT_Sorry, Ray, I'll have to take a rain check on that rematch. *Crosses arms and groans* Family emergency._
Sting Ray_*Groans* Be serious, I hope you're not bailing on me. If you're serious it's ok, I understand, I've have my share of fam. emergs. Take care, I'm holding you to that rematch._
LexT_You got it. Later. *Gone*_
Sting Ray_Later.*Gone*_
The clan had soon gathered in their private meeting area, several members having cut their patrol shifts short, arriving as Othello began to tell of Elisa's call.
"I have been told of a plausible incursion," Othello began as the clan gathered into a tight circle, "between the two bandit broods called the Dracons and Yakuza. They mean to invade areas in the city that they consider 'territory' to the other's side."
Othello gave details as he understood them from their beloved and respected human sister, the entire clan then looking to their great stoic leader.
"This may be so large a task, it will require the entire clan," Goliath said with deep seriousness, his deep gaze clear to the two juvenile members of the clan, who merely swelled with pride. His gaze then went to their parents, nods of understanding from each of them.
"However, one of us must remain behind to guard the castle."
"I'll watch the castle," Lex volunteered with a bit of over enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Lexington," Goliath rumbled appreciatively, "But we may need your swiftness for this night's task."
Although Lex feigned disappointment, he knew Goliath to be right.
"I don't see what the big deal is," Graeme spoke up, "The castle has its own security system that the castle doesn't need guarding."
"Graeme-kun," Sata, his mother, gently warned, "Protective technology can't only be what is relied upon to guard our home, for a living warrior must always be ready to defend the clan's home."
Graeme gave a frown, knowing that his mother was right as usual, and his twin sister smirking.
So it was decided that the youngest members of the clan will stay behind, along with Bronx and Nudnik, while the rest of the clan divided into groups of three for the duration of the night's mission.
The clan soon dispersed, the children as usual began to bicker in English and Japanese. They had proven themselves to be capable warriors in the past, but considering where some of the clan were to be tonight there were some things the children should not yet need to be exposed to.
Goliath and Othello remained behind momentarily as the brawny leader spoke with his equally brawny rookery brother;
"Brother, why is Elisa tending to her duties tonight? When last I spoke with her she assured me she will be recuperating from our honeymoon."
"I don't know, Goliath, but I'm sure she would not be assisting her police brothers and sisters were the situation of some paramount importance."
Worry lines creased Goliath's face, for their activity during the honeymoon had taken a bit of a toll on Elisa. For the last few days of their time together, Elisa began to become easily exhausted and moody to the point of aggravation. Even long before they had finally admitted their feelings for each other and finally began courting, Goliath had always worried for Elisa's safety and wellbeing because of her human fragility. But despite this his heart knew this to be folly, for he knew she was strong in spirit and more than capable of holding her own against a formidable enemy.
Yet as a loving lifemate, he always worried for his beloved.
"I understand how you feel, Brother," Othello quietly said, disrupting Goliath's thoughts, "Were it my beloved lifemate. . ."
Goliath simply placed a large hand on Othello's broad shoulder, an understanding passing between the brothers.
They then departed together to join the rest of the clan.
****An undisclosed location
"You have done well," Shinji Kimura quietly praised, "As promised, your payment for the job requested to be done."
An expensive leather suitcase, opened to reveal a hefty sum of American dollars, was slid across the Japanese mob boss's desk to a feminine figure silhouetted in the shadows, only a strand of bright red hair and a slight protrusion of a buxom chest shown threw.
"I had my doubts about you," Shinji said, "But you have proven yourself. It is a rare privilege to know that I am pleased to be proven wrong."
"When those of the great Kimura-san request the best, you only get the best," the woman said with quiet pride, she then gave a formal bow as she said, "It has been a true honor to serve you, Kimura-sama. If you have need of my services again, I will not hesitate to immediately come."
Shinji simply gave a silent nod as the woman closed the brief case.
"There is."
The woman froze in place.
"I have a client that has requested service of you impressive skills, and he promises to pay well."
A grim faced associate then past the woman a business card, she regarded it for a moment before silently nodding and walking with a quiet brisk grace out of Kimura's office with the briefcase in hand.
"Bring him," Kimura growled dangerously quiet a moment after his temporary employee had gone.
Suited expressionless faced men then escorted town grim faced young men into the Oyobun's lavishly Japanese decorated office. The two young men held themselves with a stiff discipline, their eyes staring down at the floor. This greatly pleased Kimura, for fear has always been a great disciplinarian.
"You greatly disappoint me, Takeo," Kimura said with a dangerous quietness, the silence of the office having become so thick it may have been a booming shout.
Takeo Kimura, aka Tommy, and his accomplice Ryu, just stood in utter silence before the Oyobun, the tension thick with fear.
"You understand why you have been brought before me," Kimura said in Japanese with the same quiet tone.
"Hai, Oyobun-sama," Tommy said quietly without looking up.
"You also understood why I have allowed you to be incarcerated these last several months."
"Hai, Oyobun-sama."
"Good. You also know the consequences should you pull another foolish stunt as you did last year."
"Honorable Oyobun, I only meant to. . ."
"Silence. No excuses, Takeo. You are fortunate I am a forgiving Oyobun, for you have proven in the past to be among my most promising apprentices. Until you foolishly allowed personal trivialities to cloud your judgment within two years."
Kimura allowed this to sink in for several long silent moments, Tommy continued to stare stiffly at the floor.
"Therefore, I have decided to allow you one final chance, though you may never again be wagashi within the bakuto. All of your past operations have been passed on to your 'brother,' Hiruko."
Another handsome young man stepped from the shadows to stand in full view of Tommy and Ryu. Hiruko was not much older than Tommy, and indeed could have easily been an older blood brother to Tommy as he held himself with similar arrogance, yet it had an air of discipline and dignity about him. Tommy's eyes met Hiruko's, though it had been but a moment an eternity had frozen between them. As apprentices to the Oyobun, young men were to consider each other brothers-in-arms to each other like samurai in ancient times. Both of their faces remained blank masks, but their eyes spoke volumes to each other. Beneath Tommy's blank expression was a deep loathing grudge and great envy, for Hiruko was everything Tommy had strove to be. Hiruko had already began his own ikka, was highly respected by many both within the NYC Yakuza and the city's authorities, and most importantly was married to a beautiful and traditional bound wife now pregnant with their first child, most likely a son. Hiruko could see this within Tommy, for beneath his mask was smug arrogance and great pride in seeing himself as Tommy's better in every way.
For a micro moment, a part of Tommy wanted to leap out and strangle Hiruko until he heard the Oyobun snap, "Takeo."
Immediately his eyes snapped to Kimura.
"Hiruko is to be your leader from now on, until such a time *I* decide when your honor has been restored. To the authorities he is your probation officer, however he reports to me as you will report to him. You have been given your orders for the night, deal well with the gaijin interlopers, the Dracons, and I may show leniency. You know the consequences should you fail again, Takeo."
"I do honorable Oyobun," Tommy said with a slightly shaky voice.
"Good. Now go. Do not fail me again," Kimura's voice became hard as he emphasized the last five words, hard lines creasing his face.
Tommy and Ryu gave formal bows before leaving the office.
Hiruko laughed as he wrapped his arms around the other two young men. Tommy's eyes glared acid, his loathing grew by the moment for this man. He was no sure for now whom he hated more, Sharon, the gargoyles, or Hiruko. For now he just knew that one day soon he will have revenge on all of them, for no one made a fool of Tommy Kimura.
****Riker's Island
"I'm extremely disappointed in you, Tony," growled the distinguishably drabbed man who sat in front of Tony Dracon, a protective transparent prison shield between them.
"You say that every time you come here," Tony groaned.
"Because you need to hear it every time. In more than five years you've served time in one way or another, and too often I've looked the other way. Now, because of your incompetence we have to fight another turf war just to keep our hold on this city. I won't hear anymore of your excuses of gargoyles or boogey men. You're a grown man, Anthony, but clearly you want to act like a danm child so you're going to be treated like one. You're just lucky that Tepes fellow didn't press anymore charges against you other than breaking and entering, and property damage. You should know better than to let your impulsive curiosity get the better of you."
"Uncle, I'm telling you, none of it was ever my fault, it was those danm monster bats, and that guy was some kind of freak. . ."
"I don't care," his uncle snapped, "My patience with you has worn thin. I've been far too easy on you simply because you're my nephew and I made a promise to your father." Tony's uncle gave a deep hard sigh.
"Until you learn some discipline, you're cut from the family wealth. I'm personally taking control of all your current operations until I decide to have you released and all your charges dropped. I'll allow your friends like Glasses and Pal Joey to visit and tell you what's been happening. But they're not to discuss business with you, so you won't have any involvement whatsoever."
Tony gave an angered glare at his uncle as he rose from his seat and a broad shouldered suited bodyguard put a long expensive jacket onto his uncle. The distinguished mobster then took a look through the barred door of the visiting room to see another visitor for Tony.
"And one more thing," he said, "Stop with your ridiculous blatant flirting with that police woman, it's a waste of your talents."
"Why did you come here, if not just to ridicule me, Uncle?" Tony complained.
"I told you, because Nicky G is dead, no doubt murdered by those damn Japanese bastards. So far this war has only been school yard fights with pushes and push backs, but it will soon spiral out of control if we don't do something about those sons of bitches. Loosing Nicky will be a blow to us, but we will show those assholes who really owns this town."
Nephew and uncle gave understanding glances to each other as Tony's uncle finally left. As he stepped out of the door, his gaze met the dark fiery eyes of Elisa Maza for but a half second. Tor Elisa it was a frozen moment in time, keeping her wits about her as she took recognition of the dapper looking man as he walked by her. Elisa knew of the man more by reputation and mug shots than by personal acquaintance, but his resemblance to Tony and Dominic Dracon was strong and all too apparent. The slightly receded hair line with grey temples, the trimed mustache, and expensive business suit told her that this had to be only one man. To the city politicians he was wealthy businessman civic philanthropist Brandon Draconis, but most law enforcement officers knew that was only a cover to his real identity as Brando Dracon, the undisputable leader of the Dracon mafia family.
He only took notice of her but no acknowledgement, simply strolling by the police detective as though she were of no importance. Which was fine by Elisa as she quietly spoke into her hidden commlink.
"Are you sure about this, Matt?" she asked her partner, "I have a feeling this might be a dead end."
"Maybe, Elisa," Matt responded, "But you're not on this case officially, even though I know you now want to be. But if Tony knows anything, our best chance is that he'll talk to you. And don't worry, the guys have our backs and Quinn's been undercover at the stakeout sight for the last week. The tip I got might just be the break we need."
"If you say so, Matt. But are you sure about Quinn? There's seems to be something off about her."
"Don't let that fool you, Elisa, she's a lot tougher than she looks."
"Alright, Detective, go on it," the prison guard finally informed her.
"Got to go, Matt," Elisa quickly said as she stepped into the prison visiting room.
It came as no surprise to her when Tony saw her, he once more gave a smirk and turned on the old 'Dracon charm' as he said, "Well, hello again, Sugar, always nice to see you."
"Can it, Tony, I'm not in the mood," Elisa snapped, " Just tell me anything you know about this turf war between you and the Yakuza."
"Sorry, Elisa, you're a little too late. My dear Uncle Brando just cut me off from the family business, I wouldn't have much to tell you."
Elisa scowled, a sudden instinctual need to lash out grew within her, but she kept a disciplined composer.
"That doesn't matter to me, Tony, if you know anything that can help me put an end to this conflict between the syndicates, please tell me."
"And what's in it for me? And don't tell me a lighter sentence time, because you know I won't take it."
Elisa sighed in annoyance, thought for a moment then said, "Satisfaction."
"Of what?"
"Of knowing you did the right thing helping me save lives, and that I can bring them to justice."
"I'm not sure that's good enough for me."
"It'll have to be. At least you'll have a few less of your enemies to worry about."
Elisa hated to stroke Tony's mobster ego, but for now had to do what she could to ensure his cooperation. Tony seemed to ponder this for a moment as he smirked again and said, "Ok, Sugar, one last time, for old time's sake."
Elisa just frowned at him.
"The last time I heard from any of my boys, Glasses told me that Nicky was working on some kind of non-lethal explosive, which isn't usually his style. A bomb that gave off a low level EMP, whatever that is, that messed up all electronic stuff within a given distance. I'm no scientist, but I do know that it was supposed to be an acquisition from that company that recently lost its CEO, Maddox Tech or something."
A chill went down Elisa's spine as she asked, "Are you sure, Tony? Do you think that's why Nicky G was killed, because of this bomb?"
"Maybe, though I think it's more likely the guy got sloppy and those Japes killed him just to screw with us. What do you know about Nicky's death?"
"Nothing so far, he was being taken to the coroner's office last time I saw the body. They should be doing an autopsy soon, but it looked like he was killed by the death of a thousand cuts, he most likely would've bled to death."
They both remained dead still, not wanting the other to see how disturbed they both had become.
"If there's nothing else you can tell me, Tony," Elisa said as she rose from her seat, "Then this meeting is done."
Tony then smirked again as he mocked, "If you ditch that flying purple freak and want to find yourself a real man, look me up, Sugar."
He winked at her as he clicked his tongue and pointed at her, Elisa only gave Tony a dirty look as she left the prison visiting room.
When she finally was out of sight of the visiting room, Elisa leaned against a wall as she fought another feeling of nausea coming on. She always knew Tony Dracon was a vile human being, but he never affected her this much. She became more determined to leave when a somewhat friendlier face caught her eye.
"Jason, hi," she greeted him with friendly professionalism.
The now wheelchair bound former Hunter looked up surprised to see Elisa as he was escorted back to his cell by a security guard.
"Hello, Elisa," he said with a polite smile, " 'tis good to see you."
Despite the small awkwardness between them, Elisa had kept her promise of checking Jason's progress every now and then.
"You're looking well, Jason, I hear you get stronger every day."
"Aye, though it hasnae been easy. I understand ye just got married. Congratulations."
Although Jason was sincere, Elisa could hear an undertone of grudging jealousy.
"Thanks. So how have you been, Jason?"
"Well enough, I've had at least three offers for an early parole for good behavior, but I've had to turn them down."
"What?! Why?"
"After all that I have done, Elisa, especially to you, I deserve to be here where I can do some good. Besides, someone must be here to watch over poor wee Johny."
"That's all in the past, Jason, things do change. And I'm really sorry about your brother, but there's no guarantee that he'll wake from his coma, if at all. And I suppose I can understand since your sister disappeared."
"I havenae heard from Robyn for years now, since someone bailed her out from the last time she escaped, and I nae know where she is. I'm now the only family John has."
"I understand, Jason," Elisa said with sympathy, "But I think you can do more good on the outside, I know you have a lot to offer and I can help you find new purpose."
Jason gave an appreciative smile.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Crawford," the security guard spoke up, "But we need to get going."
"Crawford?" Elisa inquired with a raise eyebrow.
"Aye, Elisa, I legally changed me name a few months ago. There shall be no more Canmores through me now, and at least for me the Hunt is truly over. Before me father died, he used to always tell me and my siblings that a 'Canmore can no more stop hunting gargoyles than breathing th' air. But now that I have given up pursuing such a futile pointless family tradition, I can honestly say that I have ne'er breathed easier."
Elisa gave her former partner a wide toothy smile, a small wave of dizziness suddenly over took her, making her lean against the wall as she rubbed her tightly shut eyes.
"Are ye alright, Elisa?" Jason asked with genuine concern.
"Yeah, I just haven't been feeling well for a few days. I'm sure it's nothing. I'll catch you later, Jason. And next time I strongly recommend you accept an early parole, I know you can do some real good out there. I'll even put in a personal recommendation."
"Thank ye, lass, 'tis greatly appreciated. G'night, Elisa."
"Good night, Jason."
As Jason watched Elisa leave, the guard wheeled him to his cell, a thought crossed Jason's mind about her condition; Could she really be. . .? He then shook the thought away knowing that it was impossible and he was being ridiculous.