Kingdom Come

Chapter 2

Ducking under the doorway Scott followed Jack, staying on her toes as they quickly traveled through the congested downtown market. Stalls, packed with spreads of fish either fried, baked, or pickled made his stomach twist from hunger.

After pausing, checking if they were followed, and pausing again to make sure no one was watching, Jack finally slowed her pace and pulled into a separate bar. A bouncer waited there. With a sturdy build, he crossed his arms and grunted at passers but glanced curiously as Jack as she walked up and made him lean over to stare at something on her wrist…

He quickly straightened up and allowed the both of them through, cautiously glaring down at Scott as he made his way inside. A colorful display of rainbow themed lanterns hanged from the ceiling as Christmas lights dangled from each lamp, connecting them apart. Smoke wafted in the air and lingered from mostly from Hukas and incense.

"Here," Jack grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a room with another woman near the back corner; sitting down with legs crossed.

"I..," he checked his surroundings, "Are we hiding? Why would we need to hide?"

"Your welcome to take your chances out there," Jake crossed her legs too, "I just wanted some space to talk without prying eyes." Scott's eyes traveled to the woman in the corner, who rolled her eyes at his distrust. "Oh her...she's paid to be a bystander and make sure no one sheds blood or makes a bad name for the establishment. It's...kind of a safe haven for some on this outpost."

Jack stood up and sighed, placing two hands on hips, "Get undressed."

"Wha-," Scott stumbled back, "Umm, no, thank you," his hands rose up as the other woman touched his wrist. "The suit stays on-."

"We're not trying to take your manhood, sit down," Jack spat, "You're going to want to blend in for the job..."

Cautiously lowering himself back into the seat, Scott restrained himself from overreacting, the lady in the corner snatched his wrist. She observed the markings on his suit of armor before nodding slowly to Jack for confirmation...making him uneasy…

"We know what you are," Jack stepped off the seat, "And I don't know who you are, or why you're here, but I only know one thing." She tilted her head, sighing a bit, "You can't go back."

"Who-," he cleared his throat," -are you? You've shoved me around this city, assumed things you don't, really, know. And I'm…," slowly, he started shaking his head, "Hey, listen, I'm out. I...thought this was just going to be some simple job but now I have my doubts." The other woman crouched down and proceeded to press a simple mechanism in the back leg component that unlocked the foot casing.

She was knocked back into the floor as a boot firmly placed itself upon her chest. Looming above her was Scott staring daggers into her now alarmed look. His mask was expressionless but uncomfortably still.

"Don't. Touch. The suit."

His tone took a different, serious pause as he slowly retracted his boot and lifted it to reattach it from the back. "I had my reasons...if your not comfortable with my terms," he left the conversation there while exiting the room. The hallway connected to the commons area and Scott was halfway through when the comms went off inside his helmet.

"Scott….come back," Jack sounded complacent in his headset. "I'm sorry, I should have explained better...it's just that, we're running out of time."

"What do you mean," Scott slowed his pace, suddenly hearing some commotion near the front of the bar. Shouting and cursing, following by intense shoving at the front door.

Jack chuckled, "I never said they couldn't find us, I could only buy you time."

"Me!?" he retorted, backtracking his steps, keeping focus on that door.

"I'm not the one walking around wearing a slavers suit, regardless of who you are," she grunted over the phone, "You've just painted a big ass target on your back." She was breathing heavily followed by the sounds of trash cans smacking into one another. "Hurry, meet me out back-"

"YOU!" A well-armored guard for the Sato family pointed a finger at him all the way across the hall. "Are dead." He growled, beginning to turn his brisk walk into a charge.

"What is wrong with you people," he cursed, "how many guards does this family have," he muttered to himself.

Instead of running, Scott pulled out a short stick about as long as his fist which it fit perfectly and waited, lowering his stance. "Come on you piece of shit.."

The hallway echoed with the sound of heavy footsteps slamming into wooden planks. Yet, Scott was perfectly still, he waited as the hallways rumbled from his approach.

With the short rounded stick in his hand, Scott paced himself with the footsteps of the giant rushing head first. The moment he came within melee range Scott clicked a button on the side and a plasma shield shot out on all ends, slicing through the walls and floor to expand to its true shape of a tower shield. The guard slammed head first and was knocked back from the momentum of his own attack but the moment he got his bearings a fist planted itself to the guard's face. Baring knuckles, Scott got the first hit waiting for his attacker and after the second hit, the attacker collapsed unconscious.

"Yes," he sighed, "Now I can get ou-"

His eyes darted towards the door, more men were piling through and were rushing the building. "Dammit.." he looked back, saw the exit and was shaking his head the entire time he began booking towards the escape. On the approach, he noticed another guard of a similar color by the cape waiting for him by the backdoor.

The guard took a different stance and waited for him with a spear drawn...however this was laced with some kind of electric spark that surged through it...probably to stun a target. Scott's sprint turned into a charge when he lowered his head and realized the only way he was leaving was rushing head first.

Passing the door he collapsed into a trashcan along the alleyway and noticed there was no guard present. In his place, shaking was Jack was holding onto a mini SMG. And just as swiftly taking it out to knock the man, she hid it again under the cloak and held out a hand.

"You got a choice," she stated coldly, "it's my fault you're here now, but I'm not holding your hand the whole time," she looked blatantly down, "well, except for now." She chuckled a little bit.

A bit dumbfounded, he really wasn't sure what this would mean, all of this. Slowly his hand reached up, they shook and she pulled his ass up, a little strong for her size but then he noticed she had to dig her heels back and countered her whole weight to do so.

"Fine," he nodded, "What's next."

{=====================================================}

Dressed in elegant purple-rich silk and lavished with several layers of fine cloth, Akemi Sato was outstretched on a couch, admiring a small nap before it was interrupted by a rapid knocking on the door.

"Hmm," she sighed in a soft moan, she waved her hand in the air, "Come in.."

The same guard that first attacked Scott came first followed by the one who was knocked out later on. They were both rushed as they came in and immediately got down and addressed her correctly first.

"Madam Sato, forgive us, we didn-"

"Oh hush," she smiled, leaning up and getting a good look at them. "I only sent you after that guy because father wanted me to. I have no interest in that man, you did well." She smiled warmly. "Dismissed."

Both guards nodded and left abruptly with the door wide open to return to their posts.

A boot shoved its way into the crease of the closing doorway. Slowly the screen creaked back as Crow ducked under the door frame and made his way in subtly.

An eerie silence filled the room as he made no movement and patiently waited, staring down at her.

A smirk escaped the corner of her mouth as Akemi stretched herself across the lounge chair before getting up. Walking across the carpet she dropped her silk dress to the floor, exposing herself to him but he never budged, continued staring at her quietly. Her tangled blackened, charcoal hair covered her entire front and laced around her hips. She leaned up close to him.

"Hmm," she traced her hand across his chest, "No matter what I've done, to and for you, you'll never budge unless I say so," she kissed the armor upon his chest and sighed. "I've got a new mission for you. And no messes this time," she teased, "We're still cleaning up after the last one."

He turned to leave.

"Oh," she chirped before sitting down, "I don't know why they want this man so much, my brothers, which is the only reason why I'm interested in finding him. But if you could, happen, to learn his true identity...that would be pleasing...hmm?" She hummed but it was understood as he calmly left.

{==============================================================}

Ryou Sato was at his desk, looking over papers and invoices for the daily shipments of Hydrogen when he heard very subtle footsteps approach.

"Ishikawa," Ryou spoke humbly, he didn't even have to look up, "You look a little scratched, need another cloak?"

Cracking a smile Ishikawa smiled humbly, "That won't be necessary. I'm reporting back, found your sister and brother's slackies there."

"Come now," Ryou chuckled, "You and Crow, even yes my brother's less adequate soldiers have all worked together and trained together even. Don't be hard on them," he dipped an old pin in ink, "For obeying their masters."

"If you say so…"

"They all represent their masters so don't blame the children-"

"When will they accept their actions as you have-"

"Kawa," Ryou kept it short and stared sternly, "You may speak freely around me, but if they heard you, I wouldn't be able to protect you. Disrespecting any of the family is forbidden, especially if I was caught letting you freely do it."

"I understand, but while I have the luxury to speak freely around you, I will do so," he replied, taking off his hat and retying his hair back up. "Was there anything else you needed from me, Master Sato."

"Uhh, yeah," he leaned back in his chair, thinking, "So this guy wasn't," he scrunched his face, "Anything out of the normal?"

"Looked like he didn't belong? Yes….you could say that." Ishikawa commented.

"Okay...that worries me...why would they be here but- we don't even know who he is." There was a long pause before he finally concluded.

"Find him, and bring him to me. I don't want him here but I need to know why he came, could be a slave trying to escape so don't spook him."

"As you wish, I'll return soon. And if I should run into your siblings lackies?"

"Then handle them, as you wish," Ryou smiled, "But no blood."