-nothing. The ninja reeled back in shock, his hands and neck bleeding. "Wh- ...how?"
Randy took a calming breath. He was tempted to strike while the ninja was confused, but was sure that would ruin the mission.
Izakh looked to Captain Zaraki. "Doesn't that seem familiar?" Kenpachi thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah, like the first time that Ichigo kid tried to cut me. Same thing happened to him." Zaraki said, referring to the ninja's spiritual pressure rebounding agaist him.
It's only a matter of time before he realizes it. Izakh thought, looking to Randy. "So as you can see, we're not exactly imposters."
Tamina spoke up. "But you're still not from Squad Eleven. I'm fairly certain I've never seen you before. So if you're not imposters, as you say, then what the hell are you doing on our grounds?" There was a murmur of agreement from the rest of her Squad mates.
"Well," Izakh said, turning to her, "the Stealth Force member's correct. We are from no Squad." At this, Captain Zaraki, Tamina, and Bo drew their zanpakuto; the other shinigami in the courtyard followed suit. "I'll admit our cover was paper-thin at best, but our intentions were unfeigned. We really are in need of help."
"So those Hollow you talked about defeating were a lie?" Bo asked, looking down at Izakh.
"Half a lie: they were large mechanical troop carriers, armed with laser cannons- or what you would call Destructive magic blasts. In our world, they're known as AT-AT's. And that wasn't the only trouble: earlier, we were pursued by agents of a council whose plans are already affecting Soul Society."
Tamina's eyes narrowed. "How? We've been at peace since Aizen was imprisoned."
"Aha! See, know one knew how deep Aizen's treachery went until the attempted execution of Rukia Kuchiki, did they? It was simply justice being carried out as the law prescribed, and nothing seemed wrong." There was a moment of silence. The shinigami of Squad Eleven looked at each other and then back to Izakh. "Now why don't we sheath our weapons and discuss this inside?"
One of the Stealth Force members stepped up. "I'm afraid that won't be happening. Weapons sheathed or not, we still have orders for your capture and detainment. I'll mention that you want an audience, but... the Captain is not known to respond well to traitors and impostors."
"That's perfectly fine." Izakh answered, holding up a hand. "Hold on. Capture and detain us all you want, but let me say a few things first. Now, I mentioned a council whose plans are already affecting Soul Society. I also described their troop transporters briefly. Now let me ask you this: are any of you aware that there are spells which can bend, displace, or even stop space and time?"
Another of the Stealth Force members nodded. "I've heard of them."
"This council has similar powers, but on a much, much greater scale: they have access to pockets of space-time which are completely under their control, some of which have technology far more advanced than yours; and not just the technology but fighters also. Furthermore, they apparently can permanently open they gateways between the worlds, and the unique features of the space-time pocket melt into the other's."
Randy's jaw dropped, and he blinked in surprise. Hey, you were referring to the Stealth Force when you answered about how much this is gonna suck, right? Sharpshooter was silent for a moment. "...Which one would get you to just shut up and bring your A Game?" Uh, the implied threat of dealing with Storm Troopers and possibly a certain Sith Lord? "Then that's the one I meant. Just chill. We could do this if you tag me in." Randy cleared his throat. "So. The audience with Captain Sui Feng, perhaps she could persuade the Captain-Commander to come with her?"
Izakh nodded. "Yes; we want to make this official. If we can't reach an agreement, then we'll leave Soul Society and you won't see us again. However, there is still the matter of the council I mentioned earlier. I have knowledge of their operation, and would suggest an audience with the Captain-Commander regardless of whether we're detained so you'd be prepared for their invasion. Not to mention Renji and I are capable fighters, who'd be willing to help."
Randy looked to Izakh and raised an eyebrow. ...In theory, at least; but what I did to Dwayne was instinct. Sharpshooter yelled, "Then what does that make me, a shiny stick with kung-fu action?" Oh, sorry. "Damn right you're sorry! Is all you're going to do whine?" Randy swallowed, and looked around at the shinigami in the courtyard. Captain Zaraki had his usual blank look on; Ikakku and all the others looked ready to fight at a moment's notice. Bo had Rainbow stuck between the floorboards and was resting his hands on the handle; and Tamina brought her zanpakuto up to rest on her shoulder, and adjusted her headband.
The ninja who'd attempted to strike Randy said, "... We'll see what we can do, but again: at some point you're going to end up in the Maggot's Nest." He turned his head towards Kenpachi. "Captain Zaraki, may I request that two or three of your officers accompany us to our Squad buildings?"
"Eh, why not." Kenpachi said with a shrug. "Ikakku, Bo, Tamina: you head over there with them." He smirked. "We'll finish this later," He said to Ikakku.
The ninja nodded, and huddled with the others of the Stealth Force. One of them said something that sounded like "yes, sir" and flash stepped off. The remaining two ninja sheathed their swords, and signaled for everyone else to do the same. As they did the Stealth Force gestured towards the door, and came up behind Randy and Izakh. Tamina stepped up to Randy's left, and put her hand on Sharpshooter's handle. He looked at her, and her expression said Don't even think about it. He stuck his thumb in his sash behind Sharpshooter, and whispered "I won't."
-Several dozen awkward and silent minutes later-
The ninja led them into the holding room. "I'll alert the Captain of your presence, but she will most likely request that you be sent to the-"
"There's a phrase from the world of the living, 'just quit while you're ahead.' Shut your mouth Jotaro, and don't make any more assumptions."
"Ah! Yes, Captain."
"It's bad enough they were not immediately taken to the Maggot's Nest. You are dismissed." Sui Feng waved him away. She studied Izakh and Randy for a moment. The one with the scarf looks far too stupid to be up to anything. He must be the muscle behind this; Jotaro said he couldn't cut him. Although, the dark one doesn't look helpless either. He must be charismatic, to have talked his way out of the hit. "...Earlier today Captain Kyoraku alerted me to the presence of two men he suspected to be posing as shinigami. That's you, is it not?"
"No, actually. The shinigami escorting us here were the fakes. You just let them get away with their part of the plot." Randy, you fucking idiot. You actually said that out loud. Izakh looked towards him.
"If I truly believed that, I wouldn't have let them do so." Just as stupid as he looks. Sui Feng turned to Izakh now. "I was informed the reason for your infiltration was to abduct and or recruit 'help' for a supposed crisis in the world of the living. Is that correct?"
"Indeed. And as I stated to the members of the Stealth Force, you can refuse the offer and we'll leave. Perhaps even without sharing key information that may help you defend yourselves against the Dark Masters."
Sui Feng walked up to Izakh and socked him across the mouth. "You are in no position to make demands or even imply a demand. I should also add that even if you're not impostors and are actually rogue shinigami, you would still have to answer to me. And you are not making a good impression."
Izakh thought for a moment. "Randy, stand up." He motioned, and Randy got up from his stool. "Randy, are you familiar with the concept of the Force?"
"Of course I am. I love Star Wars."
"Try to pick up the chair." Randy reached down with one arm, and picked it up. Izakh sighed. "With the Force, I meant."
They should invent a new word for my level of stupid. Randiot? "Ahem, right. Well, hold on. Even if what you said about the 'unique features' of the space-time pockets melting together is true, I don't think that's possible. Look-" Randy waved at the stool, and it shifted towards Captain Sui Feng a few inches. "Let me try that again." Sometimes stuff kinda "blinks" and it looks like it moved. Randy held out his hand, and focuses for a second. He lifts his hand and as he does so, the stool too rises off the ground. The shock breaks his concentration, and the simple stool falls to the floor.
"Have you ever tried to move things with your mind before?" Izakh asked, with a small smile.
Sui Feng stared at him, hard. "That's totally irrelevant." Yes.
"Okay, okay. But my point is that what Randy just did wouldn't have been possible yesterday, and it's a direct result of interference from the Dark Masters."
"Interesting. Equally interesting is this 'interference' was not present before your arrival. From my point of view, that brings up a very obvious solution to the problem."
Izakh sighed again. "One last time: you can refuse to help us, and we'll leave. Or we can stay, and help you prepare for and maybe even fight the Dark Masters before we leave with your help. I also will mention Captain-Commander Yamamoto may wish to be informed of this, so all the proper parties will be responsible for the consequences of our actions." Izakh stared back at Sui Feng.
Sui Feng clenched her jaw. "The Captain-Commander has already been notified. I haven't received word yet, but you should know that a man like him cannot just take time away from his duties to parley with everyone I detain for questioning."
Randy looked towards the door, a distinct presence walking in. "That is indeed true, Captain Sui Feng. But I perhaps would not be the age I am if I had not learned caution."
"Captain-Commander!" Sui Feng said, bowing.
"At ease. Now, the hell butterfly said you wished a brief talk with me?"
"Yes, sir. Randy and I are from the world of the living, although not quite the same one you know." Izakh glanced at Sui Feng before continuing. "As I attempted explaining to Captain Sui Feng, I, along with the entire world of the living, am being targeted by a group of men with the power to bend and reshape reality. They have some very advanced technology and fighting forces at their disposal; and I believe that they are now planning to crush me in one blow so they can rule the living world unopposed. I mean to ask for your help, in putting a stop to their plans here and the world of the living."
Sui Feng cut in. "Captain-Commander, I suspect that these men are of the same race. The one with the scarf has already demonstrated powers similar to the ones he described."
"Just a moment, sir- yes, I am. I was once a member of their council, until one of them took the life of my wife. And I can tell you, they will not listen to reason or stop their rampage until absolutely everything is under their control."
Yamamoto thought for a minute, and pulled a small wooden canister out of his long, gray beard. Inside were a few rolled up sheets of paper and an ivory pen. He wrote down a few words, then looked up to Izakh. "I propose this: if these men you have spoken of invade Soul Society within the near future and move to attack you, then you will have our help. I shall assign two Captains to aid you, and up to five hand picked officers. If they do not, then you shall be sentenced to a cell on the very lowest floor of the Maggot's Nest, in the company of a certain former Captain. Are these terms agreeable?"
Before Randy can comment on sharing a cell with Aizen, Izakh answers. "Yes. And to prove my position, I have a small favor to ask of you, sir." Yamamoto raised his eyebrows slightly. "I want you to reach out with your spiritual pressure, and lift Randy up into the air a few feet."
What manner of fool does he take me for? Yamamoto thrusts his hand at Randy, who promptly is slammed into the wall by the Force. Yamamoto opens his eyes.
As soon as he gets his breath back, Randy says, "Thanks for volunteering me, Izakh. I always wondered what that would feel like." I think that gave me a concussion... I'm kinda fuzzy right now... Sharpshooter punched Randy's mental shoulder. "You wuss. Trust me, that didn't give you a concussion. 'Sides, you've walked away from worse than this."
Yamamoto coughed. "Your position is noted. Captain Sui Feng, do you have anything further to add?"
"No, sir."
"Hmm. See that they are given more comfortable quarters, and of course remain vigilent for signs of invasion. That is all." Yamamoto nodded to Izakh, and left with Sui Feng.
Randy took a deep breath, and massaged the back of his head. "I'm glad that's over-" He was cut short by the sound of an explosion and a jet flying past-
