Chapter 11- Akiya
Ken watched as Joe walked into the front entrance of the club.
"Hey Andy, I forgot my leather jacket, have you seen it?" He heard Joe casually ask as he disappeared into the doorway.
It was in the early hours of the morning just before sunrise and Ken stole his way around the back of the building. They all knew it was risky, but he had his communicator on but it was hidden under a bandage.
For the next two hours they searched the building for any sign of her, they looked for possible entrances to a hidden base. In the past they always found an entrance if there was one.
With stealth he walked into an office, Joe and Ryu were in different parts of the building, and so far they had reported nothing out of the ordinary.
He looked at a brick feature wall and began to run his hands along it, but nothing stood out, he dashed under the desk when he heard a voice at the door.
"I don't know Oscar; I just hope things pick up tonight." A gruff voice was saying.
"Well we need a new dancer since Madame Honeydew resigned last night… I could have offered her more money to stay; she brought in the most customers." The voice that belonged to Oscar was filled with disappointment as he continued. "Harry, Galactor took a liking to my club, and now I have to do the best I can to keep it…" Oscar told the man at the door.
"They tell me even when I can use my own office!" Oscar and his friend had come into the room and they had closed the door.
Ken was hoping he would not come near the desk, but he wanted to hear what these men had to say, it may give him some clues on where to look for Jun.
"I think I outta get out of here." Oscar whispered. "Some of those new girls…well apparently Honey didn't get along with one and walked out in a huff…I want to sell up, but then I have too much debt…"
"You have all your money tied up here, and do you think Galactor will let you just walk away Oscar, they control everything in the city now, and it won't be long before they manage to take over the world…" Harry pointed out.
Oscar sighed with defeat. "Your right and I wanna be on the right side when it happens, that's why I'm joining them…"
"Too right boss!" Harry told him. Then Ken heard them both go to the door and leave, he could hear the faint voices as they walked down the hall.
It looked like Oscar and Harry had sold out to Galactor, ken figured.
It was time to catch up with Joe and Ryu, it was possible that she had been taken to another location and they needed to find it.
Jun couldn't focus on anything, but the pain her foggy mind would not focus, she had to think about something other than the way her arm sockets felt like they were on fire and how weak her body had become, and she needed to draw strength from somewhere.
Jun tried to wall it all off somehow in her mind but it lingered there still, Ken's face flashed before her eyes, and then Joe's…Ryu's goofy smile…Dr. Nambu and Jinpei….oh Jinpei, she clenched her teeth and strengthened her resolve, the Swan would not be defeated by Galactor.
She knew she was hanging from a chain that kept her feet from just touching the ground, and other shot of an electric current went through her body and she felt her muscles contract as the sudden rush of agony hit her every fibre. She couldn't hold back the scream that left her throat and it echoed through the room.
No! She screamed out in her mind. She would not think of them, they wanted to know about them, and she would die before she betrayed them!
She had thought that Sammie may have described them, but from what they wanted to know, she doubted that theory now.
Jun could feel tears on her cheeks, and she had no control over them, sweat trickled down her bare back, or was it water?
"You will talk soon…I'm irresistible to women you see…" Egobossler's cold evil voice came into her mind.
Jun just kept silent.
"I'm so disappointed in you Madame Swan; well there are other ways that might loosen your tongue." He whispered softly in her ear. Jun could feel his hot moist horrible breath on her face. Then she felt the light brush of his lips on hers and was repulsed by it to her core being.
"I think it is time we become better acquainted, don't you think my dear." He snarled lustfully, letting her know his intentions with the touch of his hands on her body, and Jun felt the fear and panic rise in her again.
For a split second she pictured it in her mind, before she boldly spoke it to him. "The only way you will get between my legs is with them wrapped around your neck while I snap it in half…" she managed from her raw throat, she didn't recognise her own voice, as she found some spit in her mouth and aimed it at him.
But she could not move her legs, she slowly closed her eyes, and tried to reach out to that mysterious voice, maybe this Akiya could contact Ken…
Count Egobossler just laughed at her words because he knew she was at his mercy right now. "Such high spirits, you know it's just what I like in a woman." He purred seductively in her ear.
She knew what he was going to do, it's just another form of torture…she told herself over and over as she fought to not show him her terror at what was about to happen…
Ken, Joe and Ryu stood in a vacant block not far from the club that was between tow tall buildings.
"I don't get it." Ken mused as he jammed his hands in his pockets. "We are missing something here, I know we are…"
Joe let out a frustrated breath and kicked at some dirt on the ground as he leaned against the wall of the building close to them.
"You're both working tonight." Ken's could feel his stony features as he looked at them, they were exhausted, none of them had slept in almost two days and no matter how desperate a situation was they needed some rest if they were going to help her.
Joe was fighting it, and his temper was beginning to show. "I have to find her." He muttered through clenched teeth. "Jun I need you," he whispered.
"Bro' we won't let her down." Ryu tried to reassure him; the Condor looked up at the Owl with icy grey eyes.
"That's what we said when Jinpei and Dr.Nambu went missing! Now they are dead…Dead!" The Condor levelled a threatening fist at the Owl who shrank from the Condors steely gaze and clenched jaw as Joe moved towards him ready to strike him, and Joe's voice was going up octaves as he spoke to Ryu. "We have to keep searching, I don't care if I die just not her…don't you understand Ryu-"
"Enough…that's enough Joe, do you think you're the only one who wants to find her, the only one who…" Ken looked at them both as the words stuck in his throat and then he grabbed Joe's raised arm and slammed him against the wall.
Joe was not about to back down, and Ken was anticipating his next move." We need to think right now, and we need more of a plan, we are no use to her like this." He was angry himself for not seeing that she would be in so much danger, and he had learned his lesson on losing it, the last time she went missing in the attack of the Killer flowers, depression and withdrawal was at his doorstep right now, and he was choosing not to let in and control him like it normally did when someone he loved was in danger like this.
Ken moved swiftly and put his arm up in a blocking motion in the Condors face as Joe took a swing at him deflecting the intended blow; He could see that Joe was fighting with his emotions as his facial muscles contorted with his inner rage and blazing eyes, and then Joe turned and slammed his fist into the wall instead of Ken.
Ken then walked over to his bike and got on it and waited for the other two.
Wordlessly Joe went and got into his car, his eyes were red raw and Ken could tell he losing it, but the last thing he needed right now was an out of control Condor. He'd unleash him when they really needed that kind of anger.
They headed back to the hideout, they needed a plan…they needed to find the Swan.
Dr.Pandora woke up from her long sleep feeling heavy and groggy. He auburn hair was rumpled and she realized she had slept in her clothes.
She sat up for a moment to try and get her bearings; she was in the room she shared with Sammie.
Sammie.
The harsh reality of the day before came flooding back when she looked at the neat single bed covered in dolls and teddy bears.
For a moment she let out a sob and put her hand over her mouth, she looked away quickly and stood up and left the room, she walked into the common room and looked around, no one was there.
Then she spotted the white teddy bear with a blue satin bow around its neck and she walked over and picked it up, she held it close to her, squashing it into her neck as she buried her face in the soft white fur. She wondered were they found it, and if maybe they had gone out in search of Sammie from a clue they might have found.
"I hope you find my Sammie, Science Ninja Team. "She looked at the bear with swollen eyes.
She looked up as she heard the door open from above the stairs; some hope entered her heart as she saw Ken walk down the stairs.
Ken stopped for a moment at the top of the stairs, he wondered if they gave up to soon. A wave of exhaustion washed over him and he felt like he was going to drop there and then and fall asleep.
How could he even be thinking of sleep with Jun missing.
When he reached the bottom step he realized Dr.Pandora was looking at him with hope in her eyes as she clutched the teddy bear to her.
"Have you found anything?" he could hear the desperation in her voice.
"No." Ken replied and shook his head. "But there is another thing…Jun's gone missing too." He informed her quietly.
"Jun…no not Jun too!" She looked at Joes, haggard and with drawn face. "When was the last time any of you got any sleep?" She asked them, her gaze turning Ryu now; right now she could see they were all running on pure adrenaline.
"Yes…Jun as well." Joe said quietly as he stared at nothing with his fists clenched as if he never heard her.
Ken walk over to him. "Go and get some rest Ken, I'll sleep here on the couch, I don't want to go in that room…" then the Condor lay down with his hands behind his head staring at the ceiling.
"I'll keep an eye out Ken." Dr.Pandora offered.
Ken just nodded and headed down the hall with Ryu behind him, his other intention on trying to sleep was that was when Akiya had usually contacted him.
This time he would try and contact her, he figured there was no time to try and convince Joe that she was real, he hoped it would work because if she was in contact with Jun too, then maybe…just maybe he thought. As he lay down on his bed…
Ken had difficulty sleeping, he knew he needed the rest but he still could not settle. His thoughts were racing as to where Jun could be, she had to be still in the city, and well that was what he hoped anyway.
But as the time passed the chances of finding her grew slimmer, he knew they had to find her soon.
He felt guilty for even trying to get a few hours rest, but Joe and Ryu needed it to for them to have the energy to fight, and think clearly.
He closed his eyes for a moment as tears of frustration fell on his cheeks; the last thing any of them wanted to see was another team member die the way Jinpei and Dr.Nambu did.
He relaxed his mind for a moment, trying to meditate so that the voice would come back; he lay there for what seemed like a long time.
Then a feminine reptilian voice came into his thoughts, it was Akiya.
"Ken the Eagle." She formally addressed him.
"Akiya…Jun's gone." He blurted out, he needed answers fast.
"Where have you been?" She demanded.
"Looking for Jun…do you know where she is?"
"I do, but I don't…you once told me to tell you…the door is an illusion, a wall that was not a wall… It had to do with your mate." Akiya mused. "Interesting riddle..."
He did? He gave her a clue, Ken wondered when that was, and he didn't remember it.
She said she could tell how to find Jun, but it was like a riddle. She was behind the wall that was not a wall?
But where could that be, he wondered. He had tried to find this wall in places that he had searched at the club.
Akiya finally spoke to him again. "Ken the Eagle; you know how to find me? That is odd for your kind; normally I am the only one able to make a connection." Her voice had a curious but still aloft tone to it.
"I'm not sure how I did it." He answered honestly to her. "I need you to help me find Jun, what you told me before makes no sense. " He knew he was repeating himself but he had no time for long discussions on theory.
He thought he could almost hear her sigh.
"I thought since in your mind you knew the place I was talking about, you would find the door. You have no time to waste if you want to find your mate." She scolded him." She has been in my mind; she is in a lot of pain."
Jun…what are they doing to her, he wondered. He knew deep inside him, and it stabbed at his heart.
He sat up a little too quickly as the realization hit him. "The club! They have her in the club, she has to be there." He said out loud.
"That is what you call such a place; we have no need for such things in mating." She replied in a soft voice. "Your mate calls for you in her mind, and sometimes the other male…but she also called to me, I normally can only touch a mind that has first been in my presence, but then she briefly had I suppose a long time ago…I cannot explain why I made contact with her like this. I think it could be her connection to you, Ken the Eagle." Akiya was mulling in her thoughts, and she was off on some kind of tandem.
"Akiya, come back to me for a moment…please." He demanded he was getting a bit anxious now.
But he had not ever been in her presence, though maybe he had and didn't know about it since he could not identify her. He thought.
"Sooo this isss what you have been up to my darling mate…you will pay for your betrayal." Another colder male distant voice came into his mind.
"You have no power over me anymore…you murder." She declared and Ken could feel the venom in her voice. "You and I are at war…my former mate…" The he felt something that was like a wall go up in his mind and she was gone.
He woke up only a few moments later to find Joe standing over him dressed in his civilian uniform.
I can't sit here and wait Ken." Joe looked worse than he did before.
"Neither can I Joe. We're going back to the club, she has to be there." Ken told him sitting up slowly as Joe just stood there with a haunted expression on his face.
"Ken I'm a stubborn idiot, I should have realized she was worth more to me than a rack track… I need her to know that…that she is everything to me. I never apologised to her for anything I accused her of over the past few months…I was so busy thinking of myself and my own needs…" Joe poured out his heart in that minute as Ken listened to him. "I…I…should have trusted her more, and now I'm paying for it…" he finished then he looked at Ken with pain filled eyes.
"I'm not going back to that club, she's not there Ken…Egobossler never keeps his prisoners in the same place…but when I find him…" Joe's voice had gone hard again now.
"Joe, we know she's in trouble and he's hurting her I know it, I have heard the same voice as she did… but we have to stick together." Ken tried to explain quickly, but as soon as he mentioned the voice he knew he had lost Joe.
"Have you started to fill her head again with that? Do you know what it was doing to her…do you have any idea of the pain she was going through?" Joe demanded as he pointed a fist at Ken.
"Joe-"Ken tried to reason with his second in command.
"Egobossler is in the city that much we know and I'm going to find that bastard and wring it outta him…if he has hurt her in any way…" Joe let it trail, but Ken got the meaning and he didn't object to Count Egobossler being killed.
Ken looked to the door and Ryu stood there in uniform, staring at them, "then take Ryu with you…" Ken indicated.
Joe just walked out the door and Ryu made eye contact briefly with Ken. "Keep in touch." Was all Ken told him, Ryu nodded and followed Joe.
Cherrie stood at the doorway of the small room looking at her Leader.
He was smiling and looking very pleased with himself, as he watched his unconscious female prisoner.
"Ah Cherrie…you have my escort ready, I'll report directly to Sosai X from the base just outside of Utoland, the transmission is always better from that base…" He told her politely.
"Start the culling of the Resistance hideouts, send in goons into the identified locations, I want them gone by the end of lunch time today. Begin Operation fallout." He ordered as they made their way out the secret passage to the waiting car and van escort in the alley way that was a few blocks from the club.
He stopped in the corridor to look at her to make sure she understood his instructions.
"Yes sire." She answered as she turned and went to back up the corridor to carry out the order.
Joe Asakura walked stealthily up to the waiting van, he knew that if this was Count Egobossler's escort that Cole had just told him about than he needed a goon's uniform.
He was glad he thought to change into his numbered uniform before he left the hideout; he was going to need his birdstyle on this one. That was when he spotted Ryu trying to sneak up as well.
Ryu was never very good at sneaking up quietly, and he was making a racket as far as the Condor was concerned.
"Ryu!" he called out to him in a loud whisper, enough to get his attention.
Joe caught his eye and indicated at the two guards that were his target, Ryu got the idea and in a flash the men were unconscious and then dragged behind a set of garbage bins.
Lucky one was a rather large man.
"Ken could be onto something you know." Ryu whispered as they stripped the goons of their uniforms.
"Ken has his theories, I bet Count Egobossler knows were she is...why has it taken us so long to work all this out…to find his escort." Joe was never more determined in whole life to kill someone, and get revenge against Galactor, and he was in no mood for Ken's flimsy ideas.
She was not here; he had searched the place thoroughly when the went back when they realized she was missing.
"Are you coming with me or what…" Joe asked it was more like an order to the Owl.
"This is not like you Joe; you always listened to Ken when it came to his hunches…he thinks that voice Jun heard-" Ryu tried to reason with him, well not quite always, but Ryu figured he was close to the mark.
Joe shot him a look that shut the Owl up, he had almost had one run in today with Condor and that was enough for him. He could tell Joe was not listening to reason right now.
They quickly returned to the post just in time for Count Egobossler to get into the waiting car and they stole their way into the back of the escort van.
"Well at least contact Ken, and tell him we are following him." Ryu whispered…