Blast from the Past- 25
Katse sat at a large desk with his feet propped up, relishing the last sips of a glass of red wine. A captain ambled in, interrupting his peaceful repose.
"Lord Katse, Sir!" The captain saluted, "I have some news that will be of great interest to you."
"What is it, Captain? Can't you see I'm busy?" Katse slurred.
"Sir, we lost contact with agents 297 and 341."
Katse slammed his glass onto the desk. "Well, send out a search party! Do I have to do everything around here?"
"My Lord, it has been done." The captain bowed humbly. "I'm afraid they have been killed. They were found along the highway next to their car. It had a flat tire."
Katse squeezed the glass so hard, it broke into tiny pieces. "Those bumbling fools! So the traitor has escaped once more!" He bellowed.
The captain was afraid to tell Katse more bad news, but it had to be done. "Sir…"
Katse stood up and pounded his gloved fists onto the desk, causing the tiny glass shards to bounce into the air. "What is it NOW!!??!"
"The God Phoenix has been spotted landing on the island. We believe the Science Ninja Team is looking for the traitor, as well…"
Katse's shiny pink lips curled up, producing a "Grinch-like" grin. The captain flinched momentarily, unsure of whether Katse was going to kill him, or promote him.
The masked villain walked over to the captain and yanked him by the arm, dragging him into the next room.
"I have a plan…"
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The God Phoenix approached BC Island, and Ken gathered his comrades around him.
"We need to be careful; we don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Stay in the shadows. Jun. You and I will check out the bakery and the shops in town. Joe. You and Ryu need to go and see your friend, Alan, at the church. Keep in touch."
Ryu carefully landed the God Phoenix on the edge of the island among a densely populated grove of trees. It was the best he could do for cover.
Ken and Jun snuggled together on Jun's bike and zoomed away toward the city, while Joe and Ryu rode off toward the church.
They had no idea what was waiting for them.
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On the bus, Lina sat with Neil, trying her best to comfort him as he wept bitterly. Everyone listened as he reminisced about his childhood, and they added their own stories about the Collins.
Neil kept blaming himself for his parents' deaths, and nothing could convince him otherwise. "I should have been there for them. I could've protected them...I never should have left the island." He buried his head in his hands in shame. "Why didn't I stand up to those Galactor bastards? If I had died, at least I would've died with honor. I'm just a coward."
Jinpei's heart had opened up to his new brother; now Neil had been orphaned not once, but twice. The Swallow realized that Neil would need all the support he could get, and for once, Jinpei stopped feeling sorry for himself. Neil needed Jun; but Jinpei understood that Neil would need him, too.
Jinpei reached back and patted Neil on the shoulder. "It's ok, Aniki, you have me and Onechan, now. We're your family, and we'll always be here for you."
Lina perked up. "Neil, you have a sister?"
"Yes. I thought she had died when she was a baby, but we found each other by accident. She's alive, and I've finally found her. Mother and Father died before they could hear the good news…"
Neil broke down again. It was going to be a long healing process.