X
In the academy Ichika, Houki, Lingyin, Cecilia, and Charlotte were all silent, they haven't spoken the entire time in the morning they woke up, Maya has announced that Chifuyu that will be returning immediately, and were crushed to hear the reason why. Looking out the window of the main entranced the students stood waiting staring out to the cold clouded day that hung over their school. Sitting on a bench with her face buried in her hands Hatsu sobbed in complete heartache as some of the other girls tried to comfort her, but it wasn't long til Ichika spotted a truck rolling from the horizon, its small silhouette becoming large as it drew near and its rumbling sound of its engine penetrated the silence.
Finally slowing to a halt the engine died off leaving the air silent once more and Ichika and Houki spotted their sisters climbing out of the back, they all ran out to the front gate to meet up with her, but the moment they reached outside they were greeted with the sight of cameo men unloading a gurney covered in a black blanket with very haunting man-shaped lump under it as he laid lifeless. Shoving herself passed the crowd in anger Hatsu pushed the other girls out of her way coming to see her dearly beloved has met his end, the others tried to hold her back, but Chifuyu told the others to let her go as the men set up the legs. Hatsu slowly approached the gurney hovering over it in dread as one of the men slowly and gently rolled down the cover revealing Anthony's pale and cold face and his beautiful blue eyes all closed as he rested motionlessly. Hatus tears spilled from her face to the ground as she laid her head to the side of the gurney.
"How am I going to go on without you?" she whispered is if he were asleep.
She lifts her head gazing upon the face she learned to fall for, she brushed her fingers through his hair then gave one last kiss goodbye before the men covered his face again then rolled him inside.
"Chifuyu, where's Laura?" Ichika asked somberly noticing that their German friend was nowhere to be seen.
"She decided to stay in the States, Ichika," Chifuyu told them to their surprise, "She went to join the Colonel and his freedom fighters to help bring down their government."
"And you're O.K with it?" Lingyin exclaimed.
"She made up her mind, not even the Schwarzer Hase could bring her back."
"What's going to happen now?" Charlotte asked.
"After that U.N meeting all the worlds leaders have cut all trade with the U.S government in hopes to loosen the president's grip on the people," Chifuyu explained.
"Do you think that will help?" Cecilia then followed up.
"America is a big and sustaining country, I'm afraid that their war is going to last for a while," Chifuyu further explained, "Right now we have a friend to bury."
\Sixteen Years Later/
Out in the shores of the West Coast a fishing boat came to port in the Los Angeles harbor, the sun was blocked out by dark thick clouds that pounded down on the city with heavy rain drops, as crew members unloaded their haul a stranger jumps off ship and his feet splashing onto the cold wet pier. He stood firm and tall zipping up his coat and pulling his hood over his to protect him from the elements as he walked down the wooden harbor in silence trying not to bring attention to himself if it weren't for the Katana strapped to side. Stepping off the pier and onto the concrete street that used to be the city of angles now is a cesspool that leaves it waste scattered across the streets, the once rich city is now over run with rats, homeless, drug addicts, and thugs. Once the supplies stopped coming the socialist utopia fell into chaos as the government powers were pushed out, not by rebels, but by local gangs.
The stranger walked in the middle of the street as no cars were seen since his arrival, the city felt dead as the rain echoed on drenching everything that wasn't covered, when passing by a group of people that were hanging out in abandon shop they all took noticed of the lone man and his sword.
"Hey look at this motherfucker," one of them pointed out.
"What's this guy think he is walking on like he's so badass?" another commented taking notice of the sword in his possession.
"Let's shake his ass down and see what that sword worth," the most fit man said.
Four of them all walked out into the street two of them getting up in front to cut off the stranger and the other two boxing him in from behind, the stranger stops in his tracks seeing himself being circled by four men were green bandannas in various places on them like their necks, heads, and arms.
"Hey man! where you think you're going?" the smallest one spoke first the stranger said nothing.
"Tell me something, Jay, what's Samurai Jack doing wandering out here?" the strongest looking member
I don't think he knows that we own this street," the fattest one said.
"Yeah if anyone wants to pass they have to pay the toll first," the last one answered.
"... I have no money to give to you..." the stranger finally replied.
"Yo that's alright just hand over that strap you got right there," the leader offered.
"This sword is not for sale," the stranger told him calmly placing his hand onto the hilt.
As he did the four thugs chuckled.
"Man this motherfucker crazy," the shortest one laughed pulling our a gun in overconfidence.
He stepped too close and within a blink of an eye a bright flash was seen and blood spilled all over onto the street letting the the rain wash it away not just on the ground, but also on the blade. The shortest one fell over clenching his cleaved arm and the rest of his arm laying several feet from him as the blood poured out from his stumped, the fattest one tried to grab him, but the stranger gave a powerful kick to his stomach sending him back. The fourth man tried to drew his gun however the stranger already slashed him across his chest, then grabs the hand that held the gun, and shot the leader dead in one shot.
The fat man still reeling form the kick the stranger dealt him soon had the tip of his sword held against his neck.
"Yo man, I'm cool, I'm cool, I'll give you anything you want," the fat one pleaded for his life.
"... Tell me where I can find some rebels..."
\Elsewhere/
Up and hidden deep within the mountains the stranger treads his way under the cover of the trees with their outstretched arms shielding him from the rain, it was the most peaceful walk he has ever taken in his life.
"Don't move," a voice commanded.
From the bushes a squad of sharp shooters emerge from their hiding place all keeping a safe distance with their weapons pointed at him.
"What's your purpose for coming up here?" one demanded.
"I've came here to find, Laura Bodewig," the stranger stated without hesitation.
X
After his sword was confiscated the men took the stranger back with his hands in zip ties in the front of him, they walked him for miles, under trees, over rocks, and through streams until finally coming up to a cave. They walked right being greeted by darkness, when going deeper down into the cave a light could be seen on the other end, multiple voices could heard just around the corner where the light was coming from, and when finally coming around the stranger found he was in a secret base. Hundreds and hundreds of men were seen going about their duties shuffling equipment and supplies around to where they need to be til the stranger spotted who he came to see.
Over at the command table, Laura, helped prep their next attack; it has been sixteen years since Laura decided to stay behind in America, it has been sixteen years since she join the Colonel's army, and she vow to help the America fight for their freedom once more.
"Ma'am, we caught an intruder who was heading to the base," one of the marksmen informed.
"What? another hit man sent to kill me?" Laura remarked.
Though it has been long, Laura, grew taller in size, but still manages to be the shortest person in the room however her new developed curves would make it easier to identify her as an adult.
"No ma'am, he just walked here armed nothing, but a sword," the man told her placing the stranger's katana on the table, "And he says he knows, Chifuyu Orimura."
Laura seem to perk up when hearing her old teacher's name, pulling the kanata closer now starting to recognize it, then picking it up to hold it in fornt of the stranger.
"Where did you get this?" she demanded her voice inching towards anger.
"It was given to me by a family friend," the stranger answered and with his tied hands the stranger slowly pulled down his hood finally revealing himself.
He was a young man, but stood tall as the other men in the base, his hair was short and dark, and his was a glowing amber color.
"Chifuyu's brother said that you will have what I came for. Do you?" the young man asked.
"... Yes... I do... wait here, and get those zip ties off him," Laura said.
She left him with the others holding his hands out for personal to undo his bonds why Laura retreats into her quarters, she walks over to her bed reaching under to grab hold of a box pulling it from under, and lifting it the lid. Waiting back out Laura greets the young man again seeing him amazed with black bladed sword she brought back with her, the same thing that Anthony trusted her to keep safe. The executioner sword.
Holding it in her IS hand Laura held the square-tipped sword firmly bring it up to graze her hand against the blade, never thought it would ever see the light of day again.
"It has been sixteen years since he told me keep it safe. He trusted me with it. He called me a friend... I guess it belongs to you now," Laura handed the sword to him.
Reaching out with his right hand the young man gripped the hilt tightly and with one hand he rose the blade up to the ceiling taking in the sword that was now passed down onto him to carry.
"... You look just like your father..." Laura commented as a smile crept upon her face.
The young man brought the blade down then hoisting it onto his back, he looks over to Laura as he was so happy to finally meet a friend of his father giving her a hug. Laura hesitated for moment, but regained her composure to hug him back holding onto one another for a minute until breaking it off, having what he came for the young man turned to his next destination.
"Where are you off to now?" Laura asked.
"Off to find grandpa," he told her before venturing back out.
\?/
Somewhere in hiding a bunker/storage facility an old man wandered down the halls with a bottle in his hand the remaining contents swishing around near the bottom of the bottle as he stumbles forth til coming up to a heavy door. Inside was darker with source of light from anywhere until the door slides open letting the light flood through, the old man drags himself into the room his quiet whimpers echo inside as pass by all other containers and crates that were stored before coming to a stop to one box that stood tall.
He turned his back towards it laying upon it then sliding all the way down to the floor as he takes another sip from the bottle.
"NooOO... hOpe... NOoo... MoRE... point for living..." Mr. Bennett sobbed in his drunken, depressed state.
Ever since the death of his son the man fell in deep sorrow trying to drown it away, Ms. Fowl sent him away in the storage facility with all the failed projects and waste of time and money had been thrown away... just like him.
Suddenly the lights started flashing red and the sirens horned out, thunderous boots could be heard stamping through the halls as men informed that an intruder has entered the building, but Mr. Bennett ignored what was going on, besides... he was too drunk to stand anymore. Very soon shots could be heard popping off, but were accompanied the guards screaming in pain, the noise went on for about an hour before finally falling silent as the alarms seems to be switched off, and probably because there were no more guards left. A shadow was being cast from the door with the looming shadow laying over Mr. Bennett.
"If you're going to kill me... ? just get it over with," Mr. Bennett requested.
The figure stepped closer wiping the blade clean before kneeling down to his eye level, laying his sights onto it Mr. Bennett couldn't believe what he saw. A black, square-tip blade to a sword he thought lost forever, a sword he craft for his son so long ago, he lifted his head and was greeted to his son's face.
"... Anthony... ?" Mr. Bennett utter in confusion, but then realized the color of the young man's eyes, "Oh... you're not him... but who are you... ?"
The young man sets the sword to the side taking the old man's hand into his instead letting him feel his warm palms.
"Hello grandfather," the young man greeted softly.
Mr. Bennett eyes started to swell up than ever before and his eyes turning pink in utter disbelief as he stared into the eyes of his grandson for the first time.
"Why are you here?" Mr. Bennett asked.
"I wanted to see you with my own eyes. I wanted to find you. Your son... my father may have not forgave you, but for what it's worth... I forgive you."
Mr. Bennett was left speechless as an overwhelming feeling of happiness overtook him, the young man helped his grandfather to his feet, and Mr. Bennett looked to the bottle in his before tossing it away the glass shattering to pieces.
"Before you leave, there's something that I need to give to you," Mr. Bennett said pressing the buttons on the keypad onto the crate he was laying against just now, unlocking and revealing Anthony's IS inside, "I think you'll fit perfectly."
\New York City/
After the years of war the Madam President and Ms. Fowl was force to relocate back into the city where it all fell apart, as the conflict went on the number of IS were dwindling being forced to resort to use makeshift mechs which were mobile rotating turrets on treads and armed with mini-guns. The government was losing their hold, but still held tightly to what could be the most armed and tightly secured territory they have in the country, since all trade has been cut the women in power tried and struggled to make their own IS now that the world saw what the country turned into. Except China which tried to support the Communist rule in America, but Japan, Australia, and Canada blocked them from sending supplies.
Just outside the city limits a sorta boarder crossing was set up to protect the one of the remaining strong holds the matriarchal government has left, standing on guard the troops paced back, and forth keeping an eye out ahead of them. Not happens at this point of the boarder leaving the safest job in the military and leaving the guards very bored.
"You know I like being paid to do nothing, but c'mon give me something to shoot," one of them complained.
"Look busy, Commanding officer, coming this way," another guard exclaimed.
Feeling every fiber of his muscles tense up the guard stands up straight in attendance when hear the one in command has so suddenly arrived.
"Surprise inspection," Karen said out loud.
The personnel that were operating fall into the task they were assigned to the moment they saw their commanding officer come marching towards them, they tried to look responsible as they tried to find anything to make them look like they're doing actual work.
"Were you really working or were you all useless boys just lounging around?" Karen questioned in annoyance.
She enters a small little shack that stored multiple screens of camera feeds pointing outward in infa-red vision seeing a bright black and white picture, hanging over the person manning the monitors with a haunting glare that made the man uneasy. She then reached her hand over and the man braced himself to her wrath only to see the hand go for the monitor controls, she focused the screen seeing a small heat source coming from down the road.
"Someone's heading this way... what are you gonna do about it?" she demanded him making the man sweat.
"Unidentified personnel approaching the checkpoint," he spoke their the horn putting all guards on alert.
The guards soon saw a figure slowly walking towards them and so three of them chose to hop on a small jeep, cocking, and loading their guns riding out to meet the stranger up ahead while Karen watched. After several silent moments the guards stopped a few yards away from the approaching stranger jumping off with two of them pointing their guns while one grabbed the speaker phone.
"Seize your advance and turn around," the man ordered, "You are approaching restricted territory, turn back now or be met with lethal force."
But the stranger still came forward.
"Just shoot the bastard," Karen said aloud watching the screen, but suddenly the screen was engulfed entirely by a bright light.
A loud explosion soon followed after, with a cloud of smoke lifting high above, and the jeep came crashing down on the shack, Karen jumps out in time, but the man inside wasn't so lucky. She stood back up hearing the inexperienced guards wildly open fire in a fear and crying out in pain, blood was splattered across the ground til those men running away like cowards. Looking up Karen saw in completely shock as a cold shiver raced up her spine seeing the familiar shape of the IS and the face so long ago.
"It can't be! she killed you! you're suppose to be dead!" she exclaimed in anger activating her IS.
Stepping closer the young man held the sword tightly in his right hand and Karen feeling a single drop of sweat roll of her face rocket herself towards the stranger where he in quick motion swung the sword in a blinding flash. Everything stood still for a moment until Karen dropped to her knees, her head falling off of her shoulders, and her body slamming onto the ground.
X
In one of the most secure bases in the city the Madam President has been ragging in her office seeing the scarce supplies of food and ammo.
"Get me Ms. Fowl!" she demanded and in no time the woman came walking in, "Where have you been? can't you see we're losing control of everything I worked hard for to keep those filthy men in line!"
"I'm afraid all efforts to make IS for our men hasn't proven to be fruitful," Ms. Fowl told the bad news.
"The only male IS you ever made turned out to be a spy," the president recalled, "Billions upon billions wasted on your useless pet project that could've gone into food and guns, the currency is now no more useful than toilet paper!"
"Well I guess maybe we could consider our last asset," Ms. Fowl brought.
"Which is... ?"
"The Perseus Project wasn't the only thing we've put the money into. We've also worked on a second project, known as the Gorgon Project, it was originally going to be the counter measure against the Perseus, but it was easier just plant a bomb into the implant of the pilot, it could help us take back control of the people."
Even when telling her the second IS that was made to be more powerful than the project before, but the president only seems to be more frustrated.
"You're testing my patience. NO! you know what this has gone far enough, I'm throwing in the towel. We've lost the war."
The president reached over to a microphone pressing the button to speak through it.
"Attention everyone, bad news must be made... I'm afraid we're not going to last much longer... supplies are scarce and our morale is low, so I regret to inform that I'm- *BANG!* ..."
"Ms. Fowl here, disregard that statement Madam President has just been relieved of her duties effective immediately, I'm in charge now."
As the guards dragged the body of their former president out the door Ms. Fowl took her hand of on the microphone handing the pistol she borrowed from the guard at the door. Blood was sprayed across the wall along with a bullet hole that bullet went into after exiting the president's head staining the wall as the blood slowly oozed downward.
"Now that I'm in command my first order of business is-."
*BOOOOM!*
A loud thunderous explosion was felt throughout the base and giant gulf of flames was spotted from outside the window, when looking out Fowl spotted IS pilots confronting the threat only to be sliced to pieces by a familiar shape. One pilot tried to fly up over her enemy, but he leapt higher than she thought possible grabbing onto her as he drove his sword through her back. Crashing down the mysterious pilot threw the IS back down towards a mobile turret smashing it with the IS corpse.
"It can't be... ?" Ms. Fowl gasps in disbelief until she saw the eyes of the pilot glowing gold, "Because it isn't," she then realized seeing it was a different person piloting her 'failed' project.
Making his way through the streets the troops tried in vein to stop the intruder from getting any closer to the base only to be slain by the stranger and his sword, not even the female pilots could stop him falling victim to his skills. Limbs were severed, vehicles were set ablaze, and everything they tried to throw at him was failing as eventually the stranger finally made it to the front gates of the base.
"FOWL... !" he roared, "Fowl show yourself!" he demanded.
From the roof top of the base Ms. Fowl herself was seen coming to the edge.
"My, my look what we have here," she started staring down at the stranger, "I haven't seen that suit in a long time, you must've gone through a lot of trouble getting it and to bring it here."
"Time for you to meet your end, Fowl!" the stranger said to her.
"My end? what have I ever done to you, young man, this is the first time we ever met."
"You killed my father, so I came to avenge him!" he shout from below.
"I've killed plenty of men with families, what makes yours any different?"
"I am the son of, Anthony Bennett!" the stranger told her and her eyes widen in surprise, "I will avenge my father and all the other lives you've taken... I am Perseus!"
"... Fine... time to finish what I started..."
Without another word Fowl stepped off the edge plummeting down to the ground, but the moment she hit ground a dust cloud roll across the area and once it passed the stranger know as Perseus saw Fowl in the Gorgon IS. Giant in size Fowl was now the size of several houses, the legs were replaced with a long tail, having multiple limbs, as she loomed over the dwarfed Perseus.
"Any final words?" she granted.
"Enough talk."
Grabbing hold of a barrel near by Perseus hurls it towards her only for it to be blasted by a beam coming from one of her hands, all the others started pulsing a bright red with quick powerful rays following after. Perseus bolted avoiding fire from all directions as he sprints, leaps, and slides to evade the numerous rays being shot at him. Fowl then spun around whipping her massive tail in all directions at once causing Perseus to jump up landing on top of the tail, running up along to slice at Fowl, but she ducks down only having one of her IS arms to be severed.
Perseus leaps off only to be struck by the tail sending him crashing into the base smashing the windows and a few floors falling into a giant warehouse size room, he gets back up with Fowl joining him inside as she slithers her way in.
"It doesn't matter who you are, I'll kill you just like I killed your father," Fowl told him, "And once I'm through with you this whole country will be mine. I rule it like a queen."
"Not even in your dreams, bitch," Perseus countered.
With one swift move Perseus throws his father's sword for Fowl's heads so she dips down, but even when Perseus missed he struck the weak ceiling above her causing a good chuck of it fall on top of her. She collapses to the ground, Perseus pounces onto her back stomping were all the arms joined together he starts ripping them to shreds tearing them off piece by piece. The sword in ceiling falls out leaving the young man to stick his up to catch exactly like as if he raised it up, and then stabs down into Fowl's spine making her scream in agonizing pain. Unable to move herself Perseus then steps of standing along side her aiming the sword to her neck.
"Long live the queen," he quoted before bringing the blade clean down.
X
Outside the base guards scattered as they saw smoke coming from the base with all what they have left they plan to take care of the threat, loud knocking at the door was heard and all troops aimed it down, and the doors swung open. There they all saw Perseus walking out with his sword in one hand and gripping Fowl's hair in the other leaving them all silent. They didn't shoot, they didn't make a sound as Perseus threw her father's killer's head down the steps letting it roll all the way to the ground, Perseus walked down not worried about the army all around him as they have no more leadership to fall back onto, and so he headed on home.
\Japan/
Standing over the sink a darken woman washed away all the plates she had used for breakfast, alone in her home Hatsu had no reason to speak when there's no one to speak to, and not a moment goes by when she's not thinking bout her son. She did her routine cleaning the house, doing the launder, vacuuming cleaning the floors, and finally taking out the garbage. After collecting all the trash in the house Hatsu tied up the bag and proceeded out the door, but stood in awe to what stood waiting outside.
Standing tall against the sun, his chest stuck out proudly, Hatsu for a moment thought her one true love had come home to her, but it was only her son, but never the less tears started to flow from her eyes with her son dawning the armor of his father and his sword in hand, Perseus has brought justice to his father's killer. She dropped the bag rushing over to wrap around her child.
Her son has come home.
X
Walking on the grass Perseus approached a tombstone with the name of his father etched to it finding deep within the Academy where his parents met, the grave was in a garden with rose covered hedges, Pereus detached himself from the IS and second laid the sword next to the tombstone.
"I did it dad, I did what you sought to do so long ago," Perseus said kneeling closer to his father's tombstone, "You can finally rest easy now... I'm home..."
Perseus spent a few more quiet moments with his father before getting up and leaving.
There three friends were reunited once again.
The End