Chapter Fourteen: Arrivals
The controls on the bridge had been rigged to head toward Tairon. They were piloting themselves, and he could not arrange any kind of descent. Likely they were remotely controlled.
No matter.
Ryu made his way down the elevator, trying to shrug off the memory of those he had killed. He'd nearly gone mad there. He must not allow it to happen again.
The elevator brought him out into an indoor storage room. Windows on either side showed the storm had intensified. Lightning was flashing around him as an endless torrent of rain fell upon them. The way ahead was barred by a drawbridge. Quickly finding the controls, he spotted a crank to one side.
Moving over to it, Ryu began to turn it little by little. There was a groaning noise as the drawbridge began to lower. It was halfway down when suddenly the windows burst open, and more of the enemy came at him. Ryu ducked and rolled forward as they unleashed a torrent of bullets. He surged forward to bisect a man in half. Dodging aside he cleaved a masked face in half, rolled under a shock stick. He ran the man through, before hurling a kunai through a throat.
It had all taken an instant. How many had he just killed?
He counted the bodies. Four, it was four. It had happened so quickly, and each one of them had had families. Friends, perhaps, much like any other person in Ryu's village. He shook his head and moved over to the crank, pulling it again.
Little by little, the rocket launcher was lowered to reveal a stormy sky. Before him was a walkway. Ryu moved over it, picking his way across barrels until at last, he came to the window he'd seen before. It was cracked with the same shoddy repair job.
Leaping up, he shattered it with a blow and flipped through. Finding the machinery within he moved forward and considered how best to sabotage it. Irene had given him a booklet on how the engine operated during the trip.
Drawing it out, he flipped through it. Coming up with the best method of disabling the engine, he started whaling on the machine with his sword. Glass shattered, metal was cut. Then there was an explosion, and he was flung backward to crash against the door. It hurt, a lot, but it seemed to have gotten the job done.
Red emergency lights began to flash all around him, and Ryu smiled as he turned. The smile faded when he realized the door hadn't even been locked.
He raised his communicator. "Ayane, this is Ryu. I've destroyed the engines. We should descend soon."
"Understood. The explosives are set as you requested, Master Ryu," said Ayane. "I will meet you on the roof."
"Very well," said Ryu.
So began the journey back.
It was a profoundly eerie one. No one stood to oppose him, and the only thing that greeted him were bodies. Dismembered arms and broken bodies were everywhere he looked. Blood soaked the floor. But something within Ryu pointed out that they were enemies. Agents of a horrific tyranny. Vigoor would no longer be able to use these faceless monsters to terrorize its populace. He was performing a service for the common people of Tairon and also helping his mission.
Soon found the elevator up and rose into the upper levels of the blimp. A compartment that had been set up within the balloon itself. And here he found more of the same.
"Stop him! Don't let the ninja get away!" called a voice.
Men with guns unleashed a vast payload of rifle bullets at him. But even as they lowered their rifles, Ryu hid behind a steel beam. They were panicked, and every one of them was firing at once. Then, suddenly, there was a gasp as several guns fell silent. The others turned elsewhere, and Ryu turned to race into battle.
By the time he reached them, most were already dead. Only one was backing away, cowering as Ayane stalked forward. He threw down his arms. "Please… please don't kill me!"
Ayane drove a sword through his throat. It's a poor soldier who pleads for mercy."
Ryu felt a sense of disgust, but also satisfaction. "Ayane, that was unnecessary."
"He would have died when we blew up the airship in any case," said Ayane. "And now he cannot alert our enemies. We should go, we're descending at an increasing pace."
Gamov was less than pleased.
Not because of what he knew was happening, mind you. But because of what it implied. The ninja was obviously much more dangerous than he'd guessed. What was supposed to be a momentary diversion had turned into a fullscale slaughter-fest.
And while that was, technically, a good thing, he didn't like it.
"Captain Gamov, sir. The away teams we sent down there…" said Naomi.
"Yes?" asked Gamov. She was a pretty thing. It would be a shame if she died.
"They're dead," said Naomi. "They're all dead. Whoever was down there he… he killed all of them."
"What of Dynamo?" asked Gamov.
"He's still on the roof and-" began Naomi. Then she raised a hand to her earpiece. "We've got a visual on the target."
Gamov made his way over to the bridge and looked down. Far below on the blimp, he spotted a black-clad ninja emerging. And on his back was a very distinctive sword. Gamov adjusted his glassed. "The Dragon Sword. My contacts neglected to mention that."
Ryu emerged and at once heard laughter. Looking up, he saw what he could see what he could only describe as an obese giant of steel and flesh. It was difficult to see where metal began, and flesh began. It also had a huge gun which it raised with a chuckle and fired.
A huge beam of blue light shot forward, and he rolled aside. Although it missed him, he felt the searing heat on his body. Ayane rose up to stand beside her.
"I'll deal with this," said Ryu. "Prepare to jump."
"Are you certain that is wise?" asked Ayane.
The giant unleashed a flurry of shots and Ryu ran for it, sprinting around it. Halting, he found the creature reaching out to grab him and rolled out of its way. "Less so by the moment. Go!"
The giant brought around its gun to smash at him. But Ryu ducked under it, scaled up the arm and brought down his sword onto the armor. It bounced off. Ryu halted and stared at the blade. The Dragon Sword couldn't cut it? It could cut steel! It had cut steel! Why-
He had no more time to think. The giant grabbed him, laughing as it put a gun to his chest. Then, suddenly, there was a shaking, and the giant lost its grip on him. Huge plumes of fire rose around them as he hit the ground. The Dragon Sword fell from his grasp and hit the ground.
Ayane had activated the explosives.
Snatching up the sword, he ran, even as the giant fired after him, laughing. He leaped from the blimp as the fires consumed it and he was thrown away. Glancing back, Ryu saw the explosion catch on the smaller vessel above.
Both airships were obliterated two roses of fire.
No one could have survived that. But Ryu had to make sure he survived for now. Turning his attention, he used his ki to control his fall, heading toward several power lines. Dropping downward, he caught himself on the wire and slid along it, sliding. Grinding along the wires, he slid to the city and leaped off to head for a flat rooftop.
But as he fell, he slipped and hit the ground. Everything went dark.
Genshin had to admit that the distraction had been a spectacular one. Everyone in Tairon and the surrounding area could see it as the airships was obliterated. The weakened security forces moved quickly in the direction of the explosion.
And the Black Spider Ninja clan slipped in over the railroad tracks.
Scaling over the gate, Genshin landed with his brethren before coming face to face with Gamov. The weasel was standing on the platform a cigarette in his mouth and a lighter in his hand. He lit the cigarette and smiled as Genshin and his warriors coiled as if for a spring.
"Well, well, the Black Spider Ninja Clan walking the streets of Tairon," said Gamov. "What a serious security breach. This does demand my attention."
There was silence.
Then, suddenly, everyone burst out laughing. Genshin moved forward and hugged him. It had been years since they'd seen each other. He hadn't changed at all. "Your attention seems to have been elsewhere, brother."
"It is good to see you again, Genshin," said Gamov. "I hope my distraction was to your satisfaction."
"It was bit dramatic." laughed Genshin. "The apocalyptic explosion certainly achieved the objective, but you're usually more subtle."
"Well, the best-laid plans go astray," said Gamov, taking out the cigarette. "I'm afraid there is a new factor to consider. And an opportunity. The insurgent we used as bait to draw out the security forces…"
"What of him?" asked Gamov.
"He has the Dragon Sword," said Gamov.
Genshin remained silent for a moment. Was he here? "Joe Hayabusa?"
Gamov shook his head. "No. Someone else. I'm afraid you won't settle your rivalry today."
"I had heard Joe had a son," said Genshin. He glanced back to his primary lieutenant. "Suke."
"Yes, Master Genshin?" asked Suke.
"Take your squad," said Genshin. "You will go with Gamov, and he will direct you to the Dragon Ninja. Kill him and take the Sword. It will be a grand day for the Black Spider if we achieve both the Dark Dragon Blade and the Dragon Sword."
"Ah, so you are searching for the Dark Dragon Blade," said Gamov. "How ambitious. Now, what does our Master really have you looking for?"
Genshin wished he didn't have to answer that question. But the old man had lost it and held his position more out of tradition than true merit. Obaba and himself had been wrangling for the status as power behind the throne. "…He is seeking dragon bones to prolong his life."
"Are you actually going to look for them?" asked Gamov.
"Gamov, we have the Dark Dragon Blade to steal, the Dragon Ninja to kill, Doku to outwit, and America to pin the blame on," said Genshin. "I have better things to do with my time than prolong the life of that senile old fool."
"Just checking," said Gamov. "I'll see to it that the Dragon Ninja takes the brunt of our attention."
"Master Genshin, something occurs to me," said Suke.
"What is it, Suke?" asked Genshin.
"The Dark Dragon Blade is technically made out of Dragon Bones," noted Suke.
"So it is," said Genshin. "You have your missions. Move out, all of you!"
The Black Spider Ninja Clan scattered.
The train slowed to a halt hours later. Rachel was sitting, more or less alone in the car. There were some people at the far end, and she tried to ignore their glances. She read a book with one leg crossed over the other. Finally, the train slowed to a halt and she brushed her hair aside before closing the book and storing it in her bag. She'd spent all of the money she'd earned and more on this, and she'd had to steal some of the other stuff.
But this was personal.
Picking up her warhammer, she shouldered her black bag. From there she made her way over to the customs office, swaying her hips deliberately. She didn't want to start a fight just yet, or at all. The man running things looked up, and his eyes widened as he saw her approach. After a moment of staring, he gathered himself. "Welcome to the Tairon Immigration Office. Name?"
"Rachel," said Rachel.
"Last name?" he said.
"I don't have one. My sister and I were orphans," said Rachel, running a hand through her hair.
"May I inquire as to the purpose of your stay." said the man.
"I'm here to visit relatives," said Rachel. "My sister, actually. We're twins." Let the mental image thing through.
"I see." said the man. "Can I see your passport."
Rachel provided it, taking it out from between her cleavage and putting it on the desk. This was humiliating, but how else was she going to get this kind of hardware through. The man stammered as he looked over it. "Anything to declare? Artifacts of power, weapons, or foodstuffs?"
Rachel paused. "Well, I've got a fifty caliber machine gun in this bag, a warhammer designed to take the heads off fiends and a grappleshot. I'm a fiend hunter, and I don't have any other place to call home."
The man was visibly sweating. "Right, right, welcome home."
Rachel moved quickly through before he registered the actual contents of her equipment. Moving into the streets of Tairon, she shouldered her bag and made for Han's Bar. She'd gather information first and act later.
Still, that had been way too easy.
Later in the customs office, Bius figured out what he'd just done. "Why the hell did Lord Doku want us to let that woman through?" muttered Bius to himself. "I don't know what she means to do with that kind of weaponry , but it can't end well. That settles it, I'm making a formal complaint about this."
Author's Note:
Sorry about the late posting. I lost inspiration.
Enjoy.