Hello there everyone sorry that it took me this long to update
But life right now is just getting crazy with the whole Corona Virus and stuff
Anyway stay strong and healthy out there
Big thanks to Killroy122496 for his help with the story
Some fires are necessary to give birth to new life while others simply try to destroy everything in its path
Chapter 29: Rebuilding from the Remains
A Month after the naval Battle:
Akeno and Shirayuri had returned home with the entire fleet even though several ships needed some repairs which had been a sight for their sore exhausted eyes were the changes the main Island was undergoing.
Besides the massive underground Harbor and shipyards for the fleet there was now a dirt road that was leading from the beaches up towards the mountain until it disappeared into a tunnel but that wasn't the only thing as along the large beach several buildings and roads were being constructed along with smaller piers with large building equipment moving about while at the Harbor several transport ships were busy with unloading everything they had onboard only for trucks and other transport vehicles to move everything where it needed to go.
And it made sense to build near the beach to allow everyone to enjoy the sea even though several steel behemoths were lying at anchor not all that far away but with the slowly growing population there was the question of which currency was to be used as they had almost everything from German Euros to American Dollars.
Although the builders were paid the agreed amount of cash as per their contracts everyone else was a bit on the fence about this but for the most part everyone started using American dollars to start buying and selling everything.
However what had been none negotiable was the fact that some wanted to have personal weapons mainly guns except Akeno and her sisters were completely against it so only the local military as well as the small but growing city guard were allowed to have guns with the exception only during their work time otherwise they were to be stored in specified buildings.
What was also recorded was how much ammunition was handed out with the weapon and how much was returned at the end of the shift to keep track of who fired for what reason but despite these little hiccups the Island was slowly transforming into a small Island nation.
But with the growing need of more materials they somehow had to move everything here which was the reason Nomad was sitting in a room with the four Misaki sisters right now.
Nomad had been helping out a lot with the organization for the building efforts but now he needs the girls opinion about some things for the future "The main issue we are facing right now is that some of the transports that are moving supplies for us get attacked on their way and we have to find a way to deal with this fast as we already lost several companies that were willing to sell the necessary materials to us" Nomad read the report as he looked at the four girls sitting at the table with him.
Mitsuko and Kishiko had already started escorting high value transport ships during their voyage had left a lot of other transports defenseless Shirayuri seemed interested with this problem as well but as for Akeno the girl hadn't been the same since she came back with Shirayuri for some reason.
It were mostly small barely noticeable things like finishing up a meal faster than the rest of them before leaving without a word or simply disappearing for hours into the jungle it almost seemed as if Akeno was trying to stay away from everyone for some reason but none of them really knew why she was doing so.
Another thing that took some time was the fact that the crews of the Harekaze and Graf Spee were now living on the island as well sure they lived near the soldiers due to their status as part of the defense force but many citizens had a grudge due to the things that happened to them with the failures of the Blue Mermaids.
At one time there had even been a brawl in one of the seaside restaurants forcing the city guard to arrest a lot of people that had been involved that was the only time Akeno stepped in as she forced both groups to sit down with her and talk about the issue.
During the talk there was a lot of back and forth but thanks to Akeno nothing more than words flew back and forth until Shirayuri joined them to explain the reason why Blue Mermaid trainees had been allowed to even step foot on the island despite what had happened here so long ago.
In the end both parties apologized to each other but before any of the students were able to ask Akeno about what she meant she and Shirayuri had already left to have a word with the city guard captain.
By the start of the second month Shirayuri, Mitsuko and Kishiko had decided to start using large convoy escorts meaning that at least thirty transport ships were to gather before they meet up with either Mitsuko or Kishiko and their escort fleets to head to Kakureta Island.
With the start of the second month of peace Akeno called Shirayuri and Claire to her room only for them to find Akeno looking down on a map "Hey you two come in I have something to discuss with you" Akeno spoke her voice sounded determinant despite the small smile on her face.
Akeno explained the last request her grandfather had for her before he died and both Claire and Shirayuri understand why she wants to go "You sure that you want to start in Roanapur of all places?" Claire asked as she knew the town quite well from her time she had been an active black op soldier.
Akeno rolls up the map before placing it on a shelf "Yes if there is anything that might be able to help me find Altessa then it is there as I already have searched every other shithole on this planet by now" Akeno replied but with her back towards her mentor and sister they couldn´t see the anger simmering in her eyes.
Claire sure as hell isn´t happy especially after Akeno asks them to tell no one about where she is going but in the night Akeno wants to leave Claire handed her something "Just something I left behind when I was there a couple of years ago use it how you need there won't be anyone that has any use for this stuff other than you" Claire grinned as Akeno took the small package from her before disappearing into the darkness of the airfield.
Akenos flight to Thailand with an old Mig-25 was rather uneventful until she approached to land on Trat airport that is where she left the old fighter plane in one of the rundown hangars as for some reason the airport was completely deserted by human life.
With the plane safely tucked away in a hangar behind some old junk to hide it from view Akeno starts heading into town to the address Claire had given to her and a short drive with a taxi later Akeno stands at the doorstep of a lone farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.
'You really have a weird way of hiding your past Claire' Akeno thought as she pulled out a key from her jacket to open the door but unknown to her the moment she opened the door a silent alarm was triggered as well.
Akeno went into the old house looking for a certain door and after a lengthy search she found a simple wooden door in the cellar that was hidden behind several empty barrels.
Unlike the other doors this one was a sliding door that revealed a very modern looking metal door with a keypad thankfully Akeno knew the code and after typing it in the door opened while another metal door blocked the way back.
Akeno was only mildly surprised to find several desks with old computers on them along with cabinets full of paperwork standing everywhere "So it seems like a country had their fingers in some of the dirty business in this country" Akeno mumbled as she started to go through every single file that was in the room.
But even with eight hours going by Akeno found nothing about Altessa but what she did find was a lot of information about the various factions that basically ruled the city of Roanapur "Now where is that other thing Claire mentioned" Akeno mumbled as she searched the room again only to find a simple trapdoor hidden underneath a desk.
Under the trapdoor were simple ladders that lead a bit further down but with nothing useful in the room Akeno climbed down only to find herself standing in a pitch black room but thanks to Asuramarus power Akeno could easily see everything that was in the room.
Mainly the four large open spaces with only two of them being used by two vehicles that were covered by tarps "Better get some light down here before I do anything" Akeno sighed as she started looking around and a few moments later she found a generator that turned on without trouble.
Akeno was momentarily blinded by the construction lamps that turned on a second after the generator turned on but now that Akeno took a closer look around there were several things that stood out mainly that almost anything that had something written on it was in Russian not that it bothered Akeno as she was fluent in various languages due to her upbringing.
The two tarp covered objects turned out to be one old BMW that looked a bit dated but one look under the hood gave Akeno a sight to see as not a standard engine was mounted in this one but a very much up gunned version so she took a closer look at the car overall only to find that the chassis was reinforced and that the windows were of a strange thick glass.
Akeno took a while longer to organize everything as the second tarp hid several old steel boxes with guns, ammo and clothing that was stored in airless plastic bags for some reason but most of it didn´t interest Akeno as she had her own weapons and ammo as well as clothes but just to be on the safe side she took a simple M25 marksman rifle with her as well as another M1911 with both guns staying in the car as a backup.
With all of her gear stored in the car Akeno started to look for a way out only to find a simple ramp that lead up to what looked like a wall but with her enhanced sight Akeno found a simple chain mechanism that opened the door to the outside revealing the inside of the old barn that stood near the farmhouse.
The car needed a bit of an extra jolt to the battery from the generator to get it started but when the engine came to life Akeno drove quickly up the ramp and out of the barn the large ramp door closing on its own behind her.
Akeno drove down the road towards Roanapur at a simple speed despite several other vehicles overtaking her at reckless speeds at times but Akeno barely paid that any mind so to speak but the moment Akeno came close to the city itself she knew she was exactly where she wanted to be as the entire city could only be described with four words 'Rotten to the Core'.
No matter where Akeno looked as she drove through the streets there was just crime everywhere you looked "Just the kind of place I need" Akeno grinned as she gunned the engine racing down the street towards a simple bar called the Yellow Flag of all things.
But instead of parking the car at the front Akeno parked at the back of the bar where a old American muscle car stood but before she left the car Akeno made sure she had her two pistols in their holsters loaded just to be on the safe side of things.
As she left the car she saw a few cars drive away from the front with screeching tires "Now then seems I have to find someone that can help me find Balalaika" Akeno mumbled as she put on a simple black baseball cap before entering the bar.
The smell was overwhelming at first aside from the alcohol and cigar smoke amongst other things it was pretty loud the door Akeno used allowed her to take a closer look at the entire room without exposing herself.
The entire bar was full of all kinds of scum but the only ones Akeno was interested in were the two men and one women sitting at the bar counter however before she could approach them someone spoke up from behind her "Now what is a little flower like you doing in this kind of place?" a broad shouldered afro American giant of a man asked.
He is a heavily muscled African-American he was also completely bald which was a bit strange to Akeno but she didn´t say anything about the man wears a green flak-jacket, green military fatigues, US military jungle boots and was wearing a pair of sunglasses hiding his eyes from sight.
Akeno also noticed the massive silver revolver in its holster at his side "Oh you know just came here for a drink and to find out where a friend of mine might be" Akeno replied her voice being a bit to joyful.
The giant looked at her with a strange expression sure he had seen all kinds of people in this place over the years but this girl gave off a similar vibe as Balalaika and that was not a good thing in his mind as the girl was a complete unknown right now.
Akeno knew next to nothing about this man but his body alone told her that he was ex-military probably from the Vietnam wars or somewhere along that time "Well then what is the name of that friend of yours maybe I know em as well" Dutch asked in hope this girl wasn´t here to start another war between the various factions in the city.
Akeno grinned at that "Let us talk about that over a drink I´m buying and I may look like a flower but you can call me Asira for now" Akeno spoke as the giant followed her to the bar where the woman and the Japanese Businessmen had started a drinking contest.
Akeno ordered a bottle of Vodka for herself while Dutch stuck to a simple but rather good whiskey "So that friend of yours that you´re looking for got a name or maybe a picture?" Dutch asked after downing his second glass with Akeno already having five shots down.
Akeno took a simple picture from under her jacket before placing it on the table to slide it over to the giant of a man "This is all I got right now" Akeno replied before downing another two shots of Vodka while Dutch flipped the picture over.
Dutch knew this women in the picture very well although she looked several years younger than she was now but those eyes and the old soviet style uniform confirmed that this women was none other than Balalaika a very good business partner of Dutch.
Before Dutch said anything he took another glass of whiskey only to look at the girl that had already emptied half of the bottle of vodka "I do know this woman quite well in fact but why do you want to meet with her of all people?" Dutch asked as the girl set the vodka down again.
Akeno was barely even buzzed by this amount of alcohol as Asuramarus powers controlled every part of her body by now which meant she was able to accelerate certain processes including the digestion of alcohol "Well I have some lucrative business proposals from a common friend of ours to give her along with something else but I can´t talk about this with anyone else than her" Akeno added as she tapped her left index finger on the picture.
Dutch started thinking a bit about this maybe there was something in for him if this girl spoke the truth but if she was lying through her teeth then she might also be after Balalaika for something else "Just what could a girl like you offer a women like her that would even remotely interest her?" Dutch asked only for the girl to give him a shit eating grin.
Dutch waited a second as the girl pulled a simple brown paper package from somewhere before placing it over the picture "If you know where she is please gives this to her and if she is willing to meet with me here is my number" the girl explained as she placed a simple folded note on the package before downing the rest of the bottle of Vodka in one go without even blinking in the slightest.
Akeno paid for the drink she and Dutch had as well as all of the booze the other two had guzzled down during their contest before she left the bar through the back door leaving the four people of Lagoon company behind in the yellow flag while she drove to a rather expensive hotel in the upper districts of the city to get a room.
Dutch and his crew returned to their office to sleep of their night of drinking as they had no other jobs in the near future so they just relaxed but in the early morning Dutch remembered the package the girl gave to him she didn´t say anything about what might be inside but just to be on the safe side Dutch opened it.
Inside the package was a simple wooden box that was locked but it had two keyholes but that was all there was to it but on the underside was something in Russian that Dutch couldn´t read [To a Hero that was never recognized] Dutch didn´t have any idea what to do with this thing so he gave Balalaika a call.
Dutch had explained what had happened the last night at the Yellow flag only for Balalaika herself to interrupt him "Dutch this is really important did this girl leave anything that you were to hand to me?" the tone Balalaika used sent an ice cold shiver down Dutch´s back as it was dead serious "Yes she left me a small package along with a note with a phone number for you should I bring it to one of your men?" Dutch asked his voice even but he was sweating a lot despite the fact that it was the start of the colder months of the year.
Balalaika said nothing at all for a few moments until Dutch heard her yell something in Russian and running feet were heard in the background "Dutch keep that box close to you at all times as well as the note we will meet with you at your office in the city until then" Balalaika´s words were less of a simple request and more of a military style command.
Dutch sighed as he pushed his sunglasses back up on his face "This seems to be very important to her oh well got nothing else to do right now" Dutch mumbled as he lit a cigarette while walking back to his office.
Balalaika was nervous her men the most elite special Para troopers of the Soviet Union could easily see that but for what reason was their Kapitan acting like this earlier she had a phone call with the Lagoon company nothing unusual about that but the moment she ordered them to mobilize her commando unit they knew something was up.
The last time they had mobilized like this was when several of their comrades had been killed at the hands of two little psychos only for them to mercilessly hunt them down with one of them getting killed by them and the other being killed by a bounty hunter.
The convoy of ten vehicles drove quickly towards the Harbor until they stopped at the Black Lagoon transport company office; they only took a few minutes to set up a perimeter while Balalaika and her second in command walked up the stairs to meet with Dutch.
Dutch was smoking a simple cigarette when he noticed that Hotel Moscow drove up to his office "Seems that this is really important" Dutch mumbled as he looked at the simple wooden box sitting on the table in front of him.
A few minutes later Balalaika knocked on the door and Dutch opened it before stepping to the side to allow them to enter "Dutch is this one of the items the girl handed to you?" Balalaika asked already holding the small wooden box in her hands "Yep that it is Miss Balalaika she also handed me this small note with her phone number" Dutch replied handing Balalaika the small piece of paper.
Balalaika had only had ever seen this kind of box once before in her life in the first there had been a set of two keys with beautiful red Stars as decorations at the end of each key "Dutch I thank you for bringing this to my attention but for now I have some things to take care of" Balalaika spoke before leaving quickly and only moments later Hotel Moscow was driving away from the Lagoon company.
With Akeno two days later in the Hotel:
Akeno had been sure she had made the right choice by handing over the small package Claire gave her to that man she had made sure that he handed the small package as well as the note over to Balalaika but in the days since then nothing had happened at all.
"This sucks but I guess things work a bit differently in this town huh" Akeno mumbled as she took a shower after her usual training left her sweaty as all hell but unknown to Akeno three black Mercedes Benz as well as a white one pulled into the underground garage of the hotel.
Akeno decided to call room service to bring a meal up to her suite and only a few minutes after she stepped out of the shower the meal arrived for her, that had been one of the first things Akeno learned never eat anything that was given to you in the slums even if you bought it there was a good chance it might kill you.
The meal was a simple steak with some rice as well as a few other things that were more decoration than anything else along with the meal Akeno found a few high class beers as the hotel staff found out she had a very harsh dislike of red wine.
With her meal over with Akeno went over a few things she learned during her stay so far the city was ruled by three mayor factions one of them being the Hong Kong Triads, The second one being the Colombian Cartel and the Third faction the Russian Mafia also known as Hotel Moscow in the city.
"So many things to consider and not all of them" but before Akeno could say anything else the air conditioning suddenly turned on at full power blowing some sort of white smoke into the room that caused Akeno to start coughing "The hell is this" Akeno growled as she tried to turn off the air conditioner.
But it was useless for some reason her vision started swaying dangerously but an instant later something was thrown through the door of her suite which caused a loud bang that stunned Akeno completely.
The next thing Akeno knew was that someone threw her to the ground but before this person could grab her hands Akeno went into a roll thus delivering a vicious roundhouse kick to the persons yaw but she was blocked by another person wearing the same strange green outfit with a gasmask covering their faces.
Despite her dizziness Akeno prepared to fight these two but just as she got into a somewhat stable position they both rushed her at the same time forcing her on the defensive with several fast paced jabs, punches, and kicks.
For some reason however Akeno felt as if she had seen this kind of fighting style before as she dodged another strong kick that would have hit her right in the stomach otherwise.
Akeno had been slowly maneuvering around the room during the fight to not get trapped by her two attackers but unknown to her another group of four people entered the room she only did notice them when all six of them descended upon her at the same time.
Akeno was able to connect a few punches here and there but suddenly Akeno felt her feet leave the ground until a heavy military boot smashed right into her midsection before she smashed into the floor with a lot of force causing her breath to leave her lungs.
With Akeno momentarily stunned four of the six descended on her to grab her legs and arms while a seventh person entered the room with something in hand.
Despite how hard she struggled Akeno felt as if she was trapped by iron shackles with how hard these people held onto her arms and legs "Who the hell" Akeno tried to yell only for one of the group to cover her mouth and nose with a cloth that smelled very strange.
Akeno knew exactly what this stuff was and resumed her attempts to get free but the more she struggled the more she breathed in the strange stuff that was in the cloth and before too long her body became very sluggish until she lay completely still.
The last thing Akeno saw before her consciousness drifted to black was the group of seven people standing above her talking about something in Russian but then only darkness greeted Akeno despite her attempts to get the drug out of her system as fast as possible.