He knows! He knows!
"He knows." Koba muttered in his sleep, tossing and turning violently, the stone lighting the darkened bedroom with a blood red glow.
You must attack tonight! Before he finds us. Now is the time for you to become the man you once were. Seek him out and steal his power!
Koba bolted upright. His clothes drenched in sweat, clinging to his small body.
"Yes. Tonight. We strike tonight." He spoke softly, reaching for his walking stick.
The red light faded, leaving Koba in darkness once more. Pulling himself up, Koba made his way forward, towards a small teleprompter on the far side of his carpeted room. extending an exploratory hand, Koba switched the machine on and instantly a large, bearded man's face appeared.
"Ah greetings lord Koba, it has been hours since we last spoke. It is good to see you again." He said with a twitch of his lip.
Koba didn't even crack a smile. "Listen Felaris. I have one last job for you."
The bearded man's black eyebrows shot up. "I thought our attack last night concluded our business together. The boys are getting kind of antsy around here. The cloaking devices and neural inhibitors you supplied us have kind of taken the fun out of terrorizing the citizenry."
This time Koba smiled and it wasn't exactly friendly.
Instinctively Felaris backed away from the screen. The large man had never seen Koba like this. It was as if he was another person entirely.
"There is someone on Calbon I need to see. You may say he is the reason why I am here and why you were recruited."
Felaris frowned. "I don't understand."
Koba sighed exasperatingly. "I didn't hire you for your brains did I." He began pausing to make sure Felaris was paying attention. "This man I speak of is the kenshin knight known as Ryan."
"What! A kenshin knight is here!" Felaris screamed into the monitor. "Are you nuts! He could kill us all with a single thought!" Felaris shook his head emphatically, fear evident in his voice. "No way. The deal's off. We're leaving before he finds out we're here."
Felaris began to turn away from the screen when he felt his body being turned forcibly around once more. "What the hell.." He murmured, his eyes widening in fear as they fell upon the screen. The dark jewel on Koba's headband had flared to life, casting an creepy red aura around the small man. Felaris's blood ran cold. He clutched his throat as he felt dark wall pressing over him and it was all he could do to breathe. "Okay...I'm listening.." He managed to squeeze between his clenched teeth.
The light faded and the presence Felaris felt vanished.
"Good." Koba replied, his normal self once more. "Because it's not the kenshin you need to fear. It's me." He said softly, his eyes dangerous. "Now listen closely. Your concern is only to carry out an attack, leave the kenshin to me."
"But he will try to interfere." Felaris said hoarsely as he rubbed his sore neck.
"That is what I am planning on. I need him wounded, but alive. If he dies he will be no use to me. If you carry this out, I will double the pay of course. I'll even let you attack without all my fancy gadgets. What do you say?"
There was something in Koba's voice that frightened Felaris, something that told him if he refused, he was dead. "When do we attack?"
"As soon as the sun goes down."
"Where do I launch an assault?"
Koba tilted his head. "It matters not. He will find where you are. Just be sure you do not kill him."
Felaris swallowed nervously. "Yes lord Koba."
Koba switched the machine off and headed back to bed. He had a few hours to kill before the assault began and the small man needed all the rest he could get before he faced the kenshin for the first and final time.