Chapter 6: A hero is born!
Disclaimer: If I get in any trouble, I'll pretend I'm in the christian coalition and demand my actions justified.
A/N: I put up a notice in the reviews section for a poll. Since nobody answered it, I assume that no one saw it. I see I've slipped a little behind in the fic order, around #40 or so, so I don't blame not having anyone new see the story. I'll try to keep up the updates, though, so it won't be a problem.
ANYHOW: THE POLL - Muu Tsu's superhero name (some people are demanding to not use Spiderman. My own choice thus far is the White Spider, b/c of the color of his costume.
AND
Xian Fu's natural haircolor.
********
His Co-workers only knew him as Brad..
His subordinates only knew him by his Callsign as Agent B-14.
Right now, though, Bradley Jackson's only thought was getting out of this mess alive. A jerk of the wheel brought the van into a violent fishtail spin as he turned onto a sidestreet to deter the police and draw them further in. He had to keep them interested long enough for the mission to succeed and the Agents to return to base with their objective.
What he didn't know was that the Agents had been dead nearly ten minutes, and the objective lost along with them.
What he also didn't know was that he had made a mortal enemy that night, and justice was a mere block and a half behind him and closing at a fast clip.
**
Muu Tsu pulled on his gloves and sunglasses, covering his face with the Ascot. He then had to leap again to clear the next street, pushing everything he had into closing in on the sound of the wailing sirens and screaming tires. Not a moment ago his mind had been focused on tears and tradgedy, but now he had only one thought on his mind. Blood.
Landing on a terrace edge, Muu Tsu was presented with a dillema. He couldn't follow the road in the same fashion he had been if this kept up. The buildings got progressively taller as the path took him farther into the city and the business district. He looked at his hands and realized what he had to do. He wasn't so sure if he could handle it, though. Maneuvering up and down in a tent was one thing; playing Tarzan in downtown Tokyo was another entirely.
Making up his mind, Muu Tsu cast out a chain into the closest building's ledge. Taking a breath, he swung out on it, more confident then with his first attempt. When it almost seemed as if he would flatten himself on the brick surface, he instinctively cast out another chain, on the building opposite his. As he swung out on this chain, he retracted his first one, drawing it halfway back into his robes, then casting it out farther down the street.
Muu Tsu was soon caught in a dizzying world, as he struggled to comprehend all that was happening. Up was down, and aside from the limping progress he was making, he spent the first five minutes of his chain-whipping completely disoriented. It was only when he caught sight of the black roof belonging to the surveilance van did he focus again.
**
Agent B-14 was taking a risk, but he had to give a situation report to the committee, and check in with his fellow Agents. That in mind, he navigated a highspeed chase with one hand, attempted to dial a phone with another, and lastly was shouting at the top of his lungs for the VOX radio in the rear to pick up. He ran over a firehydrant in the excitement, leaving a geyser of water in his wake.
"Bravo one-six, this is Bravo one-for, SitRep, over," he called out to anyone who was listening. He expected them to be finished by now, but no one would respond to his requests. "Anyone monitoring on this frequency, respond!" He was interrupted by the kettledrum boom of a human-sized object landing on the roof of the van.
Reaching into his robe once more, Muu Tsu retracted all of the chains he had been employing, and withdrew his razor-sharp claws. The thin metal of the van was no match as the Chinese martial artist diced his way inside the vehicle.
No! thought B-14 as he caught the *Snkt!* sound of metal claws. _He_ can't be here...
A pair of clawed hands found their way far enough into the driver's seat to take a good portion of the steering wheel out, along with the Agent's left pinky. With a scream of pain, the Agent drew his weapon and aimed it skyward. Muu Tsu's newfound spidersense was working overtime as the rounds came at him at a rapid pace. He decided to withdraw and regroup, and at a good time, too. Agent Jackson's attention had been taken away just long enough for him to drive straight off a suspension bridge.
Muu Tsu looked on in amazement from the suspension cable he managed to snag. The black van sailed through the air, to land miraculously on a passing freighter. The vehicle was a loss, however; it had landed on end with the nose pointing straight up into the air. Muu Tsu swung back and fourth on his severed line until he had enough momentum built up to launch himself out over the water, landing with outstreached claws in the side of the van. Letting gravity take its course, Muu Tsu drew two sets of three- clawed gouges along the passenger side of the van, as the Chinese martial artist prepared to open the vehicle like a can of sardines.
The Agent had no illusions about staying in the van. The appearance of Muu Tsu's claws had shaken him greatly. He hasn't been here in Japan for years! his mind screamed. What would he have to do with this? he asked himself as he frantically fought his way out of the seatbelt and out the door. Unfortunately for Agent Jackson, the resulting velocity of a fifteen foot drop to the hard deck below didn't agree with his left leg, which gave a sickening crack on impact. Undaunted, the Agent rose as best he could on his right one, and fled.
Finding nobody in the van, Muu Tsu leapt atop the nose, perching there a moment with claws outstreached. If his mouth was visible, there would be seen a feral sneer that probably would have caused the Agent to wet himself. As it were, the agent only dared to look back once, his fears only slightly changed.
Ok, that's not him. It doesn't change the fact that I'm still in deep shit though, he thought desperately to himself. Finding a bulkhead door, the Agent hobbled his way below decks, weapon drawn and loaded. When a passing crewman asked what he was doing onboard, Agent B-14 gave him a succinct answer. Three, in fact. Two to the body, and one in the head for good measure. The wanted man continued on his way, hurredly seeking out some means of escape. He headed for the main hold in search of a liferaft.
**
"Yamada, can you tell me what's going on here?" asked the Sergent as he arrived on the scene.
"Well chief, we'd followed the vehicle for almost three miles in the city, and suddenly it just plowed off the bridge. Some wacko followed it down there. It's the craziest thing; fell on a frickin' cargo freighter, and it's moving out to the bay," reported the patrolman. Sergent Klemowski turned to the dispatch radio and immediately called for air support and mobilized the police watercraft units.
"I want a crew here to seal off this lane, understand?" he asked Patrolman Yamada. The man nodded and went to fulfill his task. The Sergent looked out on the bay to watch the retreating form of the barge as it drifted out to sea.
**
Where are the lights?
The Agent was having a tougher time then he'd anticipated locating an emergency craft for his daring escape. He limped frantically from crate to crate, searching for the characteristic dayglo orange survival pack. His weapon hung loosely at his side as he drug half his body along. Police searchlights began shining through the portholes on the sides of the ship, illuminating the room for bursts of only a few seconds apiece. One such illumination cast a shadow on the far wall that the Agent happened to miss; the shadow hung for a moment before the dark knight that was its owner slunk down among the wooden shipping crates.
A creak in the deckplates reached the Agent's ears and he whirled, emptying his clip in the direction of the sound. Dropping the clip, he went to insert another when he was struck from the side with enough force to send his body through the nearest crate. Looking up, he got his first good look at his stalker. It's the kid, he thought to himself, recognising the robe and hair. Fear turned into amusement, as the Agent fought back the pain and managed a chuckle.
"What's so funny!?" Muu Tsu demanded, picking up the Agent and hurling him across the chamber. The man drew his backup sidearm and levelled it at the young hero, only to have it instantly struck from his grip and flung across the room. This in turn earned him another impact into a crate full of plush toys destined for the Americas.
"What's so funny?" asked Agent Jackson, helpless in the pile of Pikachu dolls. "You kill me, _Muu Tsu Jiang_, and your life isn't worth SPIT!" he shouted. "Spit, do you hear me kid?"
"I'm not afraid of you," responded the Chinese youth.
"Ha! Afraid of _me_, that's good," the Agent said. "If I manage to get out of this alive you're not going to see me for a while. Hell no, I'm demanding some extended leave for this shit. No, I'm only talking about the guys that _run_ the show."
"The show?"
"Yeah, a little place I like to call Earth," sneered Agent B-14, pulling another weapon from his jacket, a rather menacing looking knife. Deftly performing a rear sumersault, Muu Tsu propelled the weapon into the roof deckplate, where it stuck in the paneling.
"No one is powerful enough to control the whole planet," spat Muu Tsu, striking the man again across the face. Agent Jackson spit blood, and a few teeth along with it.
"Fine then, kill me," he affirmed, slowly reaching for yet another weapon. "Section 3 Agents will pick that van clean, and all data I've fed the Committee for weeks now along with it. Then Section 2 Agents will pay _you_ a little visit, but not before visiting your freinds, your family, _everyone_ you know, and then everyone _they_ know," he said drawing a derringer pistol from his belt, preparing to shoot from the hip. Muu Tsu reacted with lightning speed, but not before the Agent had pulled the trigger.
The Chinese youth had kicked at the weapon, which pointed upward at the moment the gun fired, blowing a decent sized hole into the Agent's head.
**
"Shot's fired! We hear another round of shots fired within the craft!" reported a patrolman over the radio from the deck of a police cruiser watercraft.
"Proceed with caution; we're attempting an airlift of the SWAT team onto the ship. Prevent the suspect from escaping, but maintain your position," Sergent Klemowski advised.
**
Muu Tsu was left with the body, a look of shock and horror on his face as the bloodlust cooled from his veins. Looking down slowly, he realized his foot was still pressed to the Agent's hand and the weapon it held. He quickly stepped back, as if burned. He suddenly became aware of his guilt in the matter, at least if he became caught. The sound of a ringing cellular phone broke the silence of the hold. A quick analysis told the Chinese youth that the phone belonged to the former Agent.
Fishing the phone tenderly from the Agent's jacket pocket, Muu Tsu dared to answer it. The voice on the other end was dark and gravelly.
"Agent Bravo-14, the committee awaits your report," said the voice. The man was clearly irritated. Muu Tsu narrowed his eyes, and decided to give the man a peice of his mind.
"Agent Bravo-14 is dead," he reported succinctly. "As are all his accomplices."
"Who is this?" asked the voice at length. "I hope you realize how short your life has become."
"Oh, no," affirmed Muu Tsu to the voice. "Whoever you are, you people just made a fatal mistake tonight. Tell your boss that an angel of death sends his regaurds," He said, hanging up the phone and tossing it on the Agent's still cheast. Muu Tsu could hear the whipping sound of approaching police helicopters in the distance and knew he had to act fast.
**
Gendo Ikari hung up the phone and stared out across his desk, his mood deepening to the level of Perturbed. He steepled his hands before his face, and leaned forward on his elbows.
No one threatens me, he affirmed to himself. No one will survive harming my dear Yui, or the baby boy I will soon have.
He contemplated what to report to the committee, and what measures to take in eliminating this newest irritation. The timetable was not to be interfered with; the next major step was close at hand, and nothing would stand in the way of what had to come.
Second Impact.
Using the first two fingers of his left hand, Gendo Ikari pushed his glasses farther up his nose and began to strategise.
**
Lt. Anno Shiratori walked his men through final checks as his choc group descended upon the freighter. He wiped his brow quickly, his hand brushing over the letters S.W.A.T. on his helmet. The pilot signaled him that they were preparing for final approach, and he acknowleged. He called to his men to prepare to air-assault onto the craft on his command. The Leuitenant caught sight of the approaching deck below, and awaited the right moment.
When it came, he gave the signal, and ten SWAT team members slid down a set of ropes to land in a closed perimiter formation on the deck of the freighter. Lt. Shiratori took stock of the situation, and sent his men to flank various portions of the ship to check on the crewmembers. That being done, he focused his attention on the monstrosity before him.
What could conceivably have once been a nondescript black van was now reduced to an indestinguishable lump of dissected metal and rubber.
**
Muu Tsu stopped to catch his breath, stowing away the liferaft he kept on him for just such occasions. Removing the ascot and reflective shades, he stared into the darkness, still trying to comprehend all that had happened that night. Different voices began to echo in his mind, both terrifying and enfuriating him.
/You're really one of us now, Muu Tsu.../
/With great power comes great responsibility.../
/Your life won't be worth spit.../
/You're not human, Muu Tsu.../
/an Angel of death sends his regaurds.../
What am I? Muu Tsu asked himself, looking at his hands, and thinking of what they had done in the space of one evening. What am I becoming?
/this is truly incredible, Muu Tsu.../
All those powers...
/You've been given a real gift.../
All those powers, and I couldn't save him...
/I'll be damned if you're going to let our age difference make you my father.../
Oh, gods please forgive me, thought Muu Tsu. When he needed me most, and when I needed to listen most, I let him down.
Muu Tsu still had the ascot and reflective glasses in his hands, and so he looked down to regard them as he continued to think.
/...but not before visiting your freinds, your family, _everyone_ you know, and then everyone _they_ know.../
That's not going to happen, The young man affirmed, redonning the masking gear and rising to his feet. There was much to do.
***
"We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to our dearly departed friend, Dr. Tofu Ono," the priest intoned lightly, motioning briefly to the displayed photograph of the Doctor and the burning candles and incense before it. A sizable crowd had turned out for the service, not only including the entirety of the Tendo and Saotome clans, but each and every peripheral friend and character in memory. Even Ryoga had managed to find his way to the funeral, dressed in an abbreviated black suit in place of his traveling clothes.
"He was a decent man, and a good Doctor," continued the Priest. "He was loved by all alike; despite any and all differences any who knew him may have had with each other, they all enjoyed the Doctor's company, and held him in the highest reguards. He was a pillar of the community, and he will leave a space that will take a great deal of time to fill," he said, indicating the great number of miscelanious Nerimites who were present at the service. "Is there anyone who would like to offer up a word for the Doctor?"
"I would," immediately came a voice from the front of the congregation. Muu Tsu rose to the pulpit slowly, a macabe vision in his ebony robes and tied-back jet hair. He turned to the gathered mass and slowly began his eulogy.
"I know there are those among you who have known the Doctor for far longer then I have, and I apologise if I seem pretentious by standing here today. In comparison, I was only a close friend of the Doctor's for a short time, but I miss him all the same," he said, taking a deep breath before continuing. He looked out to see the Tendos openly mourning, Kasumi and Akane in particular. Soun was performing his usual amount of waterworks, so he wasn't drawing unusual attention.
"He was my good friend in that he never wanted to judge me. If I were to loose all my strength and skills, and no longer be able to call myself a martial artist, he would still be my friend. If I were banished from my tribe, if I lost everything in this world that was important to me and I were little more then street trash, he would still accept me. That was who Tofu Ono was. He was the most decent human being I have ever had the honor of meeting in my life, and I will never forget him," he finished, returning to his seat.
The regal and solemn Amazons regaurded their own as Muu Tsu sat down, clenching his jaw so tight they feared he would crush his own teeth.
Xian Fu watched the Chinese youth anxiously, seeing the determination and hatred burning in his eyes.
Muu Tsu...
Ko Lon saw the glow surrounding her ward quite clearly, and smiled inwardly.
Seize those emotions, Muu Tsu, she thought. You are finally ready for what may lay before you.
**********
Well, there you have it, sans an official superhero moniker. That's up to all of you, of course ^_-
I know this chapter was all kinds of dark and depressing, but not to worry! The overall tone of the story will be generally serious, but as you can tell from my earlier chapters, that doesn't ever last long with me! I'll be sure to make this story as real as possible, interspaced with heavy dashes of comic seasoning.
I think, but I'm not sure, that this may be the official last part of the story that directly relates to the movie. From here on out, I'm going to do my own crossover/fusion wierdness. I aim to please, though; expect all the smart-mouthed, exciting spidey action you can handle!
Disclaimer: If I get in any trouble, I'll pretend I'm in the christian coalition and demand my actions justified.
A/N: I put up a notice in the reviews section for a poll. Since nobody answered it, I assume that no one saw it. I see I've slipped a little behind in the fic order, around #40 or so, so I don't blame not having anyone new see the story. I'll try to keep up the updates, though, so it won't be a problem.
ANYHOW: THE POLL - Muu Tsu's superhero name (some people are demanding to not use Spiderman. My own choice thus far is the White Spider, b/c of the color of his costume.
AND
Xian Fu's natural haircolor.
********
His Co-workers only knew him as Brad..
His subordinates only knew him by his Callsign as Agent B-14.
Right now, though, Bradley Jackson's only thought was getting out of this mess alive. A jerk of the wheel brought the van into a violent fishtail spin as he turned onto a sidestreet to deter the police and draw them further in. He had to keep them interested long enough for the mission to succeed and the Agents to return to base with their objective.
What he didn't know was that the Agents had been dead nearly ten minutes, and the objective lost along with them.
What he also didn't know was that he had made a mortal enemy that night, and justice was a mere block and a half behind him and closing at a fast clip.
**
Muu Tsu pulled on his gloves and sunglasses, covering his face with the Ascot. He then had to leap again to clear the next street, pushing everything he had into closing in on the sound of the wailing sirens and screaming tires. Not a moment ago his mind had been focused on tears and tradgedy, but now he had only one thought on his mind. Blood.
Landing on a terrace edge, Muu Tsu was presented with a dillema. He couldn't follow the road in the same fashion he had been if this kept up. The buildings got progressively taller as the path took him farther into the city and the business district. He looked at his hands and realized what he had to do. He wasn't so sure if he could handle it, though. Maneuvering up and down in a tent was one thing; playing Tarzan in downtown Tokyo was another entirely.
Making up his mind, Muu Tsu cast out a chain into the closest building's ledge. Taking a breath, he swung out on it, more confident then with his first attempt. When it almost seemed as if he would flatten himself on the brick surface, he instinctively cast out another chain, on the building opposite his. As he swung out on this chain, he retracted his first one, drawing it halfway back into his robes, then casting it out farther down the street.
Muu Tsu was soon caught in a dizzying world, as he struggled to comprehend all that was happening. Up was down, and aside from the limping progress he was making, he spent the first five minutes of his chain-whipping completely disoriented. It was only when he caught sight of the black roof belonging to the surveilance van did he focus again.
**
Agent B-14 was taking a risk, but he had to give a situation report to the committee, and check in with his fellow Agents. That in mind, he navigated a highspeed chase with one hand, attempted to dial a phone with another, and lastly was shouting at the top of his lungs for the VOX radio in the rear to pick up. He ran over a firehydrant in the excitement, leaving a geyser of water in his wake.
"Bravo one-six, this is Bravo one-for, SitRep, over," he called out to anyone who was listening. He expected them to be finished by now, but no one would respond to his requests. "Anyone monitoring on this frequency, respond!" He was interrupted by the kettledrum boom of a human-sized object landing on the roof of the van.
Reaching into his robe once more, Muu Tsu retracted all of the chains he had been employing, and withdrew his razor-sharp claws. The thin metal of the van was no match as the Chinese martial artist diced his way inside the vehicle.
No! thought B-14 as he caught the *Snkt!* sound of metal claws. _He_ can't be here...
A pair of clawed hands found their way far enough into the driver's seat to take a good portion of the steering wheel out, along with the Agent's left pinky. With a scream of pain, the Agent drew his weapon and aimed it skyward. Muu Tsu's newfound spidersense was working overtime as the rounds came at him at a rapid pace. He decided to withdraw and regroup, and at a good time, too. Agent Jackson's attention had been taken away just long enough for him to drive straight off a suspension bridge.
Muu Tsu looked on in amazement from the suspension cable he managed to snag. The black van sailed through the air, to land miraculously on a passing freighter. The vehicle was a loss, however; it had landed on end with the nose pointing straight up into the air. Muu Tsu swung back and fourth on his severed line until he had enough momentum built up to launch himself out over the water, landing with outstreached claws in the side of the van. Letting gravity take its course, Muu Tsu drew two sets of three- clawed gouges along the passenger side of the van, as the Chinese martial artist prepared to open the vehicle like a can of sardines.
The Agent had no illusions about staying in the van. The appearance of Muu Tsu's claws had shaken him greatly. He hasn't been here in Japan for years! his mind screamed. What would he have to do with this? he asked himself as he frantically fought his way out of the seatbelt and out the door. Unfortunately for Agent Jackson, the resulting velocity of a fifteen foot drop to the hard deck below didn't agree with his left leg, which gave a sickening crack on impact. Undaunted, the Agent rose as best he could on his right one, and fled.
Finding nobody in the van, Muu Tsu leapt atop the nose, perching there a moment with claws outstreached. If his mouth was visible, there would be seen a feral sneer that probably would have caused the Agent to wet himself. As it were, the agent only dared to look back once, his fears only slightly changed.
Ok, that's not him. It doesn't change the fact that I'm still in deep shit though, he thought desperately to himself. Finding a bulkhead door, the Agent hobbled his way below decks, weapon drawn and loaded. When a passing crewman asked what he was doing onboard, Agent B-14 gave him a succinct answer. Three, in fact. Two to the body, and one in the head for good measure. The wanted man continued on his way, hurredly seeking out some means of escape. He headed for the main hold in search of a liferaft.
**
"Yamada, can you tell me what's going on here?" asked the Sergent as he arrived on the scene.
"Well chief, we'd followed the vehicle for almost three miles in the city, and suddenly it just plowed off the bridge. Some wacko followed it down there. It's the craziest thing; fell on a frickin' cargo freighter, and it's moving out to the bay," reported the patrolman. Sergent Klemowski turned to the dispatch radio and immediately called for air support and mobilized the police watercraft units.
"I want a crew here to seal off this lane, understand?" he asked Patrolman Yamada. The man nodded and went to fulfill his task. The Sergent looked out on the bay to watch the retreating form of the barge as it drifted out to sea.
**
Where are the lights?
The Agent was having a tougher time then he'd anticipated locating an emergency craft for his daring escape. He limped frantically from crate to crate, searching for the characteristic dayglo orange survival pack. His weapon hung loosely at his side as he drug half his body along. Police searchlights began shining through the portholes on the sides of the ship, illuminating the room for bursts of only a few seconds apiece. One such illumination cast a shadow on the far wall that the Agent happened to miss; the shadow hung for a moment before the dark knight that was its owner slunk down among the wooden shipping crates.
A creak in the deckplates reached the Agent's ears and he whirled, emptying his clip in the direction of the sound. Dropping the clip, he went to insert another when he was struck from the side with enough force to send his body through the nearest crate. Looking up, he got his first good look at his stalker. It's the kid, he thought to himself, recognising the robe and hair. Fear turned into amusement, as the Agent fought back the pain and managed a chuckle.
"What's so funny!?" Muu Tsu demanded, picking up the Agent and hurling him across the chamber. The man drew his backup sidearm and levelled it at the young hero, only to have it instantly struck from his grip and flung across the room. This in turn earned him another impact into a crate full of plush toys destined for the Americas.
"What's so funny?" asked Agent Jackson, helpless in the pile of Pikachu dolls. "You kill me, _Muu Tsu Jiang_, and your life isn't worth SPIT!" he shouted. "Spit, do you hear me kid?"
"I'm not afraid of you," responded the Chinese youth.
"Ha! Afraid of _me_, that's good," the Agent said. "If I manage to get out of this alive you're not going to see me for a while. Hell no, I'm demanding some extended leave for this shit. No, I'm only talking about the guys that _run_ the show."
"The show?"
"Yeah, a little place I like to call Earth," sneered Agent B-14, pulling another weapon from his jacket, a rather menacing looking knife. Deftly performing a rear sumersault, Muu Tsu propelled the weapon into the roof deckplate, where it stuck in the paneling.
"No one is powerful enough to control the whole planet," spat Muu Tsu, striking the man again across the face. Agent Jackson spit blood, and a few teeth along with it.
"Fine then, kill me," he affirmed, slowly reaching for yet another weapon. "Section 3 Agents will pick that van clean, and all data I've fed the Committee for weeks now along with it. Then Section 2 Agents will pay _you_ a little visit, but not before visiting your freinds, your family, _everyone_ you know, and then everyone _they_ know," he said drawing a derringer pistol from his belt, preparing to shoot from the hip. Muu Tsu reacted with lightning speed, but not before the Agent had pulled the trigger.
The Chinese youth had kicked at the weapon, which pointed upward at the moment the gun fired, blowing a decent sized hole into the Agent's head.
**
"Shot's fired! We hear another round of shots fired within the craft!" reported a patrolman over the radio from the deck of a police cruiser watercraft.
"Proceed with caution; we're attempting an airlift of the SWAT team onto the ship. Prevent the suspect from escaping, but maintain your position," Sergent Klemowski advised.
**
Muu Tsu was left with the body, a look of shock and horror on his face as the bloodlust cooled from his veins. Looking down slowly, he realized his foot was still pressed to the Agent's hand and the weapon it held. He quickly stepped back, as if burned. He suddenly became aware of his guilt in the matter, at least if he became caught. The sound of a ringing cellular phone broke the silence of the hold. A quick analysis told the Chinese youth that the phone belonged to the former Agent.
Fishing the phone tenderly from the Agent's jacket pocket, Muu Tsu dared to answer it. The voice on the other end was dark and gravelly.
"Agent Bravo-14, the committee awaits your report," said the voice. The man was clearly irritated. Muu Tsu narrowed his eyes, and decided to give the man a peice of his mind.
"Agent Bravo-14 is dead," he reported succinctly. "As are all his accomplices."
"Who is this?" asked the voice at length. "I hope you realize how short your life has become."
"Oh, no," affirmed Muu Tsu to the voice. "Whoever you are, you people just made a fatal mistake tonight. Tell your boss that an angel of death sends his regaurds," He said, hanging up the phone and tossing it on the Agent's still cheast. Muu Tsu could hear the whipping sound of approaching police helicopters in the distance and knew he had to act fast.
**
Gendo Ikari hung up the phone and stared out across his desk, his mood deepening to the level of Perturbed. He steepled his hands before his face, and leaned forward on his elbows.
No one threatens me, he affirmed to himself. No one will survive harming my dear Yui, or the baby boy I will soon have.
He contemplated what to report to the committee, and what measures to take in eliminating this newest irritation. The timetable was not to be interfered with; the next major step was close at hand, and nothing would stand in the way of what had to come.
Second Impact.
Using the first two fingers of his left hand, Gendo Ikari pushed his glasses farther up his nose and began to strategise.
**
Lt. Anno Shiratori walked his men through final checks as his choc group descended upon the freighter. He wiped his brow quickly, his hand brushing over the letters S.W.A.T. on his helmet. The pilot signaled him that they were preparing for final approach, and he acknowleged. He called to his men to prepare to air-assault onto the craft on his command. The Leuitenant caught sight of the approaching deck below, and awaited the right moment.
When it came, he gave the signal, and ten SWAT team members slid down a set of ropes to land in a closed perimiter formation on the deck of the freighter. Lt. Shiratori took stock of the situation, and sent his men to flank various portions of the ship to check on the crewmembers. That being done, he focused his attention on the monstrosity before him.
What could conceivably have once been a nondescript black van was now reduced to an indestinguishable lump of dissected metal and rubber.
**
Muu Tsu stopped to catch his breath, stowing away the liferaft he kept on him for just such occasions. Removing the ascot and reflective shades, he stared into the darkness, still trying to comprehend all that had happened that night. Different voices began to echo in his mind, both terrifying and enfuriating him.
/You're really one of us now, Muu Tsu.../
/With great power comes great responsibility.../
/Your life won't be worth spit.../
/You're not human, Muu Tsu.../
/an Angel of death sends his regaurds.../
What am I? Muu Tsu asked himself, looking at his hands, and thinking of what they had done in the space of one evening. What am I becoming?
/this is truly incredible, Muu Tsu.../
All those powers...
/You've been given a real gift.../
All those powers, and I couldn't save him...
/I'll be damned if you're going to let our age difference make you my father.../
Oh, gods please forgive me, thought Muu Tsu. When he needed me most, and when I needed to listen most, I let him down.
Muu Tsu still had the ascot and reflective glasses in his hands, and so he looked down to regard them as he continued to think.
/...but not before visiting your freinds, your family, _everyone_ you know, and then everyone _they_ know.../
That's not going to happen, The young man affirmed, redonning the masking gear and rising to his feet. There was much to do.
***
"We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to our dearly departed friend, Dr. Tofu Ono," the priest intoned lightly, motioning briefly to the displayed photograph of the Doctor and the burning candles and incense before it. A sizable crowd had turned out for the service, not only including the entirety of the Tendo and Saotome clans, but each and every peripheral friend and character in memory. Even Ryoga had managed to find his way to the funeral, dressed in an abbreviated black suit in place of his traveling clothes.
"He was a decent man, and a good Doctor," continued the Priest. "He was loved by all alike; despite any and all differences any who knew him may have had with each other, they all enjoyed the Doctor's company, and held him in the highest reguards. He was a pillar of the community, and he will leave a space that will take a great deal of time to fill," he said, indicating the great number of miscelanious Nerimites who were present at the service. "Is there anyone who would like to offer up a word for the Doctor?"
"I would," immediately came a voice from the front of the congregation. Muu Tsu rose to the pulpit slowly, a macabe vision in his ebony robes and tied-back jet hair. He turned to the gathered mass and slowly began his eulogy.
"I know there are those among you who have known the Doctor for far longer then I have, and I apologise if I seem pretentious by standing here today. In comparison, I was only a close friend of the Doctor's for a short time, but I miss him all the same," he said, taking a deep breath before continuing. He looked out to see the Tendos openly mourning, Kasumi and Akane in particular. Soun was performing his usual amount of waterworks, so he wasn't drawing unusual attention.
"He was my good friend in that he never wanted to judge me. If I were to loose all my strength and skills, and no longer be able to call myself a martial artist, he would still be my friend. If I were banished from my tribe, if I lost everything in this world that was important to me and I were little more then street trash, he would still accept me. That was who Tofu Ono was. He was the most decent human being I have ever had the honor of meeting in my life, and I will never forget him," he finished, returning to his seat.
The regal and solemn Amazons regaurded their own as Muu Tsu sat down, clenching his jaw so tight they feared he would crush his own teeth.
Xian Fu watched the Chinese youth anxiously, seeing the determination and hatred burning in his eyes.
Muu Tsu...
Ko Lon saw the glow surrounding her ward quite clearly, and smiled inwardly.
Seize those emotions, Muu Tsu, she thought. You are finally ready for what may lay before you.
**********
Well, there you have it, sans an official superhero moniker. That's up to all of you, of course ^_-
I know this chapter was all kinds of dark and depressing, but not to worry! The overall tone of the story will be generally serious, but as you can tell from my earlier chapters, that doesn't ever last long with me! I'll be sure to make this story as real as possible, interspaced with heavy dashes of comic seasoning.
I think, but I'm not sure, that this may be the official last part of the story that directly relates to the movie. From here on out, I'm going to do my own crossover/fusion wierdness. I aim to please, though; expect all the smart-mouthed, exciting spidey action you can handle!