Disclaimer: This was missing in chapter 1, and I'm sorry about that. I
don't own any characters in this story, besides Tisha, Jake, Cadman,
Nataku, Misty, All of Dynavein, sweet Tooth, Rogue Shinobi, etc. All other
things belong to Tecmo Inc, and the Grendel creature in this is credited to
Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes, and Larry Niven's novel The Legacy of
Heorot.
Episode 2
DOA: Judgment Day
Part 1
Hunter & Hunted
Robert Tomlinson's steps were heavy as he plodded down into the main complex. The passage was dark, dank and not to his liking. The circular tube had been specially designed to thwart detection, the occasional irregular walls made it seem just like a normal cave. There were no lights, no heaters, just the cave.
Robert stopped, and peered to his left, closely, flashing his light at it. He then slammed his fist on the wall, and it slid open as a door. The room seemed so lively and familiar. The terraced consoles, and large monitor watching the subject.
Dynavein Corporation lived on this formation. Except, they had learned. A human can be controlled much easier than a barbaric alien. This time, they hadn't created, but enhanced. Project Tau Ceti was moving much faster, and bringing much less attention than Elijah Island had. And this was more of a security measure than to augment human scientific knowledge. Tisha Swithwind knew too much about Project SIGMA and needed to die.
Robert was a wealthy, if ruthless, man. He craved power, and with Tau Ceti by his side, his Hunter Seekers, code named Sweet Tooth, would find and destroy any who opposed him. Military significance was the ultimate power.
Robert nodded to the project supervisor and proceeded into the Cryo-chamber to meet the Alpha prototype. Sweet Tooth had to be put into commission early, before Tisha spilled what she knew about Dynavein, the true secrets behind their research. The first test was successful in eliminating the troublesome Jake Vance, but Tisha was more deadly, faster, and used her wits better than that DELTA. A fully operational Sweet Tooth must be put in.
Sweet Tooth was the first enhanced persona. This is where the code name was taken. Sweet Tooth was a. reluctant partner in the venture. He was an ice- cold super ninja, but he was also easily altered to Dynavein's purpose.
"Train the rifles on him! Then, revive him," commanded Robert.
A blue-ish white gas filled the tube that Sweet Tooth was in. Robert consulted a screen on the wall that was monitoring Sweet Tooth's vital signs; it went from one heartbeat a minute to the normal level. Breathing kicked in, and the oxygen mask was removed from his face.
A smug smile came across Robert's smile. Cryogenics actually worked. Wait till the Science Department at UCLA heard about this! They said it wasn't possible? Hah! Robert would show them.
Finally, the tube lifted and Sweet Tooth collapsed to the ground, and Robert had to give a quick order for his men to stay back. Sweet Tooth began breathing the harsh air around him, taking it in. Then, couldn't find how he'd gotten there.
"Get up!" Robert ordered.
What?! This insolent, little man telling ME what to do?! But Sweet Tooth found himself unable to resist the order. He stood, and glared right into Robert's eyes.
"You are a ninja, enhanced by my Tau Ceti project, and the most dangerous creature alive."
It's funny, calling Sweet Tooth a creature. Strangely, amusing, Robert thought.
"Whom do you serve?" Robert asked.
Sweet Tooth tensed, hesitating a moment, fighting the will-less impulse to say Robert Tomlinson, but failed, "Robert Tomlinson."
Robert smiled. He had the ultimate killing machine under his finger, "You do not know pain, nor fatigue, or terror. You are a perfected human being. Be grateful for the powers I have bestowed upon you."
NEVER! Sweet Tooth didn't take orders from anyone!
"Now, a test, you must pass, to prove yourself."
A ninja knows no fear. This man doesn't scare me. That needn't have been added, at all. Ninjas are perfect, in every fiber of our beings. Now, why, why can't I speak with my own voice, and cut him down where he stands? For the first time ever, Sweet Tooth was nervous.
Damn you, Tomlinson!
Part 2
The Apprentice
Ayane spun, launching three quick, confusing attacks. Her opponent ducked low, throwing her left arm up to deflect any lower blows. Ayane threw a low kick to offset her enemy, but the young martial artist saw it coming. A small hop over the ground kick and she was clear. All of this took two seconds.
"You're good, Misty, but not that good. Look down," Ayane commanded.
The teenager glared at her own chest, looking at the artfully delivered fist, that stopped a fraction of a millimeter from her heart. The blow would have stopped the cardiac muscle's contractions, killing her.
Misty sighed and backed away shaking her head, "That wasn't very long."
"Ten seconds this time! Kasumi's record against me is merely twelve. A match doesn't last long in the arena. Only the best can get above nine."
Misty didn't have to like it, though. She lost! If she intends to compete in the DOA championship she must be prepared to win.
"Some of the hardest battles you will ever face, Misty, last under three seconds. Most common will be with ninjas. They are fast, and powerful, as are you."
Misty shook her head, again, trying to make herself feel better.
Ayane grinned, sardonically, "The apprentice can't help but lose to the master. You may have had a chance at winning if you had the drive to kill me."
Misty's head snapped up, her sparkling brown eyes staring daggers into Ayane's face, "Never!"
Ayane smiled affectionately at her ninja student, "there may be a day, when you face one as powerful as I, and will find the need to win, at any cost. Take no prisoners, Misty. You must survive."
The DOA4 tournament was only a few days away. Misty was matched against some of the best very early on. The semi-finals were within reach if she could win three battles. The masterful Capoerist Tisha Swithwind was first in line. Ayane had told her of this one, very dangerous, and very skilled. She had gone toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful creatures ever to have existed to save someone she cared for. and LIVED.
"Interesting, Master Ayane, how I was pitted against the strongest early on," she continued to gaze at her trainer, thoughtfully, "How can I be sure you weren't involved in that?"
"Not only strong, but fast of the mind, I see. Yes, I pulled in a few favors to test you."
Misty glared at her teacher again, annoyed at Ayane's true intentions; to get Misty out of DOA4 earl. Bowing to Ayane, as a show of respect, Misty then made her way to the door. Dead or Alive 4 would require much more than what Ayane was used to, because I know how she fights! Misty thought, as she proceeded to change for the streets and home.
Little did she know, that someone was watching from the shadows, waiting patiently, for the chance to strike. And it wasn't Ayane.
Part 3
Staves
Speed was critical. Jones, spun the staff over his head, showing his command of the hickory wood weapon. It was light, thin, and packed a punch a man couldn't believe until hit by it. His opponent, Tanya, flipped her staff open, the red coloring burning into his head, distracting him. She came in low, and thrust up with the staff. Jones blocked the blow with a spin of his staff, sending her's up.
A quick counter sent Tanya reeling before she could follow through. Nearly falling, she swatted the quick thrust away, as well. But, his forward motion was still unchecked. She sidestepped, but instead of unbalancing him, Jones rolled, putting the energy to use, "Come on, Tanya. Your rep says you aren't this clumsy!"
Angered by the insult, she quickly masked her feelings, and struck with a series of impressive combination attacks. Jones was stronger and maybe a tad faster, but she had agility. And agility is what was key when fighting with staffs.
Doing a slight hop and pulling her legs to her chest, she spun the staff underneath her, the blow connecting with Jones's left knee. He crumbled, dropping all his weight onto his good leg. Full of delight, Tanya could taste victory.
"You lose, Tanya! Speed is of the essence," he yelled gleefully as he back flipped away.
"What the (beep)?!"
Landing on his wounded knee, Jones crouched again, laughing.
Unhindered, he brought on a full onslaught of attacks, pinning her to the wall of the arena. But, she had one surprise up her sleeve. Ducking low to avoid a head shot from his staff, she slammed one hand on the tip of her staff, shrinking it down. Then, with the space required, jabbed it into his gut.
"Ugh!" He collapsed on the staff, as she pushed him back, away from her. He held his stomach for a second, then looked at her, "Nice match," he gave her a thumbs up, then threw up all over the floor.
I guess a hard hit in the gut'll do that, Tanya thought, as she swept away her own disgust.
"Ready for our match, I see. Good improv, but I think you couldn't have done that had I known!"
Tanya gave him a playful glance, "Yeah, right, check!"
Jones waved her away with one hand, and wiped the bile from his mouth.
The disgusting taste of the syrup and pancakes he'd had that morning, mixed with his stomach acid, plagued his tongue, Ugh!
"Hey, Jones!" Tanya called.
Jones looked out of the corner of his eye at her, I need to keep better track of her! "What?"
"Looks like Match One is getting' goin'! You wanna watch?" Tanya turned her head, with a deliberate taunting glance.
"Hell ya, Tanya! Who's fightin'?" Jones was all game for watching others beat each other up, so he could diss their bad fighting skill and see if any pitiful fighters died in some strange way. One time he saw a newcomer fall over while fighting Ayane and broke his own neck! Ayane didn't have to a do a thing.
"Looks like a pair of b****s to me. Prissy little power wads!"
Jones sat down, and seemed to for the first time notice what Tanya was wearing. He turned his head away, and whistled silently to himself. He had never seen something so.. Revealing, without seeing. much. then he remembered, that she wore those things just to taunt him, ever since he met her.
But, his train of thought was interrupted by the cheering fans, and the bell for the match to begin.
Part 4
The Union
First Three Rounds of DOA Matches
Nataku-Tisha, Christie-Kasumi, Tina-Zack
Misty-(Winner of 1), Bass-(Winner of 2), Ayane-(winner of 3)
Jann Lee-(Winner of 1), Lei-Fang (Winner of 2), Brad-Winner of 3)
Nataku walked up to the poster that hung on one wall on the inside of Tomlinson stadium. The poster displayed the first three matches of the DOA tournament. He was to face Tisha Swithwind in the first match of the day. He smiled, She is a worthy opponent, showing no fear in the face of danger. Few can accomplish such a feat.
He shook his head of such thoughts. A samurai, even an American one, must be clean of such notions. He walked over to the locker room where he would prepare himself for the trails ahead.
The room's linoleum floor made his steps echo and the near empty room helped to amplify the sounds his light steps made. He walked over to the locker that held his name. Written with a Sharpie marker on a piece of tape on his locker door, the name read 'Nathku.' Nataku ripped the tape from the locker, shaking his head. Can't anyone get anything right?
He stripped off his shirt and placed it in the aqua-colored street locker. But, a pair of piercing blue eyes were watching from the shadows. This stalker's knowledge of Nataku was great, almost too great. And the dark shape knew Tisha as well. Every secret of her life; some Tisha didn't know. And in the shadows of the dimly lit locker room, the figure watched, and waited.
* * * *
Tisha walked, meanwhile walked into her own locker room. She walked into a nearly full one. Tina, Christie, and Kasumi were readying themselves for they're matches. Tisha did a double take, looking at the way Kasumi and Christie were acting.
Even though, in a few minutes they were going to give it their all to try to kill each other, they were almost best friends in the back room.
"Hey, Kasumi!"
"What?" The red-head asked of Christie.
The assassin handed Kasumi a live... rubber snake. Christie apparently thought she'd freak out. Kasumi tossed it at Tina's unwatching back. The wrestler nearly had a heart attack.
Tisha's jaw dropped. What... the... hell?!
The two deadly women clapped hands as they watched their friend run around, trying to get the snake off her neck. They were laughing their heads off, and Tisha found herself grinning also. You never thought that such a woman as Tina would be afraid of snakes.
* * * *
"Let the tournament, BEGIN!" Robert Tomlinson's booming voice stretched throughout the large stadium, and cheers erupted.
Two, relatively small bodies stood in the center of the massive stadium. The building could've served as multiple football fields at a time if devoted to that, but was built specifically for the DOA tournament. The four were gathered there; Jones and Tanya watching from high above, Nataku in the center of the combat field, and Misty watching from the stands. The four that could change the inevitable. Yet, a bond must form, he thought, A bond, that will keep them together for eternity. It is all that can save them, now.
Sweet Tooth made his move.
Part 5
Twists of Fate
Nataku gave one low kick, and jumped back away from his capoerist foe. The woman performed an artful kick, the leg flying almost all the way up to her neck. while she was facing away from Nataku.
The wind from the near miss blew over Nataku and his skin tingled. She spun, delivering a low sliding kick meant to set him off-balance. He jumped and landed on her leg. She had slowed just in time for that, kicking up at the last instant, tripping him.
On his back, Nataku was vulnerable. He placed the palms of his sweaty hands on the dirt, pushed up and performed a mid-air split, kicking in all directions as he came up. Tisha was forced back. She spread her legs, to get better balance, and came at him again with a series of high and low punches.
Nataku blocked them all, shoving them aside a few inches with his wrist and forearm, enough that they missed. Now, it was Nataku's turn. The samurai came forward, and low, jumping up high to avoid a low defensive kick. When he hit ground, he kicked some dirt into Tisha's eyes to obscure her vision.
Tisha rubbed speedily with one hand at her eyes, as she kicked and punched in front of her. The spray was badly aimed, but worked. The dirt was out of her eyes in a few seconds. Nataku was suddenly behind her.
He gave her one solid punch to the base of the spine. She caved, falling forward.
Misty smiled with approval from the audience, A well designed, if slightly dirty trick. I'll have to watch out for that.
A glimmer of light, blade thin and true, invisible to the untrained eye, was caught in Misty's vision. It sped quickly, right for Tisha. She jumped from her seat and yelled a warning, but was drowned out by fans screaming for Nataku to finish it. He didn't have to.
The shuriken bit into Tisha's neck, cutting her spinal column in half. She didn't feel a thing. She slumped, dead. Nataku's head whipped around, and saw the man sitting on one of the light posts, that stood high over the crowd. Wearing a dark cloak and emitting an aura of death, the man frightened all in the stands, save one.
Sweet Tooth smiled from high above, "My target is dead. Now, or my own fun!" He jumped, pulling his katana as he fell at the unarmed Nataku.
Misty was armed. Meeting Sweet Tooth mid-air, she pulled her blade and began to fight with the super ninja.
Several of the DOA fighters charged out ready to deal with this new threat, among them, shinobis; Kasumi and Hayate in particular.
The super ninja hit ground, dealing a hard kick to Misty's chest, sending her flying away. Kasumi came forward, her sword extended outward, Sweet Tooth batted the blade away, and punched her in the pelvis. Kasumi slumped and fell to the ground.
Hayate didn't make it to Sweet Tooth. His feet suddenly felt weighted, and tied together. The muscled shinobis fell, with a simple tool tied to his legs; two rocks and a string.
Hayabusa stayed back and watched Sweet Tooth move, how he reacted, the ninja judging his opponent.
High in his box seat, Robert Tomlinson watched his creation work, "magnificent, isn't he, Jake?"
The DELTA operative was bound in a glass tube in the back watching it all, "DAMN YOU, TOMLINSON!!!! YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY WITH IT!!!"
"You're dead, Jake. I've already gotten away with it." The President of Dynavein rubbed his hands together.
Tomlinson replayed his plan in his mind, Ah yes, capture Lieutenant Vance, replace him with a 'dead' clone, keep the man for my own works, and release Tau Ceti to clean up the mess. It's perfect! And going exactly as planned.
Part 6
The Party
"This is getting out of hand, Robert! Call him back!" Jake called from his tube, his voice muffled through the glass. "The sad thing is, Jake, you're right. Call Tau Ceti back!" Robert leaned back in his chair and sipped a bit from his scotch. Now, all he had to do was destroy the others. "Sir!" The order was responded, as Robert watched his super ninja jump up to the stands, sending fans scattering. Three of the competitors followed. Robert leaned forward again, sharply. This is better than anticipated!
* * * *
"Oh, no you don't you Son of a b***h!" Misty jumped after him, dirt still clinging to her loose pants. Hayabusa, Misty and Nataku were giving chase to the assassin. They were the only ones fast enough, and the only ones who cared. Ayane watched from below as she untied Hayate's legs. The fools! They're outmatched. Misty jumped landing where the assassin had been only seconds before. She followed with a slightly smaller jump. Soon, they were all on the rooftops of LA. Nataku and Misty were barely able to keep pace with the ultra fast Sweet Tooth, but Hayabusa was less challenged. The two super ninjas met somewhere over a busy city street, 500 feet below them. They safely landed on the opposite scraper, and a battle soon ensued. Sweet Tooth's blade slid through the air, but Hayabusa was an even match for him. Both trained to ultimate, but one pushed beyond the edge, it was a matter of time before Hayabusa would fall. Nataku and Misty lined up their jumps with meticulous care, and timed their jumps to perfection as they vaulted the large street below. It was a scene from The Matrix as the ninjas battled on skyscraper roofs hundreds of feet above certain death. Hayabusa brought his katana up vertical in a thin wall. The block kept Sweet Tooth's viciously razor-edged blade inches from his head. Pulling his sword up, Hayabusa pulled himself free from the jaws of death. Nataku and Misty vaulted the street and landed on the gravel-covered roof of the building. Drawing their weapons, they proceeded to the battle. Sweet Tooth batted Nataku's blade away and whistled, low, too low for any to hear. Misty brought her blade up, ready to slash Sweet Tooth's exposed chest. When she was knocked flat on her side. A raven and hit her, beak first, clipping her skull. Blood trickled down the back of her neck as she glared at the bird, angrily. She was far from over with that bird. Nataku and Hayabusa engaged in close combat with the super ninja, one on either side of the dangerous loner. Sweet Tooth pulled his katana over his head, blocking a strike from Nataku, and brought the blade forward to hit Hayabusa. This battle would end in a few seconds, if Misty could get away from the raven that was distracting her. Two more shapes vaulted over the streets below; a man and a woman. The two streaked toward the super ninja. They weren't moving very fast, but fast enough. Sweet Tooth was forced to back flip away from the two new opponents. He was good, but not that good. "Sorry to crash the party!" Came the audible, and very masculine voice from one shape. Misty snapped her head away from the raven to access this possible new danger. or at least, that's what she told herself. Jones spun his staff over his head, and planted it beside him. The woman flipped her own weapon open, ready for battle. "I'm afraid we cut this a little close, eh, Jones?" Tanya asked. "Not a moment too soon, though!" Jones replied. Sweet Tooth smiled, accepting this new threat, "Things are complicating, I see. No matter. My objective is complete." Nataku rushed forward, a streak of color, blazing sword over head, going right for the throat of his foe. Suddenly, Sweet Tooth and the raven just. vanished. Nataku's forward motion was going to carry him over the side. Jones and Tanya reached forward to grab him, but were too late. Hayabusa flew through the air, catching Nataku as he fell. The ninja pair flew to the other side, and Hayabusa managed to get one hand up, grabbing the ledge of the opposite building. Gasping for air, Hayabusa said, "And. a party. it surely is. whoever you are." Part 7
Guess What?
"My mission is complete, Tomlinson."
The President of Dynavein smiled, playing with his now empty scotch glass, "You were magnificent Sweet Tooth."
Sweet Tooth trudged over to a grate, and his long silvery hair was blown back by the air conditioner. He felt cooler under the cooling unit. Finally, Sweet Tooth's consciousness spoke for itself, "When I can I leave?"
Tomlinson seemed troubled by this, "Leave?"
"Yes. My personal quest is far from completed. This one is over."
President Tomlinson dropped the glass, "It is not over until I say it's over. And if I have my way, you won't be going home."
Sweet Tooth was a blur, reacting to the vague threat. His blade was stopped by Tomlinson when it was a sheer millimeter from his face. Sweet Tooth. couldn't move.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor boy. You forget the power I hold," Tomlinson shook one finger slowly in front of Sweet Tooth's face.
AARRGGHHH! Sweet Tooth was more than irritated; he was pissed off. So close to freedom!
"Ivanovich!" Tomlinson called.
A short, balding man stepped from a panel above. The man wore a white coat, with a pair of rounded glasses stuck into a pocket.
"Zyes?" The man replied with a thick Russian accent.
"Begin Project: Neo Genesis. Tau Ceti is unstable."
* * * *
"So, this guy is some sort of super ninja?" Jones asked.
Tanya rolled her eyes. The group and a few of the DOA competitors, including Kasumi, Hayabusa, Hayate, and Ayane, were sitting around a table in the local mall café.
"No doubt about it. Few have a chance to LIVE against me, let alone beat me," Hayabusa said, worriedly.
"So what would this assassin want with Tisha. If anyone, he'd be coming for me!" Kasumi put in.
Ayane leaned back in her seat, beginning to piece it together, "Remember the Dynavein Isle, Kasumi?"
Kasumi leered at her half-sister, trying to block out the already horrid memories of that. thing! "I'd rather not."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What Island?" Tanya slid forward in her seat, pulling her elbows up onto the table, expectantly.
So, Ayane, in her usual fashion, dumped the whole story of their past experience in a gruesome fashion. Especially, Jake's death. Hayate remained quiet, remembering how it actually happened, How can you speak so harsh of him? He saved your life.
Nataku bounced his knee, considering the possibilities. Then, Nataku, Jones, Misty and Tanya hit it at the same time, "Could it be?" Misty asked.
"It has to," Nataku responded.
"What? What?" Kasumi and Ayane exchanged questioning glares, and Hayabusa waited for the group's guess.
"No, it can't be!" Jones denied.
"We can't jus' say that without proof!" Tanya said.
Misty stood, poked Jones and Kasumi, "Then we get some," she said as she began to leave the building. Kasumi gave a glance at her back, then at Jones who was grinning evilly.
"She's relentless, intelligent, and intuitive," Ayane said proudly of her student.
Jones stood and began trotting after Misty, "I love her attitude, too!"
Part 8
The Operation
Kasumi balanced herself perfectly in the rigging. She 'lay' in a contraption, at least that's what she called it, hanging two dozen feet over an all too familiar sight. Using a system of pulleys, and wires, Jones and Misty had allowed Kasumi the ultimate view of what was going on in the cavern.
After following several disgruntled technicians into a cave, losing them somewhere inside, they decided that whatever Dynavein was doing ,was being done there. They cut a section of rock out, slab by slab, and lifted it away, until they met air.
Setting up the system, and rigging up Kasumi, they lowered her down. The kunoichi saw more than she wished. It was a cleaner room than the one on the Isle, but it was identical. The terraced floor, full of computers and consoles, and one large monitor at the back of the room. This one was functioning.
Colored bars ran across the screen faster than she could comprehend each. But they were easily identified as rungs on a ladder; a DNA strand.
"Oh god!" She whispered.
Jones leaned over the side, curious to what she was seeing. Kasumi jerked in her rigging, and glared up at Jones, who corrected his error. The shinobi continued to oversee the room.
The room was holding close to thirty men and women., all sitting in a seat in front of one of the terrace consoles. A few were exiting and entering a room to the left, some with needles, others with vials, and other equipment.
Kasumi tilted her head, wondering what they could be doing.
A flash of light caught her eye, and Kasumi snapped her head around, sending herself into a small spin. Her eye widened, "No. it can't be! This can't be right!"
"What?" Misty asked of the shinobi.
Kasumi glared at the screen, and the full body shot of Jake Vance. He was comatose, slumped in a vertical tube, random wires attached to him. Vital statistics, physical capabilities, blood type, and eye color, all were displayed on one corner of the screen. She couldn't guess what was in the other corner, but it certainly was similar to Jake's biosigns.
The security camera that she was looking through to see this image, panned. And Kasumi jerked her wire, ordering the pair up above to pull her up.
Placing one hand on each side of the hole they'd made, she lifted herself up, some dust dislodged and fell, unnoticed by any of the trio of people.
"What's up?' Jones asked. His face contorted to worry, and he lowered his head, staring into Kasumi's deep brown eyes.
".It's the SIGMA."
Misty's calm look warped into one of horror, "May God be merciful."
"HEY! We have a security breach!"
Jones, Misty and Kasumi glared down the hole, "Oh F***K!" Jones yelled, "RUN!"
Part 9
Vengeance Is Taken
Sweet Tooth cut another one down. Their guns meant nothing to him. He was a super ninja. He dodged a volley and cut two more of the security guards down. His raven swooped in low, slashing at the eyes of Sweet Tooth's enemies. The unlikely pair of man and bird were causing havoc throughout the small complex.
"KASUMI! GO! Get the others!" Jones Grabbed onto the opposite rope of the pulley system. Kasumi was launched up and out of her rigging. Jones flew down into the middle of the room, pulling his staff from his back with his free hand.
The sound of the rope flying through the pulley system was aggravating to Jones's ears, and he gripped the rope tightly to avoid sliding down and getting rope burn.
Kasumi and Misty dashed off into the night. They surely wouldn't be long. They were fast. Definitely faster than Jones.
Sweet Tooth had dispatched the final guard and turned toward the stairs at the far end of he facility. He began to climb up. It was only one level to Robert's office. And Sweet Tooth would have his life again.
* * * *
"Come on! Something horrible's happening!" Misty called to their friends.
Ayane, and Hayate jumped from their seats ready for battle. Hayabusa only watched them approach. Tanya was already running to them, "Whazzup?"
"It's that assassin! Jones is fighting him inside the Dynavein complex!" Kasumi explained.
Hayabusa was off like a shot, saying calmly, "Why didn't you say so?"
Hayate and Ayane looked at each other, and followed in a full-out run. Tanya wasn't fast enough to keep pace with all the ninjas, so she slowed to a jog, conserving her strength for the battle to come.
The time for redemption had come. The assassin would be killed, and Tisha avenged!
* * * *
Robert sat in his chair, sipping his coffee, So, the Angels are going to the World Series! Good job, Angels!
The office was elaborate; a sound proof glass window behind him, a velvet couch, an intricate oak desk, and a polar bear rug. The fur was incredibly soft and warm to the bare feet, and Tomlinson thought it a nice addition. It would aid to his destruction.
A shadow darted across the room, across the rug, silencing the steps of the intruder. Robert glared over his newspaper, searching for the shadow again. Nothing.
My imagination is getting away from me. No more Aliens for a week, Robert! You're freaking out.
A cold blade, a harsh voice, and a pressure on his neck was all he felt next, "Shhhh, death awaits you ,Tomlinson."
Tomlinson froze, daring not to move, "Tau Ceti-"
"Sweet Tooth! I am to be released. I have much to do before I die. You, don't." the ninja pressed the blade harder into the business man's neck. A drop of blood was drawn, but no more. Enough for pain.
Tomlinson gritted his teeth against the pain. He hoped only that Sweet Tooth would kill him swiftly. He knew that living was now out of the question.
"Stop right there, you piece of shit!"
Sweet Tooth's concentration wasn't broken by the outburst, but raised his head to look at the survivor of his carnage. He tilted his head, "You?"
Jones's hard glare didn't waver, and he pulled the staff out from behind his back, dramatically. He held it in front of him, splitting the vision of his face, in obvious challenge.
"You can't hope to win," Sweet Tooth said, simply.
"I don't need hope; I've got skill!"
Sweet Tooth grinned, Finally, someone willing to face me, without striking from the shadows, or stealing from my life. This shall be interesting.
He bent low, whispered into Tomlinson's ear, "You shall shed red tears," and he brought the blade up from his neck, performing a quick slash across the eyes.
"AAAAARRGGHH!" The man grasped at what was left of his eyes, hunching over the desk. Sweet Tooth watched the blood trickle down Tomlinson's neck, before slowly cutting it. A low whistle was heard as the man gasped for air through the hole in his neck. Sweet Tooth relished in the man's death, but this Jones wasn't going to wait.
Jones charged, slamming Sweet Tooth through the glass window. It shattered, and the pair fell onto the cushioning layer of corpses. Shards of glass lacerated the already beaten bodies and a piece slashed Sweet Tooth's cheek. Sweet Tooth lifted his head from the bodies and gore of his rampage, and slammed the hilt of his katana onto Jones's head.
Jones rolled away from the oncoming attack, favoring his skull.
The pair spun to a standing position, and faced off. Then, their battle was interrupted, and the only way of surviving, was a union.
Part 10
Final Redemption
Jones took one look at Sweet Tooth then turned to face the new opponent. Sweet Tooth was captivated by it. Blades hung from its wrists, ankles, legs and head. A thick, powerful tail swung from left to right. A thin, powerfully built torso intimidated him, and the thin, tall head, lined with clear teeth fascinated him. And, of course, the color changing skin. It was a creature from a child's nightmares, and fine-tuned to a weapon. It was the hunter you are the hunted
Jones panned to the left, and Sweet Tooth tactically chose to circle left. The stench of corpses and blood wasn't enough to cover up the things breath. A shot of white gas came from it's mouth at regular intervals, and it watched the pair's movements carefully. It seemed. calculating; smarter.
"Sorry to crash the party!" Came a voice. Three heads; two human and one alien, turned to see the newcomers. Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate, Hayabusa, and Misty stood, weapons drawn. Ayane, Hayate, Kasumi and Hayabusa looked on with disbelief at what their sense told.
"SIGMA!" Hayabusa cried, and charged.
The super ninja feinted left, and slashed at the creature's gut. The creature wasn't there. Hayabusa grunted with coming aggravation, as he spun looking for his opponent. Sweet Tooth and Jones looked at each other, then returned their gazes to the floor, walls and roof.
"Aaaaaaaahh!" Ayane was lifted off her feet, and launched ten feet up, into the hands of a half-invisible creature.
"Not again!" Hayate yelled, as he reached out, trying to grab Ayane's out stretched hand.
"DAMN!" Hayabusa said, as he began to run up the wall!
Sweet Tooth got there first, katana drawn and his raven flying in, this ninja was much more dangerous. But, it was bait.
With it's free tail, the SIGMA swept the air in front of it, slashing away both ninjas. or so it thought.
Hayabusa was slashed badly, and he fell, unable to block the creature's attack. But, Sweet Tooth knew that there was nowhere this thing could run now. His raven dove in, a took the blow for him. Sweet Tooth took the only available second to watch his companion fall, then lashed out against the creature with a strong arm and renewed rage in his heart.
He cut the creature's tail off.
It fell, Ayane still in it's hands. Hayate dove forward, his old injury from the month's before, fighting it, beginning to ache again. Ayane tore free of the SIGMA's grasp and freefell right into Hayate's waiting grasp. He protectively held her, and began to slide away from the SIGMA.
Sweet Tooth hit ground a few feet away from the wall of the Dynavein building, landing on a console. Sparks flew as his impact crushed some of the components inside, a large dent made in the metal casing of the computer.
Jones, Kasumi and Misty were not idle, they had all been charging around, trying desperately to get a definite vantage point. Kasumi and Misty charged at the now vulnerable SIGMA.
One. two. three.
They missed, nearly hitting each other.
"Jesus! Have you ever seen something that fast?!"
"It's coming!" The SIGMA was now running at blinding speeds along the walls, circling its opponents. It felt, now. It felt pain, anger, frustration, and something strange to it, unknown. Fear.
The SIGMA launched itself directly at Jones. He raised his staff, and fell onto his back. The creature landed squarely on the blunt staff. The dull weapon bit shallowly into the creature's flesh from sheer force of the blow. I growled at him, and Jones twisted the staff and shifted it, causing maximal pain and damage. A sickening gurgling sound came from the SIGMA's gut, as it roared only a few inches from his face.
"F**k you!" Jones placed his feet on the things chest, and pushed off, sending the creature flying.
The creature hit ground a few feet away, groaning and roaring in pain, as it separated into two pieces!
"What the-!"
A shape, its unseen entrance by the group because of their focus on the creature, was half-crouching on the other side of the room. It was Nataku. His blade dripped with the creature's blood, his eyes slits. The creature raised it's chest in one last chance at a breath, and slumped dead.
Hayate and Ayane lay prone a several meters away, breathing hard from the absolute rush and intensity of the battle. The fight lasted twenty maybe thirty seconds. Kasumi and Misty were the only ones standing. A possibly lethal mistake.
"Hey! Where is that assassin bastard?" Tanya asked as she finally reached the room. She'd missed the fight, DAMN!
An iron grip latched onto Misty's throat and an arm grabbed Kasumi's waist with immense power. It lifted them from the floor, and only one man could save them.
And he was nowhere to be seen.
"AAAH! HELP!" Kasumi lashed out at the arm around her waist, her blade having no effect. Misty desperately tried to grab air.
"EAT THIS!" A familiar voice, and the sound of gunfire was the next thing to greet their senses.
Part 11
The Final Battle
The man stood, muscles taut, bracing for the small pounding of the rifle slamming into his shoulder. Some torn clothes from a defeated security guard thrown over him, the clothes suited him, but were baggy around the middle.
It was Jake. It was if he had come back from the dead, How could this be? Kasumi asked herself, Jake's dead.
Jake fired, dropping three rounds into the creature that was holding both Misty and Kasumi. The creature took them in it's broad snout.
If SIGMA was from a nightmare, this was from a B-Horror movie. Jake examined it closely down the barrel of the M-4 in his hands. The creature must have been only 6 feet long, but almost 5 feet wide at the middle, with two great arms, and it must've weighed at least 600 kilos. The Grendel released the two women to clutch at it's face.
Misty and Kasumi fell to the ground, Misty dazed from her lack of oxygen. Kasumi managed to easily get free and stare right into her opponents flailing tail. She ducked, feeling the whiz of the air flying over her face. Her red hair shown like fire as it was blown back in the resulting wind.
A broad face, with almost a dog-like mouth, the creature reared back, favoring it's shattered left eye. It's tail was the most fascinating. A series of spikes jutted out of the creature's far end of the tail. The rose and sank into the tail with the thing's breathing. A hard carapace protected it's back and it's mouth was filled with sharp, razor-edged teeth. A scaly brown mottled skin covering it's body and a voracious looking pair of eyes glaring down at them, this creature was a fearsome opponent, without it even strutting it's stuff.
"What the ****!? What is that?" Tanya yelled, flipping her staff open and readying herself for battle.
It raised one foot. It wasn't large, but the contracting muscles in it showed that it had more power packed into it than an elephant stampede.
"MISTY!" Jones dove forward. He dropped his staff, to give himself more maneuvering room, and dove. He hit Misty square in the chest. She had no time to be embarrassed, and neither did Jones, as the foot came down, clipping Jones's leg.
He rolled away from Misty, narrowly avoiding his leg getting crushed. A sharp pain gripped him as his leg began to burn with pain. He'd moved too late. He quickly examined his wounded leg. He'd dislocated a kneecap.
Tanya leaped forward, staff aiming for the eyes. She was swatted away, the blow clearing the air in front of it.
"GRENDEL!" Jake shouted, but the name was drowned out by the thing's roar.
"What?" Nataku yelled. and never saw the blow coming.
It came on, faster than the SIGMA, faster than a ninja, and faster than a bullet. It slammed into him. He could feel it's teeth bite into him, and an uncanny warmth coming from the beast. It sank it's teeth viciously into his gut, biting hard, crushing flesh, bone and his lungs. He tried to sunk in breath, but found none. He gasped, and clawed at the face of the creature.
"NO!" Tanya rose, and began to charge at the creature that was holding her comrade. She swung at it with the staff, but to no avail, "AAAAARRRGGHH!"
She slammed the crimson Bo staff into the things side, twin prongs forcing out of the staff, electric current flowing through them. The result was almost blinding. With lightening speed, the creature dropped Nataku and turned to face this new threat. And with faster than visible speed, the Grendel snapped the staff in two. The energy blast actually sent both Tanya and the Grendel flying.
The Grendel hit ground, and steadied itself, uninjured. Tanya wasn't moving.
Jones could only watch the carnage. Two crippled or dead and it wasn't even phased.
Kasumi and Ayane leaped forward, their quick, crippling attacks slashing into the creature's armored hide. No effect. Kasumi landed on it's back, an intense heat greeting her as her feet contacted it's skin. She stabbed straight down.
A deafening roar met her, as her thin blade cut through the scales of it's carapace. It spun, with such surprising and sudden speed that both Ayane and Kasumi were thrown clear, Kasumi's blade still sticking in the creature's back.
Misty was up, and started throwing shuriken's trying to give both Hayate and Hayabusa a chance to get into the fight.
"NO, NO, STOP!" Jake cried, as he began to fire non stop at the creature's head. Sparks of ricocheting bullets flashed off it's armored face. But it was too late. It charged at Misty.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Jones stretched his arm out, then brought it down on his wounded knee.
CRAAAACK!! The kneecap popped back into place. "AAAAARRGHH!" He had one, maybe two seconds.
Getting his good leg beneath him, he shoved off, again aiming to knock the ninja clear. She was fast, alright, and was already moving, but the Grendel; was faster. It came hard and fast. But Jones got their first.
Hitting her in the side, she was clear; he wasn't.
It caught him, lifting him up, and throwing him. Jones flew, flipping
through the air multiple times before Hayabusa, in all his glory, caught him, mid-air. The Grendel was waiting at their landing spot before Hayabusa had looked down.
Hayabusa landed, right on top of it. Two legs, one caught in it's mouth. Doing a half-kart wheel, Hayabusa pulled it out and rolled clear before the creature could bite down on it.
Hayate launched himself forward, aiming a decisive kick for the head. The Grendel's head snapped in one direction, it's tail, snapping another. The blunt side of it, connected with his gut. It threw him clear across the terraced room. A visible dent was made in the granite walls.
Jones favored his stressed knee, rolling back and forth. He closed his eyes, a reflex caused by the pain. When he looked again, it was leering at him. It's face maybe half a foot from his.
Jones kicked up with his good leg. The head moved away for but a moment, the moment which saved his life. He crawled away, but felt it grasp his good leg. He grabbed onto a computer and held on for dear life.
Then He came.
Screaming a battle cry, and sword in hand, Sweet Tooth landed on the creature's outstretched arm. The sword came forward slashing into and through the Grendel's hard armored arm. He cut deep. It roared and released Jones, who eagerly took shelter behind the console.
Sweet Tooth flipped off the wounded arm, and landed on it's back. An inferno underneath his feet, he could feel his feet sweat at the very proximity. He slashed down at it's neck, the blade bit deep again, and blood oozed from the wound.
A meek groan and grunt was exhibited from the Grendel, as it raises it's tail, aiming for the unsuspecting Sweet Tooth's back.
It struck fast, hard, and fatal.
(credit for the Grendel given to Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes' novel, The Legacy of Heorot. Read it! It's a good book!)
Part 12
Goodbyes [pic]
"We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to our honored dead. Those who have fallen to protect that which we old dear. We mourn their loss and vow that they will not die in vain. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Amen."
Misty listened to the funeral with a tear and a friend. Jones stood with a crutch under one arm and glared at the dozens of caskets that lay before them. Most died fighting Sweet Tooth, yet only a few were being given the honorary service today. Nataku & Tanya, had died protecting their friends and each other. They would never again see the light of day or the moon at night. A cairn was placed for Sweet Tooth, where he lay dead, killed by the Grendel. Even for his past transgressions, the United States of America had awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor for going beyond the call of a man's duty in life to save others, to the point of self-sacrifice against the Grendel to save many lives.
Yet, strange enough, no body had been found, yet much blood; his blood had been found near the Grendel's corpse. Jones and Misty had smiled at this news. They were ironic smiles, and they knew much more than they had initially about that cold super ninja. It mustn't have been easy, living six months in a test tube. They pitied him. They knew he deserved better than death, and that Sweet Tooth knew this, also. He had a score to settle.
The funeral began to break up. As people left for their cars or bikes, but yet, some still remained, to pay a final respect. Hayabusa, Kasumi, Hayate, Ayane, Misty and Jones continued to look over the graves. Not all of the group had the same agenda, or the same personality, or even were friends, but the battles, and the dead pair that lay before them, had brought them all together for one conquest and one union. Misty shed one tear for the battles, and the wet droplet fell onto Nataku's grave, splashing lightly on the dirt.
Jones felt droplets of rain begin to fall on his head then, and he touched Misty's shoulder.
The DOA competitors walked past the graves saying goodbye to comrades, friends and friendly rivals as they left for their transportation away from the cemetery. But Misty and Jones remained, the pair beginning to be soaked in the down pour. Misty turned toward Jones, and suddenly realized the intimacy of their situation. He turned his head just a little, and brushed her lips with is own. A fire seemed it light inside of her at that.
She pressed her lips on his, long and hard, relishing in the warmth. Long moments passed and more passed between them than words can say. When they finally parted, "Misty, I love you."
Her heart lifted up on wings of joy at those words, and she embraced him, "But It's time to go home," he said.
* * *
From a tree, a few hundred meters away, someone else was saying goodbye to some of the best fighters he'd ever known. Sweet Tooth sat in the highest branches. He didn't cry or even frown. No emotion what so ever, he just said, "Goodbye."
The Grendel... the ultimate soldier, and the ultimate weapon. Hmmm...
The saga is only beginning, it seems..
Episode 2
DOA: Judgment Day
Part 1
Hunter & Hunted
Robert Tomlinson's steps were heavy as he plodded down into the main complex. The passage was dark, dank and not to his liking. The circular tube had been specially designed to thwart detection, the occasional irregular walls made it seem just like a normal cave. There were no lights, no heaters, just the cave.
Robert stopped, and peered to his left, closely, flashing his light at it. He then slammed his fist on the wall, and it slid open as a door. The room seemed so lively and familiar. The terraced consoles, and large monitor watching the subject.
Dynavein Corporation lived on this formation. Except, they had learned. A human can be controlled much easier than a barbaric alien. This time, they hadn't created, but enhanced. Project Tau Ceti was moving much faster, and bringing much less attention than Elijah Island had. And this was more of a security measure than to augment human scientific knowledge. Tisha Swithwind knew too much about Project SIGMA and needed to die.
Robert was a wealthy, if ruthless, man. He craved power, and with Tau Ceti by his side, his Hunter Seekers, code named Sweet Tooth, would find and destroy any who opposed him. Military significance was the ultimate power.
Robert nodded to the project supervisor and proceeded into the Cryo-chamber to meet the Alpha prototype. Sweet Tooth had to be put into commission early, before Tisha spilled what she knew about Dynavein, the true secrets behind their research. The first test was successful in eliminating the troublesome Jake Vance, but Tisha was more deadly, faster, and used her wits better than that DELTA. A fully operational Sweet Tooth must be put in.
Sweet Tooth was the first enhanced persona. This is where the code name was taken. Sweet Tooth was a. reluctant partner in the venture. He was an ice- cold super ninja, but he was also easily altered to Dynavein's purpose.
"Train the rifles on him! Then, revive him," commanded Robert.
A blue-ish white gas filled the tube that Sweet Tooth was in. Robert consulted a screen on the wall that was monitoring Sweet Tooth's vital signs; it went from one heartbeat a minute to the normal level. Breathing kicked in, and the oxygen mask was removed from his face.
A smug smile came across Robert's smile. Cryogenics actually worked. Wait till the Science Department at UCLA heard about this! They said it wasn't possible? Hah! Robert would show them.
Finally, the tube lifted and Sweet Tooth collapsed to the ground, and Robert had to give a quick order for his men to stay back. Sweet Tooth began breathing the harsh air around him, taking it in. Then, couldn't find how he'd gotten there.
"Get up!" Robert ordered.
What?! This insolent, little man telling ME what to do?! But Sweet Tooth found himself unable to resist the order. He stood, and glared right into Robert's eyes.
"You are a ninja, enhanced by my Tau Ceti project, and the most dangerous creature alive."
It's funny, calling Sweet Tooth a creature. Strangely, amusing, Robert thought.
"Whom do you serve?" Robert asked.
Sweet Tooth tensed, hesitating a moment, fighting the will-less impulse to say Robert Tomlinson, but failed, "Robert Tomlinson."
Robert smiled. He had the ultimate killing machine under his finger, "You do not know pain, nor fatigue, or terror. You are a perfected human being. Be grateful for the powers I have bestowed upon you."
NEVER! Sweet Tooth didn't take orders from anyone!
"Now, a test, you must pass, to prove yourself."
A ninja knows no fear. This man doesn't scare me. That needn't have been added, at all. Ninjas are perfect, in every fiber of our beings. Now, why, why can't I speak with my own voice, and cut him down where he stands? For the first time ever, Sweet Tooth was nervous.
Damn you, Tomlinson!
Part 2
The Apprentice
Ayane spun, launching three quick, confusing attacks. Her opponent ducked low, throwing her left arm up to deflect any lower blows. Ayane threw a low kick to offset her enemy, but the young martial artist saw it coming. A small hop over the ground kick and she was clear. All of this took two seconds.
"You're good, Misty, but not that good. Look down," Ayane commanded.
The teenager glared at her own chest, looking at the artfully delivered fist, that stopped a fraction of a millimeter from her heart. The blow would have stopped the cardiac muscle's contractions, killing her.
Misty sighed and backed away shaking her head, "That wasn't very long."
"Ten seconds this time! Kasumi's record against me is merely twelve. A match doesn't last long in the arena. Only the best can get above nine."
Misty didn't have to like it, though. She lost! If she intends to compete in the DOA championship she must be prepared to win.
"Some of the hardest battles you will ever face, Misty, last under three seconds. Most common will be with ninjas. They are fast, and powerful, as are you."
Misty shook her head, again, trying to make herself feel better.
Ayane grinned, sardonically, "The apprentice can't help but lose to the master. You may have had a chance at winning if you had the drive to kill me."
Misty's head snapped up, her sparkling brown eyes staring daggers into Ayane's face, "Never!"
Ayane smiled affectionately at her ninja student, "there may be a day, when you face one as powerful as I, and will find the need to win, at any cost. Take no prisoners, Misty. You must survive."
The DOA4 tournament was only a few days away. Misty was matched against some of the best very early on. The semi-finals were within reach if she could win three battles. The masterful Capoerist Tisha Swithwind was first in line. Ayane had told her of this one, very dangerous, and very skilled. She had gone toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful creatures ever to have existed to save someone she cared for. and LIVED.
"Interesting, Master Ayane, how I was pitted against the strongest early on," she continued to gaze at her trainer, thoughtfully, "How can I be sure you weren't involved in that?"
"Not only strong, but fast of the mind, I see. Yes, I pulled in a few favors to test you."
Misty glared at her teacher again, annoyed at Ayane's true intentions; to get Misty out of DOA4 earl. Bowing to Ayane, as a show of respect, Misty then made her way to the door. Dead or Alive 4 would require much more than what Ayane was used to, because I know how she fights! Misty thought, as she proceeded to change for the streets and home.
Little did she know, that someone was watching from the shadows, waiting patiently, for the chance to strike. And it wasn't Ayane.
Part 3
Staves
Speed was critical. Jones, spun the staff over his head, showing his command of the hickory wood weapon. It was light, thin, and packed a punch a man couldn't believe until hit by it. His opponent, Tanya, flipped her staff open, the red coloring burning into his head, distracting him. She came in low, and thrust up with the staff. Jones blocked the blow with a spin of his staff, sending her's up.
A quick counter sent Tanya reeling before she could follow through. Nearly falling, she swatted the quick thrust away, as well. But, his forward motion was still unchecked. She sidestepped, but instead of unbalancing him, Jones rolled, putting the energy to use, "Come on, Tanya. Your rep says you aren't this clumsy!"
Angered by the insult, she quickly masked her feelings, and struck with a series of impressive combination attacks. Jones was stronger and maybe a tad faster, but she had agility. And agility is what was key when fighting with staffs.
Doing a slight hop and pulling her legs to her chest, she spun the staff underneath her, the blow connecting with Jones's left knee. He crumbled, dropping all his weight onto his good leg. Full of delight, Tanya could taste victory.
"You lose, Tanya! Speed is of the essence," he yelled gleefully as he back flipped away.
"What the (beep)?!"
Landing on his wounded knee, Jones crouched again, laughing.
Unhindered, he brought on a full onslaught of attacks, pinning her to the wall of the arena. But, she had one surprise up her sleeve. Ducking low to avoid a head shot from his staff, she slammed one hand on the tip of her staff, shrinking it down. Then, with the space required, jabbed it into his gut.
"Ugh!" He collapsed on the staff, as she pushed him back, away from her. He held his stomach for a second, then looked at her, "Nice match," he gave her a thumbs up, then threw up all over the floor.
I guess a hard hit in the gut'll do that, Tanya thought, as she swept away her own disgust.
"Ready for our match, I see. Good improv, but I think you couldn't have done that had I known!"
Tanya gave him a playful glance, "Yeah, right, check!"
Jones waved her away with one hand, and wiped the bile from his mouth.
The disgusting taste of the syrup and pancakes he'd had that morning, mixed with his stomach acid, plagued his tongue, Ugh!
"Hey, Jones!" Tanya called.
Jones looked out of the corner of his eye at her, I need to keep better track of her! "What?"
"Looks like Match One is getting' goin'! You wanna watch?" Tanya turned her head, with a deliberate taunting glance.
"Hell ya, Tanya! Who's fightin'?" Jones was all game for watching others beat each other up, so he could diss their bad fighting skill and see if any pitiful fighters died in some strange way. One time he saw a newcomer fall over while fighting Ayane and broke his own neck! Ayane didn't have to a do a thing.
"Looks like a pair of b****s to me. Prissy little power wads!"
Jones sat down, and seemed to for the first time notice what Tanya was wearing. He turned his head away, and whistled silently to himself. He had never seen something so.. Revealing, without seeing. much. then he remembered, that she wore those things just to taunt him, ever since he met her.
But, his train of thought was interrupted by the cheering fans, and the bell for the match to begin.
Part 4
The Union
First Three Rounds of DOA Matches
Nataku-Tisha, Christie-Kasumi, Tina-Zack
Misty-(Winner of 1), Bass-(Winner of 2), Ayane-(winner of 3)
Jann Lee-(Winner of 1), Lei-Fang (Winner of 2), Brad-Winner of 3)
Nataku walked up to the poster that hung on one wall on the inside of Tomlinson stadium. The poster displayed the first three matches of the DOA tournament. He was to face Tisha Swithwind in the first match of the day. He smiled, She is a worthy opponent, showing no fear in the face of danger. Few can accomplish such a feat.
He shook his head of such thoughts. A samurai, even an American one, must be clean of such notions. He walked over to the locker room where he would prepare himself for the trails ahead.
The room's linoleum floor made his steps echo and the near empty room helped to amplify the sounds his light steps made. He walked over to the locker that held his name. Written with a Sharpie marker on a piece of tape on his locker door, the name read 'Nathku.' Nataku ripped the tape from the locker, shaking his head. Can't anyone get anything right?
He stripped off his shirt and placed it in the aqua-colored street locker. But, a pair of piercing blue eyes were watching from the shadows. This stalker's knowledge of Nataku was great, almost too great. And the dark shape knew Tisha as well. Every secret of her life; some Tisha didn't know. And in the shadows of the dimly lit locker room, the figure watched, and waited.
* * * *
Tisha walked, meanwhile walked into her own locker room. She walked into a nearly full one. Tina, Christie, and Kasumi were readying themselves for they're matches. Tisha did a double take, looking at the way Kasumi and Christie were acting.
Even though, in a few minutes they were going to give it their all to try to kill each other, they were almost best friends in the back room.
"Hey, Kasumi!"
"What?" The red-head asked of Christie.
The assassin handed Kasumi a live... rubber snake. Christie apparently thought she'd freak out. Kasumi tossed it at Tina's unwatching back. The wrestler nearly had a heart attack.
Tisha's jaw dropped. What... the... hell?!
The two deadly women clapped hands as they watched their friend run around, trying to get the snake off her neck. They were laughing their heads off, and Tisha found herself grinning also. You never thought that such a woman as Tina would be afraid of snakes.
* * * *
"Let the tournament, BEGIN!" Robert Tomlinson's booming voice stretched throughout the large stadium, and cheers erupted.
Two, relatively small bodies stood in the center of the massive stadium. The building could've served as multiple football fields at a time if devoted to that, but was built specifically for the DOA tournament. The four were gathered there; Jones and Tanya watching from high above, Nataku in the center of the combat field, and Misty watching from the stands. The four that could change the inevitable. Yet, a bond must form, he thought, A bond, that will keep them together for eternity. It is all that can save them, now.
Sweet Tooth made his move.
Part 5
Twists of Fate
Nataku gave one low kick, and jumped back away from his capoerist foe. The woman performed an artful kick, the leg flying almost all the way up to her neck. while she was facing away from Nataku.
The wind from the near miss blew over Nataku and his skin tingled. She spun, delivering a low sliding kick meant to set him off-balance. He jumped and landed on her leg. She had slowed just in time for that, kicking up at the last instant, tripping him.
On his back, Nataku was vulnerable. He placed the palms of his sweaty hands on the dirt, pushed up and performed a mid-air split, kicking in all directions as he came up. Tisha was forced back. She spread her legs, to get better balance, and came at him again with a series of high and low punches.
Nataku blocked them all, shoving them aside a few inches with his wrist and forearm, enough that they missed. Now, it was Nataku's turn. The samurai came forward, and low, jumping up high to avoid a low defensive kick. When he hit ground, he kicked some dirt into Tisha's eyes to obscure her vision.
Tisha rubbed speedily with one hand at her eyes, as she kicked and punched in front of her. The spray was badly aimed, but worked. The dirt was out of her eyes in a few seconds. Nataku was suddenly behind her.
He gave her one solid punch to the base of the spine. She caved, falling forward.
Misty smiled with approval from the audience, A well designed, if slightly dirty trick. I'll have to watch out for that.
A glimmer of light, blade thin and true, invisible to the untrained eye, was caught in Misty's vision. It sped quickly, right for Tisha. She jumped from her seat and yelled a warning, but was drowned out by fans screaming for Nataku to finish it. He didn't have to.
The shuriken bit into Tisha's neck, cutting her spinal column in half. She didn't feel a thing. She slumped, dead. Nataku's head whipped around, and saw the man sitting on one of the light posts, that stood high over the crowd. Wearing a dark cloak and emitting an aura of death, the man frightened all in the stands, save one.
Sweet Tooth smiled from high above, "My target is dead. Now, or my own fun!" He jumped, pulling his katana as he fell at the unarmed Nataku.
Misty was armed. Meeting Sweet Tooth mid-air, she pulled her blade and began to fight with the super ninja.
Several of the DOA fighters charged out ready to deal with this new threat, among them, shinobis; Kasumi and Hayate in particular.
The super ninja hit ground, dealing a hard kick to Misty's chest, sending her flying away. Kasumi came forward, her sword extended outward, Sweet Tooth batted the blade away, and punched her in the pelvis. Kasumi slumped and fell to the ground.
Hayate didn't make it to Sweet Tooth. His feet suddenly felt weighted, and tied together. The muscled shinobis fell, with a simple tool tied to his legs; two rocks and a string.
Hayabusa stayed back and watched Sweet Tooth move, how he reacted, the ninja judging his opponent.
High in his box seat, Robert Tomlinson watched his creation work, "magnificent, isn't he, Jake?"
The DELTA operative was bound in a glass tube in the back watching it all, "DAMN YOU, TOMLINSON!!!! YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY WITH IT!!!"
"You're dead, Jake. I've already gotten away with it." The President of Dynavein rubbed his hands together.
Tomlinson replayed his plan in his mind, Ah yes, capture Lieutenant Vance, replace him with a 'dead' clone, keep the man for my own works, and release Tau Ceti to clean up the mess. It's perfect! And going exactly as planned.
Part 6
The Party
"This is getting out of hand, Robert! Call him back!" Jake called from his tube, his voice muffled through the glass. "The sad thing is, Jake, you're right. Call Tau Ceti back!" Robert leaned back in his chair and sipped a bit from his scotch. Now, all he had to do was destroy the others. "Sir!" The order was responded, as Robert watched his super ninja jump up to the stands, sending fans scattering. Three of the competitors followed. Robert leaned forward again, sharply. This is better than anticipated!
* * * *
"Oh, no you don't you Son of a b***h!" Misty jumped after him, dirt still clinging to her loose pants. Hayabusa, Misty and Nataku were giving chase to the assassin. They were the only ones fast enough, and the only ones who cared. Ayane watched from below as she untied Hayate's legs. The fools! They're outmatched. Misty jumped landing where the assassin had been only seconds before. She followed with a slightly smaller jump. Soon, they were all on the rooftops of LA. Nataku and Misty were barely able to keep pace with the ultra fast Sweet Tooth, but Hayabusa was less challenged. The two super ninjas met somewhere over a busy city street, 500 feet below them. They safely landed on the opposite scraper, and a battle soon ensued. Sweet Tooth's blade slid through the air, but Hayabusa was an even match for him. Both trained to ultimate, but one pushed beyond the edge, it was a matter of time before Hayabusa would fall. Nataku and Misty lined up their jumps with meticulous care, and timed their jumps to perfection as they vaulted the large street below. It was a scene from The Matrix as the ninjas battled on skyscraper roofs hundreds of feet above certain death. Hayabusa brought his katana up vertical in a thin wall. The block kept Sweet Tooth's viciously razor-edged blade inches from his head. Pulling his sword up, Hayabusa pulled himself free from the jaws of death. Nataku and Misty vaulted the street and landed on the gravel-covered roof of the building. Drawing their weapons, they proceeded to the battle. Sweet Tooth batted Nataku's blade away and whistled, low, too low for any to hear. Misty brought her blade up, ready to slash Sweet Tooth's exposed chest. When she was knocked flat on her side. A raven and hit her, beak first, clipping her skull. Blood trickled down the back of her neck as she glared at the bird, angrily. She was far from over with that bird. Nataku and Hayabusa engaged in close combat with the super ninja, one on either side of the dangerous loner. Sweet Tooth pulled his katana over his head, blocking a strike from Nataku, and brought the blade forward to hit Hayabusa. This battle would end in a few seconds, if Misty could get away from the raven that was distracting her. Two more shapes vaulted over the streets below; a man and a woman. The two streaked toward the super ninja. They weren't moving very fast, but fast enough. Sweet Tooth was forced to back flip away from the two new opponents. He was good, but not that good. "Sorry to crash the party!" Came the audible, and very masculine voice from one shape. Misty snapped her head away from the raven to access this possible new danger. or at least, that's what she told herself. Jones spun his staff over his head, and planted it beside him. The woman flipped her own weapon open, ready for battle. "I'm afraid we cut this a little close, eh, Jones?" Tanya asked. "Not a moment too soon, though!" Jones replied. Sweet Tooth smiled, accepting this new threat, "Things are complicating, I see. No matter. My objective is complete." Nataku rushed forward, a streak of color, blazing sword over head, going right for the throat of his foe. Suddenly, Sweet Tooth and the raven just. vanished. Nataku's forward motion was going to carry him over the side. Jones and Tanya reached forward to grab him, but were too late. Hayabusa flew through the air, catching Nataku as he fell. The ninja pair flew to the other side, and Hayabusa managed to get one hand up, grabbing the ledge of the opposite building. Gasping for air, Hayabusa said, "And. a party. it surely is. whoever you are." Part 7
Guess What?
"My mission is complete, Tomlinson."
The President of Dynavein smiled, playing with his now empty scotch glass, "You were magnificent Sweet Tooth."
Sweet Tooth trudged over to a grate, and his long silvery hair was blown back by the air conditioner. He felt cooler under the cooling unit. Finally, Sweet Tooth's consciousness spoke for itself, "When I can I leave?"
Tomlinson seemed troubled by this, "Leave?"
"Yes. My personal quest is far from completed. This one is over."
President Tomlinson dropped the glass, "It is not over until I say it's over. And if I have my way, you won't be going home."
Sweet Tooth was a blur, reacting to the vague threat. His blade was stopped by Tomlinson when it was a sheer millimeter from his face. Sweet Tooth. couldn't move.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor boy. You forget the power I hold," Tomlinson shook one finger slowly in front of Sweet Tooth's face.
AARRGGHHH! Sweet Tooth was more than irritated; he was pissed off. So close to freedom!
"Ivanovich!" Tomlinson called.
A short, balding man stepped from a panel above. The man wore a white coat, with a pair of rounded glasses stuck into a pocket.
"Zyes?" The man replied with a thick Russian accent.
"Begin Project: Neo Genesis. Tau Ceti is unstable."
* * * *
"So, this guy is some sort of super ninja?" Jones asked.
Tanya rolled her eyes. The group and a few of the DOA competitors, including Kasumi, Hayabusa, Hayate, and Ayane, were sitting around a table in the local mall café.
"No doubt about it. Few have a chance to LIVE against me, let alone beat me," Hayabusa said, worriedly.
"So what would this assassin want with Tisha. If anyone, he'd be coming for me!" Kasumi put in.
Ayane leaned back in her seat, beginning to piece it together, "Remember the Dynavein Isle, Kasumi?"
Kasumi leered at her half-sister, trying to block out the already horrid memories of that. thing! "I'd rather not."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What Island?" Tanya slid forward in her seat, pulling her elbows up onto the table, expectantly.
So, Ayane, in her usual fashion, dumped the whole story of their past experience in a gruesome fashion. Especially, Jake's death. Hayate remained quiet, remembering how it actually happened, How can you speak so harsh of him? He saved your life.
Nataku bounced his knee, considering the possibilities. Then, Nataku, Jones, Misty and Tanya hit it at the same time, "Could it be?" Misty asked.
"It has to," Nataku responded.
"What? What?" Kasumi and Ayane exchanged questioning glares, and Hayabusa waited for the group's guess.
"No, it can't be!" Jones denied.
"We can't jus' say that without proof!" Tanya said.
Misty stood, poked Jones and Kasumi, "Then we get some," she said as she began to leave the building. Kasumi gave a glance at her back, then at Jones who was grinning evilly.
"She's relentless, intelligent, and intuitive," Ayane said proudly of her student.
Jones stood and began trotting after Misty, "I love her attitude, too!"
Part 8
The Operation
Kasumi balanced herself perfectly in the rigging. She 'lay' in a contraption, at least that's what she called it, hanging two dozen feet over an all too familiar sight. Using a system of pulleys, and wires, Jones and Misty had allowed Kasumi the ultimate view of what was going on in the cavern.
After following several disgruntled technicians into a cave, losing them somewhere inside, they decided that whatever Dynavein was doing ,was being done there. They cut a section of rock out, slab by slab, and lifted it away, until they met air.
Setting up the system, and rigging up Kasumi, they lowered her down. The kunoichi saw more than she wished. It was a cleaner room than the one on the Isle, but it was identical. The terraced floor, full of computers and consoles, and one large monitor at the back of the room. This one was functioning.
Colored bars ran across the screen faster than she could comprehend each. But they were easily identified as rungs on a ladder; a DNA strand.
"Oh god!" She whispered.
Jones leaned over the side, curious to what she was seeing. Kasumi jerked in her rigging, and glared up at Jones, who corrected his error. The shinobi continued to oversee the room.
The room was holding close to thirty men and women., all sitting in a seat in front of one of the terrace consoles. A few were exiting and entering a room to the left, some with needles, others with vials, and other equipment.
Kasumi tilted her head, wondering what they could be doing.
A flash of light caught her eye, and Kasumi snapped her head around, sending herself into a small spin. Her eye widened, "No. it can't be! This can't be right!"
"What?" Misty asked of the shinobi.
Kasumi glared at the screen, and the full body shot of Jake Vance. He was comatose, slumped in a vertical tube, random wires attached to him. Vital statistics, physical capabilities, blood type, and eye color, all were displayed on one corner of the screen. She couldn't guess what was in the other corner, but it certainly was similar to Jake's biosigns.
The security camera that she was looking through to see this image, panned. And Kasumi jerked her wire, ordering the pair up above to pull her up.
Placing one hand on each side of the hole they'd made, she lifted herself up, some dust dislodged and fell, unnoticed by any of the trio of people.
"What's up?' Jones asked. His face contorted to worry, and he lowered his head, staring into Kasumi's deep brown eyes.
".It's the SIGMA."
Misty's calm look warped into one of horror, "May God be merciful."
"HEY! We have a security breach!"
Jones, Misty and Kasumi glared down the hole, "Oh F***K!" Jones yelled, "RUN!"
Part 9
Vengeance Is Taken
Sweet Tooth cut another one down. Their guns meant nothing to him. He was a super ninja. He dodged a volley and cut two more of the security guards down. His raven swooped in low, slashing at the eyes of Sweet Tooth's enemies. The unlikely pair of man and bird were causing havoc throughout the small complex.
"KASUMI! GO! Get the others!" Jones Grabbed onto the opposite rope of the pulley system. Kasumi was launched up and out of her rigging. Jones flew down into the middle of the room, pulling his staff from his back with his free hand.
The sound of the rope flying through the pulley system was aggravating to Jones's ears, and he gripped the rope tightly to avoid sliding down and getting rope burn.
Kasumi and Misty dashed off into the night. They surely wouldn't be long. They were fast. Definitely faster than Jones.
Sweet Tooth had dispatched the final guard and turned toward the stairs at the far end of he facility. He began to climb up. It was only one level to Robert's office. And Sweet Tooth would have his life again.
* * * *
"Come on! Something horrible's happening!" Misty called to their friends.
Ayane, and Hayate jumped from their seats ready for battle. Hayabusa only watched them approach. Tanya was already running to them, "Whazzup?"
"It's that assassin! Jones is fighting him inside the Dynavein complex!" Kasumi explained.
Hayabusa was off like a shot, saying calmly, "Why didn't you say so?"
Hayate and Ayane looked at each other, and followed in a full-out run. Tanya wasn't fast enough to keep pace with all the ninjas, so she slowed to a jog, conserving her strength for the battle to come.
The time for redemption had come. The assassin would be killed, and Tisha avenged!
* * * *
Robert sat in his chair, sipping his coffee, So, the Angels are going to the World Series! Good job, Angels!
The office was elaborate; a sound proof glass window behind him, a velvet couch, an intricate oak desk, and a polar bear rug. The fur was incredibly soft and warm to the bare feet, and Tomlinson thought it a nice addition. It would aid to his destruction.
A shadow darted across the room, across the rug, silencing the steps of the intruder. Robert glared over his newspaper, searching for the shadow again. Nothing.
My imagination is getting away from me. No more Aliens for a week, Robert! You're freaking out.
A cold blade, a harsh voice, and a pressure on his neck was all he felt next, "Shhhh, death awaits you ,Tomlinson."
Tomlinson froze, daring not to move, "Tau Ceti-"
"Sweet Tooth! I am to be released. I have much to do before I die. You, don't." the ninja pressed the blade harder into the business man's neck. A drop of blood was drawn, but no more. Enough for pain.
Tomlinson gritted his teeth against the pain. He hoped only that Sweet Tooth would kill him swiftly. He knew that living was now out of the question.
"Stop right there, you piece of shit!"
Sweet Tooth's concentration wasn't broken by the outburst, but raised his head to look at the survivor of his carnage. He tilted his head, "You?"
Jones's hard glare didn't waver, and he pulled the staff out from behind his back, dramatically. He held it in front of him, splitting the vision of his face, in obvious challenge.
"You can't hope to win," Sweet Tooth said, simply.
"I don't need hope; I've got skill!"
Sweet Tooth grinned, Finally, someone willing to face me, without striking from the shadows, or stealing from my life. This shall be interesting.
He bent low, whispered into Tomlinson's ear, "You shall shed red tears," and he brought the blade up from his neck, performing a quick slash across the eyes.
"AAAAARRGGHH!" The man grasped at what was left of his eyes, hunching over the desk. Sweet Tooth watched the blood trickle down Tomlinson's neck, before slowly cutting it. A low whistle was heard as the man gasped for air through the hole in his neck. Sweet Tooth relished in the man's death, but this Jones wasn't going to wait.
Jones charged, slamming Sweet Tooth through the glass window. It shattered, and the pair fell onto the cushioning layer of corpses. Shards of glass lacerated the already beaten bodies and a piece slashed Sweet Tooth's cheek. Sweet Tooth lifted his head from the bodies and gore of his rampage, and slammed the hilt of his katana onto Jones's head.
Jones rolled away from the oncoming attack, favoring his skull.
The pair spun to a standing position, and faced off. Then, their battle was interrupted, and the only way of surviving, was a union.
Part 10
Final Redemption
Jones took one look at Sweet Tooth then turned to face the new opponent. Sweet Tooth was captivated by it. Blades hung from its wrists, ankles, legs and head. A thick, powerful tail swung from left to right. A thin, powerfully built torso intimidated him, and the thin, tall head, lined with clear teeth fascinated him. And, of course, the color changing skin. It was a creature from a child's nightmares, and fine-tuned to a weapon. It was the hunter you are the hunted
Jones panned to the left, and Sweet Tooth tactically chose to circle left. The stench of corpses and blood wasn't enough to cover up the things breath. A shot of white gas came from it's mouth at regular intervals, and it watched the pair's movements carefully. It seemed. calculating; smarter.
"Sorry to crash the party!" Came a voice. Three heads; two human and one alien, turned to see the newcomers. Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate, Hayabusa, and Misty stood, weapons drawn. Ayane, Hayate, Kasumi and Hayabusa looked on with disbelief at what their sense told.
"SIGMA!" Hayabusa cried, and charged.
The super ninja feinted left, and slashed at the creature's gut. The creature wasn't there. Hayabusa grunted with coming aggravation, as he spun looking for his opponent. Sweet Tooth and Jones looked at each other, then returned their gazes to the floor, walls and roof.
"Aaaaaaaahh!" Ayane was lifted off her feet, and launched ten feet up, into the hands of a half-invisible creature.
"Not again!" Hayate yelled, as he reached out, trying to grab Ayane's out stretched hand.
"DAMN!" Hayabusa said, as he began to run up the wall!
Sweet Tooth got there first, katana drawn and his raven flying in, this ninja was much more dangerous. But, it was bait.
With it's free tail, the SIGMA swept the air in front of it, slashing away both ninjas. or so it thought.
Hayabusa was slashed badly, and he fell, unable to block the creature's attack. But, Sweet Tooth knew that there was nowhere this thing could run now. His raven dove in, a took the blow for him. Sweet Tooth took the only available second to watch his companion fall, then lashed out against the creature with a strong arm and renewed rage in his heart.
He cut the creature's tail off.
It fell, Ayane still in it's hands. Hayate dove forward, his old injury from the month's before, fighting it, beginning to ache again. Ayane tore free of the SIGMA's grasp and freefell right into Hayate's waiting grasp. He protectively held her, and began to slide away from the SIGMA.
Sweet Tooth hit ground a few feet away from the wall of the Dynavein building, landing on a console. Sparks flew as his impact crushed some of the components inside, a large dent made in the metal casing of the computer.
Jones, Kasumi and Misty were not idle, they had all been charging around, trying desperately to get a definite vantage point. Kasumi and Misty charged at the now vulnerable SIGMA.
One. two. three.
They missed, nearly hitting each other.
"Jesus! Have you ever seen something that fast?!"
"It's coming!" The SIGMA was now running at blinding speeds along the walls, circling its opponents. It felt, now. It felt pain, anger, frustration, and something strange to it, unknown. Fear.
The SIGMA launched itself directly at Jones. He raised his staff, and fell onto his back. The creature landed squarely on the blunt staff. The dull weapon bit shallowly into the creature's flesh from sheer force of the blow. I growled at him, and Jones twisted the staff and shifted it, causing maximal pain and damage. A sickening gurgling sound came from the SIGMA's gut, as it roared only a few inches from his face.
"F**k you!" Jones placed his feet on the things chest, and pushed off, sending the creature flying.
The creature hit ground a few feet away, groaning and roaring in pain, as it separated into two pieces!
"What the-!"
A shape, its unseen entrance by the group because of their focus on the creature, was half-crouching on the other side of the room. It was Nataku. His blade dripped with the creature's blood, his eyes slits. The creature raised it's chest in one last chance at a breath, and slumped dead.
Hayate and Ayane lay prone a several meters away, breathing hard from the absolute rush and intensity of the battle. The fight lasted twenty maybe thirty seconds. Kasumi and Misty were the only ones standing. A possibly lethal mistake.
"Hey! Where is that assassin bastard?" Tanya asked as she finally reached the room. She'd missed the fight, DAMN!
An iron grip latched onto Misty's throat and an arm grabbed Kasumi's waist with immense power. It lifted them from the floor, and only one man could save them.
And he was nowhere to be seen.
"AAAH! HELP!" Kasumi lashed out at the arm around her waist, her blade having no effect. Misty desperately tried to grab air.
"EAT THIS!" A familiar voice, and the sound of gunfire was the next thing to greet their senses.
Part 11
The Final Battle
The man stood, muscles taut, bracing for the small pounding of the rifle slamming into his shoulder. Some torn clothes from a defeated security guard thrown over him, the clothes suited him, but were baggy around the middle.
It was Jake. It was if he had come back from the dead, How could this be? Kasumi asked herself, Jake's dead.
Jake fired, dropping three rounds into the creature that was holding both Misty and Kasumi. The creature took them in it's broad snout.
If SIGMA was from a nightmare, this was from a B-Horror movie. Jake examined it closely down the barrel of the M-4 in his hands. The creature must have been only 6 feet long, but almost 5 feet wide at the middle, with two great arms, and it must've weighed at least 600 kilos. The Grendel released the two women to clutch at it's face.
Misty and Kasumi fell to the ground, Misty dazed from her lack of oxygen. Kasumi managed to easily get free and stare right into her opponents flailing tail. She ducked, feeling the whiz of the air flying over her face. Her red hair shown like fire as it was blown back in the resulting wind.
A broad face, with almost a dog-like mouth, the creature reared back, favoring it's shattered left eye. It's tail was the most fascinating. A series of spikes jutted out of the creature's far end of the tail. The rose and sank into the tail with the thing's breathing. A hard carapace protected it's back and it's mouth was filled with sharp, razor-edged teeth. A scaly brown mottled skin covering it's body and a voracious looking pair of eyes glaring down at them, this creature was a fearsome opponent, without it even strutting it's stuff.
"What the ****!? What is that?" Tanya yelled, flipping her staff open and readying herself for battle.
It raised one foot. It wasn't large, but the contracting muscles in it showed that it had more power packed into it than an elephant stampede.
"MISTY!" Jones dove forward. He dropped his staff, to give himself more maneuvering room, and dove. He hit Misty square in the chest. She had no time to be embarrassed, and neither did Jones, as the foot came down, clipping Jones's leg.
He rolled away from Misty, narrowly avoiding his leg getting crushed. A sharp pain gripped him as his leg began to burn with pain. He'd moved too late. He quickly examined his wounded leg. He'd dislocated a kneecap.
Tanya leaped forward, staff aiming for the eyes. She was swatted away, the blow clearing the air in front of it.
"GRENDEL!" Jake shouted, but the name was drowned out by the thing's roar.
"What?" Nataku yelled. and never saw the blow coming.
It came on, faster than the SIGMA, faster than a ninja, and faster than a bullet. It slammed into him. He could feel it's teeth bite into him, and an uncanny warmth coming from the beast. It sank it's teeth viciously into his gut, biting hard, crushing flesh, bone and his lungs. He tried to sunk in breath, but found none. He gasped, and clawed at the face of the creature.
"NO!" Tanya rose, and began to charge at the creature that was holding her comrade. She swung at it with the staff, but to no avail, "AAAAARRRGGHH!"
She slammed the crimson Bo staff into the things side, twin prongs forcing out of the staff, electric current flowing through them. The result was almost blinding. With lightening speed, the creature dropped Nataku and turned to face this new threat. And with faster than visible speed, the Grendel snapped the staff in two. The energy blast actually sent both Tanya and the Grendel flying.
The Grendel hit ground, and steadied itself, uninjured. Tanya wasn't moving.
Jones could only watch the carnage. Two crippled or dead and it wasn't even phased.
Kasumi and Ayane leaped forward, their quick, crippling attacks slashing into the creature's armored hide. No effect. Kasumi landed on it's back, an intense heat greeting her as her feet contacted it's skin. She stabbed straight down.
A deafening roar met her, as her thin blade cut through the scales of it's carapace. It spun, with such surprising and sudden speed that both Ayane and Kasumi were thrown clear, Kasumi's blade still sticking in the creature's back.
Misty was up, and started throwing shuriken's trying to give both Hayate and Hayabusa a chance to get into the fight.
"NO, NO, STOP!" Jake cried, as he began to fire non stop at the creature's head. Sparks of ricocheting bullets flashed off it's armored face. But it was too late. It charged at Misty.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Jones stretched his arm out, then brought it down on his wounded knee.
CRAAAACK!! The kneecap popped back into place. "AAAAARRGHH!" He had one, maybe two seconds.
Getting his good leg beneath him, he shoved off, again aiming to knock the ninja clear. She was fast, alright, and was already moving, but the Grendel; was faster. It came hard and fast. But Jones got their first.
Hitting her in the side, she was clear; he wasn't.
It caught him, lifting him up, and throwing him. Jones flew, flipping
through the air multiple times before Hayabusa, in all his glory, caught him, mid-air. The Grendel was waiting at their landing spot before Hayabusa had looked down.
Hayabusa landed, right on top of it. Two legs, one caught in it's mouth. Doing a half-kart wheel, Hayabusa pulled it out and rolled clear before the creature could bite down on it.
Hayate launched himself forward, aiming a decisive kick for the head. The Grendel's head snapped in one direction, it's tail, snapping another. The blunt side of it, connected with his gut. It threw him clear across the terraced room. A visible dent was made in the granite walls.
Jones favored his stressed knee, rolling back and forth. He closed his eyes, a reflex caused by the pain. When he looked again, it was leering at him. It's face maybe half a foot from his.
Jones kicked up with his good leg. The head moved away for but a moment, the moment which saved his life. He crawled away, but felt it grasp his good leg. He grabbed onto a computer and held on for dear life.
Then He came.
Screaming a battle cry, and sword in hand, Sweet Tooth landed on the creature's outstretched arm. The sword came forward slashing into and through the Grendel's hard armored arm. He cut deep. It roared and released Jones, who eagerly took shelter behind the console.
Sweet Tooth flipped off the wounded arm, and landed on it's back. An inferno underneath his feet, he could feel his feet sweat at the very proximity. He slashed down at it's neck, the blade bit deep again, and blood oozed from the wound.
A meek groan and grunt was exhibited from the Grendel, as it raises it's tail, aiming for the unsuspecting Sweet Tooth's back.
It struck fast, hard, and fatal.
(credit for the Grendel given to Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes' novel, The Legacy of Heorot. Read it! It's a good book!)
Part 12
Goodbyes [pic]
"We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to our honored dead. Those who have fallen to protect that which we old dear. We mourn their loss and vow that they will not die in vain. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Amen."
Misty listened to the funeral with a tear and a friend. Jones stood with a crutch under one arm and glared at the dozens of caskets that lay before them. Most died fighting Sweet Tooth, yet only a few were being given the honorary service today. Nataku & Tanya, had died protecting their friends and each other. They would never again see the light of day or the moon at night. A cairn was placed for Sweet Tooth, where he lay dead, killed by the Grendel. Even for his past transgressions, the United States of America had awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor for going beyond the call of a man's duty in life to save others, to the point of self-sacrifice against the Grendel to save many lives.
Yet, strange enough, no body had been found, yet much blood; his blood had been found near the Grendel's corpse. Jones and Misty had smiled at this news. They were ironic smiles, and they knew much more than they had initially about that cold super ninja. It mustn't have been easy, living six months in a test tube. They pitied him. They knew he deserved better than death, and that Sweet Tooth knew this, also. He had a score to settle.
The funeral began to break up. As people left for their cars or bikes, but yet, some still remained, to pay a final respect. Hayabusa, Kasumi, Hayate, Ayane, Misty and Jones continued to look over the graves. Not all of the group had the same agenda, or the same personality, or even were friends, but the battles, and the dead pair that lay before them, had brought them all together for one conquest and one union. Misty shed one tear for the battles, and the wet droplet fell onto Nataku's grave, splashing lightly on the dirt.
Jones felt droplets of rain begin to fall on his head then, and he touched Misty's shoulder.
The DOA competitors walked past the graves saying goodbye to comrades, friends and friendly rivals as they left for their transportation away from the cemetery. But Misty and Jones remained, the pair beginning to be soaked in the down pour. Misty turned toward Jones, and suddenly realized the intimacy of their situation. He turned his head just a little, and brushed her lips with is own. A fire seemed it light inside of her at that.
She pressed her lips on his, long and hard, relishing in the warmth. Long moments passed and more passed between them than words can say. When they finally parted, "Misty, I love you."
Her heart lifted up on wings of joy at those words, and she embraced him, "But It's time to go home," he said.
* * *
From a tree, a few hundred meters away, someone else was saying goodbye to some of the best fighters he'd ever known. Sweet Tooth sat in the highest branches. He didn't cry or even frown. No emotion what so ever, he just said, "Goodbye."
The Grendel... the ultimate soldier, and the ultimate weapon. Hmmm...
The saga is only beginning, it seems..