Tales from the First Panzer Division
Mission Four: Nine Tails!?





Mission Log #8998652373. Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting. I had just recently got the dossier of our newest member of the First Panzer Division. Permission to speak freely but why on the Gods' Green Zi would Rudolph assign an ASSASSIN in the glorious First Panzer Division?? Other than that, it seems that our services were required in a village of merchants and traders. It seems our killer was what we really needed.




"I don't trust assassins." Karl made his point clear, his eyes focused toward the skies. "Not since Raven reared his head in the Division."

"I can attest to that, sir." Leon responded just as stately, his expression bleak. "Especially this one, he's weird, even to me."

"What do you mean?" Jinx asked, cutting in on their conversation.

"His thoughts are garbled and filled with nonsense. Sometimes it's like reading the mind of a person with schizophrenia." Leon's eyes narrowed, he too was focused on the sky.

"What kind of people could garble your thoughts like that?"

"People who know what to look for when they are telepathically invaded. That is a rare case but it can happen." Leon frowned, then cracked his knuckles. "This man was trained to know what to look for. There is no one on Zi with the natural gift to garble and scramble his thoughts on command."

Curious, Karl had to ask. "What being is able to scramble his thoughts on command?"

Leon paused before he said this, then turned to the comlink and gave his answer. "Kuei Jin. Cathayans. The Hungry Dead."

"English, Major." Scotty replied to Leon.

"Vampire."

"Blood-sucker?"

"Yes."

"I hate leeches."

"Noted."

The village was a quaint little village with rice fields as far as the eye could see. A black Storm Sworder landed as the Division neared the village, the pilot got out wearing a black turtleneck and black pants. His short black and red hair was slicked back, showing the more darker red streaks underneath. His eyes were covered with shades, hiding his silver eyes. Karl neared him and saluted.

"Tanaka?"

"Speaking." The man responded, looking at the Division behind him. "This everyone?"

"Yes." Karl nodded. "I am Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz, I will be your commanding officer."

"After today's mission, Colonel... you will see I am quite the capable soldier as well as an assassin. Camford didn't necessarily train me in just assassinations."

"From the dosssier, you were just an assassin."

"We'll keep this a secret." Tanaka smirked, then jerked his head toward the village. "These people are buttoned up about something. They're keeping something a secret and they don't want to tell anyone."

"I take it you can speak these people's languages." Curiously, Karl had to ask, getting a stare from Tanaka.

"I would if I was born in this neighborhood."

"I see."

"Look." Tanaka pointed out to some tracks near a rice farm, his eyes narrowed. "Zoid tracks."

"Not just zoid tracks... organoid tracks." Leon felt the tracks with his hand. "But not like Zeke or Shadow or any other organoid we seen."

"Looks like wolf tracks." Karl looked at Leon before swiftly turning to Tanaka, blushing a little.

"Ohkami..." Tanaka muttered, then headed down the mud road.

"Should we follow?"

"Yes." Karl smiled at Leon, his eyes stared in Leon's. Just a reminder that we are here on a mission."

"True but if an organoid is why we're here... then it's hardly worth the Imperial marks."

The Division walked down the muddy road until they got to the town, inside the people ran into their houses, closing their doors and their windows.

"Talk about a fine how-do-ya-do." Chuckles put the cigar to his lips.

"The people fear outsiders." Tanaka began before walking to a door, pulling a doll from his pockets.

"Why would everyone fear me? I'm lovable."

Doc walked over to Karl's side and tapped on his shoulder, getting an immediate responce from him. "Yes?"

"Permission to speak freely, sir. But I don't think these villagers fear us."

"Oh? Why's that?"

Tanaka interupted them by walking up to the group and sighing. He put his hands in his pockets, his eyes focused on Doc's. "Nothing. Not even with presents, they won't talk."

"Then we're on our own?" Jinx asked, almost bitterly.

"Yes."

"Well, that's the way it has to be, I guess." Scotty patted Jinx on the shoulder and looked to Karl for commands.

"We'll split up looking for the organoid. Keep in contact with our radios."

"Yessir."

"Kenshirou...?" Tanaka spoke up softly before they split off. "I'd like for you to come with me."

"S-sure, Tanaka." Doc walked from Scotty's side and they walked off together.

Scotty, Chuckles and Jinx walked down the muddy road back to the fields and Karl and Leon were off to the road on the right. The Imperial major turned his attention to Karl, his hand on Karl's shoulder.

"We didn't get to say what needs to be said." Leon's other hand slipped on Karl's other shoulder.

"I know.... I..." Karl closed his sparkling green eyes before dipping his head. Soft tufts of blonde hair hit his forehead, his hands slid on Leon's chest.

"You...?"

"I want to tell you that..." They leaned forward, each other begging for the other to kiss them. Leon's eyelids fluttered shut, his hands caressed Karl's arms softly. But Murphy's Law prohibited them from kissing, Jinx's link came through. Frustrated, Leon picked up the comminucator and spoke into it, trying to sound professional.

"Yes, Jinx?"

"We found Doc's communicator in the mud and no sign of Doc anywhere."

Leon put his communicator away and tured toward Karl, he frowned with a frustrated frown. Karl slipped his hand on Leon's cheek and tried to smile to cheer him up. Feeling comfort in Karl's touch, Leon did smile, he touched Karl's cheek the same way. Karl leaned his head into the touch, his eyelids fluttered shut. They hurried to the northern road just in time for the festivities.

"Here you go. It appeared to have been tossed."

"I hate this..." Chuckles grumbled, putting the cigar to his lips. He adjusted his Hawaiian shirt and sighed. "You think Mr. Assassin took Doc?"

"Damn." Leon looked around, then stopped short at some tracks. "H-hey..."

They looked at the tracks as Leon fingered them, using his psionics to pick up on the cause. Snapping free, Leon broke into a sweat, but their moment was interupted when the townsfolk emerged from their houses. An old woman had with her, to the Division's surprise, a blue wolf Organoid with silver underbelly and yellow eyes. Leon stepped in front of the Division and spoke in their native language. An old man neared them and spoke to Leon directly.

We mean your people here no harm, we were acting on tips of a mysterious organoid.

The old woman held the leash to the wolf organoid as it sat on its' honches, panting.

We hide because of the man with ebony and scarlet hair. He is not human.

Not human? You mean he's a supernatural.

Yes. The old man handed Karl a large mirror with gold trim. Confused, Karl looked at the mirror and then at Leon.

"Of course, why didn't I think of this sooner?" The pieces began to fit in. "No wonder I couldn't read Tanaka's thoughts. He's a fox demon. That's why the townsfolk hid."

Please get rid of the Kitsune. The old man pleaded, his granddaughter next to him. We'll give you anything you want, food, shelter from the rain and heat....

We'll get rid of him for you. We promise.

Thank-you, that brings great comfort.



"Wake up, Kenshirou."

Doc opened his eyes to see Tanaka hovering over him with a katana out. He was tied to a tree, his glasses hanging broken on his face. Doc's Yukito-like dense stare tried to get Tanaka to crack his shell and let him go.

"Dear brother, why do you want to be with humans? They are monopolizing on our pain."

"Not all humans are bad! I mean look at my troopmates! They're my friends!"

"Ha!! When they find out that you are a Kitsune, they'll turn tail. They all do. Kitsune like us are destined to live alone. Camford would have kept me around if I were human."

"Help!" Doc shouted, he twisted around in the ropes and tried to call for help again. Only to be slapped by Tanaka.

"No one will save you!"

"Think again." Tanaka turned around to see the First Panzer Division aiming guns at him. He snarled but then Chuckles presented the mirror, the reflection showed a white fox instead of a human guise. Tanaka transformed into a white fox with 9 tails and tried to run away. Chuckles and Jinx opened fire, getting the fox in the back. It turned into a marble statue. But to their surprise, Doc's reflection was also that of a fox. Leon untied Doc and helped him up.

"I'm sorry." Doc looked away, ashamed. "You know what I am..."

"You're a comrade-in-arms in the First Panzer Division, you're a fellow troopmate and a trusted friend." Karl answered for Leon, extending his hand.

"Yeah, where will we be without our favorite medic?" Chuckles smiled, his arms folded across his chest.

Doc laughed and took Karl's hand. "I'm your only medic."

Karl helped him off the ground, then from out of nowhere, it began to rain.

"Let there be rain." Scotty looked up, letting the cool drops hit his face.

"No doubt."




Mission Log #8998652373, Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting. Mission: SUCCESS. However, we found out the truth about our soon-to-be newest member. Leon finally explained the tale of Tamamo No Mae and the Nine-Tails of Earthian culture. We also learned the Yukiharu Kenshirou AKA Doc was a Nine-Tails, only he sees the good in humanity and wishes to remain aboard, despite his brother's evil planning. That is always a great relief.



"Karl?" Leon's voice was heard behind Karl as he turned off his mission log.

"Yes?" Karl slowly rose to his feet, then heard the door close and lock.

"I want to tell you something... No! I mean confess something to you." Leon put his hands on Karl's arms, staring amorously into those beautiful green eyes.

"I want to confess something too." Karl's hands felt Leon's waist, gazing longingly into Leon's indigo eyes.

"You first."

"Leon, I love you." Karl was outright but also a bit nervous. "I always have been since your transfer into the First Panzer Division."

"I love you too." Leon smiled, finally after numberous distractions and interuptions... they finally were able to kiss. Karl's arms slid possessively around Leon's manly body. Leon's hands slipped on Karl's waist, they lied down in the bed together, then the lights went off.





-Continued-