Chapter 8: The Break-In
Sorry, I've been very slow with my story. Anyway, thanks again Coldheartlessnight for the reviews.
"Okay, I think it's time we go, we don't have much time left. There's a port somewhere beyond this forest, where the ships come and go to deliver supplies from DOATEC. This time that place might prove useful for our transportation. However, only three ships can stop at a time. It'll be easier if one occupies a ship alone to avoid detection. You three shall go first, we'll catch you up later when the next ships come." Hayate said to Ayane, Etsudo and Kimura "Now go and get ready all that you need in your arsenal. Weapons will be a necessity to deal with that dragon-face. You shall leave tonight."
"Understood" Ayane nodded obediently. They stood up and ran back to their rooms. Ayane stuffed a few clothes, kunai scrolls, her weapons, as well as her technique scroll into a small pack.
At dusk, Etsudo and Kimura entered her room, both dressed in black, "Okay, Ayane. This is it. We're..." Before he could finish his sentence, his attention was driven to a photograph lying at the corner of the room. He picked it up and eyed it for a moment, then smiled, "I remember it well."
"I'm glad you took a good picture back then. You're a professional." Ayane replied while lifting her pack to her left shoulder. She was dressed in her black ninja outfit to blend in the pitch darkness. As they were about to leave, they looked back towards the school and saw Hayate's figure standing in a distance.
"Good luck, you three. We're counting on you out there. See you at Hong Kong!" Hayate called out to them before they stepped into the darkness. "I have to let them off first. If I were to go first, I may put the next group at risk. Anyway, the Hajinmon practitioners are better trained at stealth, thus their association with darkness. But it is guaranteed that they would make it unnoticed. In a matter of time, the DOATEC soldiers will assault us. Have to be on guard!" With that in mind, he went to Ryu and Kasumi, "Get ready your weapons and stand prepared. A battle is awaiting..."
"Right"
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The trio crept in like a serpent gliding in the thick bushes and fixed their eyes on the fully-armed guards, observing their every movement as they patrolled DOATEC's hidden port, keeping a close watch on the ships and liners which come and go at regular intervals. Kimura reverted his attention to the watchtower, where the security lights that shone over the vicinity came from. The other two faced in his direction and spotted a fairly large, white structure adjacent to the watchtower, which was obviously the control centre. As the infiltrators drew near, Ayane stepped forward and got herself ready before tearing off at full speed towards the guard stationed at the entrance to the building, her feet emitting not a sound that would betray her presence. The guard that stood there had an expression which showed that he lacked enough sleep to keep his body and mind alert, this came to an advantage. With almost superhuman speed, Ayane slipped behind him and gripped his neck like a vice, almost snapping it. She unsheathed her dagger and drove the wicked blade through his back, puncturing his heart.
The man struggled and tried to make a gagged scream but his strenuous attempts proved futile again and again as Ayane's tight grip was causing him to choke even more. He was weakened and stopped struggling; his body twitched twice and came to a stop. Ayane leaned the now lifeless body against the wall next to the doorway. She glanced at the entrance. The door stood firmly shut and words bore in large capitals NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONELL were displayed in the middle, in dangerous red print. At the side was a scanner flashing a bright, crimson gleam on the black screen. Ayane snorted at the sight of it, then lifted the corpse's left hand and sliced his thumb off in a cold manner. She placed it on the screen and the light changed from red to green.
"ACCESS GRANTED" came a cool, female voice from the electronic speaker.
"Kimura, in you go," Etsudo pushed his friend forward, urging him to do the job. The stocky ninja obeyed and stepped out.
"Access denied..." another voice came from a distance, but this one sounded more human. Kimura whipped his head to his side only to come face-to-face with a burly man with sunglasses and thick lips, "Who the hell are you?" the man blurted out in a gruff voice.
Kimura seemed to pause for a brief second before he started, "Oh... greetings!!! My name is Kimura Suigetsuro." His face broke into a hearty smile which slightly confused the guard, "I'm a newbie here, so show me around, will you, kind lad?" he continued with the friendliest voice he could muster.
"There he goes again..." Etsudo grinned.
"You're a recruit?! Well that's a nasty surprise, in fact, DOATEC has too many employees to need a new one... Wait! Let me check my record book. Hmm... I don't remember receiving another person in the workforce..." the giant flipped open a tiny book, but before he could even take a look at the first page, he looked up again so quickly as though he had just recovered his sanity, "Hey!!! You're not even wearing a unif..."
WHACK!!! His words were cut short when something hit him – hard – on the head. He blacked out and fell with a resounding thud. Kimura hung his nunchakus back on his waist and hurried through the door, "Ayane, finish him." He told the lavender-haired cohort with eyes narrowed revealing a serious expression. Ayane heaved the man up and when he was positioned with his back leaned against Ayane, she began to make her move. With her dagger in her right hand, she held out her free hand and held his chin up high...
The sound of a single, murderous slash at the man's throat echoed so menacingly in Etsudo's ears that it made him wince in fright. The body collapsed onto the concrete floor and blood gushed out of his neck like a burst pipe and its head rolled out of place. The corpse appeared ghostly-white in an instant, completely drained of blood. Etsudo just stood watching the horrendous scene with jaws wide open, amazed at how cold-blooded the sixteen-year-old truly was, and moreover, at how she did something even a male like himself would not dare to do.
Meanwhile, Kimura was carrying out his task in the security building. He caught sight of a patrolling guard and sprinted silently towards him. He brandished his dagger, gagged the man with his free hand and sent the blade deep into his scalp. The guard barely managed to let out a muffled scream and struggled in a panicked manner before he felt the cold embrace of death on him. Kimura entered an unlocked storeroom filled with cleaning materials, took out the guard's uniform and wore it on his body. After dumping the body in there, he exited and closed the door safely before venturing any further.
"They have given the directions. Heh! This is too easy!" Kimura pondered with glee as he followed the signboards, stopping now and then to make sure his disguise was well-maintained. He halted when he came across an imposing sign that directed to a spiral staircase, it said WATCHTOWER followed by a directional arrow pointing upward. The stocky warrior took a deep breath and advanced to his next step.
The stairway was dark, which was an advantage. When he arrived at the last few steps, he noticed a pair of legs belonging to a brigand on a lookout standing on the next level. His eyes traveled upwards to find a guard holding a pair of binoculars keeping a close watch over the rather busy horizon looming beneath him. Kimura landed his foot quietly on the sturdy platform and crouched low to prevent detection. With a quick move, he swept his leg across, tripping the guard. The brigand appeared wide-eyed when the ninja caught him before he touched the ground, but that feeling did not last long as he was brutally slashed at the throat, blood spilling all over the platform, colouring it crimson. Foe annihilated, the infiltrator was set upon the security control system. He scanned the area and spotted two distinct wires, one green and the other red. He sliced the green one with his blade and the whole port turned pitch black. Without the security lights, nothing would stand in their way.
Kimura looked down from the watchtower and spotted his two cohorts through squinted eyes, getting into action as soon as it got dark. He leapt out of the watchtower hurriedly when he heard footsteps approaching; he landed soundlessly and rushed to meet them.
"Good work, Kimura." Ayane complimented as she made for the ships that stopped by, "since they're loading cargo, we've enough time. Etsudo, you'll take the middle one, and you, the right."
"Yes, Ayane-sama" Etsudo replied while he ran.
"Why that sudden courtesy? I'm not a leader anyway. Even if I actually am, Hajinmon is dead."
"Not if we can help it." Ayane raised an eyebrow, "Genra-sama doesn't want Hajinmon dead, so do you." He replied in confidence. Ayane did not say anything else, only thinking about her foster father. By the time they reached the pier, they parted ways and sneaked into the ships, the darkness still on their side.