20

PUPPET MASTER

I turned to see a man, literally, walk through the fire like some sort of human demon.

This man was, defiantly, Asian. At least by the looks of him, but he looked nothing like the Triad scumbags that I had dealt with the past few days. His dark hair was slicked back without a strand out of place, his cheekbones where high, and his eyes where hidden by dark sunglasses. His long sleeved uniform shirt was a deep gray and his pants a jet black that matched his hair as well as my own, both looked like a uniform of some sort. His hands where hidden by black gloves. He had a strong military air to him.

Looking at him gave me a really bad feeling.

"You," I said, realizing I had seen him from somewhere. "I've seen you before."

He took two steps forward and suddenly stepped into attention.

"Han Yu Kim!" He stated, "General of the North Korean Army!"

It was then something that Rocky had said awhile ago made sense: Haven't you heard? The General is in town looking for his money…

"Letmme guess," I said, putting my hands on my hips. "This counterfeit comes from North Korea?"

"Yes," General Kim said, a small smile on his face, walking past me. "My government has the same Swiss made Printing Presses as the U.S. Treasury. Only world governments can purchase them."

"So, that's why the dupes are so prefect," I said.

Gen. Kim nodded and I knew I had one part of the mystery.

"What happened?" I asked in mock sympathy. "Did the world bank turn ya down for a loan?"

"America and it's Cronies think they can ruin us by economic manipulation," Gen. Kim said bitterly, not catching my sarcasm. "HA! We will never succumb to your politics!"

"Hey, Whatever," I said, holding my hands out like I was ready to catch something that could be thrown at me, not wanting to discuss politics. "I'm just a cop. But tell me one thing though…"

There was one last thing that I had to have answered.

"Why the Russians? The Triad?"

"Shielding my country from an international fobar, Detective Kang," Gen. Kim explained.

Kim turned around and took a few steps; over his shoulder I could hear him say, "Besides, the Russians are old friends. Ex-KGB for the most part."

He turned to me.

"It was a perfect fit."

"Sure," I agreed, taking a few steps forward, piecing it all together. "Until Rocky decided to keep the loot."

"Yes," Kim nodded. "His morals became corrupt."

"So," I said, putting my hands on my hips, finding the final piece. "That's where you and your commandos come in."

"Exactly," Gen. Kim nodded. "Rocky was slippery, but then I learned about you personally after you, Kang, took down one of my best snipers."

"That was your sniper who was trying to take down Jimmy?" I said going to his right. Eyeing him carefully.

"Of course," Kim said, going to my right. "Every step you took in trying to find your father's murder I was, safely, behind you. And After finding out how your father truly met his end, well, all I had to do was follow you…"

We where circling each other, regarding each other. Watching and waiting to see what the other would do.

"Now my mission is nearly done." Gen. Kim said.

"Nearly?" I repeated, cocking an eyebrow as we circled each other. "Is there anyone left?"

Gen. Kim and I stopped circling each other. A ominously bad feeling hit me when a dark smile played on the face of the man across from me.

"Just you, Kang," He said, smiling darkly, getting in to a ti-kwon-do stance. "Just you…"

---

I got into a fighting stance.

"You sure you wanna fight?" I asked him.

I don't know why but he was giving me a extremely bad feeling. But when he stayed in his fighting stance I just shrugged.

"Okay, I guess you do."

I went at him with a jump snap, he dodged and swung around with a chop, I was just able to block and lashed out with a snap kick.

He dodged, and, before I could block or even dodge it he swung around with a tornado kick that knocked me onto my ass.

"Recess!" I yelled trying to get up. "Time out!"

I had just gotten up when he started to step towards me.

"Aw Shit!"

I was just able to dodge his flying kick and swung around with a roundhouse punch. He blocked and went to give me a knife hand to the neck. I side blocked and then punched him.

That punch got him dazed.

Seeing that he was dazed I went forward with a roundhouse kick and then several punches.

Now that Gen. Kim was punch drunk, I gave him a 'tiger sweep' to the ground.

"Had enough?" I asked.

Suddenly Kim leaped up and gave me a hard knife hand right on a pressure points on the neck. I winced and stumbled back. Gen. Kim then gave me several punches in the chest then gave me a crescent kick across the jaw that made me taste blood.

I fell to the hard concrete ground.

I spat out blood and leapt up.

"Okay, now I'm getting pissed."

I ran at him with a thrust kick, he dodged it. He then went to kick, but I blocked. And lashed out with a punch. That got him.

I then went at him with another punch, but he blocked and tried to chop at my collarbone. I was just able to dodge it and lash out with a 'tiger claw'.

General Kim fell to the concrete ground but leapt up suddenly.

Anger flooding me, I ran at him. I swung around with a reverse crescent kick. That hit him. I then went at him with a punch, then another, then another.

Each blow was, surprisingly, hit him.

Suddenly he tried to give me another fatal blow to the neck. I dodged it and gave him a roundhouse kick in the chest.

He stumbled back.

I leapt up and gave him a 'dragon drop' kick in his chest.

General Kim fell back on to the concrete ground.

He went to sit up but groaned and fell back. Losing all consciousness.

A strange warm feeling spread through me. At first I didn't understand, and then I knew.

It was over.

I had, finally, won.

---

I stood over General Kim's unconscious body, the fire from Rocky's jet nothing but embers now, looking up at the sky.

The sun was beginning to set over LA, filling the sky with red, orange, and gold.

It was strange, but I felt more complete then I had in years. Like a part of me that had been missing all this time had finally been filled.

I took a deep breath.

"I hope I made you proud, Dad," I said, softly, to the sky.

There was a slight breeze, and, in some way that I couldn't explain, I knew he was.

Suddenly, I could hear a car pull up behind me.

I turned to see a black BMW Beamer pull up several yards behind me. Then passenger side door opened.

"You okay Nick?" Rosie said, concerned, getting out of the car, walking to me.

I nodded.

"Yeah," I replied. "I'm doing good. Real good."

At that moment another Beamer pulled up alongside the first, and the driver side opened.

Masterson glanced around frustrated and turned to me.

"KANG!" He yelled, running furiously to me. "YOU'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS-!"

Suddenly, the door to the first Beamer opened right into Masterson's face, knocking him out and on to the ground (I swear I did not laugh about it, well, not until later anyway).

The Chief got out of the car and glanced around, before she turned to me.

"Nice work, Nick" the Chief said with a smile.

She went to join me and Rosie.

"Thanks, Chief." I smiled back.

Suddenly, I just thought of something.

"Hey! How 'bout I buy you two dinner!" I spoke up. "I know this great China bistro!"

Both women gave me a scathing look, recognizing what I had said from not long ago, turned on their heels and went to their car.

"No? Come on!" I insisted, good naturally. "What do ya say?"

I shook my head, smiling.

I had a feeling they would do that. But, hey, it was worth a try.

I walked to my red Ferrari opened the door to the driver's side and got it. And I drove off as the sun began to set over the horizon in classic Hollywood style.

It looked like it would be another beautiful night in LA.