After Koji- part 11- Beachcombing

"Did you try to reach her on the communicator again?" Ken looked over to Joe, who was rapidly pushing buttons and twisting dials.

"Negative…no answer, she must have it turned off…"Joe had a look of concern on his face. Sure, he had been angry at the Swan for her weak behavior lately, but he truly worried for her safety. She was like his kid sister.

"Jinpei, where did you say they used to hang out?" Ryu looked back at the Swallow.

"Cordova Beach…not too far from the motocross track. They went there a lot, too. Sis used to talk about it all the time." Jinpei jumped up when he looked at the monitor. "There's the beach now!"

"Put her down, Ryu, let's get out and have a look."

The GodPhoenix landed, and they glided down from the bubble.

Ryu and Jinpei headed down the beach in one direction, while Ken and Joe took the other.

"Hey look at that!" Jinpei shrieked.

"What? Did you find something?" Ryu ran over to him.

"Look! It's a perfect conch shell! I heard that you can hear the ocean if you hold it up to your ear!" The excited Swallow was holding a very large shell.

The Owl whacked him on the head. At times like this, he was reminded that Jinpei was still a kid.

"You nitwit! We're supposed to be looking for clues, now put the shell down and let's get back to work!" I hope Ken and Joe have better luck than we are…

"Hey, Ken, take a look at this…" Joe's voice trailed off in the distance.

As Ken approached, he could see evidence of a struggle, and many sets of footprints leading off to the dirt road.

"Joe, I think you've found something…I'll call the others." Ken called for Ryu and Jinpei.

Joe followed the prints up to the road…he found multiple motorcycle tracks leading in the direction of the motocross track.

"Someone wants us to follow them…this is just too obvious…" Joe shook his head.

Ken frowned. "Well, we're going to give them what they want…just watch your backs…this could be very dangerous. Ryu, you and Jinpei head back to the God Phoenix, wait for my signal, we may need you for back up later. Joe, let's go spring the trap…"

Joe and Ken walked along the tracks, looking for any more evidence, all the time getting closer and closer to the race track.

"Isn't this where Koji tried to assassinate the President?" Ken rubbed his chin as he looked up at the stadium, now looming over them.

"Yeah, it's too quiet… and I smell Katse." Joe scowled back at Ken.

"I never noticed these stairs before…they seem to go to a lower level. Be on guard, I feel as though something is about to happen." Ken whispered as they crept along the stairs to the lower level.

It was dark…uncomfortably dark. Both Ken and Joe felt a prickling sensation go up their spines as the felt their way through the damp passages.

"Joe, are you there?" Ken sounded a little uneasy. "I think I hear moaning sounds…do you hear it?"

"Yeah, unless we're imagining the same things..." Joe also sounded a little shaken. "Someone…or something is down here with us."

"We've got to find the source of that noise…Did you hear that?" Ken's excited whisper echoed down the halls.

"It sounded like chains rattling. Damn, I never believed in ghosts before, but this place must be haunted." Joe chuckled nervously.

"Hello, is anyone there?" Ken called out loudly. His voice thundered through the silence.

"Show yourself…"

The rattle became louder… "Ken, is that you?" A thin voice echoed down the halls. "Leave me here to die. I'm no good to you any more."

"Jun! Jun! Are you ok?" The Eagle and the Condor made their way to Jun's cell.

"Joe, can you break her out of here?" Ken shook the bars in desperation.

"Sure, but it may take a little time in the dark…" Joe began to put his drill attachment on his gun when…