Chapter 8: His Euology
Important documents flew through the air as Al Duck was hit through his office table. Ignoring his scared whimpers, Smoker hoisted him up by his collar.
-Where is the Lovey-Dovey produced?
-I…I can't…
-What's that? Speak up!
Using all the force of his weak, brittle body, Al managed to escape Smoker's grasp.
-I can't say! Over my dead body!
-So, you still think you can weasel your way back to your gangster friends? Smoker pointed outside Al's office to the G-5 men flooding the factory.
-Lovey Dovey is a mushroom that grows on wet wood high up in the air. This entire island's filled with swamps and forests, so I know it's being produced here. I've got mountains of evidence and I refuse to be bribed. Choose what you need to make you cooperate; me, or my subordinate's sword?
Smoker was stopped by black cage bars wrapping around his arm.
-Hold back for now; Jango will have better luck when he gets here, Hina remarked, gently lighting Smoker'
As Smoker was conducting his interrogation X Drake and Kudo sat talking outside.
-It's damn unnecessary for you, a key witness, to put yourself in the middle of this. If you want I could let Tashigi escort you to the ship.
-Last time I faced off against the Von Sally's, I lost everything. Nothing to lose doing it again. Drake looked at the younger members of his crew impatiently training in front of him.
-I guess you're right. What use is shooting up your choices for the future?
-It's either this, or live in darkness on this island. I can barely call it a choice.
There was a moment of silence that disappeared bombastically as deadly light bolts flew through the factory. The G-5 quickly took cover.
-What the hell is going on? Smoker and Hina screamed over the sound of the deadly bolts.
-Stay calm and listen to me; I've got a plan, Drake has quickly analyzed the battlefield.
-Every Reverie all the world government countries, including Germa, share their military resources. I read up on these guns last night; they are designed to shut off the human nervous system, so they won't work if I go full Allosaurus. They also have a tendency to overheat…
Drake pointed up. The shooting stopped.
-I'll rush through the factory door with Smoker and Koby to attract their attention while Hina disarms them from the roof, Helmeppo and Tashigi take the flank and the G-5 protects the witnesses.
While the crew nodded, voices rose among the G-5.
-Ey, why should we have to listen to a pirate? As I understood it he's just a prisoner, not our damn captain!
-Shut up! This plan is an order from me, so back off and take cover! Smoker gave a quiet nod to Drake.
Everyone stood ready, waiting for a sign. A flash of light left a black mark on the wall, and combat began.
Wooden scraps from the door scattered as Drake burst out, Koby and Smoker right behind. Tashigi and Helmeppo flew through the windows and started slicing down gangsters.
Hina zipped up and kicked through a hatch in the metal roof. She was sent flying through the support beams by a mighty punch.
-What the hell? Smoker looked at the men he had defeated
-What is it? Drake grunted through another hit to the face.
-All of these goons are humans! So, where are the actual Von Sally's?
-Black Spider Web!
Hina stopped her own fall and was helped down by her men. Wood from the support beams was scattered around her, strange mushrooms were growing. Slowly coming to a horrible realization, Hina looked up, seeing the Von Sally's collect Lovey-Dovey from the roof's support beams.
-It was all a distraction! They're getting away!
Hina stretched out her black chains just a moment too late. The hatch slammed shut, closing out all sunlight.
-Go get Smoker! Maybe we can get them before they escape into the swamps! Hina turned to Jango and Fullbody.
-You idiots! Al Duck laughed.
-They have access to Germa flying machines! It's already too late! They'll be off the island before you regroup! Hahaha… He was interrupted by Kudo kicking him in the face.
-Go get Smoker! I'll do what I can! With a single, überhuman leap Kudo burst through the roof. The mafioso's were quick to start firing, but no man could stop Kudo's fury. With a flurry of kicks he shot them off the roof.
One of the gangsters had already entered the flying machine; a strange, backpack-like contraption with four rotating fans. Kudo recognized him as Chief Von Sally; the boss.
-Who the hell are you, madman!? That beard and those clothes, you look like a bum! Shaking with fear he pointed his gun towards Kudo.
-You don't remember me!? You killed my son! You…
-Look out!
It was too late. Kudo was shot in the chest just before Smoker could save him. Chief Von Sally cackled.
-Oldest trick in the book, old fool! Bwahahaha! Smoker raised his jite to attack, but was stopped by a hand grabbing his arm. Chief Von Sally's face turned pale as Kudo stood up on shaking legs.
-It seems my body is too furious for my mind to die, just like after Richie's passing. In my training for revenge, I only managed to learn one move… Kudo turned and nodded towards Smoker, both knowing what to do.
With a slow, decisive motion, carrying the weight of a stolen life, Kudo raised his leg. Before Chief Von Sally had a chance to pull the trigger Smoker shot out his hands and pulled the boss in.
-Richie Kick!
With the force of a bullet Kudo knocked out the gangster boss and scattered his teeth over the roof. He then lowered his leg and took a deep breath; With that, he fell into Smoker's arm and began his final slumber.
Smoker silently stared at the man in his arm. The shaggy beard, the stained overalls, the gaping holes in his teeth and his final, peaceful expression. Hina gently laid her hand on Smoker's shoulder.
-This is what he wanted. You haven't broken your promise.
Smoker rarely cried. Even so, standing in front of the graves of Kudo and Richie Viktor three days later, a lone tear ran across his cheek. The wind extinguished his cigar. No one else was there; the entire town was busy recovering from the Von Sally's iron grip.
-You're forgotten, but now, no one else will be, Smoker whispered. It was his eulogy.
I've come to a realization. This simple little three-chapter arc took a staggering six weeks to publish! And the plan for SWORD is for it to be a giant, six-arc story split into two sagas! I cannot let that go on, so for now I update on Fridays every week, and will leave a review on the previous chapter if that doesn't go through!
