Warning: Rated for language, violence and adult behavior.
The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.
This story also uses characters from the graphic novel 'Sin City' by Frank Miller. I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.
This story also uses characters from the movie 'Wasabi', directed by Luc Besson. I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.
References to 'The Goon' in this story do not refer to the character of 'The Goon' by Eric Powell.
The flight from Paris to Sacred Oaks, just outside Basin City, took an entire day, with refueling layovers. After the first two hours, the kids fell asleep in their seats. The adults spent their time conversing. Marv needed to bring Hubert up to speed on what Sin City really was like.
Marv could tell that the French detective didn't completely believe him. In Hubert's mind, no police force could be that corrupt. He's gonna get a big surprise when he gets there, Marv thought.
Marv had other concerns on his mind. No, only one other concern: a barely five foot assassin who he managed to insult and humiliate at the same time.
It started with a favor. Gail was going to go by and pick up Miho for work one evening, three months ago, but got tied up with a customer (or was that tying up a customer?). She called Marv, who drove by Miho's apartment every day, and asked the big man if he would drop by and pick the girl up instead. Marv immediately agreed, no problemo.
Gail said to pick up the girl at seven, but Marv misheard it as six. That one little lapse caused Marv to run half way around the world to avoid Miho's wrath.
Marv arrived promptly at six, like he thought he was supposed to, and walked in. Gail had said it would be okay if he did that. What he saw shocked and surprised him.
There, at a desk, sat a prim and proper young oriental girl, typing away on her computer. She was wearing large lensed glasses, a white blouse, a dark plaid skirt, and dark calf-high socks. She looked just like a catholic school girl.
Marv couldn't help himself, "Oh, My, God..."
He tried to hold it back, but couldn't. He laughed. No, he guffawed. He brayed like a jackass. The picture displayed before him was totally ridiculous! Miho, the terrible protector of the Girls of Old Town, a preppy school girl!
To make matters worse, Marv opened his big fat yap. "So, uh, Miho. Did Sister Mary Margaret keep you after class today?"
He laughed again, until he saw her face.
The young woman had turned to face him. Her face was a mask of horror and humiliation, mixed with shame. Only a select few people knew of Miho's secret fantasy, to be a normal girl, to have the dull, boring, normal life fate denied her. And now a good friend stood there as she was wrapped up in her dream and laughed at her, mocked her.
Hurt her.
Miho jumped up, knocking the chair away from her. She reached on the desk and grabbed something, a tanto she used as a letter opener. She screamed her hurt and anguish as she charged blindly at him, none of her formidable skills evident.
When Marv saw her pick up the knife, he turned and ran for it. He knew what Miho could do, especially when she was insulted, and that was no way for a man to die. So he ran, and prayed he was fast enough. He never looked back; if he had, he would have noticed that the girl had stopped just outside her apartment door and had fallen to her knees crying. He didn't stop running until he was safely on board the Pride Of Roarke, sailing for France.
And now he was returning home. To Sin City. To Her.
Deadly Little Miho.
The plane made a refueling stop in St. Louis, the last stop before they reached their destination. During the layover, XANA called and spoke with both Detective Fiorentini and Jeremie. The blond genius explained that XANA was making sure that the gang wasn't up to something.
Marv then made the called he had to make, but dreaded.
"Gail, it's Marv," he said into the phone.
"Marv! Where the hell are you! Where have you been?" was the woman's reply.
"St. Louis, and I'm bringing a shitpot full of trouble back from France with me," he said, "slavers grabbed about thirty teens and kids and hauled them off on the Roarke. We've got to find them before they get rid of those kids. Plus, we've a nutcase that wants one of the girls back in Paris in under a week, or he's gonna nuke the city."
"You're just full of good news," Gail said, "I'll have some of the girls start nosing around. We should know more by the time you get here. When will that be, Marv?"
"Probably 'bout five, your time," Marv said, "and I'm not traveling alone. I've got a French detective and three kids in tow. The cop's a nice enough guy, but he thinks the Sin City PD is going to help him. And the kids are along because the nutcase wants them along. It's gonna be a wild party, let me tell you."
"Sounds like it," Gail said with a laugh, "well, we'll see you when you land. Miho's been looking for you ever since you left. She'll be real glad to see your ugly face again."
"I just bet she will," Marv flatly said as he hung the phone up.
The plane touched down in Sacred Oaks at just around five. The tower directed the captain to a hanger about halfway down the airport property, fairly well away from the main terminal. As Marv looked out the window, he saw two cars parked there, one of them his. Standing next to them were three women. One, Marv expected to see, Gail. The next was a pleasant surprise, Nancy Callahan. The third was one he expected, but wasn't looking forward to seeing again, Miho.
The door opened and Hubert Fiorentini stepped off the plane and walked a few steps away, stopping to wait for the others. Then Jeremie, Odd and Ulrich appeared and joined him. The last passenger to exit the plane was Marv. He just stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stood.
When Marv framed himself in the doorway of the plane, he saw Miho tense. Not a good sign, he thought. Then, the moment he set foot on the tarmac, she sprinted towards him.
I'm dead. I really blew it this time. Marv steeled himself for his end.
Miho leaped and jumped on him, wrapping her legs as far around his waist as she could. She then grabbed him by the collar and looked him directly in his eyes, her face one of stern reproving. Miho couldn't speak, so she let her expression, body language, and weapons do the talking for her. Marv knew he was a dead man, he just wished she'd just get it over with. She obliged him.
She took one hand, reared back and slapped him in the face as hard as she could, staggering him. She never loosened her grip on his body. She then did the last thing Marv ever expected, the one thing he didn't think she was capable of. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled closer and kissed him full on the lips. She held the embrace for a long while, saying with her actions what she couldn't with her voice. I'm sorry. I missed you. I'm glad you're back.
She finally broke the kiss, gave him one last massive hug with her entire body, then released him.
Marv was dumbfounded for a moment. When he finally found his voice, he said, "look, I'm sorry I laughed at you, Miho, I never knew..."
She silenced him by standing on tip toes and pressing her hand to his lips. The look on her face said, I know. I understand. And I forgive you.
Gail and Nancy finally walked up to the group, now that Marv and Miho made up.
"You know, Marv, you're lucky she doesn't chop you up into sushi," Gail said as they walked up, "she's been upset ever since you ran off. I don't think I've ever seen her this way before."
"Yeah, I know," Marv replied, "things got a little complicated, and I needed the time to let things sort out."
All the while, the three boys were staring open mouthed at the women. They had never in their lives seen such beautiful women dressed in such a provocative manner.
Nancy Callahan was the most normal looking of the group. She stood there wearing jeans and a tee shirt that fitted her form perfectly, showing every lovely curve. The only thing better looking than her body was the smile she had, beaming from that beautiful face, framed by her long brown hair. She walked up to Marv, gave him a hug and a kiss, and presented him with his car keys. She had been the one to drive his car here. She then turned to Hubert and shook his hand in greeting, then said hi to the boys.
Gail was dressed for work, which meant that she was wearing little more than leather straps strategically placed, a thong and fishnet stockings. Handcuffs dangled from the belt she wore, and there was a gun tucked in the small of her back. She walked over to the boys and smiled. She then reached out and gently shut Odd's open mouth and said, "didn't your mothers ever tell you it was impolite to stare?" The boys snapped out of their trance and shook their heads to clear them. They then smiled, blushing. Gail laughed.
Miho was also dressed for work, in her dark kimono bristling with her weapons. Though she looked strange to Hubert, Jeremie and the boys thought she looked more like Yumi did on Lyoko. Miho eyed Fiorentini for a moment, then decided he wasn't dangerous. But she looked in wonder and recognition at the boys. All three of them were in the picture longbow14 sent her. She pulled out a small pad of paper and a pencil, and wrote something down, then handed the pad to Jeremie.
Do you know a Yumi Ishiyama? the note said.
"Yes," Jeremie told the girl, "she and our friend Aelita are two of the girls they kidnapped. We're here to get them back."
Miho narrowed her eyes and nodded her head as Jeremie handed her notepad back. She now had another reason to kill the men coming.
The first thing they had to figure out was where to put this crew. Marv and Hubert were no problem, but the boys were.
"You can't keep them in the red light district," Hubert said, "that's no place for children, sorry for the insult, boys."
"I have to agree with Mr. Uptight," Gail said, "those three vapor locked just looking at the three of us; they'll be useless with all the girls in Old Town. Plus, the girls don't need that kind of distraction."
"Well, there's nothing that can be done about it," Marv said, "Old Town is probably one of the safest places we can hole up in until the Roarke comes in. The girls and the boys will just have to adjust."
"Ah, ma'am," Jeremie said, "would there be someplace where I can get on the 'net? I can try and get a better idea of where the freighter is and when it will arrive."
"I can tell you that," Nancy said, "one of the girls caught me before I came out here. The Roarke will be docking six days from now."
"Six days!" the detective and the boys shouted.
"XANA will blow up Paris then!" Odd said.
Just then, Detective Fiorentini's phone rang. He answered it, then gave it to Jeremie.
"Speak of the Devil," was all he said.
"Status," came XANA's voice on the phone.
"We're here," Jeremie replied, "can you verify our location?"
"Yes, Sacred Oaks Community Airport. Sacred Oaks, Washington, United States. Further refinement of position will require additional assets."
"Then you acknowledge that we are nowhere near the factory, and are incapable of surmounting an attack," Jeremie next said.
"For now I will concede the truth of your statement."
"Good. We have just learned that the ship carrying Aelita will not arrive here for six days. That is beyond the deadline you gave Detective Fiornentini."
XANA was silent a moment. "For now, the deadline stands."
Click!
