Well, here it is. After long months. Writer block has been a beaatch. This chapter and the next were originally one chapter. But in the end it grew too long and so I decided to split them in two. Here's me hoping I can finish the next chapter quicker.
Kira is Kage
Lacus is Hikari
Except when they're together.
NOTE:
"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking
"Charge!": special case
'Darn!': thoughts
GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!
Please… read and review
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In Kirihara's Mansion…
Kirihara received another guest that day. "Well, isn't this something?"
Rena stood quietly in the shadows. But her eyes blazed through the darkness. "I've heard everything from Xingke."
"I see."
"Well?" Rena asked the obvious.
"Well?" Apparently Kirihara didn't catch the meaning.
"If I find someone is impersonating and even besmirching the name of a national hero of MY home country, I would have his head on a spike the very next day." Rena grunted. "But you let him off… and you even gave him your support?"
Kirihara chuckled. "Two reasons. First: This wasn't the first time someone would dare lay claim to that name. But most of the time, those copycats would simply vanish. The weight of Kage's name more often than not outweighs its profits. While it is a name adored by all, it doesn't have any shortage of enemies. Eventually, the original and fake will meet… assuming the fake survived the onslaught of enemies gunning for his head long enough until that fated encounter."
Rena nodded in understanding. "Reason no 2?"
"I know him. This impostor." Kirihara answered simply. "There's a place, a dark, God forsaken place… where the Empire store all the scum of the society, their society. They were thrown in and left to rot and die. A Hell on earth. He was tossed in there when he was but a child."
Rena's pink blazing eyes were unmoved.
"Innocence cannot survive in that Horror. And that's a fact. He may be innocent when they locked him in there and throw the key away… but when that hell finally spit him back out, I know, as I looked at his eyes yesterday, that he brought a piece of that Hell with him." Kirihara looked calmly at Rena. "And when he unleashed that small piece of hell in full… the world will burn and the Empire will weep tears of blood for what they've wrought upon themselves."
"Even though he's fighting against his own kin?"
"He was never their kin." Kirihara sighed. "The Empire made a mistake of making an enemy out of him. I will not make that mistake."
Rena didn't argue back, accepting the Logos Minister's reasoning. She gazed at the scene of Shanghai from the overlooking balcony where she stood. It's much calmer than it was a few days ago before Kage arrived. Now she understands how it can happen so quickly. Why everything seem to fall into the right pieces when Kage was around.
She ordered her troops to stand down so that the city will descend into chaos and anarchy. She did it to test the new captain's abilities by dumping him into what she thought a good example of hell on earth.
'I've turned Shanghai into the closest approximation of anarchy incarnate… but in doing so, I made him at home.'
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Chapter 48:
Shadow's City
Part 3
After yesterday's disastrous delivery, Kage had decided to take some precaution in today's delivery. For one thing, he took charge of one cache. He asked some help from the other two captains, Mwu and Murrue to deliver the other two caches, each given a set of contingency plan to deal with unwanted situation. To prevent head on assault on the remaining caches just like what happened yesterday, Kage began to implement a system of passwords for identification.
"Ummm… what was the password again?" Mwu turned to ask one of his sweatdropping subordinates, while the also sweat dropping guards with their twitchy finger on the trigger waited somewhat impatiently. It took a full 10 minutes before Mwu finally get the permission from the cache guard to take their shipment.
For himself, Kage devised that, to prove himself as the one and only Captain of the 7th division, he must be able to produce two things that are unique to himself: His Shiki, and the other…
Torii performed an incredible triple barrel-roll somersault in the air before he landed gracefully on Kage's shoulder, much to the fawning awe of the Genesis girls who were guarding this particular cache. Naturally, that proved this captain is the genuine article, other than the fact that Simca is accompanying him. "I take it there hasn't been any sign of any other copycat today, yes?"
"No, sir!" The girl nodded. The Genesis team then emptied the cache and handed it to Kage's escort team. But before they left, Kage took a slight altercation. "Simca, take charge of this cache. I'll take one of the convoys with me. We're going to a different route… we got a raiding bird to catch."
Simca nodded in understanding, but she quickly added in genuine concern for her late friend's little brother. "Tell Clotho when you see him: He will always have a safe haven in Genesis."
"I will." Kage nodded and then he left along with three newly acquisitioned and rough looking Yakuza militia.
As usual, everything will always go as right as rain as soon as Kage's on the case personally. A fact that seems to be the cosmic truth in the 7th division under his command.
Much later, Mwu, Murrue and Simca returned unscathed, and Kage himself followed suit not long after, informing that their copycat problem has gone down by one. Regrettably, he had yet been able to convince the copycat to come back to Simca's side. The sergeant lamented that fact, but she nodded in understanding. "I see… yes. He still felt raw about how Steno died…" Simca grunted in annoyance. "I suppose he blamed me because I was the one who assigned her to that Mato…"
"No. Not really." Kage shook his head. "More like he's angry at himself. Angry at his powerlessness, being unable to protect the one he cares. I know the feeling." That's exactly how Kira feels when he heard Lenore's death. "Right now, he's trying to bury his guilt by fighting crime as his way of self penance. This is a very good notion, I think. Way better than him giving in to useless brawls or locking himself up in his room as he wasted away his potential. If the situation wasn't so dire, I wouldn't want to stop him either. But I think it's best if you give him time, Simca."
Simca nodded and then she gave Kage a small peck on his lip area, much to his surprise. "Thank you honey! As expected, you're the best!"
A second later, a medical box smashed Kage's head on the spot, thrown by a very pissed Hikari. Grumbling and mumbling, she stomped her way in and dragged the misshapen carcass of her most rebellious patient to date across the street to the direction of the Angel's Bath, muttering something about pervert, cheat, idiot and suicidal. But mid trip, everyone heard a commotion.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME YOU STUPID MOBS!"
"OR WHAT YOU YAKUZA FUCKS!?"
"YOU WANNA PIECE OF ME!?"
"OH DO YOU!?"
The source of the commotion is a clash between a group of Ex-Mob and a batch of Ex-Yakuzas. Lord knows what started it, but it's not so surprising. If yesterday the Mobs came, today the Yakuzas also joined the fray. These two sides used to gun for each other's head, spilling enough bad blood to last several generations, and now suddenly they're expected to stand together, shake hands, kiss, and make up all under one new management. Obviously, there's still plenty of scores to settle, many grudges still linger between the two factions. Like powder keg waiting to blow up.
It was fortunate then, that Kage ordered everyone had to be strip searched and all their weapons are to be relinquished to the armory until they straighten themselves up. Now if they're going to tear each other apart, they're gonna have to do it with good old fashioned punch, kick, tooth and nail.
Saber and Archer quickly plunged in-between the two groups. "Alright! That's enough!" Tolle raised his hands. "Come on guys! Knock it off!" He roared as he pulled out his Skygraspers. Both sides saw it… but they don't seem to be the slightest bit intimidated. No. If anything else, they seem to consider the armed shadowguards to be nothing more than a barbwire fence they had to push down before they can be about their business.
Tolle and Milly looked back and forth. It seems they realized if they remain where they stand; the two walls of death will close in and crush them. Even with their weapons in hand, it was easy to see these two feuding group were not even intimidated by the slightest.
"Go ahead."
The surprisingly audible whisper came along with a massive murder lust that enveloped the two Shadowguards and overwhelmed everyone else.
"Go ahead and do it. Tear each other apart."
Everyone's eyes widened and cold sweat instantly flooded their faces as their limbs and legs seemingly nailed on the spot. All color drained from their faces as their lips trembled and behind them, their teeth clattered nonstop as their necks began to tilt slowly to the whisperer: a dark clad body being dragged by a white armored doctor.
Kage got up and slowly make his way towards the two feuding gangsters, armed with nothing but his injured and frail self. He only walked briskly, taking his time with each step, but his bloodlust that didn't wane by the slightest from his hellish dark eyes outpaced him. While he's still far away from them, they felt as if the dark captain is already right in front of their faces, holding them firmly by the throat.
"You know what you guys are?" Kage hissed. "You're scum." Kage spat, and everyone winced. "Each and every one of you. Bastards sons of bitches, whose mothers are also daughters of whoring bitches. Lord knows and helps whoever your bastards of fathers are for fucking those sluts you call mother."
Suddenly the crowd directed their anger at the foul mouthed dark captain. But his murderous will silenced their throats. "What? Do you gentlemen disagree? Because based on the way you guys are acting just now, scum seems to be the appropriate definition. But you know what? I. don't. care." Kage growled. "Out there in life, society branded you as scum. If because of that you chose to act and behave like one, and remain as one for the rest of your lives, I don't care. That's your choice."
Everyone in vicinity suddenly stopped whatever they're doing and directed their attention to the dark captain.
"Both of your bosses assigned you useless pawns to me." Kage pointed at the Yakuzas and the Mobs. "But as you have undoubtedly knew, we do not force you. You were given a choice. And you choose to join. The moment you put a foot on this place, you're expected to do everything but being a scumbag. The moment you enlist on this division, you made the choice to rise above the scum you were and be more than that: a man and a soldier!" Kage continued. "Do any of you airheads know what that means?"
Everyone looked dumbly at the dark captain.
"It means STOP acting like a bunch of rabid dogs and MAN up! Put your petty problems behind you and see the bigger picture!" Kage gestured at the sea as he roared. "We have bigger concerns than your childish turf war issues!"
"It's not petty… sir!" One of the Yakuzas dared himself to argue. "That Lenny there killed one of us back in a turf war!"
"You started it! You Yakuza fucks killed my-"
"SHUT UP!" Kage cut the banter short. He just knew where this is going: a blaming game that will continue on and on until the blood debt can reach all the way back to lord knows how many generations of gangster family. "Just… Shut… up." He repeated. "You will all shut up and put that behind you. Make your peace to face the greater of the two evils."
Clearly, everyone has an issue with that.
"Do you find my request unreasonable?" Kage couldn't care less of their gang war. They have no time for such nonsense, not with an imminent invasion right at their noses. "Make no mistake! The Zaft grand army that is coming to us is a wolf at our door! They will come, and if you stand in their way, they will kill you all, regardless of your affiliation. A monster army a million strong and you think you can survive their onslaught when you quarrel and heckle with each other like children!?" Kage barked. "I'm not asking you to let bygones be bygones! But look at the reality of the current situation. You guys are trying to kill one another because of past deaths and grudges when more deaths are coming to all OF YOU NOW, and you call ME unreasonable!?"
Everyone begrudgingly looked at each other. Yakuzas or Mobs, none fancy the idea of getting themselves under the mercy of Zaft's knights.
"I'll tell you when it is time to settle scores and grudges, but there's NO time for that now, and I'm not in the mood of tolerating infighting or some turf bloodbath in my division. Make your peace, NOW…" Kage decreed with one last surge of murder lust. "Or I WILL KILL YOU ALL."
The Captain was barely able to stand on his two feet and blood had starting to trickle down from his nostrils. Unarmed, and all indication showed as if he's about to drop dead right then and there…
And yet not a single one of the people present doubted that the half dead captain will live up to his words, devil knows how.
By that time, everyone was already too scared of the captain that they've even forgotten why they were angry at each other in the first place. All they know is, if they don't do as he says, he'll kill them all. They immediately dropped all hostile intents and hastily albeit begrudgingly shake hands with one another and make their peace, all under Kage's dark watch as he crossed his arms.
Kage let a loose sigh seeing this uneasy peace being made. He's not very fond of reign of terror. But if one is to talk about grudges and revenge, he's not in liberty to question its justification. He's the last person to speak against such thing, considering he's in a quest for revenge himself. What he can do, is force them to work together to fight a bigger terror. Right now, it's himself…. And later… the enemy. If they can work together, they can compromise. And from there, perhaps peace. He looked at Saber and Archer. "You two alright?"
Tolle nodded, as do Milly.
It was amazing watching Kage settle everything with mere words and sheer force of will. Those two gangsters weren't even intimidated by me, even when I hold weapons in my hand. And I'm not surprised. Really. That's Kira for you.
Tolle gripped his Skygrasper a bit tighter, and then he holstered them both. "Nice job, Kage. For a second there I thought they're going to lose it."
"Canard's getting overwhelmed I think." Kage shrugged as he turned to Prayer… who found this whole situation warrants a grin on his face. "…what are you smiling at?"
"No. I completely agree with you captain. Canard's getting overwhelmed. Which is… a good thing really. It means he really is seriously putting some effort in training them. Normally he just… leaves them as they are." Prayer snickered.
"Are you fucking kidding me? 'Leave them as they are'?" Canard suddenly came in, smiling, snarling as usual. "'Leave them as they are!?' when things are getting so much fun!?"
"Haa…" Kage shook his head. "At any rate, you need some help."
"You better assign your other girlfriend on the job, Capt." Canard replied. "All these new hardware we gained, there aren't that many of us who can use guns properly. Next thing you know, we're looking at an accident on the making."
"Good point." Kage turned to Simca. "Simca! From here on out, help Canard in training the men in firearms, will you!?"
"Ha~aai!" Simca replied with much enthusiasm and love.
As Kage began thinking what's next, his eyes landed on a rather bizarre sight. "…oh you gotta be kidding me…" Enough that Kage slapped his palm over his face.
"?" All his officers turned to what their captain looking at, and their jaw dropped in aghast.
Master Bull, standing calmly with a big smile on his face, escorted by half a dozen stern faced Axe Gangsters. Dark Axes, to be exact.
30 seconds after everyone noticed the Master, about a hundred loaded firearms were aimed at the boss of the Axe Gang, backed up by several thousand spears and weapons of every kind.
"So… What are you doing here?" Kage stood before the master, ahead of the wall of spears and guns, crossing his arms.
"Just paying a visit. A civil visit. You mind telling your men to put down those guns? Not very fond of guns…" The Master's massive fist twitched dangerously. "…and I'm not in a mood for a massacre." The threat was implied at best, and it put everyone of the 7th division even more on edge.
The Master's eyes clashed with Kage's as the masked captain measured the situation. In the end, Kage sighed and signaled his men to stand down. "Next time, if you're gonna make a civil visit, please be good enough to make an appointment. Tension has been rather high ever since your men killed some of mine."
"Well. This is Shanghai. Death is something happens to us all. Sometimes not in a time or way of our choosing." Master Bull flashed a gentle smile. No hostility whatsoever. "You understand this. I know you do."
"You don't know me."
"But I know the hell that you went through. A dark burning hell so evil and perverse… you would not be able to stand sane without throwing away every vestige of humanity. A hell that…" The Master flies a knowing glance at the Shadowguards' unknowing expressions. "…that your men did not endure." He turned back to Kage.
Kage's eyes darkened. He's not in the mood for this talk. "I'll ask again. What are you doing here?"
Master Bull understands and be quick. "That little brother of yours. Is he still alive?"
"You wish to see him?"
"I know when I'm not welcome. And I've overstayed." The Master handed a large paper bag to Kage. He can smell a delicious scent coming from within. "A gift for you and your brother."
"…?" Kage took it. "What's this?"
"It's a new menu in my restaurant. It was inspired by that little match with your brother. Do enjoy it, and, if we cross paths again, let me know what he thinks." And with that, the Master gave a nod and took his leave, under Kage's frowning gaze.
As soon as his back disappeared from sight, the tension went down as officers flocked to Kage, all brimming with questions.
"What was that all about?" Mwu tilted his head at that paper bag in Kage's hand. "He came all this way just to deliver a takeout?"
"…" Kage shrugged. It's a really big package. He had to struggle to lift it with his two hands. It's a large scale dish that had to be eaten together.
"Could it be poison?" Prayer pondered.
"Master Bull is not that dumb to offer poison in broad daylight." Xing Ke chuckled. "And besides… he's too fond of cooking to do such atrocity."
"Very well… let's eat it together." Kage nodded. "But later. It's still too early. In the mean time, about the next weapon shipment-" Before he can continue, Kage was slapped down by a harisen, owned by an angry Hikari.
"AFTER! (koff) After your long overdue THERAPHY! (Koff)" Hikari grabbed Kage by the collar and continued the much delayed drag to the Angel's bath. This time she moaned something about workaholic and a psychopath.
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Master Bull made his way back to his restaurant in a jovial stride when he passed a café.
"And how fares your business with the good captain?"
The Master stopped for a moment and saw Alejandro Corner sitting calmly on a reserved table in that café, sipping his cocktail with a cheese snack on the side, waiting for him to pass at that particular street.
"Corner." The Master snarled sarcastically. "Now this is a pleasant surprise." He calmly looms over the brown haired businessman.
Corner smiled. "Please. Sit. Drink." He gestured an empty seat before him as a waiter immediately filled another wine glass for the master. "Château Le Brandt, 30 years old. Dry red. Has a fruit bouquet in it. A beverage of royalties."
Master Bull didn't touch it and remain standing. "If you must know, I simply pay a civil visit to Kage. Nothing fancy. I wanted to repay his brother for that fun he's given me the other day."
"I see." Corner helped himself to a slice of cheese. "I suppose, after that little mishap where he became directly involved, we can afford to be civil, I suppose."
An angry glint sparked on the Master's elderly eye. "I looked at the situation as it is. In a span of days after his arrival, Kage overtook the Mob and Yakuza. In generations of conflict between the mob, Yakuzas and us, someone is finally poised to be more firmly in control of this city then we ever could. I will do what I must to survive."
"For now." Corner smiled. "Even the good captain Rena struggled from time to time. I've talked with him. It was obvious he's still just a boy. The pressure will crush him eventually."
"Just a boy? Heavens, Corner… You're blind." Master Bull shook his head. "I'm just gonna say it once. Leave him alone."
"Goodness gracious me!" Corner chuckled in amusement. "Is that fear I detect in your words, Master Bull?"
"And respect." The Master admitted. "You don't know what you're dealing with here. And the unknown is best to be treated with fear and respect until become known."
"Sagely advice, Master Bull." Corner gave a salute at the Master. "Except that… I do know what we're dealing with here. I've met his type before. A boy like him can only take so much before he breaks. I know. I've seen it." He gave Master Bull his wine glass.
The Master remained unconvinced as he took the wine glass and played it in his hand, sniffing it. "You know what your problem is, Corner? You see a tree from one angle, and then you think you understand the forest. You were born in privileges. Yes. You fought yourself to glory. There was a time where you lived on the edge of your sword and skill. You sharpen your fangs knowing your very lives depended on it. But then…" The Master wrinkled as he gestured the wine glass in his hand. "Then… you covered yourself in glory. You dulled your fangs. You became… civilized… decadent." And the master poured the so called beverage of the royalties to the ground. "Your victory defeated you. You forget what desperation means. The fighter you once were has been glutted with fine wine and cheese snacks." He looked in disgust at Corner's fine attire and style. "I looked at Kage in the eye today, and I see a survivor who's been raised through hell and back again… and he still got it. He had never forgotten the need to keep his fangs sharp. Never lost that ferocity, that inhumanity that helped him survive the desperation he had endured."
"Your point?"
Master Bull turned around and took his leave. "The next time you're going after Kage, you will do so alone. And I mean, alone."
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If he recalled correctly, following back to the first days before they lift their weapons to defend themselves, Tolle always knew that, as an Advanced, Kira was a bit on the… sub standard side. He never exhibited any abnormal strength or any inhuman abilities, though his test scores are always the highest of their little group. But, hey, no big deal. Other than Sai, the rest are not exactly model students or star athletes. But somehow, everyone always knew that Kira was much smarter than he let on. They just never knew how smart he was.
He and Kira started their path of warriorhood at generally the same time. While both started it with reluctance, with Kira was even more so than Tolle, both accepted the fact that in this era of violence, it was a necessary evil that they have to commit in order to defend themselves, to at least not to be at the mercy of the cruel world. They underwent the same training regime, the same steps, the same period of time to get stronger. And yet, even then, Tolle always feel that by the end of the day, Kira was always a step ahead of him.
No big deal. He knew that Kira's an Advanced, and their constitution, even for one as sub-standard as Kira, are always better than naturals. Kira also trained twice as hard as everyone else, small wonder then, that his progress is also as rapid, in reward of his efforts. Knowing that, Tolle also became more driven to excel. He forced himself to follow Kira's Advanced tuned training regime. Wearing weights while lifting weights, one hand push up, etc, etc. If nothing else, even if Kira will always be a step ahead of him, Tolle will always be just one step away from standing side by side with him, following him closely, watching his back. And for some time, Tolle believed he can keep up.
He didn't realize then that while he was running to catch up, Kira was walking to make sure he can catch up.
There are some who can say that it all started when Kira bonded with Shiki, and they're not wrong. But the Shadowguards, Tolle, knew it started with Kuzzey. The day he died before Kira's very eyes, something lit up in Kira's heart. Something dormant and monstrous was brought to raging wakefulness. Kira immersed himself completely in his Advanced heritage, unleashing the full latency of the old ones' legacy flowing in his vein… and it transformed him completely into something that, quite frighteningly, Tolle had difficulty to comprehend with human reasoning.
That was the day Kira was done waiting for him to catch up. That was the day Kira started to sprint and run. And when he does run, he run so far ahead Tolle can no longer even get a glimpse of his back. It's like he had cast aside the shell of humanity behind and immediately entered the world of superhuman, donning the expressionless black mask and name Kage. It was a dimension completely separate from the commoner's comprehension.
But Tolle stood firm and accepted it. He accepted the fact that Kira was indeed that much superior to him. It hardly mattered, their grief for their fallen friend will always unites them, their bond of friendship will connect them, no matter how far apart the worlds they lived had become. To show this, Tolle, Sai and Milly decided to form a symbol of their bonds: Shadowguards. As the name implies, as Kira became the Shadow that protects them, then they, in turn, will protect him as well. But for Tolle, there's perhaps… an underlying personal motive…
Knock-knock…
Hikari tear her eyes away from her microscope for a moment when the door knocks. "It opens! (koff)" She found Tolle standing rather nervously at the door.
"Tolle-san? (koff)"
"Am I interrupting?"
"No. (Koff) Do come in! (koff)" Hikari prepared a chair for the shadowguard. "How can I help you? (Koff)"
"…well… actually… umm… I was wondering… about Kira."
"Uh-huh?" Lacus tilted her head at the Angel's bath. "Kira's currently in chemically induced deep sleep. I had to do it, otherwise he'll never sleep. He's got too much in his mind right now that he can barely rest!" She scoffed.
"His injuries… how are they?" Tolle flabbergasted in a whisper.
Lacus was a bit stunted at the sudden question… but then she chuckled. "Well… this is awkward."
"Awkward?"
"On all accounts… it is Kira who should be asking me such question, not his worried sick friends." Lacus shook her head in bewilderment. "That person is just too reckless to care of his own wellbeing." Nevertheless, Lacus kindly answered his questions. "Despite his constant defiance of my/doctor's orders, you'll be happy to hear that your friend is making rapid recovery."
"Ah… I see…" Funnily enough, despite his happy tone and expression, somehow, Tolle felt hollow about it.
And Lacus' ears, ever the master of catching such dissonance in verbal communications, perceived it without a flaw. "This news displeases you?"
"What?" Tolle's heart skipped a beat and he immediately flabbergasted a reply. "No! No! Nonono! Ha! Why would I be unhappy that my friend is getting better by the minute? Hell no! Quite in fact, I CAN'T wait to see when he made full recovery! We'll be kicking butts and taking names in no time!"
A paced, stammered and excessive answer to deny her simple question simply confirmed her suspicion. Though, she didn't fully understand the 'why' of it all. "Tolle-san… were you… expecting that his injuries were severe enough… so that he'd stop fighting altogether?"
Tolle's stammering ceased as soon as that comes out of Lacus' lips. His attempt to answer back caught up in his throat. Lacus thought that he was hoping that if Kira was hurt enough, he'll no longer be able to participate in battle, and thus, he will be saved from further harm. Truth be told… that was not an entirely correct assumption… he has his own, personal reason. The same reason why he agreed to form this Shadowguard. "Well… actually… I…" It was a very selfish reason born out of the subtle feelings of envy, and it mortified him to no end that he harbored such thoughts. "I know Kira's good. But… well… I'm worried." He lied. Half lied anyway. "I'm just really scared. All I know is that we're on the verge of another fierce fighting. We'll be facing stronger and stronger opponents in the future… and at the rate Kira was going… he might… well…"
Lacus knew he was lying. She can sense another feeling buried beneath the worried tone. She detected indignity and anger, as well as self loathing. Lacus assumed this was shame talking because, as Kira's closest friend, she correctly assumed Tolle felt mortified that he had secretly wished Kira would stay injured so as to keep him safe. So desperate he was to protect his friend that he began to harbor such thoughts. Lacus shook her head and smiled bitterly beneath her mask. 'A true friend who cares for you as much as you care for them… no wonder Kira would fight to the death for this.' "Tolle… Kira's a bit… different."
"He's an Advanced and he can take a lot more hits than us?"
"Advanced had their limits too, you know. We can still die. We can still get sick and weaken. I'm the living proof that even when we are superior to naturals, we still need medical attention every now and then." Lacus smiled, but then it faltered. "No. I'm talking about Kira's state of mind."
"His mind?"
Lacus began to ponder if she should tell Tolle about what happened to Kira in the past… but after a brief moment of thinking, she realized she cannot. In retrospect, she knew of that incident by breaking and entering Kira's mind without permission. She had no right to spill it without Kira's consent. But to leave his friends in the dark forever, particularly with how concerned he was with his well being… that would not be right indeed. "In general, Kira was no different than you. Despite what he is today, he has a heart and a conscience. You understand this, right?"
"Y… Yes."
"…what differentiate Kira with you… with the other people his age… it has nothing to do with physical capability… or his intelligence." Lacus bit her lips, as she's tormented with indecision. Not sure what to say. "If anything else… Kira's prowess… came from this." Lacus gently rubbed her heart. "And it's broken and warped by forces beyond his control. I suppose I could say it's… unfortunate."
Even Tolle noticed how troubled the doctor was. "Unfortunate? Unfortunate why?"
Lacus sighed. She couldn't say it after all. "Unfortunate that we currently lived in an age of war, death, and mayhem. Unfortunate that Kira has a mind of a philosopher and scholar, and in better times, it would've been used for a greater, nobler purpose, but no. In this Dark Age, he must choose a warlord as a profession. All his talents are now directed to violence, murder, and destruction." Lacus smiled bitterly. "It is unfortunate that Kira has a predilection that allows such transition easily. I don't need to tell you how that would be bad… for everyone… and more importantly… to him."
And for a moment, Tolle wanted to ask more, but then, the two heard a commotion, and some splashing. Kira had just finished his therapy for the day. Both realized this conversation can no longer be continued when Kira is in earshot.
A moment later, still slightly drenched and bare chested Kira opened the door wearing only a towel and noticed Hikari and Tolle.
Lacus held a slight blush upon seeing Kira's well toned figure. It's… perfect. It was beautiful and tough at the same time. Said blush was immediately followed by a frown when she saw some scars in his body. Big, small, it marred him. An accumulation of gruesome trophies of all the violence that Kira had endured… Lacus had a strong suspicion that these scars are not all of them. Many more, healed by Kira's unusually strong regenerative power, had disappeared through time. On the surface they're no longer visible… but what of the insides?
Tolle also saw the same thing, and it unnerved him. Kira's strong. No question about that. It wasn't usually visible beneath all dark and fluttering coat, but there's no question that dense muscle are forming beneath his skin.
"Tolle?" Kira asked. "What's wrong?"
"Uh… no. Nothing." Tolle smiled. "How are you feeling?"
Kira tilted his neck, cracking, flexing his fist. "Getting better." He looked down at his leg and his hand rubbed at where the stumps of his limbs used to be stapled. The staples came off some time ago, but it still itches every now and then. The problem now is this head that kept hurting on him. Still, Lacus' treatment is working. It's a lot less than it used to be, and now he can push himself longer and longer. Kira looked at Hikari and smiled lightly. "Thank you. You're a miracle worker."
"And you're the worst patient any doctor ever had the misfortune to meet. (koff) I lost 10 years of my life for every second you're under my care. (koff)" Hikari chuckled happily.
"Go~ood for you." Kira snorted as he moved to the wardrobe. A second later, and he's out in his Shinobi clothing as Kage again. "Right… let's get some chow, I'm starving."
00000000000000
Kage, Hikari, the two Shadowguards, Xingke, Mwu, Murrue and Natarle gathered in Kage's office around the dining table, with Master Bull's dish unpacked and ready to be savored.
"It's… it's a whole charred beef!?"
That's right. Master Bull's dish is an entire cow, cooked until it's as black as coal. Minus its head.
"Yikes." Mwu may not be a cook, but he knew a burnt dish when he sees one. "He burned the whole cow…"
"I don't think so…" Kage grabbed a knife. "And it's not a cow… it's a veal." He began sharpening the knife in preparation to cut the dish down to size.
"What's the difference?"
Kage didn't answer and start cutting into the cow. As soon as he did, he felt… something really weird. "Wait a minute…" He cut open the blackened skin… and beneath it… "Look at that juice." The black charcoal is only on the surface. Beneath it is moist and juicy meat, sign that it was cooked to perfection.
"Wow. (Koff) That is one juicy meat. (koff)"
Kage also tasted the blackened skin. "Oh I see… this charcoal beef. There's no bitter taste of burnt flesh. Rather… he's using a diluted charred vegetable sauce to coat the beef. It brings out the taste of the beef beneath it." Kage chuckled. The Master was using his principle with that veggie noodle and meat broth. He cut a small slice and gave it to Hikari for poison checking. It easily checks out. And when Kage tasted a small slice for himself, he nodded in approval at how delicious it was. As Kage cut deeper, he was expecting his knife will come into contact with bone soon… and he found something else. "Wait a minute?"
He pulled his knife away and then he sliced the veal sideways, completely slicing the stomach open. As soon as he did, the veal sprang open with a snap… revealing…
"A… pork?" Everyone gaped. There's a whole roasted boar inside the split open veal. Its skin is gleaming golden brown. Kage poked the skin several times and it's crisps and strong.
"He stuffed the whole pork inside deboned veal?" Murrue whistled in awe.
"I see…" Xingke nodded in awe. "When the beef was cooked, the boar is stuffed inside the beef, and so it is lightly cooked by the heat of the beef."
This time, Kage cut the pork, the skin and the meat inside. He gave a slice to Hiakri, and the poison test checks out before he tried it himself. It's sweet and juicy, and crunchy. The fat melts in his mouth, along with all the spices, aggressively seasoning the meat. "Huh…" His eyes twitched.
"What?" Mwu asked.
Kage didn't answer, but it seems he sensed something when he tasted the boar and then he start cutting deeper into the boar. He split the pig's back open and inside revealed…
"Pigeon!? (koff)" Hikari shrieked in horror. "Pigeon!? (koff)"
Two whole baked pigeons were stuffed inside the roast boar. It was also cooked to perfection.
"Pigeon!? (koff)" For some reason, Hikari found the whole idea as revolting.
"Okay… so… a pair of pigeons stuffed inside a boar, stuffed inside a veal. Three in one. Label me impressed." Mwu whistled.
"Pigeon? (Koff)" She repeated.
Kage cut the pigeon, it has been deboned and there's nothing in it. He gave a slice to Hikari… and she didn't seem to be in the mood to eat.
"Pigeon!? (koff)" She repeated.
"Yes. It's a pigeon. What's wrong with it?" Kage cut the tirade short.
"Well… Pigeon… (koff) they're so cute… (koff) and fluffy… (koff) and cute… (koff) and funny… (koff) and cute… (koff) and… and… did I say cute already? (koff) And… and… How could you eat such a cute and fluffy creatures!? (koff)" Hikari innocently moaned again in horror. "Pigeon… the horror… the pigeonity… Poor Mr. Pigeon…"
Kage slapped his face. Of all the stupidest reason she can find for her bubbly headed side to act up… "Oh for the love of…!?" Finally Kage bypassed the poison check for the last bit and personally took a bite. It tasted good. The pigeon is moist, soft, and juicy, cooked perfectly. Most importantly, nothing happened. Poison check complete.
Finally, Kage began cutting the dish and distributed it to everyone. Mwu, Murrue and Natarle had nothing but praises at how delicious the dish was. The same can be said for the Shadowguards… Hikari, still overly enamored with Pigeon, couldn't bear the thought of taking a bite out of the avian meat. She just sat there moaning "Mr. Pigeon…" while cursing to the gods why they make Pigeons so delicious. But the picky and thoughtful eaters, namely Kage and Xingke, had their brows knitted the whole time.
"This dish… it's…" Kage frowned as he looked at the food in front of him.
"It's weird… is that what you're trying to say, Kage-darren?" Xingke immediately guessed correctly.
"Weird how?" Mwu asked.
"Well… for one thing…" Kage sighed. "…it's a total failure."
"Eh?" Those who don't get it jawdropped. They don't get it because to them, the food was sublime. "Why did you call it a failure?" Murrue asked.
"Because of the imbalance of flavor." Kage pointed at the three types of protein in his plate. "Individually they taste great. But you try to eat them together… the spices in the pork completely overwhelmed the taste of everything else. No beef, no pigeon. It's not a correct combination. Eat them together, and I only taste the pig."
"But it still taste good… right?"
"If I want to taste just the pork, why should I bother stuffing it inside such a well prepared and well cooked veal or having a perfectly cooked pigeons stuffed inside it?" Kage rolled his eyes. "A stuffed dish like this… if I eat it… I should be able to taste each individual part clearly, even when I eat them together. There should be a balance of flavor with a clear layered taste. Beef, pork and pigeon. I don't taste that here. Only the spices, only the pork. This dish is a total failure." Kage shrugged. "Which is why I'm so confused right now."
The non culinary experts in the table were confused as well. "Why are you confused?" Natarle asked.
"Master Bull is a very prideful cook." Xingke answered. "He would rather die than to present a failed dish to anyone. As a masterchef, he should've known the dish's shortcoming more than anyone… and yet he gave it to us anyway."
"Unless…" Kage rubbed his chin. "They're not for simple eating. Master Bull send this here as a… message."
"Message…?" Mwu scratched his head. Dang it, he's not good when it comes to puzzles. "Well that's bad. We've eaten most of the letter!"
"No. Let's deconstruct the dish. There are three components. Veal, Pork, and Pigeons." Kage stated as he counted his fingers. And then he easily deduced it: "Three ingredients… and the Triads are composed of three major components: Axe Gang, Krung Trep and the Wang Clan."
"The veal is… Master Bull? The Axe Gang? Awkward choice of ingredient…" Xingke frowned.
Kage studied the dish again, remembering every detail. The black color, the taste… and the design. A headless veal. "…Indeed… message in a dish… I get it."
"Yes?"
"A black headless veal. The black means the Dark Axes. He cut off the head, means, it's charging along without a head." Kage nodded. "He's trying to tell us that he lost control of the Dark Axes. Those attacks done to us recently were NOT under his command. Does Master Bull has a… son? His direct successor?"
Xingke gulped. "Yes he does. You're telling me this dish is… Master Bull asking you to… behead his son?"
The audience gasped in shock.
Kage frowned. "Let's not jump to conclusion before we read the whole letter. The pig. It signifies the Krung Trep; the slang word 'capitalist pig', I suppose. A pig with an overpowering taste that overwhelm everything else. Master Bull is trying to tell us that Krung Trep has gained too much power and overwhelmed the other groups. The one that made this dish faulty. I suppose he's trying to tell us to 'fix' it."
"And the pigeon?"
"Obviously, the Wang Clan. Pigeons are the bird often associated as nature's messenger, bringing information via air. And… one whose message I don't really understand." Kage scratched his head. "The pigeon worked well with the beef AND the pig. But… what's the message in this? What does the master want me to do with them?"
It seems everyone is also at lost. The message on the veal and the pork is easy. But the pigeon…
As Kage pondered this, Murrue tilted her head, as if trying to look at the pigeons from a different perspective.
"Captain Ramias?" Natarle asked. "Is something the matter?"
"Hm? No… Nothing. Could be coincidence…"
Then again, Kage and everyone on the table had already turned their eyes to Murrue. All demanded her to just out with it.
Murrue finally nodded. "The way these pigeons are positioned. With how they were positioned back to back like this. Somehow I found it very familiar. Like I've seen it before, but I can't quite remember where."
"Ah!" Natarle snapped her finger. "I remember, Captain Ramias! Permission to leave the premises for a moment."
"Granted." Kage dumbly nodded.
Some few minutes later, Natarle returned and produced a newspaper for everyone to see.
"Outframe… Times?" Everyone read. And then everyone understood what Murrue was getting at. In-between Outframe and Times, there's an illustration of a pair of pigeons stood tall back to back. Exactly just like how the two cooked pigeons are positioned.
"Outframe Times…" Xingke shrugged. "It's a very little known newspaper. Not very big, with very small viewership. There are 20 newspapers in this town, why did Master Bull pointed this one?"
Mwu in turn asked Murrue. "Why did YOU pick it up?"
"No reason." Murrue shrugged. "We simply collected all newspaper to keep updated with the state of the world. Then again…" Murrue pointed at the Outframe's headline. "This newspaper is somewhat… unique."
Everyone read the headline…
KAGE: HERO OR ANARCHIST?
Kage, the Black devil whose name rocked the world for the last couple of weeks once again proved his capacity as a harbinger of destruction and murder. Barely a few days after his calamitous arrival which involved almost crashing his massive warship right into the heart of Shanghai, a multitude of incidents once again occurred which bring about massive destruction that seems to be this up and coming warlord's signature style. Beginning with the explosive and brutal skirmish that ended with the destruction of the Drunken Cattle restaurant, a showdown between three of his elite guard that left the streets of Shanghai a charred ruin, followed by another destructive incident in a secret weapon cache that left many dead and injured, culminating in the latest event in which the captain is directly involved, two buildings were brought down. While there's an argument that things have become much calmer ever since, this paper had to question that if, and when, the Captain had pacified this city, there won't be much left of the city. We talk about how acts of violence of this scale will encourage more anarchy. Continued on page xx, column yy…
All eyes turned to Kage, the one who received the brunt of the verbal abuse from this particular article… and he took it with a calm stoicism he was known for. "Well… he's not wrong about one thing… I've been causing a LOT of damage to this city ever since I came." In fact, if anything, Kage was more interested rather than offended. "Who wrote the article?"
A quick check at the name… "Jess Rabble." Natarle answered as she handed the newspaper to Kage's requesting hand. He began eagerly read whatever this Jass Rabble has written about him. The author surely doesn't spare his tongue lashing.
"That name means anything to you?" Mwu frowned to Xingke.
"Well…" Xingke rubbed his temple. "I've been hearing that name a little too often. He's been involved with multiple incidents… bar brawls, fights, and some case of harassment…"
Everyone's brows knitted in confusion. "Is he a… (koff)… ruffian? (koff)"
"No… He's a journalist. A reporter, specializing in war documentary." Xingke reiterated. "He has a sharp way with words. His pen was so sharp, he often inquire the wrath of people that his writings criticize. Most often, they are powerful people with deep connection with the military, or the military themselves. And more often than not, his writings spoke ill of some of their practices. Those sort of blatant writings are not exactly welcome… even when they're true. ESPECIALLY when they're true. And thus they send some of their… associates to soften him up… time… and again."
"Hrmm… (Koff) so much for the freedom of press… (koff)" Hikari looked at how much Kage was drawn into reading every word written by Jess; even though those words harshly criticize him as "…a man who inspire others to bring out their worst side, and seem hell-bent to see the world burn all around him. Hm…" The shinobi rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Interesting fellow…"
"Oh no. (koff)"
"What?"
"I know that tone! (koff) Kage! (Koff) You are NOT going to that man's office! (koff)"
"I didn't say anything." Kage defended.
"I hate myself for getting to know you a little too well. (koff)" Hikari grumbled. "You and your penchant for hands on approach! (koff)"
Yeah. There it is. Lacus just spoke the most important point about Kira. He loves to take a personal approach. Not because he likes to run a one man show. And certainly not because he couldn't trust anyone else, he just prefers to take on the most delicate and difficult job for himself, if nothing else, to ensure it was done right, and prevent risk of being hurt to anyone else but himself.
But even with Hikari protesting, it was clear that Kage's plans are set and he will go on with it, whether the doctor agrees to it or not. "I'm just gonna go there and talk. Just a friendly civil chat. What harm is there in that?"
"The last time you went out for a civil chat, (koff) you came back with your wounds reopened (koff) and your neck nearly bent the wrong way! (koff)" Hikari argued back. Quite correctly. "I can't leave you alone for even a second! (koff)"
"If there's need to talk with him… you can send us instead." Tolle volunteered. Much to Milly's surprise.
"No. I can't do that." Kage shook his head. "This is something I have to do myself. After all, it's me he's writing on that article. Besides, you have other duties to perform. By my count, there should only be… one shipment left?" Everyone nodded. "Take care of it."
"Me? But I…" Tolle gulped. After his last failure, he's not exactly sure he's the right man for the job anymore.
"It's okay." Kage assured him with a nod. "This is your job. While I took over a little bit in the middle to settle my affairs, it was always yours to finish." To make his point, Kage scratched some notes on a piece of paper, filling it with his usual instruction and then he handed it to Tolle, who reluctantly took it.
"I… I won't fail you again." Tolle gripped the instruction tightly.
"You never did." Kage smiled beneath that mask. But for Tolle, somehow, he felt that smile is too painful to watch.
00000000000000
Tolle and Milly were preparing to leave for the last shipment. They take smaller number of men, but this time, Lancer (Gino) goes with them. Kage and Hikari saw them off at the gate.
Just before they leave, Gino looked at the Princess, as if to make sure that she's in safe hands, and then he turned to the person who's supposedly responsible for her safety. "…" He wordlessly asked the question with his look to Kage.
Kage nodded as he produced a file he procured from Yahiko, drawn straight from the Yakuzas' surprisingly thorough archive.
Gino took the file, but before it left Kage's hand, the black masked man had a few words of caution. "Fair warning. You pull that thread… and you might be faced with a rather hard choice along the way."
"Choice?"
"Are you Gino Weinberg… or are you a knight of Zaft… that kind of choice." And the folder left his hand.
Gino opened the first page, read the name and saw it is exactly what he wanted, what he needed. Kage had kept his words. Gino sighed. "I made that choice a long time ago."
"There's a difference between making that choice… and living it." Kage spoke from personal experience.
Gino nevertheless gave the Shinobi a nod before he put the folder away for later reading. Right now, he has his own word to keep. He brandished his three pronged scythe, and became Lancer once again. "I'm ready."
"We're off." Saber nodded, Kage and Hikari send them on their way.
"Is this wise?" Lacus asked as she removed her helmet to get some fresh air in a while after assuring no one is looking.
"This operation was originally Tolle's. He's the one with connections with the Shepards. Without him, we may have lost too many men and resources to some bunch of bandits and thugs." Likewise, Kira also removed his mask, just for a moment.
"That's not what I meant." Lacus shook her head. "Tolle and I spoke a little while ago. He speaks concern for you. But beneath that, I sensed something else. I sensed desperation. Shame. A sense of deep depression."
"…Well, we're in the middle of a war. I'd be surprised if one does not feel that sort of thing in times like these."
"Clearly. But, again, that's not what I meant."
"Lacus, he recently lost his whole squadron. I understand. He's feeling guilty about it, so he's desperate to make amends."
"Do you?" Lacus raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
"Excuse me?" Kira frowned at the pink haired doctor.
"Do you REALLY understand what it means to lose so badly? You're the Black Devil. Your men trusted you for you are synonymous with the surety of victory and glory. And their beliefs in you are vindicated with how you would always deliver them just that. You have the skills and strength to do that. But… have you ever tasted such crushing loss? To be hopelessly, hilariously outclassed by an enemy vastly superior to you and watch as they take down all your men around you?"
"I have." Kira answered as his eyes rolled to Lacus. "…when I fought against Veia… he thoroughly outclassed me. Goud poisoned me… and several dozen men and Captain Harlbarton had to pay with their lives to buy a half dead kid some time."
"I know." Lacus mourned and sympathized for Kira in genuine concern. "I saw it when I was in your head. It's not your fault."
"If you really saw the insides of my head, then you know that it was my fault." Kira's fist tightened and his teeth clenched beneath his lips. "…and don't get me started on my soldiers who died when I called in those invading Zaft armies to Archangel and left them to their mercy… I can't take all those lives that were lost because of my various commands lightly."
"I never said that." Lacus gently caressed Kira's face, hoping her touch will soothe his inner pain. Unknown to her, it worked as Kira's dark eyes softened somewhat as she directed them to meet with hers. "I'm saying that you should honor their memory, allow them the dignity of their choice. Stop blaming yourself. Kuzzey-san must've thought you're worth it. All those men who died to give you time to recover so that you can stand up to Lord Veia… Every one of them wouldn't want you to endlessly wallow in sorrow over their deaths."
"Your point?"
"Kage, we both know, that half the reason why your friends stood by your side, is because they share your grief. If you continue to allow your guilt to weigh your grief, it will undoubtedly adversely affect your friends as well; such was their loyalty to the friendship you all share." Lacus put down her hand. "Make time to talk with Tolle. You're too busy managing your army, I think you're starting to forget they were not just your men, they're your friends."
"…I didn't forget. I never forget."
"I sure hope so." Lacus sensed incoming people and put her helmet back on. "(kosssff…) I'll say again: (koff) Talk to Tolle-kun. (Koff) Now, I believe we have company. (koff)"
Kira also put his mask back on just as he saw someone approaching them.
It was Xingke. "Captain, there's someone here who wants to see you."
It was Mrs. Anna, and her children, Elle, Hikari and Akira. "Mrs. Anna. Why are you here?" Kage gently asked.
"Nothing. I'm just here to say thank you… and goodbye." Mrs. Anna smiled happily. "Mr. Xingke has found a place for us and the other refugees to stay. He's about to escort us there. But I feel I have to say proper farewell to my saviors first." Mrs. Anna bowed in gratitude to Kage and HIkari.
"Ah… I see…" Kage felt a little bad. All this events happening, he almost forgot about the refugees they've taken with them in the Archangel.
Hikari chuckled and knelt down to pat Elle's hair. The girl liked the feeling and smiled back. "How are your little brother and sister? (koff) You all get enough to eat?"
"They're doing fine, Doctor." Mrs. Anna tucked the two babies, sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Where are you taking them?" Kage turned to Xingke.
"Jingzhou city. It's inland. Very deep in the heart of China. Far away from any theaters of conflict, and it has little to no strategic value, so the enemies will never be interested to get there… assuming they can get that far deep. Just in case, there's also a squadron in that city tasked to watch over the city, and them. They'll be well cared and well fed, you have my word."
"Tell that squadron if I hear them mistreating these refugees, they'll answer to me." Kage gave a light glare to Xingke.
"Don't worry. In some ways, they do." Xingke smirked. "It's the 105th and some squadron from the Genesis."
The glare vanished, but his eyes twitched slightly.
Mrs. Anna once again thanked Kage before she prepares to leave. Elle also gave Kage and Hikari something. A paper flower. One colored purple, the other pink. Elle took great pains to make it so that it looked just like the chocolate flower Lacus once kindly gave her.
Lacus happily accepted the simple but wonderful gift, as do Kage. Two troopers came in and took custody of the lady and her children. She gave one last bow before she and her family left their sights.
"You put an army of Samurai veterans inland?" While he's happy the security of the refugees is now assured, Kage asked the tactical advantage of putting an army of super soldiers at the back.
"Truth be told, there aren't much of them left." Xingke explained. "I don't know how Orb did it, but these Samurais of the 105th cannot replenish their ranks, they cannot train new generation, they cannot fully impart what they know to new recruits. Their skills degrade rapidly with each generation. Most of the first original generation was killed long ago. Those that remained are but a shadow of their seniors."
Kage and Hikari looked at each other. They knew exactly why. The Conditioning. Not that they'll tell Xingke anything about that…
"Regardless…" Xingke also didn't push it further. "…I'm not saying they're not strong enough… but you and I know where their loyalty truly lies. So, understandably, we don't really trust them that much. But we have to keep our friends close…"
"…and keep your enemies… and potential enemies… closer." Kage surmised. He would understand that the most. He had his number one arch enemy pretending to be his girlfriend and personal physician for cryin' out loud. "Oh well… Time to go."
"And go… where? (koff)" Hikari barked.
"To that newspaper office, of course."
"You're not going anywhere mister! (koff)" Hikari put her hands on her waists. "I still haven't agreed to let you go anywhere into this city! (koff)"
"Relax. Now that I got Yakuza and the Mob, safe to say I practically owned half the city, right?" Kage raised a finger. "Besides, I'm not going there to stir some trouble. I just want to borrow a few things."
Inwardly wondering what exactly he wanted to borrow so badly that he'd be willing to risk his life, Hikari still adamantly refused. "Be that as it may, (koff) that simply means half the city will still be out for your blood. (koff)"
"I can just… do that thing the other day and walk in plain sight…"
"THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED, A BUILDING WAS BLOWN UP AND YOU NEARLY GOT BURIED IN RUBBLE! (KOFFF) YOU SIR, ARE A CERTIFIABLE MAGNET TO TROUBLE! (koff)" Hikari shrieked for all her lungs worth.
"Look who's talking miss-I-went-to-shop-returned-a-mafia-queen!" Kage retorted with a much calmer voice.
"If… If you must go, can't this… (koff) this business you're so keen to do wait? (koff)"
"I can no longer wait." Kage brandished the newspaper in his hand. "The paper came out a few days ago. Even if you say this paper have few readerships, those few readers may be able to read behind the lines and grasp what's in this paper. And if any of them had any malicious intent and took the initiative… In fact… I may have been too late." Kage paraded the newspaper as he pointed at a specific part: the address of the author. "I fear they're already on their way… if they haven't arrived already."
Hikari pouted. But in the end, after a moment of pondering, she nodded. "Fine. If you must go, then go. (koff)" Kage turned to leave… "But I'll decide how to do it! (KOFF!)" Hikari grabbed Kage's collar and yanked him back before he can move a step.
Xingke can only follow awkwardly as Hikari dragged the helpless captain all the way to the doctor's atelier. There are all sorts of things in there, flasks containing samples dipped in amniotic fluids, tubes containing multicolored substances, some are boiling, some are freezing, and some are even staring back… a true witches' atelier. And no witch atelier is complete without a…
"Fireplace?" Kage gaped in disbelief. "How in god's name did you create a fireplace without my knowledge or permission!?"
"Whoever said I need your permission? (koff)" Hikari grumpily removed the potion cauldron away from the fire and shove more firewood to feed it, make it even bigger. She then grabbed a bronze colored Haro. "Remember Lera? (koff)"
"…?" No, Kage didn't remember. (AN: in case you guys didn't remember, it's chapter 31)
On call, the Bronze colored Haro then turned into her human form. Like all Haros, she turned into another carbon copy of Lacus with different outfit and gear. In this case, Lera turned into something of a… cowgirl. Complete with boots, cowboy hat whose shades cover her bronze eyes, long frilly trench coat, scarf… and a pair of some magical looking revolver gun, strapped to her belts of bullets on her waist. Her hair was braided on both sides, framing her face. "Howdy, master." The Cowgirl Lera stylishly pushed her hat up with a finger to sneak a peek at those who's requesting her service.
"Howdy, Lera. (koff) We need Floo for three. (koff)"
"Three… righto." Lera counted three: Kage, Hikari and Xingke. "Where are you skedaddlin' to?"
"I think we need a map. (koff)"
Xingke produced the map of Shanghai and Kage matched the location on the newspaper to that on the map. "Right, we need to go here…" He pointed at a small alley. Barely visible on the map.
"Gosh… I don't think there'll be any fireplace in that joint, master. Maybe I can direct you to a fireplace on another building near that spot?" Lera pondered out loud.
"Fireplace?" Kage and Xingke echoed as they looked at Hikari and her shikigami in horror.
"Here. (koff)" Hikari tapped a building just a few blocks away from the desired destination. "The Wu Hu Xing Tavern. (koff) Any self respecting tavern would have a fireplace. (koff)"
"Wait a second, what is this about fireplace!?" Kage protested. He doesn't understand what's going to happen, and he doesn't like it… Not. One. bit.
"Right you are, Master. Right then. Floo for three, was it?" Both the master and the Shikigami ignored Kage's question as Lera plucked three rounds from her belt. She cracked one open and poured its content. It looked like a grey greenish dust with sparkles shining out of it. Meanwhile, Hikari stoked the fire on her fireplace, make it larger and larger still. Once she's certain the flame was big enough, and by big enough, means huge enough to tower over Kage, then she turned to the first victim.
"Oi! What the heck is this?" Kage took a step back.
"This is called the Floo Powder. (koff)" Lera gave the floo powder to Hikari. "A method of transportation developed by Magia Collegia. (koff) Made from a mixture of the grounded bones of Geryon. (koff) The Steed of Space… from Lera's ranch. (koff)"
Lera saluted coolly with a tip of her cowboy hat.
"What it does, (koff) is bend space, (koff) creating a portal from which you can move instantly from place to place. (koff) Pretty similar to Mwu-san's Hiraishin no Jutsu."
"Urmmm… Okay… I get the point…" He once teleported a gigantic 100 ton tungsten bullet from the barrel of the Lohengrin to his torso. The concept is hardly surprising. There's just one wrinkle… "But what's with the fireworks?" Kage pointed at the large flame, of which Hikari is dragging him towards.
"Well… the dust is still work in progress. But what we learned is that, it only works when it's on fire. That being said, it allows us to teleport from one fireplace to another in a blink of an eye. Albeit the teleported party will suffer some burns." Hikari pushed the still unwilling Kage as he inched ever closer to the blazing conflagration.
"Astounding." Xingke just as impressed as Kira was when he discovered about the Hiraishin no jutsu. "The number of its application for military purpose… it's… wow…" He shook his head in amazement.
"No. So far, it's only good for civil purpose. One cannot teleport an army, if that's what you're insinuating. It's too unstable for that. One handful for one person. That's the safe dosage. Anymore and… sheesh… it's not a pretty sight." Hikari explained as she showed a small dosage of Floo Powder to a curious Xingke. "It requires a significant amount of energy just to transport one person to another place. That requirement increases exponentially the further the destination. What's more, repeated use of one tunnel without pause can have dire consequences… you might end up with unsavory side effects upon exit…"
"Like having half of my body shot to one end of the city, my ass hurled to another!?" Kage is still in a state of protest, now edging on panic!
"If you're lucky. There is also twisted limb switching, mass displacement mutation, and not to mention losing, or gaining, limbs on bizarre locations…" Hikari listed the unsavory side effects, and the listeners winced. "Worst case scenario, you might not exit at all."
"WHAT!?" Kage squealed. He's but an inch away from the flame, now that he realized the gravity of the situation, he struggled to run away… alas and alack, Hikari planted a needle on Kira's neck, and his whole body went stiff. Hikari dragged the paralyzed Kage into the fireplace. "AND YOU CALL ME SUICIDAL!?" He shrieked.
"Don't worry. This fireplace is fresh. First travels using fresh fireplace is a guaranteed success. The most important thing is that one has to speak the name of their destination out loud. Otherwise… you might end up somewhere different."
"Wait… Wait…" Kage tried to protest one more time…
Too late, Hikari tossed the Floo Powder into the fire just as Hikari shouted into the flame: "WU HU XING TAVERN!" An instant later, the towering flame turned green, with gleams of rainbow streaks of light. It spirals around, whirling and spinning, creating vortex of blazing green fire. At the eye of the storm… there's only pitch black darkness where no light can reach out.
"Right. (koff) In you go! (koff)" Hikari dumped him into the portal. The second Kage's foot vanished into the flame, the whirring vortex of fire disappeared, and the flames also went out instantly.
Now even Xingke is worried. "Is he… gonna be okay?"
"Well… it's 50/50. (koff)"
"Excuse me!?"
"The problem is, we need an equally huge fire on the other end for the transfer to be stable. (koff) And when I say equal, I mean equal! (Koff) If the fire on the other end died, then the floo network will spit him back out when I relight the fire. (koff) If the fire is too big, he'll probably acquire some third degree burn here and there. (koff) If it's too small then… well… worst case scenario, I may have to stitch him back together… again. (koff)" But Hikari immediately, and gleefully, dismiss such concern. "Now, we'll wait for five minutes for the tunnel to stabilize again, (koff) then I'll relight the fireplace, (koff) then, if nothing was spitted out, we'll send you in, Xingke-darren. (koff)"
"…" Xingke nervously gazed at Hikari, with a slight nauseating tinge of horror… The danger to himself notwithstanding, he had a feeling the doctor was doing all this to Kage on purpose…
00000000000000
As Tolle, Milly and Gino are nearing their destination, Tolle took a moment to have a little chat with their… part-timing and freelancer Shadowguard. "So… you're helping us… again?"
"I'm returning a favor to your leader. Considering the pains he went through to get it, my honor would not have it if I do not repay the favor in kind." Gino explained calmly. Just by taking a small glean at the file Kage had procured with his blood and sweat, the confusion that has annoyed him greatly in the last few days was alleviated immensely, brightening his day, though by no means does it mean that all his troubles are over. "I heard the whole story from the crew… didn't think this city would be this… severe. Definitely not the image I had about Shanghai."
"Zaft knew about Shanghai?"
"Of course. One of the 'pearls of the Orient'. The fame of Shanghai's market reached far and wide, yes, even to Zaft. Some of the most exotic goods in the Empire like Chinese silk, pottery, spices, perfume, etc… they came from this market. Of course, given the fact it's heavily under Alliance occupation, we have to use intermediaries to buy the stuff… at exorbitant price too." Gino's dreamy explanation faded as soon as he laid eyes on one of the many vagrants loitering around the city with dead eyes. "But I guess reality will always be different than what you imagined."
"Yeah, well… every bright city ought to have their darkness."
"I suppose so." Gino calmly nodded. "Still… it's pretty nerve wrecking. I've never seen so many Alliance trooper gathered in one place." He fidgeted nervously seeing many ships of the Eleventh Naval division coming in into the harbor, each ship discharge squads after squads of troopers. However, he suspected the same is also happening in Boaz. A million strong army gathered… Between their selective breeding, blood purity obsession, and the toll of the war, the Advanced race are not exactly the most prolific of race. To amass that many forces is quite unheard of. And yet… even with that many knights… seeing the numbers and weapons the Alliance had amassed in this city alone… the surety of victory is still far off. The tensions are high as everyone is preparing for what will be undoubtedly one of the greatest battle ever occurred in their history.
"Speaking of Alliance troopers…"
"Hm?"
Tolle choose his words carfully. "The Empire… doesn't develop firearms do they?"
"Well, we developed cannons. But as for ones used for infantry… No. we do not have firearms. Or rather… not yet." Gino tried to answer what he can. "Of course prototypes have been made… but between instability, unreliability of the material, constant massive injury and occasional deaths of the scientist involved when said prototype exploded on their faces in a misfire… we're still lifetimes away from mass production."
"So you fought firearms with… sword, spear, bows and arrow, shield, and armor…"
"And our bloodline limit." Gino quickly added.
"Yeah… but still… you're not an archer… you're a spearman. How would you handle firearms?"
Gino snorted at Tolle's blunt question. "You're actually… asking ME… ME of all people… to give you tips how to handle firearms!? To teach you how Zaft deal with Alliance Firearms!?"
Tolle swallowed a gulp, suddenly realizing the ridiculousness of asking an enemy to teach his enemy how his comrades will fight him. "Urm… well… (Sigh)… is that… weird?"
"Well…" Gino laughed lightheartedly. He's surprisingly in a much lighter mood. Enough to laugh about it. "Tolle, you're with the Alliance. You got a lot less to worry about from guns."
"Events of the last few days say otherwise. Just because I'm an Alliance doesn't mean I won't find myself at the wrong end of the crosshairs."
"Point taken…" Gino nodded in understanding. Giving him a few pointers won't hurt. "Well… as you say, Zaft fight firearms with bow, arrow, sword, spear, shield and armor. Most traditionally, we bunker down in a tightly knit shield formation and hold it in as the Alliance unleashed salvo after salvo of bullets upon us. Of course, when they bring out the big guns, that's when we have to move our ass."
"But… that would leave you at the mercy of the smaller guns."
"Indeed. At that point, it's every man for himself." Gino sighed then move on to the main point. "The point is, you need to learn how to time it. When you're facing firearms, the bigger the bang, the longer it'll take for the next bang to come out. Of course, the Alliance has taken to the practices of rotating their firing team in stages. I believe you Japanese invented the system. Some ancient Warlord named Nobunaga something…"
Tolle entered a blank unknowing stare and paled. "Sorry. I got C- on my history lesson."
00000000000000
Bushido had barely recovered from his injuries when a letter reached him. The message was short:
The Flag has been raised at Five Star.
Jumping out of his bed and going against his nurse protesting argument, the masked Samurai departed from Archangel regardless and headed towards a tavern. Waiting for him at the front door of the tavern was a young tall man of Japanese descent with light brunette hair tied in a topknot ponytail. The white coat over his dress said that he belong in the laboratory. His brown eyes widened in delight behind the pair of glasses resting on his nose when he caught sight of Bushido. "Gra… no… It's Bushido now, is it?" The man smiled in greeting.
"You can call this one anyway you like, Billy Katagiri, my old friend." Bushido nodded, though Billy insisted on a handshake, which Bushido obliged.
Billy noticed the still bleeding bandages that covered Bushido's hand. "Good God, Bushido. You didn't just run away from hospital just to see us, do you?"
"You know this one from childhood. Surely you would know the answer." Bushido gave a rarely displayed smirk.
Billy chuckled and shouldered his friend in.
The tavern is noisy, dirty, barmaids run here and fro delivering orders, people laughing. A huge fireplace in the middle is burning, warming the room as huge chunks of meat were being roasted over the flame. The cook walked in and placed a cauldron full of soup atop the fire. Inside, the entire wing of the restaurant has been reserved for an entire squadron. Upon sight of the masked man, the table's occupants, all but one, rose up and saluted. "GRAHAM!" They all cheered and two in particular rushed to meet the masked man.
Bushido recognized the two as his most trusted troopers, Daryl Dodge, a tanned man with red dreadlocked hair, and Howard Mason, a bespectacled Caucasian.
"Sergeant! It's been a while!" Daryl cheered. "The Overflags haven't been the same without you."
"This one is not a sergeant anymore, Daryl." Bushido looked around, and he saw new faces and some of the old. Granted, all are marked with experience and confidence found on the elites.
"Yes. I've heard." A voice rise up, belonging to one person, the only person in the Overflags squadron, a blonde haired man, drinking quietly to himself. "From sergeant to foot soldier… that's one hell of a career development."
The cheer stopped as all eyes turned to the lone troop sitting away from the other excited troopers. Bushido tilted his head to get a better look at the person. Another new face.
"Joshua, what are you sitting there for? This is Graham Aker. He's your senior, come say hello." Daryl gestured him to come, but the trooper merely shrugged.
Bushido immediately translated that this… Joshua… isn't very fond of him. For some reason.
Everyone then sat down, with Bushido seated at the head of the table, next to Billy. He didn't waste time with the pleasantries. "Before This One begin, this one would like to thank you all for gathering here like we used to do at such short notice." They chuckled and nodded. "This one realized it wasn't exactly easy. With a great battle is but moments away."
"Hey, don't sweat it G." Daryl grinned wide. "Actually, we're also pretty curious on how are you doing in the 7th. I heard the new captain is a real bad ass."
"Well…" Graham snorted. "He's no Harlbarton. Let's get the obvious out of the way."
"Did he really do… all that stuff people say he do?" Howard asked. "With all due respect, they seem like the stuff of fairy tale."
"Well… to be perfectly honest, most of them, this one also hears from other soldiers, thusly, it is inevitable that they took the liberty of aggrandizing the fact a bit. However, of the few that this one had witnessed personally, they were more than enough to vindicate those tales."
"Really?" Billy blinked in amazement. "When Harlbarton died, you came back to the 7th division a little earlier because you were worried right? Well… now that said division is in capable hands… maybe you can now put your mind at ease and return to us?"
"Actually…" Graham smiled. "…it's quite the reverse. This one thinks… that this squadron would be better of… to follow Kage's lead."
The excited chatter in that table grinded to a halt in an instant.
One of the troopers snorted. "HA! Good one G." He thought Graham was joking.
One more look at his eyes, and everyone on that table realized… he's not joking.
"What is this?" Joshua was the first to break the silence with a sneer. "Don't tell me, you're just like that Simca, all in love with that captain?"
"Love? This one wasn't sure that's the word." Bushido sighed. "…but… this one doesn't deny that there's… something… about the captain. Something that goes beyond his strategic brilliance and physical capability, something that make people want to follow him. To fight for him. I think you can call it charisma or something…"
Bushido's comment was cut short by the unnaturally loud sound of roaring fire.
The fire at the tavern's fireplace suddenly burst out of control, in addition to it changing color… from yellow to green, much to the horror of the barkeepers and maids. Everyone turned their attention to the fireplace. The troopers on the scene also made a move to their guns, wondering what sort wickedness is afoot…
BANG!
And a second later, the cauldron on the fireplace exploded in a brilliant conflagration. Sparks of multicolored fire shot out… followed swiftly by a black clad man with his ass on fire suddenly burst out of the green flame, with the soup cauldron covering the upper half of his body. After a short flight, the man crash-landed, cauldron covered face first, right on the troopers' table, smashing everything in the way, spraying food and drink allover their faces, his still burning ass sticking up upon landing.
Everyone stare dumbly at the cauldron man that just exploded out of the fireplace with their jaws slacked open wider than their eyes.
Bushido immediately recognized the black coat beneath the cauldron. "Lord…" He immediately removed the cauldron and beheld his poor captain… slightly singed here and there, his entire upper half covered in a smoking hot onion smelling cream soup of a muck. "Captain?" Bushido gently poked.
"Hrmgh?" A growl from the muck covered captain showed that he's still alive. When he got up, the whole spinning world is still covered in the color of the muck… and his face… his whole body still feel numb allover thanks to wacky trip with that magic dust or whatever…
When he entered that portal of fire, what happened is that… it's like he's freefalling off a cliff at top speed… but he didn't fall straight. He spins around, barrel roll; at one time he even thought he fell upward. But the searing heat ravaged his whole being, numbing all his senses. And finally, he saw the end of that crazy trip… a light at the end of the whirring fiery tunnel. And that's just about the last thing he remembered when he got shot out of that phantasmagoria of wackiness, and then a splash into darkness.
Truth be told, when Bushido pulled the cauldron off his head and help him up, the world is still spinning, covered in muck. His whole body is still in the numb… he assumed it was the side effect of the magic travel… then he realized… it's that damn acupuncture needle at the back of his neck, paralyzing him neck down. He can barely make a yellow colored Bushido in front of him. "Bushido?"
"Captain?"
"Bushido… there's… there's a needle at the back of my neck… paralyzing my whole body… pull it out."
Bushido looked back and saw the needle sticking on his neck. He plucked it out.
Bad call.
As soon as the needle pulled out, Kage's body jumpstarted, the numbness disappeared… and with it the searing heat of the piping hot soup is fully registered by his whole nerve endings not to mention the fact that his ass is still on fire…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHH!" Kage jumped and screamed in sheer horror and pain. He kept screaming and screaming, panicking like never before. Kage ran around, yelling and howling like mad.
Bushido looked around, he quickly grabbed a barrel full of water and immediately splashed the captain, cooling him off and washes away most of the searing soup off his body.
And the captain fell on his knees, heaving and panting, holding his face… thank goodness for his Advanced Heritage… and the fact that the soup wasn't that hot… yet. Otherwise it would've melted the flesh off his bones. Besides… that's the least of his problem right now… something is about to jump out of his throat. He looked around wildly, looking for something he can use as a container… he found a spit pot. He scampered towards it, grabbed the pot, and hurled his guts out.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEKKK!"
"…" The whole crowd winced in disgust.
"Captain?" Bushido fidgeted closer to the still vomiting captain. "Are you alright?"
"Hurl… grlm… B… Bushi-do… I… It's… a…hurlhgh!?" Kage turned again and vomited into the pot. This time he can see his breakfast. Magic travel doesn't seem to agree with him… having his face free falling into a cauldron full of hot soup also helps.
"Sir, I'm…" Billy somehow found his voice again. "I'm Billy Katagiri, Grah-Bushido's friend… and I'm almost afraid to ask… did you just… free fall down the chimney?"
After another dose of vomiting, Kage looked at the speaker and answered as he panted. "You… have… no idea…" And he's back to vomiting.
As he handed the vomit filled, almost spilling, spit pot to a frowning innkeeper, he looked at the masked juppongatana. "…Bushido…" Now that his mental faculty is back together, he noticed a lot of people in one wing are looking at him with curiosity. All armed, all dressed in uniforms, all were splattered by food and drink thanks to his violent arrival. Troopers. An entire squadron. "Bushido… are they your old squadron?"
"Indeed. Everyone, officer on deck!" Bushido gestured the table. Seeing a ranking officer, albeit one that is half drenched in soup and water, everyone get up on their feet and saluted. "They're this one's dearest old friends and brothers in arms. You've met Billy Katagiri. This is Howard, Daryl… and the rest of the Overflag squadron."
"Overflag Squadron… ah, at ease soldiers." Kage nodded politely to return their salute as he noticed their boots. Every one of them has those special boots used by cowboy to rile their horses. They wear black light leather armor, pack minimal weaponry to prioritize speed. And they stink of horse. "Cavalry specialized Squadron?"
"Yes." Bushido nodded as the squadron returned to their seats.
Kage quickly deduced the situation, as usual. "When you speak to me about gambling on a possibility… you're talking about them?"
"It's kind of a longshot. But one that is worth a try."
Kage looked at them, studying their features… chief among them, how they have food splattered allover their being, courtesy of his crashlanding. "…sorry about this mess." Kage bowed down apologetically.
The troopers nodded back.
It was then Kage also noticed a pink paper slipped inside his coat pocket. It was a note from Lacus. His eyes rolled as he read the paper. "Hmm…"
"What is that?" Bushido asked.
"…" Kage decided to read the paper out loud. "Kage, if you're reading this, then I assume you've successfully arrived at your destination with your physical and mental faculty as a human intact. If so, then you must immediately relight the fireplace where you popped out, for there will be two more people arriving shortly."
"Eh?" Billy blinked in confusion.
"That being said, I think it's best if you fellers moved the table away. I'd say you've all had enough of being splattered with food for today, yes?" He turned to the innkeeper. "Please relight the fire… and don't put any chicken onion cream soup filled cauldron in it for a while, please?"
Soon, the fireplace was reignited, and the squadron moved the table away. While they wait, Bushido offered Kage a seat. "It would be an honor if you would join the table, Captain."
Kage found no reason to refuse. But as he took his seat, he felt like all eyes on the table were strained at his masked face. As if they were trying to figure out what he looked like beneath that black piece of cloth. The Dark captain took their attention in his stride, having gotten used to it at some point. He found the best way to counter it is to simply stare back nonchalantly and break the silence. "So… what kind of squadron are the Overflag?"
"A Squadron comprised entirely of Dragoons. That's mounted troopers, specializing in rapid insertion strikes. But Overflag are no ordinary Dragoon only squadron. To put it simply, it is a squadron comprised of the Best Dragoons in the 10th no… the entire Alliance. An All Star gathering." Bushido proudly explained.
"That's just… putting it kindly." Billy smiled nervously as he has a different definition. "We're also a bunch of rebellious troublemakers with lousy disciplinary record. The sort of people who had trouble listening to orders."
"I can see that… seeing there are three people here who defied doctor's orders…"
Billy blinked in confusion. "Three? Don't you mean just one?" Billy was referring to Bushido.
Kage chuckled. "One is Bushido, the other is me… and the other one is that guy with a sprained leg." And Kage pointed at a surprised Joshua.
Joshua frowned. The Captain hit a bullseye. "How did you…"
"What's your name?"
"Joshua Edwards."
"Right. Mr. Edwards, the way you stand up told me everything." Kage explained. "You're right handed. When people are right handed, they also instinctively used their right leg more often as a pivot. Doing it the other way around even consciously felt… wrong, and people will immediately switched to their main leg. But just now, out of all troopers who stood up to salute me when they got up, you're 1.3 seconds behind, and you're using your left leg as a main pivot. Something you're not used to do."
The troopers at the table gawked in awe and surprise. The wrinkle in Joshua's face grew more evident.
"Seeing the surprised look in your teammates… I stand corrected. You didn't defy doctor's orders, but you kept it quiet from everyone. So I'm guessing the cause of injury is something rather… embarrassing or discreet. Maybe training accident when you disembark from your horse or something?"
"Your point? Sir?" Joshua snapped.
Kage knew it when he had struck a chord. "I'm just saying you better get that looked at, soldier."
"It's just a small wound, and it won't stop me, sir!"
"Feel free to bring out the bravado when there is no other option or the time to fix the injury. A simple injury like that can be the difference between life and death in real battle." Kage tilted his head to a flabbergasting Billy. "Katagiri-san here is a surgeon is he not? Let him have a look."
"How did you know I'm a surgeon?" Last he checked, Billy hasn't said a word about his profession.
"Your hands." Kage pointed the obvious that everyone missed. "Unlike regular trooper's hands, those hands are too soft to handle guns and firearms. They also didn't tremble much, a sign of steady hands, both talent and practice. That means either sniper or surgeon. Yet you smell like human blood, and medicines. Also you wear prescription glasses for the farsighted and your complexion doesn't indicate much outdoor work. So, Surgeon."
Everyone on the table bar Bushido had their jaws on the floor.
Kage ignored the jawdrops and returned to the main case. "Now back to you, as I was saying you better get that leg checked up while you had the chance."
"I'm fine, sir!" An annoyed Joshua retorted.
And once again, seeing Joshua's annoyed look, Kage was able to read the situation as he sighed exasperatedly. "Look. I'm not trying to humiliate you in front of your teammates. But injuries are serious matters. Not laughing matter. Just giving you a little advice on something that might save your live."
"And what makes you think I need your advice, sir?"
"I've killed a lot of people, watched a lot of people getting killed. And insofar, last I checked… ego and pride killed more people than it saved." He glared at the still deviant Joshua. "Your teammates are not there to laugh at you. They are there to watch your back so that you can watch theirs. And that is only if you let them. Get that leg looked at, Mr. Edwards." That last one was no longer an advice, it's an order.
"Look. It's okay! Besides, why should you worry? You're not even my captain! And never will be!"
Suddenly, the fireplace lit up again. The flame turned green as it formed a circular portal of fire… and Xingke was shot out of the flame. Unlike Kage, no cauldron in the way, and he also managed to land more gracefully than the first test subject.
The Troopers went eyes wide when they saw their actual superior officer, second highest authority in the whole 10th division just jumped out of the flame. "O… Officer on deck!"
The Overflag Squadron immediately and hastily stood up to salute. Joshua also tried hard to stand up uniformly like the rest, but this time, the pain he endured to do so was obvious for everyone to see.
"At ease." Xingke nodded. He noticed Kage also nodded from his seat. "Kage-darren. I see you've gotten yourself acquainted with one of 10th's finest squadrons."
"Swell people. Every one of them."
Xingke also noticed Joshua's pained expression. "What's wrong with you, soldier?"
Before Joshua can deny it, Kage took over. "His leg is badly injured and he refused medical treatment. You talk to him Xingke, he's being unreasonable."
"Injured?" Xingke looked at Kage, and then to Joshua's defiant look. "Hmm… Mr. Edwards. You will let Katagiri-darren check that injury of yours. This is an order."
That being said, as a trooper of the 10th, the headstrong Dragoon finally relented as Billy got up to do his job as a surgeon. As it turns out, Kage was on the money. "Goodness gracious, Joshua!" Billy gaped as soon as he get a good look at the state his leg was in. "It's swelling! It's literally bursting out of your boots! What on earth have you been doing!?"
"None of your damn business." Joshua grunted.
Seeing Joshua's rebellious attitude, Xingke merely shook his head in understanding. "Well… Dragoons of the Overflags had never been known to be the most cooperative with their superior officers. I assumed you've tried to issue an order to enforce your point, Captain Kage?"
Kage shrugged. "I merely… implied an order. Not sure if I have the right to pull ranks against soldiers that aren't part of my division."
"I see." Xingke nodded. "Then, for the sake of clarity, allow me to explain further regarding the limits of your authority, Kage-darren. As you well know, there are 13 divisions in the Alliance, each with their own captains and officers. A captain has absolute control of his/her division. Captains are allowed to restructure the military hierarchy of their division as they see fit, adding subdivisions and additional rules as one see fit. That's why divisions can be so different with one another, the 10th Regular having more than one lieutenant and divide their army into squadrons, 11th Navy have their fleets and ship captains, the 7th Militia have their juppongatana, and most recently their Shadowguard elites as well. However they change it, all troopers and soldiers from each division will answer to that captain. As for the case of cross division authority… well… I suppose the part that is most often misunderstood by the rank and file is that… soldiers or troopers from one division think that they have no need to answer to the captains of another division other than their own."
"You're saying they had it wrong." Kage blinked as he glanced at the Overflag on the table. "You're saying I have the right to issue orders to soldiers not of my own division?"
"Not entirely. But even though you are a captain of the 7th division, you are still a captain. Which means you outranked mere troopers, sergeants, and, barring extreme circumstances, even lieutenants like myself from ANY division. A cross division captain's order requires permission from captain whose division said order will affect, and even then, it can be countermanded anytime by the captain of the said division. I believe you've experienced that yourself when Captain Mwu countermanded your decision to execute your little brother."
"Excuse me!?" Billy choked.
"He tried to execute his WHAT!?" Daryl and Howard gawked.
Kage ignored the surprised and terrified gasp as he's in deep thought, taking in Xingke's explanation. "Well thank you. Now I get a clearer picture of what I can and cannot do… but back up a little bit to that part where you mentioned extreme circumstances when a lieutenant's authority are not superseded by captains. What sort of circumstances is that?"
"Well… bluntly speaking. When a captain died without naming his successor, the seat of power momentarily rest with the lieutenant until the lieutenant became the new captain, or a new captain was chosen."
"Hoo… When Harlbarton died he named me successor… and thus Canard remained a lieutenant."
"Indeed, there are several ways a captain being chosen." Xingke continued his explanation. "The first is being named as the successor by the previous captain. After which, the successor require approval from either at least 2 captains, or, official authorization from the captain of the 1st division, the Supreme Commander in Chief. Your appointment, as I understand it, follows this pattern, specifically the former."
"Mwu-san… and Ramias-san."
"Indeed. The second way is that… if your captain was killed without choosing a successor, and then the lieutenant was not there to take your place, the soldiers had the right to nominate one of their own as the new captain. Granted, said nominee must survive a tough scrutinizing test from multiple Captains to prove himself."
Kage rolled his eyes. "…is that what Rena's doing to me?"
Xingke didn't answer. He only smiled.
"There's also another way isn't it?" Joshua suddenly spoke up.
"Another way?"
"If you can kill your superior officer, you have the right to take his place."
"Watch your mouth, Joshua!" Suddenly, the cheery atmosphere on the table disappeared. Everyone angrily looked at Joshua.
"…" Kage looked at Xingke questioningly.
"Mr. Edwards. Please. Such method is not an officially recognized procedure." Xingke replied. "What's more we've already ruled that accident as a friendly fire."
Joshua merely smirked as he turned to Kage. "You better be careful Captain. Or else you might end up getting a friendly fire on your back too, sir."
Kage merely rolled his eyes. But the atmosphere quickly became strangely tense and awkward which threatened to continue on and on… until…
"Oh no, not again!" The innkeeper gasped in horror when the bonfire in his fireplace turned raging green. Seconds later, the green fire spit out the third passenger, the armored Doctor Hikari.
"Wheeeee!" And just like Xingke, she landed much gracefully than Kage's messy arrival. Her cheerful squeal also melted the chilly atmosphere of the tavern, somewhat. "I'm here! (koff) What sort of injury did I miss now? (koff)"
Kage growled in anger. "Did you know there will be a cauldron at the end of the road when you toss me into the fire!?"
"And how am I supposed to know that!? (koff) Pray tell? (koff)" Though everyone can easily detected the glee in her voice.
"I'd like to point out the fact that you blew a fuse and branded me suicidal and yet this is how you treat your patient!?"
"This is called reverse psychology. (koff)" Hikari innocently explained with a disturbingly cheerful tone. "Since you always defy me whenever I tried to convince you of the danger you pose to yourself; (koff) Maybe, just maybe, if I turn a little bit murderous, (koff) you'll get my point."
"I'll kill you. I swear to god, if I'm going to die, you are coming with me to hell before then."
"If your condition hadn't improved at all, I would not do this. (koff)" Hikari chortled calmly. "Relax. (Koff) No matter how I'm going to damage you, certainly I would not have you killed by a cauldron? (koff)" Hikari sneered. "You deserve far worse. (koff)" and grinned.
Sweat drop all around. Kage can only glare. "Shall we go?"
"Yes. Of course." Xingke make ready to leave.
But before Kage leave, he turned to Bushido. "I don't care." He began to speak before Bushido can say a word. "Everybody has their tale. I have mine, so do you. You never question mine, and so I won't question yours. Now is not the time for questions or doubts, but when such need someday arise, I expected you'll answer them with your blade and deed, not your words."
Bushido was seemingly stumped for a moment… but then he bowed his head in silent gratitude.
"As for your warning Mr. Joshua. Here's what I think." Kage paused for a moment before the tavern exit. "Ever since I captained the 7th division, there are plenty of people who tried to kill me. An Immortal Hakutenkun, a vengeful army of bladebanes, a shrewd Hakutenkun who can control Hellfire leading an army of fiery zealots, a Hakutenkun who can literally move mountains with his bare hands, an Undead Legendary Hakutenkun and his whole freakin army of Undead legendary knights… fuck, even my girlfriend tried to kill me at daily basis." He pointed his chin at the armored doctor. "As you can see… they all tried… and insofar it only left me half dead but still alive and kickin."
The whole Overflag squadron dumbly nodded…
"So if you think a mere friendly fire can do me in… well…" The dark captain raised both of his hands as if to present a target. "You're welcome to try… but… if I get over it, I will have revenge." Somehow everyone find it in them to snort.
As Kage, Hikari and Xingke finally left their sights through the tavern door, Billy chuckled. "Right. I think I know why you've 'fallen' for him, old friend."
00000000000000
Meanwhile the three Shadowguards had arrived to their destination.
"So… basically this is the last one right?" Gino nodded as the Genesis crew loaded the last carriage with firearms and weapons.
"And just in case, we go straight to the rendezvous point." Tolle stated.
"Rendezvous point?"
No sooner then they put three steps on the street; they can already see a gathering of people of unsavory sorts.
"Sheesh… and I thought they've learned their lesson already…" One of the Soldiers groaned.
"You'll be surprised what desperation can do." Gino sighed as he moved to the front, scythe at the ready in a threatening manner.
"Taka?"
"Don't worry." He began concentrating, stretching out his scythe as it gathered Ether on the blades until they began to glow orange hot. "Just gonna scatter them a bit…" The glowing flaming scythe began to generate fire, and it formed into an eagle of fire, parched on the scythe. The thugs were unnerved when they saw an eagle made out of fire is staring at them menacingly… and when said flaming construct take flight, they immediately turned tail and run. By the time the eagle landed with a crashing explosion, the street is cleared of all potential threat.
Tolle whistled in awe. "So that's Arcane Magic?"
"Yeah." Gino shouldered his smoking scythe. "That's also one way we can handle long range combat… we bombard them with spells from afar… ah, you Japs called it Jutsu right?"
"Kage once told us those two are quite different… but… I kinda forget in what way…" Tolle groaned.
Sometime later they've arrived at the so called rendezvous point, which is essentially the sewage access hole in the middle of the street. Milly banged the lid in a rhyme. Opening the lid was Garrus.
"Hello there, Milly. And is that Lancer? Or is that another copycat?"
"Garrus-san, it's okay." Milly smiled. "He's okay. He's a friend." Gino also nodded seeing a familiar face.
Garrus nodded back. "Okay. Let's get this over with! Bring them in!"
And so the troopers began unloading the weapon into the sewer manhole. Down in the manhole, Garrus' squadron is waiting and they start taking the weapons with them.
Gino was quite unfamiliar with this procedure, and so Milly explained. "This is how we've been getting the weapon safely. There's a network of interconnected sewer tunnels down beneath Shanghai. The Shepards had made these sewers their home, they know the system inside out."
"And if you know the system, it can take you to any place you want to go." Garrus smirked.
"The best bit is, it's undetectable. If you don't know your way, it's a literal labyrinth down there."
"Yosh." Milly handed Garrus the last of the guns. "Right then, we'll go with you for this last shipment. That's okay right?"
"Sure." Garrus nodded.
Tolle send his soldiers back to Archangel while all the Shadowguards joined Garrus down the manhole.
The Sniper led the Shadowguards down the dark sewers. For the first two Shadowguards, they're quite familiar with the stink and winding underground tunnel. But for Gino, this is his first time, and his warrior discipline is pretty much the only thing keeping him from groaning. "So… all those guns… you've been transporting them to Archangel in this manner?"
"Not all of them. Fully one third really." Tolle smiled. "And in return, Kage promised to give the Shepards half the guns."
"Truth be told, we don't need that many." Garrus laughed. "Though we probably gonna need the ammo."
Not long, they've arrived at the Shepard's underground sewer dock where the Normandy was anchored. There, Shepards crew had all the firearms and munitions stored in the Normandy's magazine.
Welcoming them are the two Shepards siblings. "This is the last, yes?" Kyle welcomed them aboard.
Tolle nodded.
"Let's get this over with. All hands, to your stations!"
Soon, the troopers quickly boarded the black sleek ship as the anchors were pulled up.
The Three Shadowguards stood on the deck, where Joker took the helm. But the three quickly noticed something peculiar with the way Joker take the wheel. Most of the time, a wheelman must pilot the ship standing up… but not only the Normandy's steering wheel are sank nearly halfway down the deck floor, there's also a chair stationed behind the wheel. As if it was designed specifically for the wheelman to take the wheel while sitting down. And indeed, Joker sat down as he take the wheel.
The Shadowguards had this questioning look in their eyes.
"I got brittle bones on my leg." Joker explained with a smirk. "If I jerked them, do any sudden violent movements, my own weight will break my leg bones like glass."
"Huh?" The three Shadowguards jawdropped, wondering how can a man with such handicap chose to be a sailor. The Ocean is anything but not violent.
"Not to worry." Maria understands their concern. "I have yet to see a single ship that Joker can't commandeer."
"Speaking of ships, maybe I'm asking a stupid question seeing you guys had managed to bring the ship down here in the first place… but how exactly are you going to bring all these Weapons to Archangel?" Gino asked.
"All drains lead to the Ocean kid." Kyle explained. "It's just the matter knowing which way to go and where it'll take us."
"Right, start rowing down there!" Joker spoke to the horn.
The rower crew at the lower deck moved to their station as rowing paddles began to extend out of both sides of the ship. And then together, the paddlers began moving back and forth in a disciplined rhyme, rowing the unhooked ship forward. The ship moved forward at a steady pace towards a giant tunnel…
"Wait a second!" Gino suddenly noticed where they headed. "W… We're not going through there… right!?" He pointed at what's waiting at the end of the tunnel.
The water flows on and on forward… and then it ended in a line… a sign they're heading to a fall.
Tolle and Milly finally noticed what they've gotten themselves into. "W… Wait a second! We heard nothing of this!?" They looked in panic to the Shepards.
"Ah, that's right. This is also your first time watching us doing the delivery, right?" Kyle calmly shrugged.
"Just open your mouth and keep your tongues in… or you might end up biting them off." Maria added with glee.
Too little too late, the rowers had brought the ship to the very edge of the entrance to the plummet of death, and the ship's forward bow stretched out of the flowing water just a bit… before it began to tilt downward into the inevitable drop.
Finally, with one last row from the paddler team, the strong stream and the sheer weight of the ship itself did the rest. "Fasten your seatbelts!" Joker grinned in almost maniacal manner.
"Fasten our whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!" The three Shadowguards' screams of terror were quickly drowned by the roaring sound of the ship sliding down the tunnel at breakneck speed.
"WHOOOHOOO!" Joker squealed in excited joy as the Normandy surfed down, carried by the massive current of sewage water in a speed that is anything but safe. Pretty soon the view of the dark and damp ceiling of the drainage tunnel turned into blur as the ship became faster and faster, the deeper it went. Soon, the end of that descend is right in their sights. And yet that was just the beginning of a wild stomach churning ride. The moment the ship reached the bottom, Joker wasted no time to use the momentum from that descent to turn the ship to another tunnel, also in descent, which means, another accelerating fall.
"YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WONDERING…" Gino struggled to get the question out amidst his mouth's frantic attempt to squeal in fright like a girl. "IS IT ACTUALLY POSSIBLE TO CREATE A DRAINAGE TUNNEL THIS LONG AND DEEP BENEATH THE CITY!?" The ship seems to keep going down in a slide and never slowed down, only speeding up.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Milly screamed his lungs out as he hold on to the mast for his dear life. "I DON'T CARE!"
"FIND A HAPPY PLACE! FIND A HAPPY PLACE! FINDAHAPPYPLACE!" Tolle tried his best to keep his Zen and dignity intact…
Suddenly, the tunnel went up, and there's a bright light at the end of the tunnel and the ship began to climb up the ramp at slightly decelerated speed. But as soon as the ship pushed through the light…
The Normandy shot out of pipe outlet… right into a great empty space.
All three Shadowguards had their souls flying out of their mouth when they realized what just happened.
Still carrying the momentum from their fast descent, the Normandy still managed to float forward for a couple of dozen meters from the outlet opening before it began its descent/slash/free fall.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!" At that point, the white eyed and pale Shadowguard passengers forgotten all dignity and squealed their lungs out.
As it turns out, the ship is falling straight into another pipe hole lying conveniently down below. They barely managed to enter the hole in one piece as sparks of fire lit up when the ship's metal plated hull grinded with the steel pipe. But the ship quickly burst through a curtain of falling water from an overhead pipe and splashed back into the water stream, and thus start the next round of this wild aquatic roller coaster ride.
"JOKER!" Maria roared amidst the roaring waters. "BE CAREFUL! NORMANDY'S HEAVIER THAN NORMAL WITH ALL THIS ADDITIONAL LOAD!"
"I KNOW!" Joker laughed before he spins the wheel like a manic, and the ship twisted violently in sharp turn towards another intersecting drainage pipe.
"It's okay! Just think of it as-" Kyle tried to calm the three obviously panicking guests.
"Um, Brother?" Lord knows what Kyle was trying to synonymize this wild ride with as Maria nodded at those three said guest. "I reckon they've gone stiff."
The Three Shadowguards had long since fainted. Fortunately, they were so tense when they passed out; their body was locked in its position of holding fast as tight as they can to whatever fixed object they can wrap their arms around.
"Well… just prepare the sick bag when they woke up." Joker groaned. "I don't want them vomiting allover the deck."
00000000000000
Walking out of the Tavern, their destination was but a few blocks away. Following the map, it should be just a short walk down into a narrow alleyway that everyone seems to ignore. It's easy to see why. It stinks, dirty, and rat infested, seeing how the local resident had been using that corner to throw in their trash.
The entrance of the office for the Newspaper they seek… is located at the very end of that narrow alleyway, right past the gauntlet of rotten garbage and shit laden road. It's the last place anyone would want to go.
Curiously enough, said entrance is being guarded by an army of Troopers.
"What's going on? (koff)" An alarmed Hikari quickly assumed the worst. "Could it be… it's just like what Xingke-san said? (koff) That Journalist we're looking for once again incurred the wrath of someone from the army… (Koff)"
"No… I don't think so." Kage thought about it for a minute. "Xingke… what do you make of them?"
"…Sergeants. Every one of them… that's what I would say based on clothing alone… and yet… I don't know from which squadron they hail from."
He also whispered to Hikari. "You're the sensor. What do you pick?"
"Ah…" Hikari nodded and fidgeted her ears. Awkwardly enough, she didn't catch any signs of violence inside. It was… "Too quiet. There's nothing happening inside. There are… four people in there… but judging by their heartbeats, they're all quite calm… except one in particular seems to be pretty spirited…" She whispered.
"Hmmm…" Suddenly, Kage landed on a certain deduction, after observing and factoring all these points. The Dark Captain simply dropped the hiding and start waltzing in.
The Troopers were surprised when they saw the captain just appeared from the dark. Initially they aimed their guns at him, but upon recognition they calmed themselves, and one of them welcomed the captain with a respectful bow. Hikari immediately recognized him as Hong Long, Wang Liue Mei's bodyguard in the restaurant. "Welcome, Captain Kage. Lady Hikari. Lieutenant Xing Ke." They gestured the entrance. "Please. Do come in. Our master's waiting."
Kage who had pretty much deduced what's happening was not surprised by this warm treatment, but Hikari was still slightly puzzled.
As they walked through the entrance, two people were waiting for them.
And inside, one of them are, not so surprisingly, Wang Liu Mei. "Welcome, Captain kage. We've been expecting you."
But, the other three people inside…
While Wang Liu Mei stood calmly in waiting, one elegantly remained seated on his chair. An effeminate man with short raven hair, dressed regally in a red and blue long coat, with a silvery white animal fur coat on his collar that extends down and draped his shoulders. If someone like Wang Liu Mei took the trouble to remain standing up while this man had the luxury to remain seated, that denotes he's someone of greater rank than one of the boss of triad. The fact he has an army of elite Sergeant for bodyguards can only mean one thing.
"Of course you have." Kage grunted. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting another member of the Logos Foundation?"
The Man sitting on the table smiled even wider.
"Eh?" Hikari still didn't get it. "He's a member of Logos!?"
"In charge of Mass Media. One of the most important things in war is information control. The ignorant masses don't need to know facts that pertain to the uglier side of the war. There has to be someone to make sure the Alliance is portrayed as the hero." Kage jerked his thumb to the man on the table. "And that's his job specification. You need massive resources to be able to alter information for the whole wide world. Something that only a member of a Logos Foundation can afford."
"My name is Matias Adukarf." The man finally introduced himself as he stood up and gave a respectful bow. "Owner and founder of the Adukarf Media group. And you've met my associate and head of our Chinese branch, Ms. Wang Liu Mei."
Wang Liu Mei also bowed courteously.
Matias smiled. "But enough about me. I know who you're here for, Mr. Kage. May I present the one you're looking for, Mr. Jess Rabble." Matias gestured at another young man, wearing a red coat over yellow shirt. A distinguishing feature was his hair. It's a short part raven colored hair, part blonde. And he has these… deviant eyes as he looked at Kage.
"You're Jess Rabble?"
"I'm not going to redact what I wrote!" Jess crossed his arms defiantly. "I don't care what you do to me, I'll write nothing BUT the TRUTH!"
"…huh?" Kage was at loss for once.
"Go ahead and burn me and torture me or whatever! I'll never redact what I've written!"
Kage scratched his head, understanding why this confused young man would get the wrong idea. "And why would I want to do that?"
"I… what?"
"I'm not gonna do anything. There's nothing wrong in what you write. Although… I do have a few inquiries."
"E… Eh?" Jess stopped his tirade for a minute, and his jaw hung low.
"But that is for later. At least now you know that I'm not here to rough you up, so can you please tell your bodyguard back there to take it easy?" Kage can already feel the suppressed murder lust from another person behind Jess reaching the nape of his neck.
But the fourth and final man immediately chuckled and walked out of the shadow. He's clearly older than Jess, with wild dark yellow hair and small black goatee at his chin. He wears a loose blue Trooper Kevlar jacket over what appears to be a body tight black armor. "Well, aren't you sharp?" Upon knowing that Kage was not here to make a mess, the man ceased all hostility and offered a handshake to Kage. "Name's Kaite Madigan. A pleasure, Captain."
Kage accepted the handshake… and then he felt something. The way that man pressed his well muscled fingers around his hand, as if he was suppressing and controlling his strength…
"Wait… you're an Advanced?"
Kaite snorted. "I'm a mercenary. My loyalty's with the highest bidder."
Kage once again studied Kaite's features. His armor is a work of art. Scarred and damaged, but it is of high quality and well cared. The same can be said to his weaponry and equipment. Kaite's physical built showed traces of many scars of varying age, denoting his veterancy in combat. Top mercenary, with top quality weapon means considerable payment is needed to secure his service. Judging by Jess' condition and disposition… it seems impossible for him to afford the mercenary's rate. Which means… "I don't understand." Kage looked at Matias. "You hired Mr. Madigan to protect Jess Rabble?"
Kaite jaw hung dumbly. He didn't remember breathing a word about who paid his bills.
Matias seems hardly surprised with Kage's skill of deduction. "Well done, Mr. Kage. Though I suppose the answer is quite obvious isn't it? Jess Rabble is one my subordinates. I owned this newspaper, and so, he worked for me. It is only natural for me to protect my asset."
"Thank you for stating the obvious. What I'm confused at is… why would someone like Jess… someone with the guts to say black is black is working under your employ." Kage tilted his head in confusion. "Your job is to prevent the black from coming out and whiten the grey ones so that the public can sleep soundly at night. What he's doing is directly in opposition in what you're supposed to be doing. So why is he in your employ? What's your end game?"
"Splendid." Adukarf's smile grew increasingly wider. "Most splendid. Please, Mr. Kage, let us have a little chat. Take a seat and have some tea. Mr. Rabble, ready your pen. This may well be your finest article yet."
Kage's brows were raised. He momentarily looked at Xingke, who merely showed that he was as confused as he is. In the end, Kage took up the offer and sit before the Logos Minister. Kaite poured some tea on Kage's cup and then he stand guard.
"Now." Adukarf started. "I know that your time is precious, so I will answer your question. But to answer it, I must answer it with a question. Mr. Kage… what do you think of this world?"
Kage jerked back in surprise. He didn't expect to receive such question first thing. But he quickly calmed down, his eyes narrowed while his mind formulated an answer. "…that… depends… on what you define as the world." Adukarf's eyes twinkle with interest. "If we're talking about the world as a whole… the world as defined by general people's understanding of it… then I say this is a wonderful world. A world forged by greater sires with their blood and sweat… regrettably, this same world are currently being torn apart by war and destruction brought about by a race of hopeless idiots living in it, humanity."
Jess wrote down every word, he frowned when he came to the part where Kage accused humanity as hopeless idiots. "Excuse me? You called humanity idiots?"
Kage looked at Jess questioningly. "Look at our history. From the Time of Two Emperors, Holocaust/Founding World War, Cold War, and now the Bloody Valentine War. Humanity's history is resplendent with example of how we foolishly reenacting the same pattern over and over of Naturals VS Advanced. Instead of learning from the past, we keep repeating the same mistakes. Is that not idiocy?"
Jess was stumped back. Matias nodded in understanding before he pressed on. "And what is your other definition of the World, Mr. Kage?"
"The world based on what one have seen and felt with one's own being. In my case…" Kage shrugged. "…I've seen too much of its darker uglier side of things. My world is a cruel uncompromising world that is hell bent to keep me underfoot. To me, my world is just too… horrible. Too horrible for me to just sit down and let it go on as it is. Too horrible for its existence to continue."
"And so you decided that you, the one who has the power, skill, and most importantly, the will, have to do something about it. You want to destroy the world that you know of… and build a new one atop its ashes." Matias nodded. "Now… if you'll excuse me, may I ask another, hypothetical, question?"
Kage frowned. "You haven't exactly answered my question…"
"My sincerest apologies. I assure you, all will be cleared… it's just that… I've been following your exploits with great interest. And from all that you've done… I feel you're like a man who is… singularly consumed with a purpose. A man on a mission, so devoted and unflinching in your actions… one had to wonder… what exactly do you see at the end of your road."
At this, Jess concentrated at Kage, wondering how he will react.
"Let's say, you've won." To lighten the question, Adukarf broaden his inquiry with a hypothetical addition. "You've destroyed all your enemies and nothing stands in your way… what would you do then? What vision do you have of the world you will create… once you've destroyed the old one?" At this, Hikari silently looked at Kage. Somewhere in her heart, she too wondered on what could be Kira's endgame.
Kage's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but then they immediately, visibly, widened in surprise. "Vision? Of the world after the war? After all this?" Kage shook his head in feigned glee. Hikari and Xingke brows wrinkled meaningfully. "…I don't know." He answered calmly. "Truly… this is the first time anyone asked that of me… and now that I think about it… I never think that far. I know a lot of things… but not everything… The farthest I've seen to the future is… the next couple of maneuvers in the battlefield all the way to how the battle will end. It's pretty shortsighted… when you compare them to that long term vision you asked of me… but it was all I could do to survive. At this rate, I had a feeling I don't even care what the long-term future holds."
"You're saying you don't have an endgame?" Jess once again asked in a somewhat angry tone. "So all those deaths and destruction you've wrought… all for nothing?"
Kage send an amused glance at the Journalist. "Maybe I am exactly what you wrote in your papers. Maybe I'm just here to spread endless chaos and anarchy."
Jess frowned. "…I don't think an army led by a person like that will go far."
"You think?" Kage laughed in genuine mirth this time. "You know, I've been wondering. Mr. Rabble, you have a very strange take on journalism." Now it's Kage's turn to show his opinion. "I mean… I'm not a journalist so I know nothing but… shouldn't a journalist just… observe and record, but not trying to influence the way events are proceeding? Aren't you getting a little bit ahead of yourself by revealing your opinion so vocally?"
Kaite laughed his brains out while Jess' employers chuckled, Matias even snickered into his tea. "Sorry, capt." Kaite smirked. "Jess here love to run his own brand of journalism. That's why he got kicked out of 8 newspapers before he decided to make his own."
"I thought as much." Kage chuckled, as do everyone, at an embarrassed Jess' expense. "You hired him knowing this… yes?" Kage turned back to Matias.
"Actually, I hired him precisely because of that overly blunt inquisitive nature." Matias smiled. "I have yet been given the reason to regret my choice. For instance, thanks to his articles, I get to meet you in person."
"And you want to see me because you want to see if I have a vision for the future." Kage chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint you."
"On the contrary. You have a practiced poker face of apathy, Mr. Kage. But you know what I think? I think you're not a man who does not possess a Vision. No. You're a man looking for it." Matias finally began answering questions. "Let me tell you about my vision, Mr. Kage. My vision of the world… a world ran by the power of capitalism. Businessmen and merchant play games of war as they spend their days thinking up ways to keep the war going so that they can keep the demand for their wares up and became obscenely rich from collecting the marginal profit. Soldiers and warlords were reduced to lapdogs, thinking up ways to please their bosses so that they'll survive while enjoying the breadcrumbs from their table."
"I'd imagine some of the Logos would rejoice at the prospect." Though one can easily detect the disgust in Kage's tone.
"I suspected as much. And I was thinking… of how boring it is."
Kage raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Mr. Kage, in my humble opinion, there are two ways you can define decline." Matias took a sip before he continued. "Going down… or staying the same. What's happening to this world… is the latter. Staying the same. You define humanity as hopeless idiots, yes? I agree with you. Wholeheartedly so, quite in fact. At this rate, the world will end up being perpetual repetitions of the same history over and over again. We'll spend another centuries… getting absolutely nowhere."
"Okay. You've had your complaints. And what do you want to do about it?"
"The only thing I can." The Logos minister gracefully bowed his head in a gesture of goodwill. "I'd like to offer you my help. Such as it is the only thing I can do to… well, in your terms, burn my world down and bring about the new one."
Kage narrowed his eyes in deep thought. "…the thing about trying to burn the old world and build a new one… they make enemies. They make a HELL lot of enemies. Sometimes, they turn your… friends… into enemies."
"Another thing we both have in common I suppose." Matias chuckled. "The sheer burden of slaughtering your own kind… not the sort of burden ordinary man can carry."
At this, Jess, having just become fully aware of what he just listened and wrote, gasped. "Eh?" He looked at Matias… and then to Kage, whose wrinkles in his frowning brows grew to terrible proportion. "EHH!?" The black mask hid his tense lips that in turn hid his clenching teeth. But he remained seated and showed no other sign of imminent physical actions. The only sign the Advanced teen took issue with that comment, is how his fingers clenched deep into the arms of his chair. But then, the frown disappeared as quickly as they have appeared, and Kage merely closed his eyes in resignation. "What do you want of me?"
"Nothing." Matias smiled. "I'm only concerned with one thing Mr. Kage, to change the world. If the old world must burn for it, then so be it."
At this point, Kage's eyes turned cold and flat. "The world I envisioned… they may not be to your liking."
"Better you who are searching for a vision and possess the strength of will to realize it… than those who can only cling to the decadent past and cannot move forward." The Media Mogul smile was momentarily sullied with bitterness. "My greatest fear, Mr. Kage, is that this world will remain as it is when I finally slept in my grave. As years went on, that fear grew into desperation… until in the end, I no longer cared how or from whom the change will happen… I only care that change must happen. And now, as I said before, the vision of the future bleak and monotone world that I used to see grew steadily blurry. A change, at last, is coming. Now. In my lifetime. The day you entered the ranks of the Blacklist as one of the most feared man in Zaft Empire is probably the greatest day in my life."
There was silence for a few moments. While Adukarf was utterly unreadable, Kage was all silent, unmistakably pondering his loss and gains in the long run. A small sigh from that black mask marked a decision has been made. "Very well. I'll accept your help. What do you ask in return though? Other than the fact you seem keen to let me do whatever I want."
Matias's smile grew larger upon sensing that an agreement had finally been reached. "I only ask one thing… it will not cost you. No. I only ask… that you would allow Jess Rabble to remain in your army."
Kage rolled his eyes and Jess complexion paled. "SIR!?" He dropped his pen and notebook in horror at that verdict.
"I want him to stay at your side so as to document your actions he deemed notable enough to be assembled into a tome that will immortalize your progress. He is to remain at the task… until either he, or you, can no longer continue on the path you walk."
"I can't protect him all the time…"
"You let me worry about that." Kaite jerked a thumb to himself. "That's my job."
Kage frowned. "You're not trying to turn me into some kind of warhero for propaganda are you?"
"Well!" Matias chuckled in amusement and mischief. "Out of convenience and to assuage my other fellow 'friends' of the Logos, I might do that…" The Media Mogul smiled kindly nonetheless. "But do you know why I employed Jess Rabble, Mr. Kage? Because I feel I have no grasp of history. Not in its truest sense. Histories are made by men, and men are only as objective as they're allowed to be. The Natural's History depicted the Advanced as the evil, and the reverse when we see it from an Advanced point of view. Who is good, who is bad? History became biased when one start asking this questions. Professionally, I will write what I have to write. But on the personal level, I don't want to be lost in the game of right and wrong. I want to see and read the truth myself."
"Sometimes truth hurts."
"If it weren't, I would not be a multi billionaire by now." Matias chuckled. "Now… I don't see any other things to talk about… other than… what exactly do you need that I can help you with right now?"
Kage narrowed his brows and turned around. For a moment, he seem sent a small glance at Xingke, but then he fixed his eyes on Jess. "Master Bull directed me to this place. Certainly NOT because of your terrible tongue lashing at me… but there's something he wants me to see. Something that only you have."
"And… that is?" Jess gulped.
"Information Archive. Records of events and articles you used as the basis and reference to write your work."
"Every newspaper has that."
"Indeed they do." Kage bent his head forward to emphasize his points. "Problem is, I suspected their editors are all banana yellow, they may have already destroyed some if not all records of sensitive material, fearing Alliance censoring agents banging their door. You, on the other hand, have the guts to write what needs to be written. So I'm guessing your archive would still be intact and uncompromised. Or if not, you may have backups somewhere?"
Jess gulped and then he looked his employer. Matias gave him an encouraging look. It seems he too had expected that this is precisely what Kage had come here for.
Jess sighed in resignation. Even his boss had said it… Kage is now his new boss whether he likes it or not.
"Come this way."
Jess led Kage to hidden hatch at the back. He opened the dusty hatch, showing a staircase. "This is my archive. My main archive. We hid it down here so that whenever some bouncer came to rough me up, the archive will at least survive."
Kage nodded. Matias, seeing that everything is all set and the good dark captain also knew what to expect, decided then that he had overstayed his welcome. "Well then. Good hunting, Captain Kage."
Kage gave a silent nod and Matias returned the nod before he departed. Pretty soon, it's just the remaining non logos parties. And then, and only then, did Kage finally found his breath again.
Even with the mask, it was easy for Hikari to perceive something she never thought one can see in Kage's ever calm and calculating eyes. She saw terror and fear. "Kage? (koff)"
"…I'm not perfect. And I know that there are some things which understandings I can never fully grasp… but usually I got some ideas on where to start…" Kage fearful frown grew more evident. "But this is the first time in my life I've encountered someone which I'm completely unable to understand."
"You're not the only one." Xingke rolled his eyes in a same sense of confusion and wariness that Kage has. "Other… easier to read Ministers of Logos are much simpler. For profit, for power… it's all the same. Except him."
"If he's so… unknowable… how do you put up with him? (koff) I mean… I'm not exactly stranger to political assassination attempt… (koff)" Lacus had faced her share from the bloody radical natural hating faction at the court… those who hate Naturals, and hate God for ever spawning them unto this world, and therefore, consider the notion of peace as a blasphemy at best.
"Knowledge is power, Hikari." Kage easily understand this. Respect and understanding of the power knowledge brings is pretty much the only form of kinship he can feel with this… enigmatic Minister… which is why the fact he knew next to nothing of the man's motive frightens the Shinobi so. "As it is his job to keep the darker things of this war in the shadows, he knew a lot of things most people don't know, don't want to know… and mustn't know. That sort of knowledge can plunge the world into chaos… not exactly what we need right now."
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? (koff)"
"Actually, that is a very accurate description." Xingke grimly nodded. "While mostly he's quite calm and slow to anger, there was one time he let loose… stating that if he so chooses, using what he knew he can plunge all five Alliance nations into a mutually assured destruction of a civil war in 5 minutes."
The fact that the most experienced of them also knew little of the effeminate man simply add to Kage's uneasiness.
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The first thing that Tolle feel after he regained his senses, is that he can't feel his arms at all, neither can he feel his legs and yet he can still see said limbs are slumped to the ground. And his numb hands still attached to their proper place, and he can still will them to unlatch themselves from the Normandy's mast. He can also still see them twitching nonstop.
And then he felt a gentle strong hand grasped him by the shoulder.
"You're alright?" Shepard's gruff voice laced with concern.
"I… I'll live." Try as he might to remain calm, his lips are still trembling… but then his senses regained, and he noticed it was because the ship had finally stopped its whirling ride. They're still in the sewers, but it has widened, the stream slowed, and the track had flattened, allowing a much calmer voyage. As the relaxation reached his mind, it was quickly followed with a nauseating feeling climbing up his throat. "But… I think I'm about to…"
Just as his head began to jerk, a well prepared bag was shoved before him, and out with it came everything he has eaten this morning. Panting as he lifted his head away from bag containing his guts, Tolle looked gratefully at Shepard the elder for his preparedness.
"Happens all the time." The American trooper smiled knowingly. "…with a few exceptions…" he gestured towards the other first timers, the Lancer Shadowguard… who apparently didn't suffer the same fate as that of the other Shadowguard which is currently vomiting her guts out as the Lancer held out the vomit bag.
"Where are we?" Tolle felt a little better knowing he's not the only one with motion sickness issues. Then again… with the way Joker navigated the ship like a maniac, it'll be surprising for a natural to survive the first time without vomiting.
"We're already near the harbor. But, we'll have to sail across these sewer tunnels a little bit longer, while we wait until tomorrow dawn to deliver the guns." Maria explained. "We have to avoid the coast guards, see. We're still renegade soldiers, we don't want to get shot on sight." Shepard the younger gently patted Milly's shoulder, helping her to ease her vomiting.
Milly pant and gasped, finally finished her last dose of throwing out. "Whooo… boy… and I thought Kage's seamanship was nuts…"
"You're saying your Captain can barrel roll a destroyer?" Joker challenged.
"He jetstreamed a 100,000 long ton Battleship to steamroll a fleet of 12 battlebarges… one batch of barge at a time." Gino testified what he saw.
Challenge lost. Joker's eyes twitched in disbelief. He remembered the awesome size of the Archangel. How on earth can one jetstream THAT!?
"…" Tolle merely gave Joker's awestruck state a knowing look. Kage's unbelievable feats easily earned the admiration and shock of everyone. Even if they were to question the sanity of the story teller and demanded proof, it's a proof Kage will easily provide.
Shepard looked at Tolle's gaze… and somehow, he understands. "You're not… weak… you know."
Tolle snapped as his gaze suddenly moved to Kyle.
"I'd say you're quite strong. Stronger than most children at your age." Kyle followed. "The only problem is… you have the fortune, or perhaps misfortune, of meeting people with extraordinary circumstances. Those circumstances were so extreme; they were forced to become extraordinary themselves."
"…and what about those who are ordinary from the get go? The ones who lived a calm uneventful life? How can they keep up with the extraordinary? Should they… endure those extremes as well?"
At this, Kyle's brows wrinkled visibly. "Most of the time, those extraordinaire never asked to be the way they are. But they have little choice on the matter. If one can make a choice… one best not chose to go down that road." Shepard sighed knowingly. "Those circumstances that shaped them are not something most people would want to happen to them. Even more so because… at times… being extraordinary cost you something you can't get back."
"…he and I already lost something. But…" Tolle bit his lips. "…how can we be so different then?"
"You got me wrong Tolle-kun." Kyle remarked immediately. "People became extraordinary not because what they were born with… and certainly not because of what they've lost… it's how they deal with that loss and go on forward with what they have left."
"…and you know this?"
Kyle smiled. "Yes. That's what my late mother told me… just before a salvo of Tristan cannon blew her ship off the water. Taking her with it."
Tolle gave a knowing frown to Kyle. He remembered the story from Xing Ke. The butchery that followed stems from that incident.
That frown was recognized by Kyle for what it is. "Xingke had already told you about what we did afterwards, didn't he?" Kyle chuckled as he grabbed a soldier ration, split it in two and gave the other half to Tolle. As he took a bite of the tasteless food, Kyle sighed. "I'm not proud with it. In the weeks that followed, not a day goes by of what happened in that mine didn't haunt me. But the most painful part… is that I keep hearing my mother's final words over and over again… and how I've chosen to ignore it. It screams louder in my sleep than the angry howls of my victims. If I have a chance to do everything again differently, I will. But what's done is done. All I can do… is keep going forward."
"…when… when Kuzzey was killed…" Tolle finally opened up. "Kage… was asleep. Soundly too. We understand. He was dead tired. Between nightmares of his victims hounding his sleep and the never-ending assault from Zaft… he was ready to cue over and he did. After that, we decided to form the Shadowguards. The idea was to share his identity so can that we can also share the burden that comes with it. But…" The words came out easy. Like an overflowing dam, everything that has been burdening Tolle's mind just… spill.
"…I'm starting to think… that it was overly arrogant of us to do such a thing. In the end, it seems like we're only adding to his burden rather than helping him. His burden… was just too massive. We can't carry it, not the way he does. I knew because… I tried… and it was overwhelming. He was overwhelming." Tolle finally let it all out. All his frustration. All his… fears. What he cannot say to Lacus finally burst out. "I… I want to be more than just a copy of him. I want to be like him. I want to… to stand side by side as equal with him. But how? How do you become someone that… that amazing? That brave? That brilliant? No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to… match him. I was so desperate I even hoped if his injuries were so serious, maybe I'll have my chance then…" Behold his shame.
Shepard nodded in deep thought after hearing Tolle's heartfelt confession. "I'm sorry. I can't answer that question. They say Captains are dimensions apart from his men. But honestly, do you really have to be like that?"
Tolle blinked at the question.
"You are you. Kage is Kage. You can wear his mask and his headband, but that doesn't make you him. And there are other ways that can make you strong. If Kage's way doesn't work for you, then perhaps you should look a different way?"
"You're suggesting I have to stray from Kage's fold."
"It's not as bad as you're implying." Shepard hastily corrected the boy's train of thought. "I'm just saying that… Kage is strong. But the word strong is different from people to people. In his case, both the balance of Kage's brain and skill at arms make him 'strong'. But there are plenty more of powerful people out there, each with their own take and definition of 'strong'. If you don't know yet what you're looking for… perhaps it's best to watch and learn from others?"
Tolle didn't answer, for now he had a lot to think about…
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Deep beneath the grounds of the Out Frame Times news office…
For once, much to Lacus' relief, things really ended up just like what Kira had predicted: not one shred of violence. No building torn down, no broken bones, no blood spilled… Now, Kira just sat there in the middle of piles upon piles of dust covered papers and articles, reading them, studying them, intently so. Now here she saw the side of Kira most people often overlook. His scholarly studious side; one who would prefer to bury oneself in books and literature over bathing in the blood of his enemies.
Even Jess was taken by surprise. As soon as the Dark Captain entered the library, he became a completely different person altogether. The oppressive fearful and vigilant aura he usually sensed from warrior type disappeared. He is having a hard time trying to keep up every time the captain asked for an article that dates decades back for reference… he didn't even have time to read where exactly Kage was heading with all this. He tried to ask multiple times, but so absorbed he was in what he was doing, the only time he tried to communicate with anyone is when he asked him, or Hikari, to fetch new articles for him. Hikari fetch some food for them, but while others stopped briskly for some R&R, Kage maintain his pace, using one hand to feed his stomach with food while using the other to feed his brain with knowledge.
Hours passed, and soon, it was already midnight. The only other sound aside from Kage's scraping of shifting old pages was the sound of Kaite's snoring. Jess was already halfway of joining his partner, and only Hikari and Xingke remained fully awake. Or so it seems.
"Cough… Cough, cough!"
Xingke's covered his mouth and his body jerked with each cough. Perhaps he thought his cough will soon cease, but it continues and worsens to worrying proportion. Enough to distract Kage's unflinching focus and even woke Kaite from his slumber. Hikari as a doctor was the first to detect there's something seriously wrong with his cough. "Xingke-sama? (koff) are you okay? (koff)"
"(Cough!) Pardon me… (Cough!) It's all this dust…. (cough!) Coug! GAK!" Xingke cough grew worse. At that point, even non medical person like Jess and Kaite can see something's wrong.
"Jess, Kaite, escort the Lieutenant out of the premises. Pronto." Kage shrugged at Jess.
And so Jess and Kaite brought the ill Lieutenant out of the dusty dungeon to get some dust free air above, and soon their forms disappeared up the ceiling door. Kage's eyes suddenly became even more focused as he jumped up to his feet and look around the mountains of files and folders more intently than before. "Hikari… Lacus… you remember that dish? The two pigeons?"
Lacus frowned at the question. "What of it?" The fact of what Master Bull did to those wonderful pigeons left a bad taste in her mouth.
"How old do you think those pigeons are?"
"How old?"
"You're the pigeon expert!"
Lacus growled. "I like pigeons, doesn't mean I'm an expert!" Still, she answered. "…I'd say about… 5… 6 years old?"
"5-6 years old… so…" Kage shifted through the well organized library to the set containing information some 5-6 years ago. That set was further divided into territories. "Right… Now… here's the important part. You have the echo sensor. You know Xingke was eying the whole place… almost as intently as I did, yes? Tell me which part of the library that made his heart skipped a beat."
Lacus was even more puzzled than ever as Kage's sudden interest in Xingke's heartbeat. "Kira, I don't understand. Xingke-san's heartbeat is anything but pretty! He's a poor sickly fellow!"
"Remember Lacus… That poor sickly fellow is also the first lieutenant of the strongest division in the Alliance. If he's someone so weak as to let illness get to him, I doubt the Empire will place so high of a bounty on his head. He won't die… not just yet." Kage quickly got up on his feet. "Just the same… When we're done here, you go ahead and check up on him. See what you can do to ease his ill. But before he recovers through sheer force of will and go down here… which section?"
Lacus frowned… but then she pointed at a section. "That section. His heartrate was erratic… but when his eyes landed on that area, it shot upside down and sideways. He saw something he didn't like in there."
Kage grabbed a ladder and almost hastily climb up to that section. He pulled out the articles and read its content briefly… an unmistakable smile of triumph formed beneath that mask. "Found ya! I knew it!"
"Found what?"
"The Shepards… I knew it… the Shepards are not what they seem."
"The Shepards!? Am I missing something here? I thought you're looking for Master Bull's son?"
"They are connected! Master Bull's son and the Shepards! And this article proves it! They're so connected… which means… oh no." Kage's eyes suddenly betrayed a look of horror. "Lacus… we have to get out of here. The Shepards… Tolle, Milly, Gino… they're in danger!"
"In danger?" Lacus was immediately alarmed. "What danger?"
No sooner than Lacus asked that, they heard banging from the floor above. The trapdoor snapped open and a panicked Kaite shouted. "HOUSTON!? WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Out there, the newspaper office was completely surrounded. Their black outfit and black axes immediately spoke of their identity. Leading them was none other than… the Kage Evil twin copycat. "Seriously… that father of mine… he's doing something so troublesome…"
"I don't think they'll come out… and in this narrow corridor… lord knows what that Black Devil will do." Orga, who's also on the scene, spoke his concerns.
"Idiot. We go in there, we're pigs to slaughter." It's not just the Black Devil to consider, there's also Xingke in there. Sickly and dying as he is, he's still a lieutenant and one of the Masters. The Fake Kage immediately thought of a better idea. "Bar the doors. Ready the gas bombs."
They do so, and they start throwing smoking tubes into the building through its windows and openings.
"The gas will suffocate them. Then we'll burn it all down."
Inside…
Kaite growled angrily as he banged himself over the door for the umpteenth time. They bolted the door shut. Worse, those gas bombs are filling the whole room with incense. It made him weak and strength left his limbs.
Meanwhile, Kage and Hikari climbed out of the dungeon just as the last gas bomb was thrown in. The gas enveloped the unprepared Kage by a mouthful, and already he felt his strength sapped.
"Shit!" Kaite roared. "They've barricaded the door from outside."
Kage coughed and choked. Filtering the paralyzing incense, he also smelled Fish oil, spirits… they're dripping from the ceiling, and they're permeating from the floor. "…they're… they're going to burn us."
"Cough! We have to… Cough! Get out of here… Cough! COUGH! COUGH!" As it turns out, Xingke's coughing grew worse… until finally. "Cough Cack!" Blood splattered on his hand, and the sickly lieutenant collapsed on his knees.
At that point, Hikari, the only person not bothered by the incense, immediately go to his aid. She made a quick check… "Lord (koff)… what happened to your lungs? (koff)"
"We'll carry him on our back if we must, Doctor. We don't have time for emergency treatment right now!" Kage looked around wildly, thinking of a way out. The incense is choking him.
"If we move him without some form of emergency treatment, he'll die! (koff)"
"If he gasses us out, there won't be anything left to save!" But Hikari remained adamant. There's no choice here.
Kage, coughing and struggling to remain conscious, weigh his options. If he uses Midori Shiki to blow up the door, he'll ignite the whole building. If he uses Tetsuga Tenshou… he can break out easy, but they'll be welcomed by a salvo of guns… And the Copycat… Master Bull's son is probably right outside… they have an injured person in need of protection here… even Kage isn't quite confident that he can take on whatever he can throw at him and protect everyone at the same time, even if he didn't have this damn poison gas coursing through his veins.
The door has been chained tight from outside and the Gangsters start pouring flammable material allover the building some more and one brought forward a torch.
Suddenly, before the torch touched the building, a dagger punctured the Gangster by the throat… from above. The Gangsters looked up and saw something is coming straight down, bringing down a rain of daggers and bullets. With a loud bloody crash, Raider fell right on top of an unfortunate victim. "What the fuck are you assholes are doing?" Clotho growled.
"Ah… our resident hero finally shows up." The Fake Kage finally met another fellow copycat.
Clotho looked at the copycat's getup. He did a better job at trying to impersonate his hero, but that doesn't change the fact that there are notable differences that he can now easily see, having go face to face with the original one. The man wears faceguard… and like him, he also wears a pair of combat goggles. He also wears a headband, but his wild black hair overflow past it. A portion was tied together at the back.
And speaking of the original one, Clotho was sky-gliding in the sky when he saw Kage went into this office behind him… and then these A-holes led by some copycat barred the door from outside and poured oil and other stuff allover the place. What kind of self respecting diehard fan would let that happen?
Clotho activated his switchblades and turned to the barricaded door and tried to slice it. It was no good. It was chained tight with some really cold hard steel padlock. His twin switchblades didn't even leave a scratch. He cocked his arm mounted guns and thought to just blast away… and then he stopped when the smell of oil and alcohol assault his nose. And then he realized why he can't.
"Go ahead. Shoot." Orga laughed at his back. "Save us the trouble. Burn them all."
Clotho lowered his gun and turn to face the opposition. No other choice then. He'll have to beat them all and then figure out a way to bust them open. There's that corrupt Trooper… and then that Kage copycat, and a whole freakin' army of gangsters…
Rule of a thumb: when you're outnumbered… deal with the boss. He eyed at the fake.
The Fake recognized a challenge when he saw one. He snorted and pulled out his katana. "Okay. I have some time to kill."
The two Copycats finally marched towards one another. But midway, Clotho pre-empt the Fake and rushed forward, wristblades swinging. The Fake smirked. So easy to read. The Fake calmly sidestepped the attack and tripped him. Clotho stumbled forward and fell flat on his face into the mud.
Everyone laughed at the fumbling 'hero'. The Fake Kage easily sees the problem. He was anxious and in a rush because his idol is inside… he wants to finish this as fast as he could… a big mistake. That makes him predictable.
Clotho quickly got up and aimed his gauntlet at the Fake. At first he thought of firing his rifles… but then he saw that oil soaked building behind… so he shot his grappling hook instead. The Fake tilted his head and dodged the hook. It planted on the building wall behind him. Clotho flicked a switch, and the cable retracted rapidly, pulling him forward. His switchblade protruded out. The Fake ducked by a hairbreadth and even slide beneath the swinging blade. They still managed to exchange looks as Clotho passed the Fake by. The grapple snapped and Clotho slide to a stop. He turned around and opened fire at where the Fake should've been. A point blank barrage… and he hit nothing but air. His eyes whirled around and saw the Fake is down on the ground and dashed forward. Clotho gasped and fired a grappling hook up. The Fake slashed up, but cut only a tip of Clotho's shoe soles. The Raider was already high up in the air, opening fire at the enemy down below. The Fake couldn't dodge… and instead, he blocked the bullets by slashing them midair.
"WHAT!?"
He glided away to make some distance. But the Fake has no intention to let him off that easy. He knelt for a moment… and he charged forward to the sky at blurring superhuman speed, leaving behind a massive crater from where his foot stomped. The distance between them rapidly closing, Clotho didn't expect this but he still managed to open fire. To his disbelief, even at that speed and at that closing distance, the Fake still managed to block all the bullets and in a blink of an eye, they were already face to face. 'No… No freakin way… we're 20 feet off the ground you know!?'
And while Clotho's shocked jaw hanged slack, the Fake answered with a contemptuous snort… and a roundhouse kick that bludgeon the boy's head. Clotho sank 30 millimeters into the ground when he landed. Framed by a crater that roughly outlined his body, his body sank even deeper when the Fake crashed down upon his fallen form, legs first.
Clotho choked and vomited blood. The Fake looked coldly at his pained look. He grabbed and turned him around. Putting a foot on his back, the Fake clawed through his backpack, and with a yank, he ripped out Clotho's gliding apparel and then 'lightly' kicked him on the stomach. And yet, it has enough force to send him flying off the ground and slammed him against the office door until it cracks. Clotho's facemask and goggles were knocked off his face.
Clotho vomits blood again and again. It's like his insides turned to mush. The guy's light kick hits like cannot shot! Clotho struggled against the pain to get up. With trembling arms, he managed to get up on his knees and looked at the Fake, staring at him so smugly. The boy willed himself to get back to fighting shape, reminding himself of what's at stake here.
"This is one got some spirit." Orga sneered.
The Fake didn't say anything. Clotho stood before the door, vainly trying to bar them from coming in with his broken and bruised body.
The Fake grunted and marched towards the boy. Clotho pulled out his switchblade and swing down, but the Fake caught the hand, tightly grip him by the wrist… and with a squeeze he broke said arm, both the gauntlet and the limb inside it. "AAAAAAAAARGHH!" Clotho squealed in pain. He screamed and screamed… amidst the pain, he swing a punch to the Fake's face. The Fake didn't expect this and Clotho managed to actually scored a hit. A good hit as it knocked the faceguard off the fake's face, revealing a man, of asian descent… and some blood trickles to the corner of his lips…
He grumbled in anger, and the next time Clotho swing his fist forward again, he welcomed it with his own punch. A sickening crack was heard when Clotho's knuckle bones were shattered, earning another painful shriek from Clotho. And still amidst that scream, Clotho remained deviant.
That defiance earned even the Fake's respect… or the closest thing he can manage. "I heard Shadowguards are Kage's most loyal warriors. I guess you've vindicated that reputation."
"I… I'm… not… a Shadowguard." Clotho choked.
"Hrm? That's funny. Then why are you willing to die for him?"
Clotho remembered again their last conversation. Kage rejected him, but still… even then, he showed that he understands him the best. More than anyone. And that's more than enough reason to not let him die… at least not like this. "He's… my hero. He's… everyone's hero. He's nothing… like you and me. What other reasons do I need?"
The Fake scoffed. He grabbed Clotho helpless body and spun him around. He yanked his neck and his back and then lifted him up. Clotho stared helplessly to the blue sky for a second… before he was yanked back to the ground and his back landed violently on the fake's knee.
SNAP.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Clotho's scream can be heard allover the alley.
Clotho had never felt so much pain in his whole life. That knee strike pricked something on his spinal cord… and in an instant; every inch of his body was wrought with pain. The pain of his broken arms, the pain of his battered stomach… none of them compares to this.
The Fake dropped the boy's limping body to the ground. As he watched his twitching gasping body, he knew he will no longer be an issue. Not now, not ever. "…" He wordlessly looked at his subordinates. "Finish this."
The gangsters hastily brought forth some torches. The now crippled Clotho can only watch helplessly as the thugs stretched the torches to the oil soaked building, and the fire was alight. "No…"
The Fake shrugged seeing the despair in Clotho and took his leave. He stopped briefly next to Orga. "I'll leave the rest to you. I trust you can at least do this one right?"
Orga wanted to retort, but the Fake already jumped away. His superhuman strength quickly carried him out of sight. Orga merely frowned. "Freak." And then he saw the building began to lit quicker and quicker. "Right. Anything comes out of that house; I want it turned into beehive."
"They're not going anywhere, we gassed their lungs out." One of the trooper snorted. But another trooper, a more nervous one, asked. "Will this be alright? If general Imelia finds out about this, she'll have all our heads on a spit."
"Then you lot better keep your mouths shut." Orga calmly remarked. "As far as the General concerned, the Captain and her First Lieutenant died in a fire." His eyes landed on the twitching Clotho. "And no eyewitness." Clotho pulled out his sidearms, preparing to finish the job.
But just before Orga pulled the trigger…
The ground rumbles. The building, already ablaze, began to shake and collapsing… but not because of the fire… but it's because of something inside… something huge… really huge is bursting out. And then… amidst the cracking and roaring of fire… they heard another sound… the sound of metal creaking, gears grinding, steel whirring… and mooing.
"What the hell-"
Before Orga can finish his inquiry, the answer came in form of an explosion. The whole office just blew up. A pair of massive metallic horns, each the size of the largest cannon barrel, whirring, spinning, grinding everything in its way. Said drilling horns belong to a massive mechanical bull. Its knight helmetlike head was attached to the surface of a massive gear which also serves as its head… In fact, its whole body was composed completely by gears. The Bull is like giant mass of gears of varying sizes, constantly moving, constantly spinning, forming the shape of a fusion of metallic fortress and a Bull. Another unique feature of the bull is how those gears are also attached to one another like multidimensional puzzle pieces creating a labyrinthine body. Said pieces constantly changes, transformed by the constantly moving gears and rearrange their patterns; even when the bull merely stand still, it already rearranged itself a dozen times in multiple locations, unlatching and then latching back, and yet it kept it main Greater Daemon form: a metallic giant mechanical Bull.
The Daemon, Astaroth, Lord of the Labyrinth, one of Lacus' unleashed Haros, let loose another angry mooing, and with one swipe of its massive horn, it slammed all the arsonists away, knocking them unconscious. The gusts throw the rest off their feet, Orga included. The Sergeant quickly get back up on his feet and shouted. "OPEN FIRE YOU IDIOTS!"
The troopers quickly recovered and opened fire. The barrage hit Astaroth's metallic body to no avail and bullets merely bounced harmlessly to every direction, ricocheting dangerously allover the place. Some landed close to Clotho. This illicit a response from the demon bull. It mooed once again, followed by the accelerating of the spinning of the gears that formed its body, and a humming sound that grew steadily louder.
When the sound reached its highest pitch, Orga thought of unloading his bazooka on that monstrosity… until suddenly all the guns, all the sidearms, all weapons and objects with metal in it were forcibly yanked from everyone's hand, magnetically pulled towards Astaroth's body. And once said weapons are stuck on its body, the gears grind them down to nothing.
Without any weapons in their hands, the troopers lost nerve, they immediately turned tail and run. Orga cast one more look at the bull… and then to Clotho's still twitching body tucked safely beneath the shadow of the massive mechanical bull. Gritting his teeth and he too had no choice but to run. Once the last of the thugs are out of sight, that's when the Bull eased its hostile behavior. The gears forming its body began to reassemble themselves… it opened up, allowing the people inside it to walk out.
Kage was the first to disembark from Astaroth. He quickly made his way, limping under the effect of that damn poison, to the boy who had saved his life. "CLOTHO!" Kage held the now catatonic and crippled Clotho in his hands. "Clotho…"
"K… K… K…" Clotho was in so much pain he couldn't even muster the strength to speak.
"Hikari… HIKARI!" Kage screamed in a rarely felt and shown desperation.
Hikari also ran out of Astaroth and saw what becomes of Clotho. One look and she knew immediately that something that should not be broken in that child has been broken. "We need to get him to the medical bay. (koff) Astaroth! (koff)"
People ran out of the way when a mechanical building sized bull thunder through the streets of Shanghai with all due haste towards the direction of a gigantic ship at the harbor.
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Arcane Magic
Pt. 1
During the Great War between the Onis and the Demons, the balance of power shifted time and again as both sides developed various kinds of methods of warfare to counter one another. The Onis utilize their Bloodline limits; the demons breed ever more powerful monstrosities. The Onis forge Regalias, demons corrupts and devour souls of mortals to bolster their army. And when the Onis began to develop Chakras and Jutsus, the demons countered with Arcane Magic. At first glance, these two appears so similar, they are often treated as one and the same, mistakenly so. Magic can manipulate elements just as well as jutsu. Chakra can enhance physical prowess just as certain magics can make one able to lift mountains with their fingers. But the similarity of end results is where the resemblance ended. On the inside, nothing can be more different. Magic and its energy, Ether Mana, is a malevolent and dangerous form of energy that is, in nature, a perversion of natural law. They are to the demons what chakra to the onis. But if Chakra is an all natural energy that is found in all living creatures of which no life can exist without, Ether Mana can only be found in demons, and it is essentially an anti life.
The Onis are directly linked to their gods, and wouldn't even dream of consorting with their enemies. Humans, on the other hand, are more malleable, so easily seduced by the promises of power from the demons. Indeed, despite its dangerous properties, Magic gained a surprising popularity amongst the humans, a fact which the Oni frowned upon. But during the war, this notion was barely tolerated as a military necessity. What the Onis fail to realize, is that human's interest in magic is a trend that stems from jealousy. Back during those times, the full knowledge of chakra and its usage for jutsus is a very closely guarded secret; one that is reserved almost exclusively for the elite warrior caste, one that would later be known in modern times as Samurai. The strength of these warriors elite were not only the stuff of legends, but also envy by, particularly, those who wished to become like them… but either they just don't possess the steep physical parameter needed to join… or their mental state was found wanting, and/or they lack the needed discipline to persevere through the fierce training. Desperate for power, these embittered humans found the perfect substitute in magic.
Granted, it's not that magic is stronger than Jutsu, but they are easier to master and its effects are no different, in contrast with Jutsu and Chakra which may require years of training. Human accepted the tutelage and made dark forbidden pacts with demons gaining great and terrible powers in exchange for whatever they have given up in their dark bargain. But Ether Mana, or Youki, as some humans called them, is a corrupting force that warps and defiles everything it directly contacts with, especially humans. In the most fortunate of cases, Witches and Wizards dabbling in Arcane arts often 'merely' sports terrifying mutations, or suffer some form of mental instability to their psyche as a price for the power they gained. But as they thread deeper and deeper down the dark ways, these poor souls would find said price grew increasingly steeper, until eventually came the time when they can no longer afford it. It's not uncommon for one to hear tales of Warlocks and witches who were consumed by the magic they so crave, or the demons they've contracted dragged them screaming into the darkest hell of their twisted imagination. But as there are many tales of such gruesome end, just occasionally, there are also tales where there are those who retained enough strength of will to use the power of the demons against them, completely subjugating them and mastered the power, instead of the other way around. Walking a fine line between humanity and eternal damnation, they are what would later become the progenitor of Magic users, Mages.
At first, the number of Magician in the Oni Human alliance was suppressed to the smallest percentage possible. Just enough to act as a countermeasure against the demons, but not enough to threaten the Alliance army if they ever to revolt or fall under the demon's sway. But… as the war progresses, that percentage began to increase at an alarming rate. At first, the Oni thinks that the number of humans seduced by Demons increases. But after a period of inquisition and experimentation, they've made a shocking discovery. The prolonged war between Oni and Demons had left its mark on the world. Even if the demons are gone, their corrupting energy did not, and these energies had also affected humans, even those who had never made any pact with the demons. Changing a part of them into something akin to demons. While first generation Magus must form a pact with the demons, later, newer generations of humans no longer have to form such contract, for they can harness these arcane energies on their own. Unlike the more volatile and unreliable nature of the first generation, these inborn Magi are more in control of their powers, and they are not victims to the same mutations and corruptions that so plagues their predecessors. Granted, their mastery over magic pales in comparison with the first generations, but it is a gap that continues to diminish with each generation. The Onis now have to face the bitter truth. Just like how Bloodline Limits are their inheritance for humans, Magic is the demon's twisted version of it, and it will be there to stay.
What's more, at the time of human's rising, the Onis had begun their decline. The White Emperor knew that while his people are safe from demon's enticement, humans are not so strong of heart. Even if he were to use the Military strength of the Onis to forcibly cleanse these Magi, when the Onis became absent completely, magic practitioners will simply resurface, and they may do so for all the wrong reasons, judging by the mounting negative sentiment towards magus at the time. Thusly, at war's end, against the advice of all his Oni ministers, the Emperor gathered the strongest of all Magi and formed them into the Ministry of Magic. An organization formed as a ruling body for all wizards and witches across the globe.
The Emperor charged the Ministry of Magic with one task: to civilize magic. Until that point in time, Magic has always been known as a weapon of war, a very unstable and dangerous, weapon of war. Thus its users are rightly feared and hated. Now the Emperor tasked the Ministry to turn those same weapons into civil tools. Incendiary spells used for household stove, freezing spells for preserving food, earth shattering spells to produce construction material, etc, etc. At first, it was a near impossibility. The world had just recovered from the great war, the demon's influence on its natural echo-system is still strong, it will often drew out the worst, more destructive side of even the most harmless of magic. What's more, human wizards would often wander too far in their studies of the Arcane, they ended up selling their soul, consumed by the very powers they sought to master. Regardless of these setbacks however, the Ministry accomplished tremendous progress in their task. Many of the most destructive spells had been sealed away; even more of their lesser but no less deadly variant have been toned down, allowing public usage for civil purposes. As the Onis committed in their mop outs and cleansed the last vestiges of the demons' influence from the world, the spells and magic grew increasingly stable and more reliable over time. The Emperor's gamble paid off, by the time he abdicated the Throne and the humans established then Time of Two Emperors, Magic is an acceptable part of society. So much so that seeing someone burst out in flames for no reason in the middle of the street is treated as common as someone having a nasty cold. Granted, despite its widespread popularity, magic didn't do so well in areas with strong Oni influence, such as in Japan and other Asian countries. However, the tales of Jutsus users learn to use Magic to complement their skills are not unheard of.
To Be Continued…
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