So I've finally got some inspiration, so I might update a bit more this weekend. Consider these chapters my sorry gift for dropping off the radar for so long.
Another torture warning in the first No P.O.V. segment. If you'd rather avoid that, just skip to the second line break after this one.
Chapter 17: Family Ties
Cole P.O.V., 16 minutes following "Escape"; 7:31 P.M.
"So uh, about this Kenshi guy. . ."
All eyes turned to Jay, but Lloyd was the first to speak up. "Yeah, what about him?"
Something's up, Cole thought. His fingers are twitching, and he's leaned forwards.
"Well, I was looking at the picture that I always keep with me, you know, the one with my parents and their friends? Well, I was looking at it, and I noticed this guy, that had blue eyes, and brown hair."
Kai scoffed. "So? It could be anyone. There are hundreds, probably thousands of people with brown hair and blue eyes."
Jay glared at the Master of Fire. "Well, I thought that he looked familiar, so I called my parents earlier, asked who he was, and they said his name was Takahashi. Takahashi Kenshi. Said he was close friends with Pa."
Cole sighed. "Let me guess, you want us to save him too."
Jay nodded vigorously. "Yeah! I mean, even if he wasn't pretty much family, don't you think we like, owe him? I probably wouldn't have gotten out if he hadn't let me go."
Zane finally raised his eyes from his tablet. "Jay, we barely got you out of the fortress, and we still have to rescue Nya. As much as I would like to help, we simply cannot spread ourselves that thin, especially when you are still healing, and another is, critically injured." He spared Kai a sympathetic glance.
The lightning elemental sighed. "I guess you're right. But please? I remember he said something about how if he was caught he would be punished for it. What if he dies and we know we didn't do anything to help him?" Jay pleaded, using his best puppy eyes in an attempt to guilt trip the nindroid.
After a tense staring contest, Zane finally relented. "Very well. However, we must save Nya first. Kenshi is a secondary objective. Understood?"
Jay nodded. "Loud and clear, but when will we try to break in again? They've probably buffed up their defenses."
Zane stood up, turning off the tablet. "Why don't we discuss this tomorrow? It has been an eventful few days."
A chorus of agreements as five ninja either shuffled or wheeled out of the living room.
No P.O.V., 2 days, 30 minutes following "Escape"; 7:45 P.M.
White light flooded into the red room, temporarily blinding the severely injured captain. The chains quickly raised itself once again, lifting Kenshi into the air. "Punctual as always, eh?" He chuckled.
The nindroid tilted its head towards Kenshi. "Why do you laugh, Takahashi Kenshi? You are here, at my mercy, yet you laugh in the face of death?"
This caused the man to laugh even harder. "Wow, they really wiped your mind clean, huh? We were trained to laugh in the face of death. We were Devil Dogs, for Christ's sake!"
Cryptor sighed. "You will not give me the information I seek, will you?"
"No."
"Very well. I suppose I will force it out of you then." The general swiftly grabbed a toothpick knife, lodging it between the third and fourth rib, invoking a coarse groan. Days of near continuous torture had taken its toll on the hardened mercenary, nearly breaking his voice to the point that he could barely even scream in pain anymore.
Jerking the blade out, Cryptor slashed from the left shoulder down back to the third rib bone. Much to his disdain, only a pained groan escaped Takahashi's lips.
Before anymore damage could be done, the door was blasted open, revealing the ninja, one carrying an unconscious girl over their shoulder, the other two into battle ready positions. Jay quickly discharged a burst of lightning towards Cryptor, disabling his systems.
Hastily disengaging the chains, Zane slung Kenshi over his shoulders in a fireman carry, while Cole and Jay followed him out of the building.
Jay P.O.V., 2 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes following "Escape"; 10:00 P.M.
"When did you say he was gonna wake up again?"
Zane sighed. "Jay, this is the twenty-seventh time you've asked in the past two hours. Considering what he has endured, he should not wake up for at least another two days, at best."
What if I try to zap him awake? Jay thought.
Zane crossed his arms. "Jay, you most certainly will not zap him awake."
The Master of Lightning looked up sheepishly. "Did I say that aloud?"
the nindroid nodded, his expression cross.
"Sorry."
Zane sighed, clearly tired. "Jay, please, go get some sleep. We've all been working tirelessly the past two days."
Jay stood up, walking towards the door, before he turned around to face Zane once more. "Wait, what about you? You said that like you're going to bed?"
"I must still tend to Nya. Once i make sure everything in order, I will rest. Now go, sleep."
"Okay, fine. Night Z!"
"Goodnight, Jay."
No P.O.V., 2 days, 2 hours, 21 minutes following "Escape"; 10:06 P.M.
"Sir, I've spotted multiple hostiles, but most of them seem to be sleeping."
"Proceed with the mission. The goal is to awake as many as we can, and eliminate the white one."
"Understood. Proceeding with the essential mission."
As Zane was tending to Nya, a lone soldier, designated SO-A-1, crept aboard the Destiny's Bounty, fully intending on completing the mission, even if it meant sacrificing his life.
Sneaking across to the white ninja, SO-A-1 locked Zane into a choke, kicking the back of his knees, forcing him to the ground, then dragging him outside. Releasing his MF1947, or Modified Fiberglass 1947, from its holster, he fired three rounds into the night sky, awaking most of the Bounty's occupants. Even Nya, who could barely walk on her own, came outside to discover the root of the commotion.
Once most of the crew arrived, the man spoke for the first time. "Ninja, by the Imperial decree of the Overlord, I hereby sentence the white ninja to death!"
Cole was the first to react, stepping forwards, but before he could reach the nindroid and his captor, he was shot in the shoulder, the force enough to knock him down. Nya rushed over to him, while he kept muttering, "it's just a flesh wound."
Now keeping the pistol trained on the ninja, SO-A-1 shuffled towards the edge of the ship, Zane in tow. Finally propping him up, SO-A-1 kicked Zane off the edge, before leaping off himself, leaving the pistol behind in order to lose dead weight.
As soon as the soldier jumped off, all five members rushed to the edge, desperately searching for the Master of Ice, but to no avail. Slowly backing away from the edge, Jay reached down and picked up the pistol, examining it. On the slide, the words Hell's Judgement were inscribed, and Wolf across the grip.
"Guys, look. Apparently this belong to a guy nicknamed 'Wolf'. And this pistol, I've seen it before, but never modded out this much before."
"Do you think you could trace it back to whoever modded it?"
"Maybe, but this looks like it was handmade, so it might be harder, but with all the tech on it, I should be able to trace it back to its origin."
"Good. Let's just check if we, if we lost anything else."
So, I may I may not have just killed Zane. . .I would say sorry not sorry, but I'm really not sorry, just saying
On the bright side, the guys saved Kenshi, so that's good.
Fun fact that I forgot to put in yesterday: Although many people associate ramen with Japan, it's actually a Chinese food. Same goes for udon noodles. Most folks think it's Chinese, even though it's really Japanese.
Fun fact 2(that's actually somewhat relevant to the story): Kenshi is Japanese for swordsman, if my memory is correct, which is why he is sometimes referenced as "the swordsman". He was also a captain in the Devil Dogs squad, and within Atlas Corp. The reason why he isn't a commander is because in the Army, there is no such thing as a commander. The closest is the captain, hence Kenshi's rank.
Have a good day, and please review! It gives me the motivation to write more often, like today!
~The Titan's Shadow