Chapter 12

It took nearly a week for Arachnotron to be disassembled and slowly transported to the Ameris base. Lord Katse was apparently afraid of its detection by the ISO, so he was being extremely cautious, not wanting to move pieces of the mecha that were large enough to catch someone's attention. Then Kito's unit spent a few days re-assembling and testing the mecha, to ensure that it worked as it had on Ghost Island.

After that task was completed, Lord Katse ordered Kito's men to remain in the area, in case repairs were required, but they were given a few days' leave, while Kito helped to train the soldiers who would be operating the mecha.

The person chosen to command the mecha was Captain Jenkins. Kito didn't care much for the man, who was too full of his own self-importance for the Sergeant's liking, but he appeared competent enough to operate Arachnotron.

Still, he was beginning to grate on Kito's nerves, and he was grateful when Steungart and Pantillo returned from their leave.

"So, what did you guys do?" Kito asked them.

"We went fishing." Steungart told him. "Too bad you couldn't come with us, Abbott."

"That's what he gets for being a fancy-ass Sergeant." Pantillo ribbed him.

"Hey, he's a hell of a lot better than that idiot Kyle." Steungart retorted. Pantillo quickly agreed.

Kito smiled. It felt good, to know that his men appreciated him.

"So, did you catch anything?" Kito asked.

"Yeah, a bunch of sturgeon." Pantillo replied, "And Steungart caught a Leopard Shark!"

"Sounds like you guys had fun." Kito said wistfully.

"Yeah." Steungart nodded, oblivious to Kito's mood, "We rented a boat for a few days from this fat guy. He took us around the area and showed us the best fishing spots. I tell you, at first, I had my doubts about that guy, but he sure knew his fishing!"

"No kidding!" Pantillo added, "But it was that kid who showed you where the sharks like to feed."

"Kid?"

"The fat guy had a kid helping him out." Pantillo clarified. "In fact, the kid was the one who took us out the last couple of days. He was kind of goofy-looking, but not too bad. And boy, was he impressed with us!"

"Impressed? Why?"

"Well, Pantillo let it slip that we worked for Galactor." Steungart rolled his eyes. "You should have seen how freaked out the kid was! He kept asking us questions. I think he wants to work for Galactor, too."

"You didn't tell him about Arachnotron, did you?" Kito asked nervously.

"Not exactly…" Pantillo looked a little embarrassed, "but he did ask about our mechas. When we told him that we were the ones who built the mechas, he was really interested. He wanted to know all about it! So, I told him that we were working on something that was top secret, but was sure to defeat the Science Ninja Team."

"You said, what?" Kito was aghast.

"Hey, Abbott, don't worry about it." Steungart reassured him. "He was just a dumb kid. He's not going to say anything to anyone."

"He'd better not." Kito muttered. The last thing he needed was some goofy kid alerting the Science Ninja Team to their plans.

88888

That same afternoon, Kito was just finishing up a training session with Captain Jenkins, when an alarm sounded.

"There's an intruder in the base!" Lord Katse's voice screeched over the comm channel. "One of those damned Science Ninjas! Find him!"

Kito's heart began to pound in his chest. Which member of the Science Ninja Team was it? He recalled those piercing blue eyes from the shelter. He knew that if he encountered Gatchaman, there would be no mercy. Kito's first instinct was to run and hide.

Captain Jenkins obviously had the opposite reaction.

"At last!" he grinned. "A chance to take down one of the Science Ninja Team." It was obvious that Jenkins thought a lot of his fighting skills.

Kito wasn't nearly as impressed with the Captain's abilities, but was relieved to have someone else willing to take charge, and step forward.

"All right, men!" Jenkins addressed the soldiers in the mecha hangar with them. "We're all going to stay together, and take out this Science Ninja."

"But, Sir…" one man offered, "the Science Ninja Team never…"

"I don't want to hear it!" roared Jenkins. "I don't want any pussies on my team! Now ready your weapons, and let's go find this intruder!"

But as it turned out, they didn't have to go anywhere. A dark shape flew into their view, dropping from the ceiling above.

Kito didn't need to see any more. He dashed behind Arachnotron, attempting to conceal himself behind one of her legs. In the bedlam that had followed their enemy's entrance, no one noticed what he was doing. Captain Jenkins was focused on the intruder, and the other soldiers were too concerned about their own welfare. Kito watched them approach, rifles held in their trembling hands.

He didn't have a very good view of the fight from his place of concealment, and Kito preferred it that way. It was difficult enough hearing the sounds of battle around him, without having to witness it. Kito's stomach lurched, as he heard soldiers cry out in agony, and fall to the ground, screaming for their mothers.

A sickening thwack was heard, and one man landed on the ground, his head coming into the Sergeant's view. His mask was half torn off, and the expression on his face was one of surprise, and horror.

Kito clutched his knees, rocking back and forth, praying, to any God who might be listening, that the walking death, that was the Science Ninja Team, would not find him.

His breathing became more and more ragged, and he recognized that he was becoming hysterical. Frantically, he tried to calm himself down, knowing that screaming would only give his position away to the enemy.

After awhile, Kito realized that he only heard the sounds of two combatants.

"You may have defeated my men, but you will not defeat me!" came Captain Jenkins' voice.

The only response was a loud crack, and then a thump. With a dreadful certainty, Kito knew that he would never hear Captain Jenkins brag again.

The only sound he heard was the thumping of his heart, as his mind imagined the slaughter that had taken place only a few feet from his hiding spot. He hoped that the Science Ninja would leave quickly, without discovering him.

All was silent, for a long moment. Kito released a long sigh of relief. He had escaped detection.

He was completely unprepared for the sight of a Bird Helmet peering around Arachnotron's leg. Kito's expression of shock was mirrored under his opponent's visor. From his position on the ground, looking up, the Sergeant could see his enemy's face clearly.

"Jinpei…" he whispered.

Kito was amazed. Jinpei's face had matured, but there was still a strong resemblance to the toddler he had cared for, at the orphanage, so long ago.

"How do you know my name?" Jinpei asked suspiciously, moving fluidly into a fighting stance. It was clear that he did not recognize Kito at all. But then, why would he? Jinpei had been so young, when they were last face to face…

"Please, don't hurt me!" Kito begged, the memory of the fallen soldiers still fresh in his mind, replacing those of a toddler in the orphanage.

"I'm not a threat to you." He held up his hands, backing away from the young ninja.

"Ain't that the truth!" Jinpei smirked. "All right. Tell you what: you show me the way into this Spider thing, and I'll let you go."

"Okay." Kito hurriedly agreed. However young Jinpei was, it was clear that his fighting skills were deadly, while Kito's were non-existent. The Sergeant scrambled to his feet.

"The entrance is over here." Kito gestured, moving slowly. He looked back over his shoulder apprehensively as he walked, but while the Swallow grimaced threateningly, he appeared to be keeping his word.

Slowly, Kito opened up a panel on one of Arachnotron's other legs, revealing a hidden lever. The Sergeant pulled the lever, causing an entrance ramp to lower to the floor of the Mecha Hangar.

"You first." Jinpei prodded Kito's back. The Sergeant didn't need to be told twice. He walked up the ramp, his hands clearly visible in the air.

Unfortunately, in his haste to co-operate, he had forgotten to turn on the interior lighting for the mecha. As they moved into the gloom, Kito tripped over a power cable, sprawling on the ground.

Instinctively, the Sergeant grabbed at the cable, pulling it taut, causing the Swallow to go tumbling after him, to the ground. Kito skittered away, much as a true spider would, while the young ninja rolled around in the dark, attempting to find his bearings as he entangled himself in the cord.

The unexpected sound of tromping footfalls was followed a second later by the sudden illumination of the chamber. Jinpei and Kito looked up, blinking in the light, to see Lord Katse standing over them, and two dozen rifles aimed at the ninja's position.

"Congratulations, Sergeant Abbott." Katse smirked. "You've captured the Swallow."