Assembling in the Dekaroom, the team settled around the table. Doggie stood nearby as Yasu talked about the three men she was chasing.
"Braze, the man we just fought, is more defensive then offensive." Yasu said, "Mize, the right hand man, is the offensive type."
"Making Ratz a mix of both." Hoji concluded. Yasu nodded.
"All three are approved for deletion for another crime they did. This just adds to that." Yasu noted.
"Do you have any pictures related to the recent crimes they are doing?" Doggie asked, more curious of the criminals' recent crimes.
Up on the hologram image, various pictures of women who have been killed popped up. All of them were in the same position, as the letter S. A thought was avoiding Doggie, it looked familiar to him. He gives a low growl in his frustration.
"Strange how they all hold the same position." Sen commented, looking over the reports. "Almost as if they are trying to send a message."
"All I know is they often go to the Planet Chiryo to report to someone." Yasu said, "Someone is having them look for someone."
Jasmine looked over to Doggie, who was staring at the picture. Worried, she called out to him. "Boss?"
"I recognize this… I just can't pin the thought." Doggie muttered.
"Unless you've been watching the news, I don't see how you can recognize this." Yasu said.
"Must've been, then." Doggie said, though he still held his thoughtful pose. "How strong is Ratz?"
"Not even the Impulse works on him." Yasu said.
The dekas knew that wasn't a good sign, having seen the Impulse in action a few months ago when they watch Doggie training in the simulation room.
"Solar Eclipse?" Doggie suddenly muttered, looking at Yasu.
"What?" Yasu was surprised that he would say something like that. "You do know how dangerous that move is."
"It's only because no one was in perfect sync." Doggie countered, "besides, it's just an option."
"Too risky of one." Yasu said.
"Boss… what's 'Solar Eclipse'?" Hoji asked. Kruger sighed.
"Solar Eclipse is the strongest Galaxy Sword Style move, but it requires two swordsmen who know the steps to do it." He said, "No one has been successful, granted the move has been completed, but neither of the two performing the move lived."
"So it's a dangerous move?" Umeko asked.
Both Yasu and Doggie nodded. The door opened, and Doggie turned to see Swan.
"N-n-no… that can't be." Swan muttered in her native language, staring at the hologram. Tetsu was quick to turn it off and Doggie went to her side.
"Shh… he doesn't know you are here yet." He quickly whispers to her, putting on hand on her shoulder and held the other out. Mindlessly she places both licenses into his hand. "Go to your room, I'll talk with you in a bit."
Nodding, Swan leaves the room, shaken by what she just saw. Doggie made a fast connection, tossing Yasu her license.
"What's going on, Boss?" Jasmine asked.
"Hoji, search for the file pertaining Chiryo Seijin Tang." Kruger quickly ordered, and Dekablue quickly obliged. Putting the license away, Doggie began to feel a sinking feeling, he would have to come clean very shortly. Soon the file came up.
"He's rather nice looking." Umeko noted.
"He's been accused, but not convicted." Tetsu read, "Meaning what?"
"Tang, here, is Swan's Ex-Boyfriend." Doggie said, "most likely the informant that your trio have been seeing."
"I see, but I also don't understand." Yasu said.
"Swan told me a few years ago she saw Tang cheating on her, later on his file it said he was accused of killing the woman Swan saw him with." Doggie pointed to the date of the accusation, "exactly one day after Swan and I were on our way to Earth."
"Chief separated Swan and Tang a day after you became a chief?" Sen asked for clarification.
"Yes, I was asked to be Swan's bodyguard until Tang was arrested." Doggie said, "Numa said he would contact me, and I never got it, he's still out there, looking for Swan, so he's having Ratz, Mize, and Braze to look for her so he can finish what he's started."
"How do you figure this?"
"Swan's reaction when she saw the hologram of the case file." Doggie nearly snapped, having already lost Tank, he was now aware that the relationship with Swan would be at risk. He was beginning to lose his grip on his emotions, and only Jasmine could sense it.
"So, if we delete these three first, he will stay out of our hair?" Umeko asked, but Doggie had no response.
"Let's worry about Mize and Braze, they are the current threat." Yasu said.
"And Ratz isn't?" Hoji asked.
"Ratz won't come unless their prey is tough or the other two have trouble." Yasu said. "Now that I have my Dekasuit functional, I can be of more assistance."
Doggie heads for the door. "I'll be with Swan." He mutters before leaving.
Yasu looked sympathetic, but only for a moment before the alarms went off. "Kruger won't be helping us, so let's go." Yasu said, and the five dekas nodded. "Change Standby." She ordered.
"Emergency! Dekaranger!" the group said.
Yasu's Dekasuit nearly matched Dekamaster's Dekasuit, but instead of black, red, and metallic blue, the suit bore shades of purple with Gold accents. Her helmet also lacked the two spikes Dekamaster had, and instead gold stripes filled where they would have been. The vest was on in such a way it looked mirrored from Dekamaster, and her number was 13.
The team heads out to where Mize was now causing trouble. The team surrounded him, as he looks them over, stopping on Yasu.
"Oh, so Dekapurple has found her way here, has she?" Mize mocked, "You'll just lose to us like the last times."
"Can it." Yasu said, "I'm done chasing, this is where your fun ends." Yasu said. "Dekarangers ready?"
"Ready!" they said.
Pulling out her sword, Yasu looks at Mize. "Let's go!"
"Roger!" they said, then charged in to attack.
Sen and Hoji had their D-knuckles out, and sent punch after punch on Mize. Tetsu just plain attacked like he would normally, often powering up his attacks with his brace throttle. Umeko and Jasmine used their D-Sticks to try and make Mize back up and corner him, but luck wasn't with them. Yasu often jumped into the air and fired some bullets from her sword at the head of Mize.
Mize had his own plans, and countered each attack. With Sen and Hoji he caught their fists and sent them flying. He overpowered Tetsu and sent him cringing on the ground. Umeko and Jasmine couldn't get in a hit, as each stab was caught and they were thrown off balance. He also used the Deka as shields from the bullets Yasu sent at him.
"Aww… shit, he's stronger then before." Yasu said, holding her sword as the others struggled to their feet.
"I told you, you'd just lose like previous times." Mize said. He started to leave when someone blocked his path. "Now who's here?" being in the shadows, the figure didn't move
"Sen, Jasmine, Umeko, lets go SWAT!" Hoji said.
"Right." They responded. "Emergency, SWAT Mode On!"
Tetsu walked over to Yasu. "Thought you said Boss wasn't coming?"
"Who said that was Boss?" Yasu inquired, "It's really Braze mimicking his shadow." As the now SWAT Mode Dekas walked over, Yasu looked at Hoji. "You're a smart one, Hoji, let's just hope that lasts for a little bit."
"I know." Hoji said, "If you struggle against them, then we need all the firepower we can muster."
Yasu nodded as the figure came out of the shadows, revealing Braze indeed.
"Oh, it's just you pal, don't freak me like that." Mize said.
"Sorry, I didn't think Purple girl there would figure me out so soon." Braze said.
"After doing it a bunch of times, I pick up on things." Yasu said. "Jasmine, Umeko, with me."
"Right."
"That leaves the us." Tetsu said, going next to Hoji and Sen, "We'll handle Mize, you take Braze."
"Okay." Yasu said, "Move!"
The team dashed forward, the girls going for Braze and the boys after Mize. Jasmine and Umeko, while charging at Braze, opened fire with their D-Revolvers. Braze being high in defense simply let the lasers bounce off of him.
"No way!" Umeko said, as Braze attempted to attack them with his staff again, but Yasu's sword got in the way.
"Stop picking on the ladies and fight like a man." She mocked, only to be pushed away.
"You bitch." Braze said, charging at her, "how dare you mock me!"
Jasmine quickly intercepted Braze, blocking his staff with her gun. Umeko stood about five yards behind him, and unleashed her D-Revolver. Braze growled in pain.
"Bitches." He said, "eat my tornado."
"Get out of the way!" Yasu called to Jasmine and Umeko. They were quick to get out of the grasp of the tornado that Braze started up. Backing up a few feet, Yasu jumped into the air and fired a few rounds into the top of the tornado with her sword, then allowed herself to get caught in the wind.
"What is she doing?" Jasmine wondered.
"Well, we should remember that she's been fighting these guys for a long time, she probably knows something." Umeko said. Jasmine nodded.
Meanwhile, the boys were holding their ground well against Mize. With Sen and Hoji often keeping Mize busy, Tetsu has been able to get in some strong hits, his Lightning Fist and his Super Lightning Fist normally, with the occasional Fire Fist and Electric Fist.
"Man, he's tough." Sen said, standing next to Hoji.
"We've faced worse." Dekablue said, before the two split and charged again. Mize was starting to increase his attacks suddenly, causing the men to collapse. "I take that back, he's tough." Hoji muttered, trying to get back up.
"Haha, you're toys are nothing compared to mine." Mize said, that was before he kissed the ground.
Yasu had used the momentum of Braze's tornado to attack Mize with her sword. Just as Mize fell down, she rebounded off a light post and back at the tornado.
"Flying Lunar Slash!" she bellowed as she tore back into the tornado, this time coming out and landing on her feet. After an explosion, Braze ceased to exist "One down, two to go." She muttered as She faces Mize, who had gotten back onto his feet.
"Braze! What did you do to him!" Mize was angry, Yasu took a defensive position.
"Sent him to hell." She said calmly, "Now Tetsu, Plasma Fist!"
"Right." Dekabreak replied, then raced forward while activating his Brace throttle. Plasma Fist was one of the finishers Tetsu knew, and was powerful, and Yasu was hoping it was strong enough to finish off Mize. Once Tetsu's attack past, Yasu grabbing the speeding Deka as he was unable to stop himself right away, everyone gathered to watch.
"Ratz will destroy you!" Mize called before he was engulfed in explosions. Yasu sighed in relief.
"Thank you, guys, after facing them alone so many times it was nice to have some help." She said, looking at the Dekas, "I guess what Chief Numa said about you guys is true."
"Of course, we're one of the best teams out there." Tetsu said.
"Yeah… I think it's all in your head." Yasu said, before walking off, canceling her transformation, "Just remember, Ratz is the toughest, and we've yet to face him.
Dekabase…Doggie and Swan were in the Dekahanger. Swan was worried, wondering how long Tang had been hunting her for, and Doggie feared their relationship. Swan turned to looked at Doggie, who seemed to be trapped in the past.
"Thinking about your time with Tank?" She asked softly, knowing that was one of the things on his mind.
"I should've told them earlier, that I was a chief, and visited them." He whispered, staring at the floor. "I never got a chance to say goodbye…"
"I don't think any of them did." Swan said, standing up, "just don't let it confuse you to much, alright, stay focused on the present."
"Then, perhaps we should look into Tang's full file, see if he's been active while letting his goons run loose." Doggie said, walking over to Swan's laptop, "so that we might have something to convict on him."
Swan swallowed, then nodded. Sitting in front of the laptop, she types a few keys and opens his file.
"Hard to believe it's been nearly 20 years now." Swan said, "He's been fairly quiet, twice a year… almost all of them on Chiryo."
"Yes, but it seems he's been on Earth a few times." Doggie said, pointing to some of the dates, three visits in the last five years. "But nowhere near Japan."
"That's a plus in a bad way." Swan said, "Just means he doesn't know my presence is here."
Doggie's license beeped, and he grabs it. "It's me." He says.
"Boss, Mize and Braze are deleted, we haven't spotted Ratz but are looking for him as we speak." Hoji reported.
"Understood, keep me posted." Doggie said, then closed his license. He spots something in a footnote in Tang's file, and stops Swan. "Hang on, what does that say?" he asks, pointing out the footnote.
" 'Police believe that Tang's first target to be…' me." Swan read, and then slumped back. "If this is true, he's been playing me… he just lied and lied about everything…"
"At least you did the right thing back then." Doggie says, thinking back to that day. He didn't learn why Swan was breaking up with Tang, but he witnessed the whole thing. It wasn't until seven years ago did Swan just say it to him, almost randomly. Giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze, Doggie closes the screen they were on. "Take it easy and stay at the base for a while, perhaps we'll get lucky."
"Okay." She whispered, then Doggie left the hanger for her to think.