Chapter 35

Joe turned back to the false Eagle. "Come here, you bas..."

Joe stopped mid-sentence. The imposter was gone!

"Where the hell are you, you fake!" he yelled.

Just then, Jun let out a loud gasp and Joe turned back to her. His eyes followed hers to the ceiling and grew wide when they saw Ken's seemingly lifeless body being raised back up into a panel in the ceiling.

Katse's distinct laughter filled the room. "You think it would be that easy, ninja scum? Not all of my minions are as stupid as you think! My imposter fooled you and the Swan!"

Katse paused, then continued, "And now, to complete the illusion!"

A few seconds later, the ceiling plate opened again, and this time two identical bound forms in white descended from it.

"So, which one is your precious Eagle?" Katse sneered. "Be careful whom you pick. The one you don't choose will face imminent death. Of course, the one you do choose will only face postponed death - just like you!"

Katse laughed again as he turned on his heel to leave. "I leave the decision up to you." he said as he departed, leaving a squad of armed goons behind to monitor their movements.

Joe and Jun stood in the center of the room, the two unconscious forms of the Eagle dangling above them.

"Joe, which one is Ken?" Jun asked tentatively.

"I'm not sure. We need to get them down and find out." Joe responded.

As if on cue, the chains slackened and both bodies fell to the floor. The Condor and the Swan rushed to their sides.

"Ken!" Joe called as he looked over the first Eagle. "Ken is that you?"

A moan escaped from the Eagle's lips. "Ky... ky..."

Confused, the Condor asked, "What? I don't understand. Are you trying to say Katse?"

The Eagle barely shook his head to the side.

"Ky..." he repeated weakly and tried to lift his hand to point, only for it to go limp and lose consciousness again.

"Kai? Who the hell is Kai?" Joe asked irritated. "K'uso! Jun, are you having any luck over there?"

Jun was next to the second Eagle's body. "Ken! Ken! Can you hear me?"

"Jun..." came a faint whisper from his lips. "Jun... help... me..."

Then the second Eagle slipped into the unconscious as well.

"This is no use!" Jun cried. "We need to get both of them out of here!"

"I know..." Joe responded as he glanced at the army above their heads. The quiet click of a few of the guns could be heard.

"Damn these goons!" he said under his breath.

"Jun, come here." Joe called.

Under the watchful eyes of the minions, Jun made her way to the other side of the Eagles' bodies.

"We don't have much time. Either someone's going to get trigger-happy, or Katse's going to have enough of this game and kill us all" Joe stated.

"I know..." Jun responded, "but what should we do?"

"I have a plan... On my count, we're going to come out with guns and bombs blazing and take all these goons out."

"Joe, there are too many!" Jun protested.

"Jun, we have to. There's no other way." Joe paused for a moment, then continued, "I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to us, remember? Now's the time to make good on that promise."

Joe looked decisively into Jun's eyes and Jun knew that he meant every word of it.

"Ok." she finally said. "Let's do it."