Hey guys and girls.

Welcome back to a new chapter of Dead Men Walk Again.

So with Kankuro's sister and her boyfriend now safe, they can begin taking back the city piece by piece. But at the core of everything, they will need to destroy that Marker. At least the Unitologists are no more seeing that Naruto called in that air strike on their asses. But with Danik still on the run. There is a garuntee that they will surface up again.

But until then, Naruto and those he loves will continue their fight to save the world. And stop the apocalyptic clock.

Enjoy.

Disclaimers: I own nothing.

Chapter 22: Final Pieces.

The chopper blades thundered as they came to a landing on the aircraft carrier. Their occupants got out with Alice standing there with Rika, Shizuka, Hokuto and Saya. They spotted Rei and Takashi, along with Kohta and Toshimi were patroling the top of the ship as they scanned for any form of enemy attacks. But so far the buggers still couldn't cross large sums of water.

Climbing out the chopper as the engines cut out, they got Temari into the medical wing of the ship to conduct any tests they could to ensure she was alright. Being raped constantly to no end can leave you scarred for life. Shikamaru assisted where he could with his girlfriend and thanked Naruto for getting them out of that hellhole.

Walking into the ship himself with Shizuka, Hokuto, Rika and Saya. With Alice on his back they made their way inside. Sitting in his chambers as he held his head. Naruto tried to process what has been happening. With his knowledge of the fact that he was the Key to this whole mess. He had to learn what he had to do. He knew he had to destroy the Marker. That was for sure. But there had to be some steps involved to exposing the thing to allow him to destroy it. Then he had an idea.

Remembering that time when he went to Gentek and got that flash drive with all those Glyphs stored on it, he remembered how he went into a trance like state, reciting ther steps needed to derstroy the machine. Getting up from his bed he made his way to the bridge where Saya was most likely now. Busy trying to hack into one of the satellites right now. Walking along the halls of the ship he found his way to the bridge. And true enough he found her there. But she wasn't hacking at all. More like spinning on her chair as a copy of her did everything for her.

Stopping when she sensed Naruto in the room she turned to him and tackled him to he ground. Rubbing her face into his chest, she felt Naruto run his hands along her back, making her shudder slightly from his touch. Looking into his beautiful dead eyes, she leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

"How was my kaa-san in bed?" asked Saya only to have the entire room go quiet and look at her like she said something wrong. And she did.

"Let's talk about that another time. I need your help." said Naruto with Saya getting off him.

"Oh? With?" asked Saya now standing up with Naruto now standing up as well.

"Remember that thing we did in the one house? With that flash drive that made me speak about some steps? It was after I saved Meiya-chan." said Naruto with Saya nodding at what he was saying.

"I know exactly what you mean. We can get it rigged and ready to go. Give us 30 minutes." said Saya walking off.

"I'll be waiting." said Naruto as he made his way out the bridge and to the deck to think.

Stopping at the railing, he looked out over to the vast ocean that spanned across everything. He felt so at peace with everything in here. Something about water always calmed him down for some reason. Hearing footsteps, Naruto turned to find both Saeko and Meiya sttanding there. Meiya's stomach was now slightly large where she now looked at least 7 weeks pregnant. Similar to Hokuto and Rika.

Smiling to him as Saeko took his right while Meiya took the left, they closed in on him and placed their heads on his shoulders respectively. They stood there as the waves splashed against the hull of the ship. Saeko looked into Naruto's eyes and found them to be worried about something. Looking to Meiya she found her also to be concerned as to why Naruto was acting like this.

"What's the mattter?" asked Saeko looking into the dead eyes of Naruto.

"We've come so far. We're so damn close to our goal of stopping this nightmare. One slip and everything is thrown out the door. I can't stand the notion of everything screwing up and then the innocent lives we saved like Alice and Temari-san. They will perish along with us." said Naruto only to be hugged by Meiya and kissed by Saeko.

"We're almost there yes. But we can't give up now. We can win this war. We can stop this nightmare right where it is. That is why we're doing whatt we're doing. We fix things. We don't break them. He help people. Not kill them in senseless slaughter. Believe in the power of comrades, Naruto-kun. And we can overcome this nightmare." said Meiya as Naruto brought both of them into a hug follwed by a kiss each.

"You're right. I should think more positive. We can win this war. And we'll rebuild the city to its former glory." said Naruto with the two girls agreeing with him as Shizuka came to them.

"Naru-chan. The machine is ready for you." she said with Naruto nodding his head.

"What are you planning?" asked Meiya.

"We're gonna stop this mess. Saya-chan is preparing the device with the datta from Gentek with the Glyphs. From there we can learn what we need to do." said Naruto as Meiya nodded her head.

"Let's get this done." said Meiya as they made their way inside the ship.

Moving through the corridors, they came to see a nice wide open area where a computor with a second screen rested. There sat Saya as she punched in a whole string of numbers and letters. Tapping her shoulder, she smiled as she got up and kissed Naruto.

Wrapping his arms around her waistt, he drew her closer as his tongue shot into her mouth and danced with her own. Breaking from the kiss as she played with his hair through her fingers, she smiled to him lovingly as the others walked in.

"We're ready to learn as to what the steps are for the Marker to be destroyed. So far we only have one step. Crawl into the Dark Machine. There are more steps. But for that. Naruto-kun must link his mind with the Marker." said Saya to the people gathered.

"What will happen to Naruto-san's mind after this?" asked Shikamaru as he wrapped his arms around Temari who rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thankfully as you know, Naruto is dead, meaning his mind still works but is also numbed from being dead. Normally these type of things will cause any person's mind to be turned to mush. But not someone who is already dead." replied Meiya as she grabbed a chart with Saya getting into the seat.

"Let's begin." said Saya as she got the Glyphs ready on the other screen.

Soon enough, Naruto's eyes were rained on the other screen as the Glyphs darted everywhere on the screen. They waited as the Glyphs spun around and faded in and out of the screen. And then it started as Naruto went into a trance like state.

"Turn it off. Turn it off. Turn it off." he said in a monotone voice.

Spotting Yuriko take a step forward to her lover, she was stopped when Shizuka and Kyoko held her back. Turning her head to them she saw them shake their heads.

"Don't. He's being linked to the Marker." said Kyoko as they watched on.

"The steps. They must be followed. The steps. The steps. Step 1: Crawl into the Dark Machine." said Naruto as they wacthed on with Meiya writing what he said down.

"Step 2: The screws go tight all around." stated Naruto with Meiya writing it down again.

But as he carried on, a small trickle of blood flowed from his nose as the continued to go deeper into his trance. This time Temari was worried about him, and thatt was when Saeko shook her head. Even though she too was worried about him.

"Come on Naruto-kun. Come on." she said as her face became riddled with saddness as she watched the blood drop down and begin to pool.

"Step 3: Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye." replied Naruto as he stiffened.

"The door to me will be revealed once I am freed." said Naruto as Saya hit the switch with Naruto dropping to the floor as his eyes looked away from the screen.

Heaving as he found sweat beading down his face, he wiped his nose of the blood and got to his feet as he looked into the eyes of everyone gatrhered. Looking over to Meiya who held the clipboard. He nodded to her as she nodded to him as well.

"I know what to do. I realize how I tie into this as well." said Naruto.

"Then it looks like you have all the cards now. King." said Hokuto with Naruto smirking.

"Yeah." said Naruto as he looked to Saeko and Saya.

"Queen." whispered Naruto as he turned to Rei and Takashi.

"Jack."

Turning to Kohta and Rika he smiled to them with Rika licking her lips while Toshimi leaned on Kohta as he pulled the cock back on his sniper rifle.

"Ace."

Turning to Hokuto as she switched her one hand to a Claw and then the other to the Blade while tendrils hissed behind her as she got a very determined face on her.

"And a Joker."

"Alright you bastard rock. You play chess with a bunch of pawns. Poker is much better. Ready yourself. Cuase we're gonna end this mess." said Naruto looking to the window as the sun set, casting an eerie feeling over the Marker that stood proudly in the distance.

And scene.

So the final preparartions have been made and now the real fights can get underway. But with everything ready, they must ready themsevles. Center their minds and bodies to be efficient as possible.

Chapter 23: Hold Me Closer.

Coming soon.

Thank you for reading.

BlackSpirit101 out. ;)