Chapter 13: Will Vandom Takes Over
"It's me…Porter C. Powell…May I talk to Ricky Blade?" Powell asked Allen. Allen frowns. He knows who it is. He's Porter C. Powell. He heard that he's the second-in-command of the falcone Mob. Knowing that he has to co-operate, he walks over to ricky and hands him his cell phone.
"It's Porter C. Powell, second-in-command of the Falcone Mob. Act coolly." Allen whispered. Ricky nodded and answers the phone.
"Hello?" Ricky asked.
"Hello, is this Ricky Blade?" Powell's voice said.
"Yes. I am Ricky Blade."
"Hello there. I'm Porter C. Powell, the second-in-command of the Falcone Mob. I regret taking so long to get in contact with you. I heard you broke into my refugee sector and free all of my slaves. Frankly, I was impressed and I would like to have a meeting with you at my private lounge within the D-Lagoon Bar, where we may speak without being disturbed. I wish to discuss something of mutual interest concerning your past profession and prospects for the future. Oh and do come alone…one person in my presence is more than enough." Powell then hangs off the phone.
"What did he say?" Allen asked.
"He says he wants to meet with me at D-Lagoon Bar." Ricky said.
"It may be a trap. I know it." Ben said.
"Still, he is a part of the Falcone Mob. He may provide us information. But the choice is yours, Ricky. If you go, you will have to go alone." Allen said.
"Where is D-Lagoon Bar?" Ricky asked.
"It's just a few miles away from our current location." Roy Mustang said. "I suggest you disguised yourself while going in there."
"Why?"
"Because the bar hates outsiders. Only the toughest and rowdiest men in London are allowed. Which means thugs, smugglers, and hunters. Droids aren't allowed either because there are a lot of electromagnetic activities in there. Screws with comlinks and behavior cores."
"Thanks. And I'll try to be careful. Looks like I'm off to see the Falcone mob, then."
"I suggest you shouldn't keep him waiting then. Because if you got his attention, you're probably attracted the attention of someone else." Saber said.
"Here, take this robe and cover yourself while you're in the bar." Allen said as he takes out some robes from his bag.
"Thank you. I'll be back. I promise." Ricky said. But before Ricky could walk away and put on the robes, Ben stops him.
"Hey Ricky…" Ben asked.
"Yeah? What is it, Ben?"
"Look, I just want to tell you that…be careful. Saber and I won't be able to contact you through the comlink if something happens and I'm betting that Powell guy knows it."
"Thanks for the warning, Ben." Ricky smiled as he nods.
"Good, but don't be too long. We will keep an eye out for you." Allen said.
Ricky now walks down the streets of London, now wearing the robes Allen gave him and a hood over his head.
Just then, he stops walking when he noticed someone walking over to him. It was Will Vandom.
"So, you're the Templar that everybody's been talking about. You don't look so tough to me." Will smirked as she cross her arms. "I thought Templars are supposed to be smart. But you are running around the city of London, sticking your nose into everyone's business. What, are you trying to save everyone in this city? You'll be attracting more attention that way. Even the Faction."
"Who are you?" Ricky asked in confusion.
"I'm Will Vandom. The best bounty hunter in London, and that's not me bragging, that's fact. I have been observing you ever since you came here with your friends. I've been watching you running all over like a street rat and for someone with a price on their head as high as yours; you sure don't know how to keep a low profile. Look, I know that Porter C. Powell sent you a message to meet him at D-Lagoon Bar. It's a trap. I'm betting that he's going to lure you in there, start a fight, and then he's going to deliver you to Falcone himself, dead, claiming that you attacked him first."
"Oh really? Well sorry but meeting Powell is the only way to get me closer to Falcone and settle this bounty."
Will put her hands on her hips and said, "Well, whatever your reasons are, the fact you're meeting with Powell is what I want to talk about. If I know about it, that means everybody else in London also knows about it, or will soon enough. And when that happens, the bounty hunter truce is off. That means things will get ugly. Real quick."
Ricky groaned. "Great. I can't believe this. I've been a target since I left my home."
"I think your friends are the ones in trouble…"
Meanwhile, Saber and Allen are both walking together on a sidewalk at Hyde Park, which is one of the largest parks in London.
"Okay, a nice stroll in the park should be enough to keep me out of trouble until our friend comes back." Allen said with his hands on his back.
"Yeah, besides, it sure is peaceful here unlike the other places in the city we visit earlier." Saber said. They continued walking until they heard a voice behind them.
"Where do you think you guys are going?" The voice asked. Saber and Allen both gasp and turn around to see Kadaj and Loz. "We have been watching you guys." Kadaj said.
"You guys are bounty hunters Kadaj and Loz, right?" Allen asked with a frown.
"Yes, and we are here for the Templar." Loz said.
Allen draws out his greatsword and holds it in front of him. "Over my dead body. Right, Saber?" When there was no response, Allen turned his head to see Saber blushing with her mouth open. "Saber? Are you alright?"
Saber said nothing. She was completely loss of words. She stared at the two handsome bounty hunters in awe as her face turned red.
"Saber!" Allen yelled. Saber got back to her senses and turns her head to him. "Saber, are you okay?"
Saber gulped and said, "Um, yeah…It's just that….they're pretty hot." Allen sweatdropped. He can't believe Saber is in love with two men who are trying to hunt her down.
"Like we said, we want the Templar and we are on our way." Kadaj said as he and Loz draw out their swords.
"Fat chance of that happening." Allen said as Saber draws out her ExCalibur sword.
"Is that right?" Kadaj smirked. He suddenly lunged at Allen with his sword. Allen quickly evaded and retaliated. The fight was on and both Kadaj and Allen deflect every attack they did to each other.
Saber watches Allen and Kadaj fight until Loz spoke up. "Now it's our time."
Saber frowns at Loz and said, "Okay, you guys may look good but trying to kill us is not good!" She lunges at Loz and they both clash their swords against each other.
Allen and Kadaj both leapt back from each other, breathing heavily.
"He's good," Allen uttered. "He's a lot better than what I thought before."
"Come on, is that the best you got? I expect more from a high ranking officer from the Royal British Army like you!" Kadaj mocked.
"Oh don't worry, you will expect more from me." Allen then threw his greatsword at Kadaj. Like a discus, it rushed towards him. But Kadaj only chuckled.
"You'll have to do better than that." He quickly threw his head back just as the greatsword passed by his head. "You missed."
"Oh, did I?" Allen smirked. Kadaj arched an eyebrow in confusion, but he eventually realized why he was smiling. He suddenly heard the same spinning sound of the greatsword approaching him from behind. Kadaj quickly turned to find the greatsword nearly striking a fatal blow to the head. He dodged within inches of the bladed edge. The edge of the greatsword streaked across his face, cutting him upon the right cheek. The greatsword in the meantime, safely reached Allen who caught it with his hand.
Kadaj wiped the trickling blood from his face. Immediately, he sneered at Allen with a menacing glance.
"Why you…?" Kadaj growled. "Look at what you did! My face, my face, you blemished my beautiful face!"
"Stop complaining," Allen put a hand on his hip. "You should be grateful. At least you look more like a battle hardened warrior instead of a pretty boy sissy!"
"You'll pay for your insolence!"-
"As far as I can see, you're no threat to me whatsoever."-
"Don't you dare mock me! You may be the lieutenant of the Royal British Army but to me, you're just a teenage boy!" Kadaj then lunges at Allen and the two men clashed their swords against each other once again.
Saber blocks every attack as Loz swings his sword. When Loz clashes his sword against Saber's with his right hand, Loz said to her in her face, "Come on! Fight back, Templar!" Then, Loz curls his left hand into a fist and gives Saber a swift punch to the gut. Saber gasped in pain and was sent sprawling to the ground, dropping her sword in the process.
Allen got distracted and sees Saber on the ground. "Saber!" He yelled in shock. But this gave Kadaj a chance to strike. He kicked Allen in the jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground as well. Allen tries to get up but Kadaj puts his foot onto his chest and points his sword at his face.
"And now, boy…I will kill you." Kadaj said with a wicked smile.
Saber barely recovered from the blow when Loz's fist came down upon her. Saber turned to her side just as his fist collided with the floor where her head had been just moments ago. The floor cracked and bits of it were thrown up from her powerful blow.
Saber tried to stand up, but Loz punched her hard in the stomach, sending her staggering back. She shakily got to her feet, only for Loz to punch her in the face. She fell back onto the ground. Loz then grabbed Saber by her throat and holds her up.
""You have skill, I'll admit that," Loz said, grinning as he watches Saber cringes in pain, "But it'll take a great deal more than that to defeat me, girl."
Saber just froze, her eyes wide. She looked at Loz's grin and immediately, an awful memory replayed in her mind…
A young Saber and a young boy with spiky blonde hair entered through a filthy alley. All in the alley was a dumpster, some old boxes and other scattered pieces of trash. No sign of any other people.
"Brother, what are we doing here?" Saber asked the boy, who is now known to be her brother, nervously as they both walked through the alley.
"Brother, please tell me why-OOF!" Suddenly, all of the sudden, her brother pushed her against the wall. She turned to her brother in shock and said, "Brother! What's going on?!" Saber widens her eyes in fear as her brother then pulls out a dagger from his pant pocket.
"You…" Her brother said menacingly. "You let our father go and because of you, he's gone." He then lifts his dagger up in air as he walks closer to Saber who continue looking at him in fear. She didn't even attempt to run away or scream. All she could do was watch her brother approached her.
Her brother then made a mischievous and malicious grin as he said, "Why so serious?! Let's put an end to your misery!"
Saber let out a scream, causing Loz to widen his eyes and loosens his grip on her so that he was just holding her up. She then narrows her eyes at Loz angrily and grabs his fingers tightly.
Loz let out a cry of pain as Saber crushes his fingers tightly, causing him to drop Saber onto the ground.
"What?" Kadaj said as he and Allen turned to Loz and Saber. They both look at Saber in awe.
"Saber?" Allen whispered. Saber suddenly lifted herself into the air with levitation, causing Loz to back away.
"Loz, you idiot! Get away! She's abourt to berserk!" Kadaj shouted. Loz quickly turn around and run away as Saber then lifts one of her hands up and forms a ball of energy. She then throws the ball of energy at Loz. The ball came crashing down on him.
Loz let out a blood curdling scream as the ball struck him and the energy consumed his body. In a bright flash, the orb engulfed the mystic and incinerated his body in flame. Saber lands on the ground.
Kadaj gasped in horror as he removes his foot from Allen's chest and backs away. He quickly turned around and try to escape but Saber quickly turns her head to him.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Saber yelled. She then runs over to Kadaj, jumps onto his back and pins him onto the ground.
"No! Please don't kill me!" Kadaj begged.
"Too late!" Saber then raised her fist over his head, preparing to crush it.
Just as she was about to bring it down though, Allen quickly grabbed Saber's arm. This causes Saber to froze, her eyes wide and calm down. Saber looked at Allen who is looking back at her in concern.
"Saber, please, don't kill him." Allen said calmly. "I know you are a good person. Why are you doing this?"
Saber looked back at Kadaj who is sobbing on the ground with his eyes shut. She soon realize what she was doing. Saber immediately got off of Kadaj and stood up. Allen then lets go of Saber's arm and pulls a pair of handcuffs on Kadaj's hands.
"Well, that's it. The bounty hunter truce is off. That means this place is going to get real bad, real fast." Allen said. "That means now the bounty hunters are coming after me, Ben and Wall-E as well." Saber just looked down on the ground sadly, saying nothing. She still couldn't believe what she just did earlier.
Meanwhile, Will and Ricky are now in a small apartment room in an old building. Will was standing a few feet away from Ricky while Ricky was standing next to a table with a lamp on it. Will sighed and said, "Well, this is it. This is one of my safe houses. It ain't much but it is my home."
Ricky looked around the room and said, "You know, if you have study hard and instead giving your life up to bounty hunting, you would have live in a better house."
Will blew out another sigh and said, "Yeah. But hey, bounty hunting is all my life. I never had a chance to go to school."
"Really? Why?" Ricky asked.
"Nah. It's a long story."
"Alright, now get to the point. Why did you bring me here?"
"Well, like I said, Powell was arranging a trap for you at D-Lagoon Bar. No surprise there. " Will puts her hands on her hips. "Thing is, he intends to cut the bounty hunters out of the loop and deliver you to Falcone personally." Will then rubs her chin. "And you know, it's not very smart from where I'm standing."
"I still need to meet Powell personally." Ricky said.
"Oh don't worry. You will meet him. It's just that, it's not time for you to do that yet. In fact, you're going to stay here until I meet with Powell myself."
"What makes you say that?"
"Actually, you really don't have much of a choice." Will then puts on a gas mask and pulls out a remote control.
"What are you doing?" Ricky asked. Will pushes the button and suddenly, a lamp blows out green smoke. Ricky coughs frantically as the green smoke covers him and within a few seconds, Ricky fell onto the ground unconscious. Will then walks over to Ricky, removes his robes from his body and puts it on.
"Good night, Templar. Let me just borrow your robe and I'll be on my way to see Powell." Will smirked. "I'll be back soon so don't go away." After putting on the robes, she walks out of her apartment, leaving Ricky behind.
An hour later, Will, now wearing Ricky's robe and a hood over her head walked into D-Lagoon Bar entrance.
At Powell's private lunge room, Powell and Cedric were sitting together at a nice silver table with red comfy chairs. Powell stared at his laptop which he placed it on the silver table and smiled as the laptop shows him the figure who he thought it was Ricky standing at the entrance of the bar.
"Good, the Templar agreed to see me after all." Powell said. He then said to his headset, "Okay men, you may unlock the doors to let the Templar in." After that, he hangs up his headset and frowns at Cedric. "I hope this plan of yours work, Cedric."
"Yes, once we are able to settle things with the Templar and ask him to negotiate with us, you will tell me Falcone's location and me and the Templar will join forces to take Falcone out."
When the doors to the bar are unlocked, Will cautiously enters through the bar. She walks over to a door and enters a private lounge room.
Powell turned to Will, still thinking she's Ricky, and smiled. "Ah, you must be Ricky Blade. Don't worry, you may remove your robes. This is a private meeting between just the two of us after all so there is no danger around this room."
Will then removes the robes, revealing herself.
"You!" Cedric snapped as he stood up from his chair.
"Oh hey, Cedric. What's up?" Will said, not minding Cedric at all.
Cedric was about to draw out his swords but Powell stops him. "Restrain yourself, Cedric. There is no need for violence." He turns back to Will and smiled casually. "So, if it isn't Will Vandom, I was hoping to have negotiations with you. And now I see that I will have my chance."
"I don't want any negotiations with you, Porter C. Powell, nor will I ever want to work for you. I just want to know why do you want to backstab Falcone and claim the Templar for yourself." Will said sternly with her arms crossed.
"Ah , I see that you heard the rumors. You see Will, I felt that the gang needs a new leader. A leader with full power and no arrogance. So once I successfully take out Falcone, I'll become the new leader of the Falcone Mob and will have the Templar to be my personal bodyguard. Which brings me to my next question." Powell now frowns and asked sternly, "Why is the Templar?"
"No way, I'll never give you the Templar to you! He's MY bounty. And that means he's under MY protection. Besides, the Templar will never serve you as your bodyguard. He will serve no one." Will snapped.
"How predictable." Powell said, shaking his head. "Very well." Then, two turrets came out from the ceiling and aim at Will.
"What the-" The turrets then zap electricity at Will and electrocutes her. Will cries in pain until the turrets stop electrocuting her and she falls onto the ground unconscious.
"Cedric, take her away." Powell ordered.
"For once Powell, with pleasure." Cedric smirked.
Back at the apartment, a girl walked up to the unconscious Ricky and kneels down next to him. She puts her hand on Ricky's shoulder and shakes him. "You, wake up." The girl said softly.
Ricky moans as he now cracks open his eyes and looked up. He looked at the girl and realize she was Lenalee Lee.
"Lenalee?" Ricky said. "What are you doing here? And how did you find me?"
"My senses tingle when I felt that you went into an unconscious state so I quickly try to detect your body and that's what brought me here and find you lying on the ground." Lenalee explained.
Ricky widens his eyes and said, "Wait, so you're saying…"
"Yes. I am a Templar. Like you." Lenalee admitted.
"Figures."
"Anyways, you need to get up and get to the D-Lagoon Bar right away! The bounty hunter truce is off and your friends are now in danger. The only way to stop this madness is by storming into the D-Lagoon Bar and face the Falcone Mob's leaders."
Ricky nodded and steadily stood up from the ground. "Yeah, let's deal with the Falcone mob and put an end to their crimes."
"And I'm coming with you." Lenalee then draws out her ExCalibur sword, proofing that she really is a Templar.
END OF CHAPTER
Ryo: Let's recap, Saber gone berserk and easily defeats kadaj and Loz, Will took over Ricky's place but ended up got herself captured by Powell and Cedric and Lenalee reveals herself to Ricky that she's a Templar. Anyways, now, Ricky and Lenalee are going to storm into D-Lagoon bar, find Porter C. Powell and find out where Carmine Falcone is hiding. Stay tune and read and review!
FAQs:
1. More of Saber's dark past will be explained in a later chapter.
2. Lenalee will explain more about herself as a Templar in the next chapter.
3. During Saber's flashback scene, there is a reference to the blockbuster movie 'The Dark Knight'. Can you guess what it is?