Danny catches up with Maria just as the lynx is leaving the infirmary.
"I'm not changing my mind," Maria states with certainty as Danny falls in step beside her.
"I know," Danny acknowledges. "I'm coming with you."
"Good. Why?"
"You're not the only one desperate to atone for your mistakes."
"Can I be honest with you?"
"Go ahead."
Maria sighs. "I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is we need those Crystals, and those headband things. And I'm not going to rest until we have them."
"I don't know what I'm doing either," Danny admits. "But I'm sure, by the time we get to the Palace, we'll have a plan."
The two friends continue in silence towards the aircraft hangar.
Just after sunset, a compact aircraft takes off from the Kasai‑dojo airfield, much to the surprise of operator in the control tower. By the time a response unit is scrambled, the aircraft has made its escape high above the invading army, heading towards the coast and eventually Shang Tu. However, none of this is of any interest to the jet‑black sable clad in urban camouflage. Having abandoned the sleeping Kaede Himura in the lava diversion tunnel, Ryoichi Nakano makes his way towards Kasai‑dojo. Taking care to avoid getting caught in the sight‑lines of the Kasai snipers, the sable circumnavigates the dojo searching for an entry point. Eventually, he finds a way in.
Peeking out from the end of a narrow alleyway, Ryoichi pulls back into the shadows at the sight of a supply truck heading towards the dojo. The sable pulls further back when the truck stops just a few dozen yards past the alleyway. Did they spot me? Ryoichi watches as the driver emerges from the truck and heads down another narrow alleyway. A moment later, a very faint sound hits the sable's ears, informing him that the driver will be occupied for a minute or so. The call of nature is hard to resist.
Allowing himself a small smirk, Ryoichi takes the chance presented to sprint up to the truck, dive smoothly into the rear, and hide himself among the supplies within. When the driver returns to the truck a few moments later, the sable is ready for the driver to search the truck. However, fortune favours Ryoichi, as the driver simply climbs back aboard and resumes his journey.
Half an hour later, the truck is parked within Kasai‑dojo, and the engine shut off. Ryoichi listens as two people approach the back of the truck and begin unloading. Knowing it's only a matter of time before he's discovered, the sable reaches for his tambo. However, the people unloading the truck unexpectedly leave before finishing the job. Why are they taking a break? On second thoughts, I don't care why: I'm not wasting this chance.
After checking the coast is clear, Ryoichi jumps out of the truck and sprints into cover, disappearing into the shadows, where he pauses to plan his next move.
In the lava diversion tunnel, Kaede stirs awake. As awareness returns, she checks her watch. Two hours to midnight… Screw it, let's just go now. Yawning, Kaede pushes the blanket off her and sits up. "Come on Ryoichi, let's‑"
Ryoichi is nowhere to be seen.
"Shit! That bastard's gone in without me!" Kaede concludes. A second later, her blood turns to ice. "If he finds the notebook and reads it… Dammit!"
Kaede leaps out of the car and sets off in a sprint, ignoring the stiffness and pain in her right calf.
Midnight, and Maria and Danny are halfway to Shang Tu. With the destination set and the aircraft on autopilot, both friends should be taking the opportunity to sleep as much as possible. However, while Maria's soft purring fills the compact cabin, Danny remains awake. This whole situation is insane. How did things get out of control so quickly and easily? And now I'm on my way home, only to break into the most secure location in Shang Tu, and possibly the entirety of the Origin Kingdoms. Danny sighs deeply. We should have taken Kaede to HQ and left her in the dungeon.
Danny settles down to try and get some sleep, but a thought occurs to him. We can't take this to Shang Tu: it's too conspicuous. We need to get our trikes first. Danny programs the course change into the autopilot, then finally allows himself to slip into a light sleep.
As Ryoichi drives deeper into Kasai‑dojo, and Kaede rushes to chase him down, a lone figure flies through the night sky, navigating by ultrasound. The slate‑grey bat, clad only in a midnight blue armoured bodyglove and black boots and gloves, approaches the upper levels, taking care to stay out of the patchy moonlight.
Knowing that it is impossible for Hideyoshi and his kohai to defend every possible entry point into the dojo, Agent Akairo elects to fly close to the highest levels. Using ultrasound and her highly sensitive hearing to ensure she keeps her distance from the numerous sniper nests, Akairo lands on the roof of the main building, just a few feet from a conveniently open window. After a quick check to make sure the coast is clear, the bat slips through the window and enters the dojo.
Akairo slips into shadow and pauses to work out where she is. Office supplies… This must be the administration level. The only way I could be further from the dungeon is if I was in one of the observation towers. Not a problem though: I can sneak down easily enough.
Taking advantage of the fact the administration level is empty apart from infrequent patrols, Akairo quickly works her way to the nearest stairwell. She enters the stairwell and looks and listens down as far as she can. Nothing. It's almost like they're wanting me to free her.
Akairo takes a moment to steel herself, then folds her wings close to her body and dives headfirst down the open centre of the stairwell. Within a few seconds, the levels are flashing past at speed. Five storeys from the bottom, Akairo curls up, rotates, then spreads her wings wide, slowing herself just enough to silently and safely land at the bottom of the stairwell. Am I low enough?
Akairo places her ear against the door to the stairwell and listens carefully. Two guards, one each side of the door. Trivial. Akairo opens the door, letting it drift open as she takes off and hovers just above the doorway. One of the guards moves through the opening door, his gun raised as he scans the bottom of the stairwell. However, he doesn't look up. As the second guard tries to follow, Akairo kicks the door shut as hard as she can, knocking the second guard flat on his tail. The first guard turns to counter‑attack, but he's too slow: Akairo dive‑kicks him to the floor, his gun skittering out of reach. Akairo follows up with a sharp tambo blow to the guard's temple, knocking him out.
"Freeze!" the second guard commands.
They're better than I thought. Akairo rises to her feet slowly, her hands raised as if in surrender.
"Drop your weapons!" the guard commands.
Akairo responds by unfurling her wings directly into the guard's face. With the guard momentarily wrong‑footed, Akairo spins and swipes a tambo across his temple. She doesn't wait for the guard to fall to the floor before passing through the door and closing it. Good, this is the dungeon level. Akairo halts, swivelling her ears to pick up every slight sound. Expecting it to take several moments to pick up Tsubaki Moto's location, the bat is pleasantly surprised when the tanuki makes the job of locating her easy. Typical Moto. She never could keep her anger in check.
Akairo follows the sound of the heated argument, electing to remain hidden around the corner from Tsubaki's cell. Her timing proves perfect, as the argument ends just as Akairo arrives. The guard attending to Tsubaki storms around the corner without even noticing Akairo, but the bat takes no chances, knocking the guard out before he's aware she's even there before proceeding to the cell.
"About time," Tsubaki growls.
"I have been performing my mission," Akairo offers as explanation. "Stand back," she commands, unclipping a small directional explosive from her belt and placing it over the lock.
"You do not‑" Tsubaki begins to reply.
"Stand back," Akairo repeats, her tone identical, yet somehow more forceful.
Tsubaki makes to reply, but decides it'd be a waste of time, and steps back instead. Akairo sets the timer for five seconds, triggers the device, then moves a few yards away.
A muffled 'whump' signifies the explosive worked as designed, the cell door swinging open slowly.
"Where are my katana?" Tsubaki demands as she exits the cell.
"You're welcome," Akairo replies, completely unmoved by Tsubaki's aggression. "We'll get them on the way out."
"Fine," Tsubaki relents. "Report."
"The Elemental Protectors are no longer a threat. While I cannot be certain of the fine details, from what I have gathered, Hanna Skarlett is severely injured and cannot return to the battlefield, Rob Stiil is uninjured but will almost certainly not return to battle, and Maria Shanmao and Danny Brock left Yamakasai two hours and seven minutes ago."
"Leaving just the idiot wolf that traitorous otter is fucking," Tsubaki concludes. "And now I'm behind enemy lines, dispatching them both and that deluded bat in charge of this pathetic dojo will be easy," she adds, a malevolent grin emerging as she speaks.
"Do not underestimate Hideyoshi Takenaka," Akairo advises. "He will not be easy to get to, and nor will Chika Ueno."
Tsubaki slams Akairo into the wall, one hand tightly gripping the bat's neck. "You forget your place," the tanuki growls.
"My mission… is to provide… information… to you," Akairo grunts, struggling to breathe, yet remaining stoic. "I am… providing… information."
"Find my katana," Tsubaki commands, releasing her grip.
"As you command," Akairo obeys, calmly smoothing her ruffled fur.
A few hours later, Danny lands the aircraft outside his Jade Creek home.
"Cupcake!" Maria exclaims as she's jolted awake by the landing. "Are we there yet?" she adds with a yawn.
"Not quite," Danny answers. "I brought us home first."
"Why?"
"Because it's much easier to sneak in using our trikes than this aircraft."
"Thought of a plan?"
"Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"I can get us into the Palace," Danny explains. "After that, we'll have to wing it."
"You're so screwed," Maria teases. "Come on," she instructs, her tone serious.
Danny follows Maria out of the aircraft, and a few minutes later, the two friends ride in formation towards Shang Tu.