Authors Notes: Finally some action!

Frozen Timepiece

Chapter 26

Held up

Kate had left the dining room sometime after still being hounded about Samurai X and the fact that they had once had a bet going to find out who Samurai X was originally. It amused Kate and kept her mind off current problems. But now that it was quiet again, and the problem resurfaced it felt like it would eat her whole. She took a deep breath and pulled on her heavy boots. She normally wore them when in deep jungle just in case she gets caught up by a snake again. If it hadn't of been for Echo she was sure the snake would have got her. He stepped in the way and the snake bit down on bronze rather then flesh. Poor think slithered away probably mad.

She sighed deeply and looked down at her shirt. It still had a ring of dirt around the collar. She hadn't had time to shower since all this happened. She looked in the mirror at her hair. It looked more like Echos then her own bright red.

"Don't worry you still look lovely." Kate gasped turning around seeing Ronin sitting down in a chair just under the window. "You look like mom." He cleared his throat.

"Ronin...what if the others see you?" She asked closing the door so the others didn't see.

"What? Didn't you tell them about us?" He asked. Kate shook her head and covered her face. "Well...I actually expected you to. What about that Julien pup?" Kate looked up over her hand at him. "Really!?"

"I figured you'd want your privacy." Kate told him pulling a shirt out of the closet and walked into the bathroom.

"Oh and what if they figure it out?" Ronin asked putting his hands behind his head sitting back.

"Nothing. It can't be that bad." Kate said

"You'd be amazed." Ronin sighed

"Why are you here Ronin?"

"I've been asked to kidnap you off this ship and put you into Dr. Sanza's clutches." Ronin said. To his surprise Kate walked over to him and held out her hands.

"Okay." She said. Ronin put up his hands and shook his head.

"No you fruit loop!" Ronin said and shook his head.

"Why? You never had a problem with this sort of thing before right? You'll sell your mother for the right price they say. Why not your own sister?" Kate gasped when Ronin gathered her into his arms and held her in his arms.

"I have you, I won't lose you again." Ronin said let go of her. "I'm here to fight for you. I know I'm not the only one who was summoned to get you. Its like a challenge. Whoever…" He sighed and took her hand and walked out of the room and walked onto the bridge.

"Alright ninja!" He said looking at Jay and Cole who were on the bridge manning the guns.

"Ronin what the hell!" Cole yelled seeing Kate in his arms.

"He won't hurt me Cole…" Kate said holding up her hands.

"A lot of mercenaries, or headhunters, even a few killers have been called up to catch her. The summons says 'to whom so ever catches the fair Kate from the Destinys Bounty will receive 10 million."

"Oh and why aren't you going to? Thats a lot of money for you to just throw away." Jay said taking Kates hand and pulling her behind them and glared at Ronin. Kate looked up at Ronin who rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"He's my brother Jay. I found out the day I went back to my apartment. He left me a present, and proof." Kate said. Jay threw his hands in the air. Cole walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"Would it matter? I figured he'd…" She sighed and looked up at Cole.

"No it doesn't really matter." Cole said looking at her in a way that pretty much said 'oh you poor girl your related to that.' Kate sighed and walked over to the door.

"Look we have a job to do right?" Kate gasped having been pulled from the door. Ronin ran out of the room and nearly slammed right into Kate who was standing over a man with blond hair and torn up clothing. She had a taser in her hand. "That works…" She said looking up at Ronin who sat down on the floor rubbing his temples.

"I say we put her into a cardboard box and stow her in the hold." Ronin said. Kate giggled and nudged him.

"Daww I didn't know you cared."

"I didn't know caring was so much work." Ronin complained and looked up with the other ninja came running. Kai still pulling on his Gi.

"The heck was that."

"My sister here is a wanted woman." He said and looked at Kate. The others stared at her. They all walked out onto the top deck and stopped. Their were hundreds of people standing their watching. Samurai X was hanging upside down from the mast.

"Your guard was insufficient." One of the mercenaries said with a smile. Kate gasped looking on at Pixal whose helm lay on the deck rather then on her head. Letting the whole ship see who she was.

"What!" Jays exclamation echoed throughout the ship.

"Yes I'm rather miffed too." Kate said. Pixal stopped struggling from where she was.

"You are angry with me?" Pixal asked looking on at Kate to whom she seen as a sister.

"Yeah you've had a body for some time now and didn't even come see us. Rude." Kate said and gasped as someone fired a laser at her.

"Hey! The condition is to bring her back alive!" Ronin yelled. Another man fired at Ronin it tinked off his armor.

"Oh I wasn't going to kill her mate. Just mess her up a bit. Ruffle the feathers." The man stepped forward his teeth were as messy as his hair. Almost as he had been punched to many times and had to have them fixed a lot. Ronin grabbed his sister and shoved him behind his back.

"So...your going to protect her rather then turn her in. What kind of profit is that?"

"Plenty." Ronin pulled out a sword and glared at the men. Kai grabbed Kate and went for the door to the lower decks. A ball of fire hit the door. Kai growled.

"Hey!" He looked up to see the mechanic. "Thats my element." He barked. Kate stepped back and looked around at the ninja fighting. She gasped as her shirt was pulled she turned and shoved the taser into their rib cage. The man fell like a rag doll. She looked at Nya.

"Well if th sells men was right I got to more shots with this."

"Make them count!" Nya said and shoved the tip of her harpoon into a mans knees and shived him over the railing.

"Here use this." Ronin handed her his second sword.

"I never learned how." Kate said looking around at the others.

"Then why did you come!"

"They have my husband!" Kate yelled.

"Uh...that bronze pup...isn't your husband."

"Yes he is. We said our vows to one another. Mostly just to our family same as Pixal and Zane." Kate said and swung the sword at someone and smiled at herself.

"Kate...you can't marry a nindroid. Its…" He sighed and shook his head. "I mean…" He looked slightly bummed for a second there. "I didn't get to give you away." Ronin said. Kate blushed and looked down at the deck and gasped when a rope came down and caught around her mid section. A man with black hair looked down at Ronin.

"Let her go Blitz!" He yelled "I'll give you twice as much as Sanza is."

"Very generous of you Ronin...but...I do have my honor." He said jumping down so everyone could see.

"Let go of me you jerks!" Kate struggled having been completely tied up. Her hands were behind her back, but her legs thrashed around. Every so often catching Blitzes shins.

"Quiet your tongue!" He yelled kneeing Kate in the rips. Kates lungs burned for air. As the kick caused her to exhale all the air it had. She fell limp in the mans arms. "Thats better."

"You jerk!" Ronin yelled running at Blitz who pulled a gun out and put it to the top of Kates head.

"Sorry to play in run Ronin...but this girly here...she's my meal ticket."

"She's my sister."

"Ah...thats why you want to keep her so bad...its personal. Well...its Sanzas problem now. Toots." He waved and jumped down out of the Bounty. The others gave chase wanting to get the girl away from Blitz.

"Come on we gotta go after her!" Pixal yelled and finally the rope snapped. The ninja looked angry at themselves having been unable to protect Kate.

"We need a plan...and fast." Nya said looking at Lloyd.

Kate had been deposited in front of Sanza who smiled down at the woman.

"I believe this is the damsel you spoke about. So my debt is repaid yeah?" Blitz asked. Sanza nodded his head and waved at Blitz who whooped and ran into the woods and out of sight.

"Come my pet...someones been waiting to see you." He motioned for one of the men to pick up Kate.

Sanza unlocked the door and walked into the room to see Zane and Echo sleeping in a pile. One hugging the other as if their lives depending on it. To afraid to let go just in case Sanza came and got one.

"Alright boys. I've got a present for you." Echo and Zane sat up quickly having been disturbed out of sleep. Echos eyes locked onto the unconscious form of Kate.

"What did you do to her!" He yelled and stood up shakily. He ran forward and stopped when Sanza held Kates neck. She made a gagging noise, her mouth opened trying to get some air.

"I thought I was being a bit horrible to you two lately so I thought...why not bring her here first before I killed her. You have two hours with her...if you behave now." He let go of Kates throat and had the large man lay her down in Echos arms.

"Now say thank you."

"Thank you." Both nindroids said in unison.

"Good androids."