Ghost in the Cyberpunk

by Stone-Man85

The year is 2077 and humanity has accepted Cybernetic Augmentations, and is a time of cyber crime and conspiracy. In a future where the line between human and machine is slowly being blurred. When do Man or Machine Evolve, and what is it evolving into. However, with one Edgerunner and a Goverment agent, one thing still remains the same: Love. Rated M for Mature

3. New Beginnings Arc Chapter 2

Ghost in the Cyberpunk

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Chapter 2: Meet the Gang and Bite the Bullet Train

---

Section 9
Meeting Group

The next day, the Section 9 group had been called forth to investigate the group that the Major and the others had run in to the Maelstrom incident. If there was a chance to find anything about what had happened, these guys could help. Aramaki had mentioned the US Government had made a truce alliance with the mafia to protect America while their forces went to War in the 2nd World War.

Though not everyone was okay with the idea. Batou, being the most verbal, "I don't like it Chief. I mean you know those punks are Cyber Psychos in the making."

"Duly noted," Aramaki said, but then stated, "But then again, aside from Togusa and myself, some of us here didn't have the choice to be what we are. Neither did they, as I wager circumstances pushed them to this. And despite that, they could have taken Lady Mitsu's money and just left her daughter to die."

Pazu was the next one to speak, "It's not always like that, Chief. some punks only are like that because of the financial divide and have more honor than those who dare use the name Yakuza. I think this is one of those who kept their word."

"Indeed, which is why we need to keep an eye on them," Aramaki advised, as he half-smirked, "It doesn't hurt to have help from outside the government. One thing I've known about being an old man is that we have seen and lived through far worse than young people. Punks that live off the streets and are more soldier than juvenile delinquent tend to fit in the same category." He then looked to Pazu and asked, "So what have you found out about our associates?"

Pazu linked them up as they were now in a Cyberspace room, with all of them in a circle as holographic displays of the individuals known and unknown were shown.

"All we know is what was brought up the night during the raid." Pazu stated, "As well as some of my contacts who still wanna talk to me." He then started with the hologram of the one who took out the large Psycho, "This is Aaron Snow. Sometimes goes by the name Tentomoshi. he's a kid who seemed to have abilities that other Cyberpunks never even heard of. His past is as big of a mystery as the Laughing man case that happened 6 years ago. Except for that incident on the train."

Togusa asked, "Tentomoshi? as in Ladybug?"

The Major froze again hearing that word... something that only two people in the room noticed as Pazu shrugged, "Rumors say it's because of how he has a jacket button with an image of the bug on his coat and also how he seems to have luck on his side."

"Tentomoshi isn't lucky, Pazu," Togusa said. "When I was a kid, Tentomoshi was rumored to have a spot on its back to carry all the Seven Sorrows of the World. Meaning, they're not lucky. They just carry all the bad luck so that others can be lucky."

Pazu looked at Togusa, "Maybe on our side of the world. Not the West side."

"Even so, who would want that kind of burden," Borma asked, not liking the idea all too well.

Then it pulled over to the heavily muscled individual, as Pazu explained, "Kurt Stahl, part Cherokee, former member of the Animals. A group that specializes in body enhancements using a steroid-like cocktail called Juice, as well as using endo-skeletal enhancements, joint and tendon enhancements. The gang is also known to have bodyguard services to local clubs and such. Kurt was rumored to have been thrown out of the gang because he was unable to protect a client."

Togusa looked, "Damn, seems like he could give the big guy a run for his money."

"Personality wise is he's like a Grizzly bear and a Black bear altogether," Pazu reported. "One point, he's super friendly, next he's tearing apart a triad of Yazuka."

Batou chuckled thinking Pazu was making a joke... before seeing his expression and then said, "no way..."

Pazu remained as he was before saying, "This kid's their informant/interrogator for deals and such. Calls him Lee and calls himself Lee the heart throb."

"Also known as Leroy Litz," Togusa added in as he recognized him, "I know who this guy is. He's a Hoodlum who specializes in technological means of getting money. He was brought in for a couple of times due to being caught breaking into ATM machines before he moved to Edgerunner alongside his partner, Maritza Bradley, also known as the Green Doll."

Borma then asked, "Partner? You mean they date?"

"That part's unknown to say the least," Pazu answered. "But they worked together when they met in the Precinct holding cells. Her Solo combat and his Techie skills make them both a formidable duo. One rumor is that they were responsible for the South Night City massacre. Slaughtered nearly 40 gang members who were all in service of the Yazuka group known as the White Lotus Blades."

Borma gulped, "They did that?"

"Apparently, it was a snatch n' grab job that went wrong," Pazu explained. "One thing led to another and the two ended up having to kill all those who were trying to kill them."

Batou grumbled, "I'd believe it about the girl, she cut through five-eyes head like it's another day on the job for her."

Pazu then pointed to Ernesto, "Ernesto O'Hara, former Enforcer of the Seguara sect of the Valentinos. He's also known as the Wolf."

Ishikawa then joked, "He almost reminds me of you, Pazu."

Pazu shook his head, as he explained, "Orphaned at the age of 7, his only family, his mother, died of leukemia and wasn't able to afford healthcare from Trauma Team. The boy was on the run, growing up learning how to fight. Then one day, the head of the Seguara takes an interest in his reflexes and skills, hires him to be one of his Enforcers. Grows in the ranks to be one of the best of the best. Until the day came and he lost it all. During a big gang meeting, the entire Seguara gang were all found dead, with him as the only survivor. Rumor has it that he did it, or that he was unimportant enough not to kill. But he's been a lone wolf looking for the one that killed his gang. Met Snow and teamed up to his group."

Togusa looked at Ernesto and couldn't help himself from saying, "Poor kid..."

"Speaking of which," Pazu explained as he pulled in the twins, "Innoske and Fumika Hashibira. The grandchildren to the late White Lotus Blades leader, Minagishi."

Saito arched an eyebrow, as he remembered the names and asked, "The twin Oni of the White Lotus Blades? I thought they were a myth."

Pazu shook his head, "Nah, just thought to be dead. And they're actually triplets, with a 12-year-old sister, Konoka." A display showed a twelve-year-old girl with minimal cybernetics in a well-respected school uniform. "The story goes that Minagishi's gang was a branch of the Tyger Clawz."

The Major looked at the girl and asked, "Does she know about her family?"

"She was still a baby when the Massacre of Minagishi had begun," Pazu explained.

"Massacre of Minagishi," Batou asked.

"Minagishi was more of a traditional gang leader; brutal to his enemies but protective of his people and his family," Pazu explained. "Only he made one mistake. He brought in a man from Russia into his ranks. A man who was of former KGB of the Nuclear Winter Wars. Anton Valkno."

"The White Death," Aramaki confirmed. "I've heard of this man."

"Word has it he worked his way up the ranks and stood by Minagishi's side. The others of his clan warned Minagishi that he shouldn't be trusted, but he brushed it off saying that they had lost their drive. He wasn't wrong... but neither were they. A month after the White Death became Minagishi's right-hand, he had begun building alliances with other gangs to help him. The Maelstrom and Barghast groups chief among them. They tore down the base, and killed Minagishi Russian Roulette style. And afterwards, the White Death ordered all traces of Minagishi's family to be slaughtered and burn. And it was rumored at the youngest grandkids of Minagishi disappeared."

"That included the twins who now showed up with this Aaron guy," Batou asked, before grinning, "With a nickname like that he certainly is known to be lucky with the ladies." The other members went silent on annoyance by his statement while others had frustrated expressions.

Pazu brought up the least visual member of the group, "This here is someone they call "Ghost, formerly of the Wraith tribe."

"Wraiths," the Major asked.

Aramaki then explained, "I know of them. They're a subgroup of Nomads that traverse the Badlands of the Old World caused by the last World War. Where others see desert, the Nomads see as their territory. They're notorious for vehicle handling and heavy artillery. And the Wraiths are no better. Though normal nomads are aware of the law, the Wraiths are known for ignoring it, and mostly traverse by night."

"There's no other identification of Ghost's former life," Pazu replied. "We don't know of why he left, or his identity. Nobody's ever seen his face. Not even speaking."

"A literal ghost in the sense," The Major thought aloud.

"That just makes him as much of a ghost as this Snow kid." Togusa pointed out.

"So, what about Ishikawa's new buddy? the one with the Jamaican accent," Batou asked, curious.

"Seth Morgan," Pazu said, as he displayed the shot, "Former member of the Voodoo Boys. Netrunners, and highly good at what they do. Pacifica is their Haiti 2.0 to say the least, and they mostly stay there while in a feud against the Animals. Which coincidentally, was where Kurt was from."

"You think the two might have met and teamed up," Major asked.

"Why not? A deadly combination of Muscle and Brain, I'd be wary of it," Batou said.

The next shot was of Tio, as Pazu went on, "Tio Connor. Former member of the 6th Streets. A gang that holds traditional homage to the Founding Fathers of America. The gang specializes in quick reflexes and cyberoptics. Though rumor has it that Tio has fitted with himself a cyber limb attachment. His reasons for leaving the 6th Street was mostly because he was used as a bargain chip for another gang to promote good will amongst them. Until he botched it up with drinking on the job and got thrown out of both gangs before he met with Aaron."

"But that does not explain how this Aaron Snow was able to gain such support from a group of individuals from different Cyberpunk gangs," Aramaki stated.

"Actually, there is one thing that ties them all together," Pazu showed a file copy of the news report of a Bullet Train crashing in Kyoto. "The train sped out of control and crashed in an uninhabited area of Kyoto. And here's the weird part: All of them were survivors of that train. I'm guessing whatever happened there brought them together."

"The one that caused the death of the deadliest mafia boss throughout San Tokyo?"

Aramaki thought on it, as he said, "Well, best thing now to do is find Aaron Snow and ask him and the others."

Pazu then nodded, "Already found his location. Apparently, he's living in an apartment Complex in the Block known as Paradise Falls."

Togusa looked at the hologram of it as he stated, "I remember my superiors on the Police force talking about it how this megablock's considered Cyberpunk territory."

"There's also much rarity in that it's not often that the police forces, either MaxTac, normal police or otherwise to even have forces there," Pazu said. "It's a good place for any punk to hide out."

Batou snorts, "I don't believe it."

The Major then sighed, "Well... I guess Batou and I should go and find out then."

"Agreed," Aramaki said.

One by one the other members logged out, before the chief and the Major were the only ones left, "Is anything the matter, Major?"

Major looked to him, a bit startled as she asked, "Chief?"

"I noticed you freezing up earlier when they mention the name of that insect," The chief stated, careful not to say the word exactly.

"Inse- you mean Ladybug," Major said, but then thought on it, as she looked at her left hand, instinctively flexing it as she answered, "I'm not sure. Lately, I've been wanting to see Dr. Oulette to see if it has anything to do with the Glitches."

"Major I'd be careful about Oulette, especially considering how she was so adamant about your scheduled appointment." the chief advised, "Something is going on here and it might have to do with something your ghost is trying to tell you."

Major thought about it, as she said, "Maybe... but for now, she's the only one who has the medicine and knows my body better than I do." And then she immediately signed off.

Aramaki logged out too as he returned to his office. Turning to look at the ceiling, 'Major... be careful...' he thought seeing her as someone of his family.

---

Later On
Megabuilding Block 17
Label: Paradise Falls

Batou and the Major arrived with a hidden Tachicoma in cloak, as they had made their way to the Megabuilding District. Megabuildings, or Megablocks, as some referred to, were mega-arcologies in the Cyberpunk universe. These buildings dominated the San Tokyo skyline by 2077, functioning like cities within the city. Continuations of concepted arcologies of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, megabuildings were constructed in San Tokyo and Night City, as well as Island City (formerly New York) after the 4th Corpo War - such as in the Watson Development - to house the thousands of displaced residents due to the AHQ Disaster. Each megabuilding housed approximately 128,000 at maximum, having over 8,000 apartments, with capacities of 16 per apartment. Megabuildings provided services such as residential housing, entertainment, food, and other services common in shopping mall experiences. Each apartment came with MediaCorp-promoted cable television, radio, and sensory feed access. These buildings also had rented corporate cops, although crime still remained a problem in many of them. Nomad workers were utilized in the construction of many megabuildings, up to hundreds working on one at a time.

The Major looked up to it, as she mused, "So this is where we'll find our Lucky bug, eh?"

Batou thought on it as he criticized, "These places always gave me the creeps. Like giant tombstones."

"You sure it's not because of the thought of being stuck in such a tight fight with your big shell?" The Major joked while they kept searching.

"Hardly, we fought in tinier places than this," Batou said as they walked inside, and sure enough, it did look like a city inside a giant block of iron. Level upon level there were areas you'd find in a city, as well as many citizens. Some of them showing bootleg cybernetics.

The two would continue as they search around for their bug.

Once they got up on one of the levels, which was kind of a trash slums area, with dregs loafing around or using what appeared to be an automatic cock sock toy for some, or VR goggles, they continued. Though a few gang members stopped them, looking like run-of-the mill punks, as they were males. They were eyeing the Major with intent to invite, as the leader smirked, "Hey, cutie. How's about you ditch your grandpa and hang out with some real men."

The Major thought smirking at the remark these punks gave Batou she said, "Thank you gentlemen, but are you sure you're all man enough for me?"

"And on top of that, she's really bitchy," a voice spoke up from behind the Major and Batou.

The two turned to see who was saying that.

It was none other than Aaron, as he smirked at the three, "It'd be best if you just leave her be. Unless you want to get on the bad side of a Counter-Terrorism Unit member like these two."

The trio paled as they gulped, "Wha... a CTU?" And all three bailed like that, screaming.

Batou groaned, "Damn it, kid... you trying to get us killed?"

Aaron shrugged, as he walked past them, as he said, "Well, it's been fun, so you two have a good time exploring this place..."

"Hold on, kid," Batou said grabbing his shoulder, "We're here to talk to you."

Aaron stopped in his tracks, his back still turned to them, but not turning to face them.

"We'd like to offer you a deal based on how well we seemed to work together when saving Secretary Mitsu's daughter the other night," The Major said looking at him.

Aaron continued to stand there... until he disappeared.

Suddenly, they heard something slip up above them, and saw Aaron climbing onto the upper level above them.

Batou shouted, "Damnit!" and chased after him.

Major leapt up and climbed after him, as Aaron bolted to wherever he was heading.

Aaron could tell the two were after him, as he shouted, "You Corpo dogs just leave me be, okay?!"

"Will you just stop!? We just want to talk to you!" Miranda shouted as she ran after her.

"Fuck no," Aaron shouted, as he activated the Sandavistan.

He used the time to quickly get behind the Major, and then used her to leap up to the next level. As time returned, Miranda almost fell over, as she felt someone use her as stepstone. Aaron reached the level, using his Mantis Blade as a climbing axe and climbed up.

The Major would stop and glare, using her ability at hacking to make him pull the blade out and drop back to her.

He once again activated the Sandavistan, as time slowed down, and he sped up to fight off the control, and managed to climb up. He then proceeded to get to the next level, until he was on the seventh level: Services.

Time returned to normal again, as Batou reached the Major, "Man, whatever he's got is making him slippery."

"I think it's some sort of nerv-enhancing system, noticed the top part of his spin implant glowing when he uses it."

"I was barely able to see anything with him going so fast," Batou implied, but then looked to her, "Though I did notice he managed to break your control when he's like that."

"That's because his mind as well as his body has been sped up compared my hacking signal."

As the two ran to get to Level 7, Batou quipped, "Makes you wonder how many times he can do that."

---

7th Floor/Level

Aaron was running through the crowded area. This floor contained food stalls and a variety of vendors and services, including a weapons store, a fighting ring and a gym, as well as rentable apartments. Aaron was trying to make a break for it, but things felt dizzy for him. He had overshot his use of the Sandavistan, or getting close to it. He was starting to pay the price of using it too much at this point yet again when things got a bit hectic and couldn't be solved with a weapon.

"Hey, babe. You okay?" a familiar voice asked.

Aaron looked to his left... and saw Maritza with a bag of groceries, as she looked at him. He blinked, as he barely was able to think straight, and unaware that his nose was bleeding, asked, "Maritza?"

"Dude, you're either finally acting like you should when you see a hot girl. Or you over used your spine implant again," Maritza said pointing at his nose.

Aaron touched under his nose, as he pulled it back to see it stained a bit, as he groaned, "Shoot. I used the Sandavistan too many times."

"Duh." She said handing him the bag and hold his arm with hers and said, "I'll help you get home and you can help me with my groceries."

"That's good," Aaron said woozily, and then asked, "Lee still staying with you?"

"Don't worry about him." She said, cheeks flustered, before whispering, "I can kick him out if you finally want to share the sack with me."

"I feel like I'd be breaking his heart if I went that far," Aaron half smirked, "Just wanted to make sure you both are happy. And if at all, hooking up again?"

Maritza huffed, "Only if he apologized."

"You know it's not his fault. he's just too shaken up like a shitting dog," Aaron said.

"Well, I'll only go back to his relationship if he stops flirting with every girl," Maritza pouted.

"He's only doing it because he thinks you dumped him," Aaron implied. "And maybe if you noticed, he's trying to make you jealous by acting like a womanizer."

Maritza stopped and asked, "Wait really?" Maritza then murmured, "I never thought of it that way before..."

"Snow!" Batou shouted, getting the attention of both Edgerunners, as they turned to see Batou and Major catching up.

Aaron groaned, "Oh brother."

Maritza then asked, "Aren't those the corpo dogs from last night?"

"Yeah," Aaron sighed, as the two finally caught up. Feeling strong enough, he stood on his legs, and wiped the blood away, though not fast enough as the Major saw, but said nothing. And he asked, "You guys really are that desperate to hire me. Aren't you?"

"That's not what we want," Miranda said before getting over to them, "We just want to talk."

Aaron sighed, as he looked at her, and simply smiled, "I don't' know what it is about you. But I don't think I can say no to you in particular." He then walked as he said, "Follow me. My apartment's not too far."

---

Apartment 714

The door opened as Aaron walked on in with the others as he switched on the lights.

Maritza was jealous hearing that before she looked at Batou and smirked deviously to herself.

Aaron slipped off his jacket and gloves, as he put them in the closet, and walked to the kitchen spot, as he asked, "So seeing as you're guests, what can I get ya? Beer or..." Aaron looked through and shrugged, "Um... Beer and or milk?"

"I'll take a beer," Batou said before seeing someone quickly taking it and giving the bottle to him.

It was Maritza who, acting strange to Aaron, said, "Here you go muscles."

Batou blinked, "Eh wha...?"

Aaron shrugged as he figured out her plan, and gave the beer to the Major, as he walked over to his circle couch, and sat down, "So, what exactly is this job that a Government Counter Terrorism Unit needs with Edgerunners?"

"As you know we're from an anti-cyber terrorism organization, Public Security Section 9, and after seeing how greatly our two groups had worked together to assist each other in taking down most of the Maelstroms last night, our superior wish to form a partnership between our two groups," The Major explained.

"You mean hire us as privateers," Aaron guessed.

"Something like that. If you read Sherlock Holmes." Batou said, though he doesn't get it either.

"I've had a few audio books of Sherlock Holmes," Aaron implied. But then asked, "But I have a feeling there's something else you wanna ask me aside from hiring me and my crew."

"Why did you have that insect on your jacket?" She asked, pointing to the Ladybug.

Aaron blinked at that, confused on that question, as he asked, "The insect?"

"Yes. that one," she said pointing at his button.

Aaron sat up as he looked at the quarter-sized button on there, and shrugged, "Not sure. Mostly style... and it's the only thing I have of my past."

Seeing it Miranda continued to stare as she felt something going on, as images flash in her head.

Aaron glanced and saw her staring at it, as he asked, "You okay?"

Miranda seemed a bit startled at that, and asked, "Um, yeah?"

"You seem a bit distracted by it," Aaron said. He smirked as he asked, "Let me guess: your parents teased you about Ladybugs in thinking the black dots on their backs are eyes that stare at you, right?"

"Honestly... I don't remember much... I lost my parents to Cyber-terrorism that caused our plane to crash more than ten years ago. I was the only survivor."

Aaron was a bit surprised on that, as he asked, "You survived? In one piece?"

"Not exactly... my regular body was beyond repair and I was left in a coma... Militech gave me a high performance, Full prosthetic body. my brain in a braincase to ensure while my mind grows, I can switch between body forms as I grow."

Aaron and Maritza were both a bit surprised by that, as Maritza sat down and asked, "Wait, so nothing organic about you but your brain? Damn, that sucks."

"It's not like I had much of a future anyway... so when I got old enough, I requested to be trained to fight Cyber-terrorism." Miranda revealed.

"No, I meant it must suck for you unable to go to the bathroom or sex," Maritza said. "Must be crazy not to screw around."

Miranda remained silent, while she said, "Not much to focus on that when people cause my family to die... I made this choice to prevent more from suffering like me. It's also why more and more people are going full Prosthetic and why there are more androids that can look human." Miranda explained having them remember why they kept seeing android that look more human outside their complex.

"Ah," Maritza sighed, as she took a swig. She looked over to Batou and asked, "Hey, you wanna sit down? Take a load off, Soldier Boy?"

Batou remained standing, "Thanks, kid. but I prefer standing."

Aaron then asked, "So I'm also guessing you wanna know about the ladybug then?"

Maritza smirked, "Ha! I remember that situation 3 years ago. That was the time we first met."

Miranda nodded, "For some reason my Ghost is whispering to me... like it has some significance..."

Maritza went all spooky like, "oooooh, look out, everyone. Her ghost might haunt us." And then rolled over laughing, until she said, "You honestly believe this ghost stuff? I think when you die, you die."

"Not that sort of ghost kid. It's what separates us from machines. it's another word to mean consciousness or our souls." Batou explained, "Scientists are calling that thing that separates machines from us "Ghosts"."

"Then why don't you just call it a Soul, like normal people," Maritza said, and then pouted, "And who you callin' a kid?"

Major then asked, as she looked to Aaron, "Though we did a background check on your particular group. Animals, Moxy, Wraiths, Valentino, 6th Street, Voodoo Boys. Your groups made up of members of other gangs."

Aaron arched an eyebrow as he said, "You guys have really done your homework."

"It's our job to make sure," Batou said.

Aaron set the beer bottle down, as he sighed, "Well... I'd say make yourselves comfortable." And looked over to Batou as he said, "And you should really sit." And then turned back to the Major, "It's one hell of a story."

"We've been wondering about your story since all we picked up was when you appeared out of nowhere and killed the Yakuza Boss, the White Death." Miranda said looking at Aaron.

Aaron shook his head while Maritza sighed in annoyance, "The White Death. Yeah, that was a real headcase." And then shrugged, "And oddly enough, the one who brought us together."

---

3 Years Ago
Island City
Bullet Train Station

A younger Aaron walked into the station, as he made his way on the platform. He didn't have a cybernetic left arm, but his right arm was all cybered up, as he walked around a bit, fumbling at best. He looked around through the busy area as he eyed where he was going.

I was starting out as an Edgerunner that year. My mentor figure, Maine, had croaked in a gang fight against MaxTac during a job that went downhill. He told me I had to start small and work my way up big before I could reach his level to do anything. So, I started out doing Snatch and Grab jobs for a Fixer named Dexter DeShaw. Kind of an Edgerunner Legend. And he got me started on a high paying Yenny job to grab a suitcase.

Aaron suddenly got a call from his fixer, Dexter, as he answered, "Mr. DeShaw?"

"Mister? Jeez, kid. You need to take a chill pill and drop the Mister," DeShaw spoke. "Just wanted to see if you were ready to back out on this, baby."

"Nah, I'm good on this," Aaron said as he tapped the ticket booth to gain entrance. "Just out of curiosity, who am I doing this for again? This job seems way high for a standard SnG."

"Well, it's payin' well because it was supposed to be Johnny Carver's gig," DeShaw answered.

"Carver? I heard he was a lazy-ass," Aaron said, remembering how this self-made legend was a snotty asshole.

"Yeah, well, he called in sick," DeShaw said. "Something about a stomachache."

Aaron shrugged, as he asked, "What is he in, Highschool?"

Aaron looked around as he checked the train lockers, as he asked, "So which locker is it?"

"VST02C" DeShaw answered, and sure enough, Aaron spotted it, as he opened it. Once he did, he saw what the contents were: Immuno-Blockers, a Grenade, 3 clips, a Unity pistol, and a small vial of white powder. "Gotta admit, kid, never expected a future Merc needing sleeping powder."

"I'd like to try and avoid a slap/gun fight if I can," Aaron said as he got his gear and managed to slip the gun and clips without anyone noticing.

DeShaw advised, "Didn't your man Maine tell you that it's inevitable to be in a gunfight?"

"Yeah, but I'd like to avoid a fight as best I can," Aaron said as he spotted the bullet train he was going on. It was a white and red one, as he walked over.

Though DeShaw advised him, "Considering your luck, A, the gun is gonna be necessary."

---

Present Time

The Major arched an eyebrow as she asked, "Your luck?"

Aaron shrugged, "Yeah, I was kinda unlucky back then. Even DeShaw thought the codename Ladybug was witty and ironic."

That made Miranda upset for some reason unknown to her.

He shook his head as he said, "Anyway, I boarded the train. My job was to pick up a silver suitcase with a train sticker." He then shrugged, "Course, things got complicated when this stuff happens."

---

Back to Story

Aaron was walking through the pathway, when at that time, a teen Fumika pass bumped him as he groaned, "Ugh, the people in Island City are horrible. Well, less horrible than in San Tokyo."

She looked around, trying to find someone, and passed at that moment... Maritza and Lee, sitting with an unconscious fellow with brown hair, stubble, dressed like a bum, and had facial tattoos in Russian on his forehead and left cheek.

To which Lee woke up as he flicked the guy's forehead, making him startle wake up as he spoke in a Russian accent, "Vat? Vat's going on?"

"Wakey, Wakey," Lee said. "Glad you finally decided to wake up, Princess."

"My sister's a princess," he said.

"Well, technically, her name means Little Prince," Maritza said, but then insulted, "But considering the number of times your parents bailed you out, you might as well change your name to Princess."

"Do you know who my father is," He scolding and arrogantly asked.

Both looked at each other, and then to him like they weren't scared, and answered, "The White Death."

---

Present

Batou blinked as he sounded freaked out, "Wait a minute. You and that Lee guy were escorting the White death's son?!"

Maritza shrugged, "Meh, his kid was an irresponsible troublemaker who whined to his parents to bail him out all the time. And throws his daddy's name out when something goes south or when he wants to be feared."

"And I take it it's not good for business when his son does that," Miranda asked looking at them.

"Yeah, but we'll get back to that part later on," Aaron stated. "I'll flash forward to how I met Ernesto though."

---

Past... Moments Later

Aaron had got the case and was about to leave the train on the next stop... when he saw a young Valentino in front of him. And then got exceedingly angry when he saw Aaron and attacked with a blade to his shoulder. Of which he managed to block with the briefcase, as he was pushed back onto the train, as it closed and continued on. Both struggled into the bar car, as Aaron gained his footing and distance as he asked, "Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Ernesto O'Hara. Member of the Suagrero Sect of the Valentinos," Ernesto said as he took a stance, "You killed my clan." And then shouted, "Prepare TO DIE!"

---

Present

"Wait," Batou interrupted. "You did want?"

"It's true, muscles," Maritza said while letting Aaron getting back to the story telling.

"No, it wasn't. it was a big misunderstanding," Aaron defended, as he calmed down, and sighed, "Anyway..."

---

Back to Flashback

Aaron carefully dodged and blocked the slash and stabs, as he stated, "Wait! Hold on! I didn't kill anybody!"

Slashing at another miss, Ernesto shouted, "Liar!" He then stabbed forward, only for Aaron to block hold him at the handle, the blade slowly inching at him. "I remember you were there at the meeting with the Leaders. I saw you as one of the cocktail waiters, and you spilled a Cuben Breeze on my shirt. I went to wash it off, only to return to see the leaders and members, bleeding out of their eyes, nose, and spewing out blood like fountains from their mouths! You were the only one who wasn't among them!"

'I mean, yeah, I was there,' Aaron thought, but maintained focus on this guy as he knew he wasn't gonna listen, and sighed, "Okay, I didn't want to use this yet. But better now than never." Suddenly, the Sandevistan activated, and in a minute, time stopped. As Aaron dodged and sped right behind him. and with a light move, he pushed Ernesto forward.

Once time started up again, the push felt like a cannon shot forward, as Ernesto was sent crashing into it. He was jumbled up as he felt disoriented, as he dizzyingly turned around, and groaned, looking worse for wear, as he asked, "How'd... you do that, Gringo?"

Aaron shrugged, "Lil' something I got." And then Ernesto fell to the floor almost knocked out, as the Punk kid sighed, "Yeah, this is a turning point."

Ernesto got back up and said, "You have some weird tech... but I'm not gonna let that stop me..."

Suddenly, a clicking sound was heard as Ernesto looked to see Aaron pointing a Unity at him, as he said, "I'm not the guy who did it. I was a Snatch and Grab at the time. I was hired to grab something the Cartel had in their possession. I ran out of there before I heard anything. It was only when I got out, I heard all the screaming and vomiting."

"Que? You mean I mistook you for the real culprit," Ernesto asked, confused.

"I only ever got two servers for drinks. Everyone else seemed to be interested in the cake," Aaron said.

Suddenly, a panicked Lee busted into the room, as he rolled on the ground, "Shit! This is the worst day of our lives! The last day of our lives! WHY?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?! Eh?"

He stopped rolling about as he saw Aaron and Ernesto in a gun/knife fight, and calmly asked, "Was this a bad time?"

Aaron blinked, "What the...? I know you. Back in Night City, you shot me!"

---

Months Ago
Night City

In a warzone area of gang fights, Aaron was rushing to his next area, when he saw the bodies, and Lee and Maritza about to flee the scene. In a panic, Lee shot Aaron in the shoulders. Twice. As he fell down.

---

Past Present

Lee blinked, "Holy cow, you're the guy I shot. twice."

"Oh, you remember," Aaron said, sarcastically.

"Heck yeah, you don't forget a guy who had a Ladybug pin on his shirt," Lee said. "How you doin'?"

"Better then, not so good now," Aaron said. "You?"

"Oh bad," Lee said.

"You gonna leave us alone," Aaron asked.

"Nope," Lee said.

"Please go," Aaron said.

But then Lee went into a panic again, "You guys don't get it! My girl and I are screwed! We were hired to retrieve the White Death's son... and now HE'S DEAD!"

Both looked to each other, and asked, "Wait, the White Death's son?"

Aaron blinked before he screamed hearing that, "HE'S WHAT!?"

---

Moments Later

Lee, Aaron, and Ernesto had followed the former to the location to where Maritza was at. All four were looking at the son of the White Death. Dead in his seat. With tears of blood coming out of his blood red eyes, and even blood out of his mouth and ears. This was less than good.

Aaron shook his head, "This is gone from bad to ass-raping worse."

Lee turned to them both as he whimpered whispered, "Would you believe this is new to me?"

"Yes, I would," Aaron said.

Ernesto knelt down and helped Maritza stand and asked, "Are you alright, sinorita?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Maritza said, as she stood up, looking more annoyed than traumatized. And then she grabbed hold of a seat, and started kicking in the air, as she screamed, "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT, SHIIIIIT!" And then got back on her feet, as she shouted, "Fuck it all! How'd the fuck this happen!?"

Lee shrugged, "Idk... but I do know 1 thing: WE'RE SCREWED!"

Aaron looked at the guy and grimaced, "Ugh, is this the White Death's son? First his wife now his son. He's not gonna be happy."

Ernesto then said, "All the better for me." But then Ernesto noticed the way he died: blood coming out of his eyes, ears, and every other orifice. It was the same way that the Seguaro died.

"Fuck... the Bastardo!" He swore getting close to examine the corpse.

The trio looked to him and asked, "Huh?"

"That Bastardo killed his own son like he did the Seguaro." Ernesto said seeing it.

Though unknown to them, a silhouette was passing through, possibly stealth cloak, as it silently slipped passed them, and was about to grab the case.. until Aaron turned around and shot out his Mantis Blade as he said, "I had a feeling someone was behind me."

The silhouette morphed as sure enough, someone was there. Seth, as he held his hands up, and nervously chuckled, "Hehehe, couldn't fool ya. Wat gave me away?"

Immediately, the punks drew their weapons at him, as they saw him, feeling they were being snuck on. But Aaron didn't attack as he felt more interrogative than aggressive. "Felt someone hacking into my senses," Aaron smirked, as he looked at him, "Black leather, tribal tattoos, Netrunner. Obviously, a Voodoo boy."

"Forma, unfortunately," Seth smiled. "I got in a bit of trouble with Blackwall, and had to leave. Now 'm just scrappin' for cash." But as things calmed, Seth looked at the White Death's son, as he said, "Dayum. Looks like the bastard of the White Death finally couldn't bribe or scare his way outta dis."

"I don't know who you are senior, but stay out of my way while kill the one who killed White Death's son for killing my familia."

"You sure it was de White Death doin' dat," Seth said, as he held out an envelope, "Found dis in yer vest."

Ernesto looked and took the envelopes.

Aaron asked, "Are those hit notes?" Aaron then blinked, "And they're not open?" He then got a bit annoyed, as he said, "YOU ATTACKED ME WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IF I WAS THE TARGET?!"

Ernesto argued, "You're on the same train as la Blanco Muerto, you even look like the type he'd hire."

"I was only sent here to snatch this," Aaron said, as he held up the case.

"Hey, that's the ransom money we got for the son's safe return," Maritza pointed out annoyed.

Lee blinked, "You were sent to steal from us?!"

Aaron held his hands up, "Look, I was just hired to pick up a case and get off on the next stop."

"You must have El Esphera the size of the moon to steal from LA Blanco Muerto." He then offers him a high five, "I respect you."

Aaron blinked, "Um.. okay?" And returned it, uncertain.

RING RING

Lee blinked, as he picked up the call, with his irises glowing red, "Hello?"

"The White Death wants to know the situation with his son."

Lee looked to the others in a panic, unable to say what was going on, and simply said, "It's good. We got the briefcase, and his kid is A-Okay."

"Good. Then we would like to see you and the briefcase on the next stop. To make certain things are okay."

And then he hung up. And then Lee fell on the floor as he panicked, rolling around, "OH SHIT, WE'RE FUCKIN' FUCKED SIDEWAYS, MAN!" He went on. His panic attack "We'll be so fucking screwed that even sharks or flies won't want to eat the remains of our corpses!"

Maritza groaned, "Shit, why'd that fuckin' White Death mofo had to get all paranoid and do this shit?!"

Aaron thought on it and asked, "Wait. He just wants to see one of you and the briefcase. And nobody knows what the kid's wearing, right?"

Lee stopped his panicking and said, "Uhh... yeah?"

---

Moments Later
Stop at Badlands

Lee was rolling on the balls of his feet whimpering, "This is never gonna work... we're gonna get found out and then die slow and painfully..." glancing to the side he screamed, "I'll never get to be with her now!"

The doors opened as outside, he saw Cybers in black leather and carrying heavy gear, waiting for him as he shakingly looked to them.

"You're here," the leader said, "Where's your partner?"

Lee shakingly pointed to the window to where Maritza was, as she gave them a double finger.

Though peeking over was the 'son' in a trench coat and wearing a Momo mask, as he just waved at them.

Lee was doing his best to remain strong before saying, "Here's the case with the ransom and we have the boss's guy here too."

He took the briefcase and opened it, and then frowned, "Is this a joke?"

Lee blinked, as the man showed him the contents: clothes, toothbrush, paste, and a porno mag.

His expression became that of highly frightened as he glanced back at the 'son'.

"Next stop. Briefcase, and then step out with your partner," the goon said as he shoved Lee back in the train, as the doors closed. And once again the bullet train continued on.

Back in the passenger car, the 'son' was sitting next to the real son, who was still very much dead.

Lee whimpered as he moaned, "Mari-chan... we're gonna die... This guy's gonna get us killed."

Maritza who was sitting with Seth and Ernesto, stood up and gently hugged him, "Ssssh, shhhh, come on, baby. We'll make it out of this."

The 'son' pulled off his disguise, as it revealed to be Aaron, stood up and asked, "They bought it?"

"Only by a millimeter!" Lee shouted, getting in Aaron's face, "You could've told me you already took the case of money to give us this garbage!"

And opened the case to show Aaron.

Aaron blinked, and then asked, "What?" He shook his head, "No, I was told to get a briefcase with 50 million Yenny in it, and..." He looked at it and asked, "There's no train sticker on it."

Lee blinks at it before he screamed, flinging it into the air, "WE'VE BEEN SET UP!" He went back to cuddle with Maritza, "I knew we should've left as soon as those guys came at our door... Now we're gonna die without being able to consummate our love for each other."

Ernesto shook his head, as he stood up, "There's one person on this train we're not accounting."

Aaron arched an eyebrow as he asked, "The one that poisons the boy here?"

"Shit man, you mean dere's a crazy motherfucker runnin' around makin' people bleed out everywhere in dis train," Seth asked.

Sniffling Lee asked, "What about that new Cyberbrain hacking I've been hearing about?"

Aaron pointed at the son, and asked, "You really think someone would hack his brain to make him bleed out like that?"

"To be fair, cyberhacking in de brain, fries the neurons and sets him on fire," Seth explained to make it simple. "Dat. Dat ain't it."

"I've seen pics of corpos being brain hacked and they looked as bad as that..." Lee whimpered his explanation.

Maritza gently cradled Lee, as she said, "Doesn't matter who or how. An important question to ask is: Where is the real case, and who has it?"

---

Few Cars Back

Within the car was Kurt arms crossed and leaning on a vertical handrail, while Tio was standing by with a rifle. Though at the moment, a brunette 18-year-old, wearing a pink, rose red, and white schoolgirl outfit, physically fit with no cyberware, was currently fitting the briefcase in question... with a trigger bomb.

She chimed smiling, "I knew my luck would get me this far."

Tio though, looked to what she was doing and asked, "What's with the bomb?"

"Oh, I'm just boobytrapping it the same way I boobytrapped my gun," the girl explained. "Just making it all interesting. Just hedging my bets is all."

"All this to kill the White Death," Tio asked.

"Do you know how many assassination attempts were made on him after his wife died? It's the reason why he never bothers to leave his fortress," the girl explained. "Though those he manages to catch alive... he executes them with their own weapons."

"Won't that blow up in any point," Tio asked.

"It's inert unless you fire it," the girl implied, "So the person I give it to shouldn't fire it." She looked at them as she asked, "Do you know why I have someone coming here to take these?"

"So, the White Death can die by whomever he tries to kill him?" Tio asked.

"Yes, you catch on for a former 6th Street member," the girl smiled. "The briefcase? Like I said, I hedge my bets."

Kurt looked at the girl, "Just be accurate because we only want the White Death killed. got it?"

"Precisely," the girl replied. "And if my Lil' assassin doesn't show up, one of you two will have to be the fall guy."

Kurt got up and was insulted to hear that as he tried to make his way to the girl, but Tio stopped him.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," the girl implied.

"If it's so important, why not have one of us be the fall guy," Tio questioned.

"Because the White Death might find it suspicious if it's the stooges that failed to save his wife," the girl answered, looking at them both. First at Tio, "The Gunner who was drunk on Tequilla that night..." and then to Kurt, "And the muscle who stepped out to help a girl get down her kitty from a tree." She then walked over to Tio as she said, "After the White Death fired you, you were in a bar, disgraced from your clan, you were so dead drunk, your cyber liver wasn't able to keep up, and you were so broke, you couldn't get brandy."

She then turned to Kurt as she said, "And you. Friendless, Brainless. Do you want to be where you were again? Unemployed? On Pacifica?!"

Kurt was fuming as he was ready to explode on her.

Tio walked over to him and placed a hand on him, as he said, "Think Malinka here wishes no harm."

Kurt looked at him, and said, "What she has in brains... she lacks in... charm."

Both smiled at this.

Milinak, groaned, "Oh, God, please don't do this."

Kurt then joked, "If ya can't take the chrome don't dish it out."

Tio then smiled, "Though if you want, just turnabout."

Milinka groaned, "Enough."

"Hey, Kurt. Think there are rocks ahead," Tio asked.

"IF there are, we'll all be dead," Kurt answered.

Military groaned, "Like what could possibly get in the way..."

"Be careful with what come may," Kurt teased, making Milinka scream out in annoyance.

Tio froze and asked, "You don't think anyone heard that do you?"

Not far, Fumika turned and heard the screaming, as she noticed the car. She then walked over to it, and pulled out her Kodachi, which glowed bright red on the blade, and slashed the door, as she stood at the ready, looking at the three.

Tio waved nervously while giving Kurt cover to do what he needs to do before he attacked.

Milinka smiled, as she held her hand up to stop them, "No, no. This is the fall girl." She then looked to her as she smiled, "So glad you could make it, Fuka."

'Fuka' twitched her eye and asked, "Fall girl?"

"That's right," Milinka said as she explained, "You're here because someone pushed your little sister.." she thought on it, and asked, "I'm sorry, what was her name?"

"Konoka," Fumika said.

"Fumika, yes," Milinka smiled. "Pushed Konoka... off the roof of a department store. She's healing at the moment, but you got a call saying that the one who did it wanted to speak to you." She then shrugged, still smiling, "You found me."

"So, you're planning to use me as a scape goat should you be found?" Fuka asked. still annoyed.

Milinka shook her head, "No, silly. I need you... to kill the White Death for me." She then held her phone out, as she got a message, "One sec. Hello?" She smiled, "Oh, you found Lil' Konoka. Still unconscious? Good, good. So, if I don't call every 20 minutes... you can kill her."

"No wait!" Fuka shouted, trying to stop her.

"Oh, don't fret. She'll be alive," Milinka assured her as she hung up. "Just make sure I stay alive and have my phone on hand. And make sure I answer every 20 minutes. All I need you to do is fail to try and kill the White Death. We'll take care of the rest."

Fumika glared at her before saying, "If my sister dies, I swear I will slay every member of your family from the present to the future."

Milinka shook her head, "Don't try to talk tough and make empty threats you can't keep. If you were any big sister to Konoka, she wouldn't have been an easy target."

Fumika stared, ready to kill the girl anyway in a fit of rage.

"Hey, boss," Tio said as he looked at the car behind them, "I'm seeing movement and body heat signatures. Count about five. Though there's a sixth, but it's cold. Like dead cold."

Milinka went over to Tio, "Are you positive?"

"I just upgraded my specs. Had them tested earlier on," Tio stated, as he readied a rifle. "So yeah, I'm sure. That and each of them are packin'."

Milinka before to pace, "Okay... okay... let me think..."

"Tio and I can handle them while you get things set up, boss," Kurt said, not liking it, but might as well throw input.

Suddenly, the door opened, as Aaron looked to the scene. Moments of silence blew in, as all the five did was stare, until Aaron spoke up, "Oh, cool. Other signs of life. We were all headed to the Snack and Drink Bar. Wanna join?"

Kurt saw this before laughing, "Looks like new guy got the drop on you, Mili." and went to join Aaron.

Aaron looked to the girl as he asked, "Mili?"

"Milinka Prince," she answered, and shrugged, "It's Russian for Little Prince. Mostly because my parents wanted a boy."

He nodded, "Ah. Well, um..."

"Fumika and I would love to join," Mili said as she linked her arm around the ninja girl's arm, as she whispered, "Make sure my phone and life aren't wrecked, or your sister dies."

Aaron narrowed his eyes, as if he heard this but allowed the four of them to join his new group.

As he led them, he said, "Just be careful. One of the others found an animal cage, and the door opened. Apparently, it was housing a snake."

Lee screamed hearing that, "A SNAKE?!" he then whined, "I don't wanna be bitten... not until I can take Mari-chan to a date..."

"It's out of sight, I don't think we'll have to worry about anything," Aaron said. "Besides, it might not be poisonous."

"AREY OU KIDDING ME!? Lee shouted, getting at Aaron's face his eyes bulging out, "LOOK AT THE FAT BASTARD HERE!? HE'S OBVIOSULY DEAD! IF NOT BECAUSE HIS CYBERBRAIN WAS HACKED AND FRIED RHEN OBVOIVIOUS BY THAT SNAKE!" He even pointed at the dead body, "SEE!? SEE!? HOW CAN ANYONE NOT SEE THAT AND THINK THE SNAKE'S NOT RESPONSIBLE!? HUH!? ANSWER ME THAT!"

Only for Maritza grabbed him and held him close to her bosom as she said, petting his head, "There, there, baby, it's okay mama-Mari will keep you save from the mean snake."

"Snakes don't bite unless you go to it," Seth said. "And usually, they just avoid people."

Aaron then pointed to the White Death's son, "On top of that, I doubt they carry the snake to bite him. They must have milked its fangs, stored it in a vial, and then syringed the guy with it."

"A Syringe?!" Lee screamed, before Mari grabbed him again and literally pressed his face to her breasts saying to the others, "Sorry about him, he gets nervous easily..."

Ernesto shrugged, "I don't mind. Every man is wired differently."

"Dat, and It seems you actually like to hold him," Seth teased.

Maritza blushed, "Well yeah... he just seems to complete me somehow..."

As they traversed to the car, there was a figure hidden behind there, as they waited for the moment to strike.

---

Snack and Bar Car

The car had a good view of the place passing them by as everyone sat down, while Aaron and Ernesto scrounged to find some drinks, though did find snacks. One of which Tio was scarfing down being nuts and wasabi balls.

Lee was snuggling with Maritza and asked, "Mari-chan, what are we gonna do when we make it to our next stop and we don't have the money?"

Maritza smiled, "Don't fret, Hon. We just gotta find the briefcase before we get to San Tokyo." She then gently pecked a kiss on his nose, "And once we find the killer to the White Death's son, I'm sure all would be forgiven."

"Funny ding, I've been lookin' up dat snake that was set loose," Seth said as he showed a display of it, "It's a Boomslang. Native in Africa, dis bad boy's venom causes massive hemorrhaging, makin' ya bleed out of every orifice."

Aaron grimaced, "And I'm guess it's very painful given how flatlined the guy is?"

"Eet is," Seth stated. But Tio and Kurt took wind of this, even Fumika and Milinka.

Milinka then looked in interest, as she asked, "Question: The White Death's son is dead?"

"The guy we left behind," Aaron said.

Tio then said, "That must've been the flatline I saw on my thermo-vision."

Kurt then asked, "But who'd be suicidal enough to kill the White Death's son?"

Fumika's fists tightened, going unnoticed, as her black hood covered her head. though Lee held Maritza close as she petted him, close.

Wait, hold up.

---

Present

Batou had now taken a beer but leaned against the wall behind the Major as he asked, "How exactly did this killer manage to poison the White Death's son? And who the hell was it?"

Aaron sighed, "I'm getting to that, Camera eyes, be patient."

Suddenly though the door opened, as the Flathead scurried in, with Lee walking inside, as he smiled, "Dudes, got the Flathead working again. Those Maelstrom douches really screwed it up when they burned the MiliTech tracking system. But your best Techie got it workin a..." But stopped as he saw the Major and Batou there amongst them. There was silence in between them all as the only thing moving was the Flathead, who opened the fridge to get a beer.

Lee then went and screamed as he shouted, "THE CORPO ARE HERE!? WE'RE GONNA DIE!" He then, eyes bulged, "I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE! I HAVEN'T EVEN FOUDN A WAY TO GET BACK WITH MARI-CHAN!"

Before he saw Maritza and then his color drained.

Major merely replied, "Relax, Leeroy, your boss and girlfriend were going over the details on how you met."

Maritza then huffed, "I'd rather be with Ghost than go back to that Unfaithful pervert."

Instead of anything Lee went, dead to the world, goes to a corner and lays down in the fetal position.

Aaron shook his head as he said, "Anyway..."

---

Flashback

Seth was looking back on the file as he found something out, "Say... according to dis, there's an assassin that uses Boomslang Venom. Calls demself de Hornet."

"Hornet?" Aaron asked, feeling strangely weirder out by the insect motif of the name. "Anything about the delivery system?"

"Nothin' more, just says they use the boomslang's venom for all deir kills," Seth reported. "Nothin' else about their identity. Or deir face."

"Figures..." Aaron spat before saying, "So we gotta stay in sight of each other and figure out a way to get them before they get us and whatever."

Everyone nodded, as Kurt took a swig of water. Aaron asked, as he pointed, "Um, where did you get that bottle of water?"

"Found it over there." Kurt shrugged before he began to yawn, "hey... is it just me or are you all wavy?' as he began to swing before he fell and landed on his back.

His crashing shook the car, as Aaron blinked, "That was the water I laced with sleeping powder, in case I had to knock out an enemy when I had no bullets."

Tio face smacked, "Way to take out our only means to survive a firefight kid."

Ernesto sighed, as he dug his hand in his vest. But then remembered something. He pulled out the envelope, and saw what his last fixer had given him as he opened it up. When he did, photos poured out, as one fell towards Aaron's hand, as he picked it up.

Aaron went and opened it to see what was inside.

The photo he saw was that of an African American woman wearing a black tight shirt, with a daring v neckline going down her breasts to navel, black pants with her outer thighs, and her body had a green and yellow snake tattoo around her neck, going down between her breast, and down her left thigh. Aaron blinked, "Wait. I know this girl."

Ernesto goes and asks, "You do?"

"We both have," Aaron said as he walked over and showed him, "She's the pastry chef. The one the Seguaro had to make that cake."

Ernesto looked confused by that.

Though he looked at her, and remembered at the party, there was a chef who had come in, with a very lovely cake with a rose waterfall design on a side of it. And sure enough, the woman looked exactly like the chef.

Finally putting it together... Ernesto glared, "She did it..."

At that moment, the car door opened, as they all saw what had opened it. And there, standing in full sight, dressed as a blue and black uniformed stewardess... was the Hornet.

---

47 Minute Ago

While Lee was away, the White Death's son was trying to break free, unaware that a stewardess was stopping at his table. Maritza was looking at a magazine at the moment, until she felt something was amiss... only to get hit in the back of the head with a bottle. The son turned to see what was going on, but she was lightning fast as a syringe was shot in his neck. He struggled to break free, but suddenly, he was tearing up blood.

---

Present Time

The Hornet looked at them, going, "You."

"You..." Ernesto swore as he got his weapon ready, "My name is Ernesto O'Hara, member of the Suagrego Sect of the Valentinos... you killed my clan... Prepare. To. DIE!" And rushed in at her.

"You stole my snake, you bitches," She shot out, as she easily slipped passed him and rushed Aaron.

---

-
Flashback

Aaron was struggling to look through the suitcases left behind. He accidentally knocked one of the cases down, which was a cage, as he looked to see it open. At that moment, a snake, Boomslang, shot its head out as he was bearing its fangs. Aaron backed off, as he gulped, leaving the room, "Screw Carver and his job."

---

Present

Aaron gulped, "Oh crap."

Ernesto went up behind her and shouted at her, "Don't ignore me, Bastarda!"

The hornet lunged and shot at him trying to stab or hit him with a single syringe in her hand. Luckily Aaron was able to block or dodge with his cybernetic right arm. Though she managed to grab him from behind, wrapping her legs around as she attempted to stab the syringe needle in his neck, but luckily, he grabbed her wrist, as the two were fighting it off. When the others attempted to rush her, she screamed, "NOBODY MOVE, OR THE BITCH HERE GETS IT!"

They backed off a bit, but Seth was eyeing the situation as she attempted to taunt Aaron, "Say, pal. you know what happens when you're injected with this?"

"Yeah, I know," Aaron said.

"Your blood begins to hemophage, clotting isn't an issue anymore, and then you start bleeding through every orifice in your body..."

"I just said I know," Aaron shot back.

Lee was standing in front of Maritza to protect her while whispering, "Is there a point to her telling us what we already know?"

The Hornet smirked, as she was about to stab him, when suddenly, she loosened her grip, as she felt frozen. Seth was hacking into her neurolinks, as he forced her to let go, as she strained out, "You... biiitch." Aaron then zipped behind her and held her in a chokehold, while holding the syringe hand, but she managed to strain out, "Gimmie the case!"

"Why what do you need it for?" Aaron asked keeping her in the hold.

"He said my money was in the case," the Hornet wheezed out.

"How about a deal? If you don't attack me, I won't attack you and I'll make sure my new friends don't attack you either. Got it?"

"Screw you, Bitch," the Hornet shot back.

"Okay then answer me this: Who exactly is he? The guy who says your money is in the case," Aaron questioned.

"I dunno, it was all done on the Black Net. I didn't know who the guy was," the Hornet said. "All I know is he said my money for payment for my job was in that briefcase you got."

Aaron took that into consideration as he asked, "You're telling me that someone hired you to kill the White Death's son, only to pay you with his ransom? Damn, that's dark."

"It's how it is sometimes, Bitch." Hornet stated while she looked at Ernesto, "he's not gonna attack me again, is he?"

"Well, you did kill his cartel, so I don't think he's gonna be that grateful," Aaron replied. "Not to mention the White Death's not gonna rest when you killed his only son. You're fucked, bitch."

She finally kneed him, making him let her go. She then grabbed him by the collar, as he back flipped him over, sending him crashing on the ground, as she pulled out the syringe, as she cried, "The Hornet stings, BITCH!" And jabbed down to get him. Though luckily for him, he managed to grab him with his right cyber arm.

He said, "Look, I'll give you a head start. Just take the case and go."

She shook her head, as she smiled, "Nah ah. You've all seen my face, bitch. Can't let anyone live now." She then dropped the syringe... on his human left hand, as all saw in shock.

---

Present Time

Everyone stared while the members of his gang remained quiet, remember that day badly.

Major was a bit shocked on this, as she asked, "You were stuck with the venom?"

"You didn't let me finish that part," Aaron smirked.

---

Past

Both Aaron and the Hornet stood up, as the Hornet looked like she was getting off on killing. But then a shocked Aaron was still looking, but Ernesto quickly pulled it out, and stabbed the Hornet in the shoulder with the venom. She yanked it out, as both looked to him, as he said, "30 seconds until the venom takes effect."

Hornet looked at them, "and I'm the only one with the antidote." As she went hurried to take it out and administer it to the needle before she aims it to stick herself with it.

However, Ernesto grabbed her wrist, and jabbed it into Aaron's neck, as the anti-venom popped in. Aaron shook a bit, as the hornet blinked, "You... bitch..."

Aaron and Ernesto saw she was starting to bleed through the eyes, as Lee asked, "Wait, you didn't bring a backup?"

She then strained as she asked him, looking at him with her eyes tearing out blood, "What do you think... bitch?" And fell down, as she began to convulse and crawl. Then she vomited out a huge stream of blood. She then wheezed, "No one's ever gotten this far... against me..." She wretches another stream and wheezed, madly, "No... One... that lucky..."

Aaron confessed as she tried to do something, but to no avail, as he said, "Yeah, ironically, my codename was Ladybug. It's ironic because my bad luck is biblical."

She kept retching before she finally crashed on her back, grunting, and then… died.

Aaron knelt down, as he leaned on the barkeep's table, as Ernesto said, "My clan is avenged."

"Karma is a bitch, lady," Aaron nodded. But then looked around everyone and asked, "Hey. Where's the schoolgirl?"

Everyone looked around, but saw no signs of her at the moment.

---

Back at the Passenger Car

Milinka was looking at the corpse of her brother. One would think she'd be balling in tears or weeping for him. But instead, she spat at him, and said, "Dasvidanya... idiot." And walked away.

Tio would catch up to her, "Going somewhere, princess?"

"Oh, just saying a goodbye to an old friend," she said. She then sighed, "So this somewhat is a turn of events."

"Like the fact you said good bye to him in Russian?"

Milinka blinked, as she asked, "Oh. You heard that."

"Being a cyborg gives us sense perks." He said.

BANG!

Tio blinked, as he felt a hole on his right side, and looked down to see Milinka had shot him. he looked to her in shock, as she said, "Hope one of those is a medi-pack." Tio then fell down bleeding, as she walked over, and kicked his face, rendering him unconscious. She then proceeded to toss the gun, as she walked over to the food car.

---

Meanwhile

Aaron was groaning as he lightly hit his head on the wall, "Why? Is? This? Happening?"

Lee arched an eyebrow as Maritza held him, as he asked, "Is he okay?"

"Might be havin' a breakdown," Maritza suggested. Aaron just groaned, "I feel like my bad luck is on acid. This is bad."

Ernesto went and asked, "What's the matter, Amigo?"

"I'm not even trying to kill anybody, but people end up dead," Aaron said, as he groaned. "The Hornet was only the latest. I was asked to get dirt on a cheating husband fucking a teen prostitute. The bellboy of the hotel crashed on my car. Though he still lived, but now..." He got a bit woozy, as he pushed himself from the wall as he said, "Now the realization of the White Death's son is hitting, and we are shit-out-of-luck. He's got an army, there's... me."

"um.. I might have a bit of bad luck of news," Milinka appeared, making everyone turn to her, as they looked in confusion.

There, they saw Tio on the ground, his side bleeding, as Aaron knelt down, as he groaned, "How does this keep happening when I'm around?"

Milinka then said, "Maybe it's just you being around people?"

Lee's ringtone was heard, as everyone looked to him, waiting for him to pick it up.

Lee picked it up as he asked, "Hello?"

"I was wondering when someone would pick up," a heavy Russian tone spoke.

Lee paled, as he gulped, "Mr. White Death, sir?"

"How is my son and is the ransom safe," the White Death asked.

Lee shakily turned to the dead body of his son and said, "Everything is fine sir... he's sleeping very deeply. Almost dead to the world. and the ransom's safe too every last bit of yen."

"My son is dead, isn't he? And I take it the briefcase has gone missing," the White Death deduced. "I know a liar when I hear one. And you... are lying."

Lee whimpered as he said, "but We were able to catch the person responsible. killed them for this outrage against you, sir."

He made a gesture for Maritza to take a pic of Hornet dead and send it to him.

"Put me on speaker phone, will you," the White Death ordered.

He immediately does so as he said, "You're on speaker phone sir."

"To everyone aboard this train, I solemnly hold you all responsible for my son's death" the White Death proclaimed. "I will be waiting for all of you in San Tokyo, where I will have you all executed. And also, if you haven't noticed, nobody else is on board the train. I personally purchased all the tickets. I will see you all later. Goodbye" And then hung up.

Lee heard this and immediately started screaming waterfall tears falling down his eyes, "WE'RE SO FUCKED!"

Aaron sat in the chair, taking this all in, as Ernesto sighed, "I avenged my clan, but... this stinks."

Maritza then managed to calmly say, "Wait, we just get off at the next stop, that's Vegas City."

"Yeah, I'm not tryin' to ruin everyone's day, but we passed that stop when the Hornet and us fought," Aaron said.

Maritza sighed, "Oh. We're gonna die."

Lee went to Mari and asked, "What are we gonna do Mari-chan? What are we gonna do?!"

Milinka then sat in front of Aaron, as nobody took notice of a figure walking towards them from a few cars. A figure that Fumika noticed, as Milinka said, "Well, it might not be much..." and then pulled out the rigged gun, "But this might help. I had it on me to help in this situation."

Aaron blinked, "And you didn't use the gun at all?"

The figure walked into the car not getting noticed, as Milinka then said, "You wouldn't get a pretty girl hurt? Be honest."

"Ahem," an Asian voice spoke, getting everyone's attention. It was Innoske Hashibira, as he had his two swords on his back, but his mouth covered by a black turtleneck mask. "Would it be okay for me to sit here?"

Aaron shot up asking, "Who are you? How'd you get here?"

"That isn't an objection, so I will sit," Innoske said, as he sat parallel to Aaron and Milinka, making him super confused.

Aaron shook his head, as he reached down for the briefcase, "Yeah, I'm outta..." But suddenly, the Boomslang snake came out of nowhere and bit his hand.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH," Aaron screamed as he shot up and ran around, screaming like a little girl as he ran into the bathroom, and flung and swing his arm around as he shoved his arm into the beday toilet to get the snake off, all while the toilet squirted at his face.

Milinka looked at Innoske as she asked, "Was that a Boomslang?"

"Yes," Innoske said, and then looked to Fumika, "Sister. How are you?"

Fumika sighed, "better than I was before you arrived brother."

Innoske then looked to Milinka as he asked, "You are the one who pushed our sister, Konoka, off the roof of a department store in San Tokyo, didn't you?"

"Careful,: Milinka said, as she held the phone out. "It hasn't been 20 minutes yet, but I can still make the two have little Konoka killed in her sleep. A luxury in this world, might I add, people like you aren't afforded."

Innosuke remained stoic and thought, 'We shall see.'

But Milinka taunted Fumika still, as she feigned tearful actions, "Too bad. So sad."

"Madam," Innoske answered, as Milinka and everyone turned to him, "Our 10-year-old sister was pushed off the roof of a convenient store. Do you really think… we would have left her unprotected?"

---

San Tokyo Hospital

The thugs who reported to Milinka were waiting for the call, or better yet when she won't call so they could kill the kid. Only the leader of the thugs felt his guys either be flatlined or knocked out as he looked around and only saw flickers of someone moving around to do the deed before he felt himself being hit from behind and slumped to the floor. A figure, whose features are hidden by darkness stood there, their back to Konoka as if indicating they are there to protect her.

They then reached to take the phone from the thug and called the number it had on it.

---

Back on the Train

Milinka heard the phone ring, as she looked at it, and accepted the call, as she asked, "Hello?" No answer, as she asked again, "Hello?"

There was nothing but the sound of tapping, twice which the twins would recognize instantly and Innosuke stated, "Right on time." Innosuke then said, "Our sister is safe, and you have no leverage left."

Milinka stood up as he attempted to threaten or bribe him, "Listen, you punk.." but she was silenced when a glowing blade of a Kodachi was at her neck, and in her front, a blue tipped blade dared to cut the rim of her nose, as both twins had her dead in rights.

Milinka then heard the sound of her the phone crunched on the other end before static.

"And he's not happy you threatened Konoka's life that way," Fumika stated with venom.

"And the only thing you should know about a punk is that they have seen through worse, and have survived worse... than you," Innoske said.

Milinka stood there frozen, but then bolted, as she shouted, "I'll fuckin' kill him myself!" And ran past a recovered Aaron who was wondering what had happened. Though as he left, there was a written post on the sealed toilet bowl, saying SNAKE. DON'T OPEN.

Aaron walked over to the others as she collapsed next to Fumika, who almost flared in anger, but blushed in embarrassment that a boy was sitting next to her. Innoske, who didn't seem to mind, asked, "You alright?"

"Yeah, you're not gonna believe this, but I got a dose of Anti-Venom from that very snake minutes ago. So, I'm sure I'll be fine," Aaron groaned.

"How?" Ernesto asked.

"Remember? You injected me with it," Aaron said.

Ernesto remembered back, during the whole fight with the Hornet, and nodded, "Oh yeah." He chuckled, "I forgot after all the drama that that nasty sinorita did to the twins." He said pointing at Innosuke and Fumika.

"That lady's intentions were less than honorable towards everyone, and to you," Innoske said. "Even a blind man could see you were in the dark."

Aaron shrugged, "Don't know if a blind man works." He looked at him and asked, "What'd you do..?"

"I did not need to do anything," Innoske said. "Fate will decide for her." Though at that comment, Aaron laughed, making the twins confused at this, as Innoske asked, "Why do you laugh at fate?"

"Meh, Man, fate for me is just another word for bad luck," Aaron replied, as he sighed, "And that follows me around like madness." He sat back as he said, "My fixer codenamed me Ladybug. Probably as a joke."

Innoske and Fumika perked at that, as Fumika asked, "Ladybug?"

"Yeah," Aaron answered.

"Sounds very lucky indeed," Innoske said. He then turned to everyone and said, "I wish to tell a story. It's a very good one; I think you might like it."

"I dunno," Aaron graoned.

"Here weo go," Innoske began.

"Oh boy,"Aaron groaned.

Lee raised a hand, "Umm... since the big guy's plastered on the floor... I'm gonna ask, Where's Camera eyes?"

Tio was down on the floor, unconscious in the car he was in... until he shot up screaming. He looked down at his side, as he groaned, "Bitch. Should have aimed higher." And groggily and painfully got up.

Meanwhile, Innoske was telling the story of his family, "Long ago, my father and grandfather started the White Lotus Blades. In an effort to provide and protect their family. On the year that Konoka was born, a Man from the North, rose to take my father's place. Our father tried to convince our grandfather, Minagishi, not to trust this man. He said our father had lost his appetite. He wasn't wrong. But neither was our father."

---

The site of the White Lotus was on fire. All members were being slaughtered, as the White Death, a man in a black suit and wearing a white smiling Oni mask with horns, walked towards the downed Minagashi, playing a rigged game of Russian Roulette. He walked up behind him... and then shot the man, blowing his brains out.

---

"But what no one knew back then, was that the White Death didn't just simply killed you," Innoske said. "He kills your whole family."

---

The slaughter continued as The White Death personally saw to the death of the family while looking around to ensure that the family he set to kill have been completely eradicated, unaware of certain escaping.

---

"The only ones who managed to avoid the slaughter was my sisters and I. All thanks to the help of a Nomad our father rescued. A former member of the Wraiths known only as Ghost."

---

The younger man in question stood with the boy and two girls as he escorted them to safety, using his hacking abilities to keep them hidden as he does so.

---

"During that time, as we grew, we had Konoka live a normal life, while I vowed to find a way to avenge our family. To get to the White Death. But he had remained hidden in his fortress. I felt we would never have the chance to do so. Until today." He looked to Aaron and asked, "Do you know what they call a Ladybug in Japan? Tentomoshi."

"Tentomoshi?" Aaron asked, looking confused feeling like he heard that word before...

"My grandfather told me that there is a spot on the Ladybug's back, each holding the Seven Sorrows of the World," Innoske explained. "Meaning Ladybugs aren't lucky. They hold all the bad luck so that the world can be happy."

Aaron took all that into consideration, and groaned, "I... I don't wanna hold the Seven Sorrows."

He then had a flash of a girl's voice saying how Ladybugs are seen as lucky on other side of the planet.

Aaron shook his head as Innoske asked, "You alright?"

"Yeah... just some sort of glitch..." Aaron said before asking, "Are Ladybugs really bad luck?"

"Not a matter of luck, more of drawing it to them to take it away," Innoske said. "I think." But shook his head, as he said, "But I do believe Fate brought us all here together for this one final battle on this train."

"Yeah, I'm not looking forward for it to be my final one," Aaron said.

Lee then exclaimed, "We're leaving." As he went to pull Maritza away.

"Yeah, I'm not sure the White Death is letting anybody go when we get to San Tokyo," Aaron said.

Innoske and Fumika stood up as he said, "You let us worry about the White Death."

"Unlike you suicidal psychos I'm not gonna risk Mari-chan to die before we can finally have a real date," Lee snapped at them.

Ernesto was about to get up as well, as was Seth, until both sides of the car opened up. On either side a stumbling Tio holding his bleeding side crashed in. Whole in the other, a yawning Kurt stumbled in, freshly waking up.

Kurt stopped as he blinked, groggily and slowly waking up, "Wha...?"

Tio just groaned as he crashed near them, "Whatever, man. Can someone just patch this hole on my side? And if I see that Milinka bitch, I'm gonna clean her colon out with a Satara shotgun."

Innosuke looked to his sister, "Shall we? it's the least we can do for them for delaying Milinka."

Moments later, everyone was doing their best to try and ignore the fact they were screwed, even while Tio was being patched up by Fumika as everyone was doing an ammo check. They were getting closer to their destination and every second, felt faster coming closer to their doom. Aaron though, sighed, as he stood up.

Lee blinked, "What the heck's wrong with you?"

Aaron looked to them, as he said, "I'm not gonna die by Russian Roulette. If I'm gonna die..." he looked to all of them, as he said, "I'm gonna die as an Edgerunner."

"Huh?" Lee asked, confused. "There's no point in talking cool, man."

"You have a plan, Tantomoshi," Innoske asked, using the honorable title for Aaron.

"Yeah, but please leave that Tento-stuff out for a while okay," Aaron said, as he looked to them. "Look, there's about, um..." Aaron looked around counted silently, and then shouted the number, "9! Nine of us here. Each one of us adds something to the table." Pointed to Ernesto and Tio, "Fast reflexes and Scope." Pointed to Kur and Seth, "Solo Muscle and Netrunner." Then to the twins, "Assassins with blades and Japanese Ronin type deal." He then looked to Maritza and Lee, as he stalled for a moment, "I... honestly don't know what you guys do."

"Solo," Maritza said.

"Techie," Lee said.

"Okay, we got all that. But what the White Death doesn't know is that we're all still very much alive. I mean, honestly, we would have killed ourselves long time ago," Aaron said. "But if we stop pointing fingers and shooting each other... we can kill the White Death and get off this train alive."

Lee thought about it and asked, "Are you seriously scrapped in the head? You don't kill the White Death... he kills you and makes you watch as he kills the people you love the most in the most painful way possible..."

He then went and nuzzled his face to Maritza's bosom, "And I don't want that to happen to Mari-chan!"

"Believe me, I don't wanna, but if this plan is to work, we need to do this right," Aaron said as he looked to Lee, "Lee, you're gonna hotwire the train to keep going as soon as I give the signal when we stop at San Tokyo." He then looked to Tio and Ernesto as he said, "Tio, Ernesto. You're gonna guard him while Seth stays with you. He's gonna hack into the train's systems; he'll be our eyes and ears with one another to coordinate." He then looked to Kurt and Maritza,

"You two go to the rear and mow them down while working your way up." He then looked to the twins, "You guys will be in the middle. I'll make sure the Death gets on."

They slowly began to feel the train stopping, as Lee freaked out, "Well, that's great, but what are you gonna do?"

Aaron looked down, as he picked up the boobytrapped briefcase, of which he didn't know about the bombs. He then turned to one of the passenger cars as he walked out, "I'm gonna buy you guys some time."

"huh?!" Most of them asked, confused.

When the train stopped, he let out the door... and saw dozens of black-suited MaxTac armored individuals, all with a green beret arm band on. A signina of the White Death's gang. Apparently, the guy was former KGB, but also Green Beret, meaning he was Russian and American.

One of them looked to be a man with black hair, dangerously sharp brown eyes at his targets, armed with two dangerous Lexingtons, and one revolver. The guy was physically fit, with cybernetics under his eyes, and had a glare saying he was a bully and psychotic

A goon approached, "Sir. we're ready to mow down the fucks that let the boss' son die."

"I want their heads, and if possible, their dicks, on plaques," the man said.

"You don't have to do that," Aaron said as he stepped out, as he held his arms out.

The man stood up as he blinked, "Well, whoopie-freakin-doo. You brought my briefcase."

Aaron blinked, and smiled, "Oh, so you were the one who hired me. Good to know."

"Want me to get it sir?" The goon asked, scared for his own life.

"Get it, and make sure it's got my money," the man said as he stood up, "Don't take too long, or you know what happens?"

"What happens," Aaron asked, as he got knocked down by a cackling hyena of a man.

Though he had a partner who seemed a bit calmer, as he said, "Last time someone took too long with the White Death: an order or payment..."

"I cut off their arms," the man now known as the White Death answered.

The goon hurries to get the case and takes it back to the White Death and his SIC.

As the White Death walked to Aaron, the latter asked, "So um.. Mr. Death? Not to point fingers or assume anything, but the shadow buyer that bought all our contracts through our Fixers. Me, the Hornet, the two punks protecting your son, and so on, and even getting us on this train. That was you?"

"Yes. Very astute," The White Death said. "And I brought you all on this train for one purpose in two forms: Either to come to me so I could kill you... or kill each other and I collect your freakin' bodies as display pieces."

Aaron then asked, "Um... why?"

The White Death knelt in front of him and asked, "Why do you do what you do?"

Aaron shrugged, "I sometimes ask myself that question."

"Well, you heard about what happened to my wife," The White Death asked. "She died."

"Yeah, I heard about that, it was a horrible accident. A car crash," Aaron condolence and apologized for, only it earned a disturbed laugh from the Death, as he asked, "It's funny?"

"Nah, it wasn't an accident. Nothing in life is an accident," The White Death stood up as he paced around Aaron as he said, "It was an assassination attempt on me. But my wife was in the car instead. I was called away to deal with a massacre of one of my operations in Pacifica. Caused by two Punks, who were hired by the Seguaro Cartel... of whom I dispatched the Hornet to take care of. And the ones I recently hired to watch over my son." He sighed as he calmly stated, "Fate, I guess you could call it that day. And I had to go and take care of it." The White Death shouted, "THAT'S WHY... IT WAS MY WIFE... In the car that night!"

He knelt down again to face Aaron as he stated, "A piece of her artificial rib, stabbed right through her heart!" He then looked dramatically serious as he said, "And only the most skilled cyber-cardiovascular surgeon could pull it off in saving her life." He then sighed, "But two nights earlier, fate... sent the Hornet to poison the doctor as someone hired him to do so. And Fate... took my wife." He then sighed aggressively to calm himself, "If her two bodyguards, a rejected 6th Street gunner, hadn't been drinking that night due to drown away his sorrows. And an Animal muscled thug, who was trying to help a little lost girl and her grandmother to find their way back, kept better watch on my wife... she'd might be still here."

It was then that Aaron remembered what the Hornet said about the case's money. And then looked to him as the Death got up to walk around again, "I don't wanna sound judgmental, but if you hired the Hornet.. you assassinated your son?"

The Death stopped as he turned, "Oh yeah. I did that too. That little piece of shit. Getting into trouble, always crying to bail him out of it. Never taking responsibility. Not even being remorseful for what he did that night. That night, he called to get bailed out of prison. Again. I told my wife it would be the last time, but she would always go to get him out of there. But she assured me it would be the last time... for the 50th time."

"Big hearted woman," Aaron said.

The White Death then shrugged, "Well, I suppose she was right about it being the last."

"This takes a lot to process," Aaron said, "You need a therapist?"

"If I had amputated that weakness out of my life years ago, instead of my daughter... SHE'D STILL BE ALIVE," He then calmed down, as he said, "I truly loved my wife. More than my own children. It was she who taught me a valuable lesson, my wife. If you don't control your Fate... it will control you." That last part made Aaron confused, but listened on as he said, "So I took control. I gathered them all here to die. The two punks that drew me away from my wife, the two failed bodyguards to bring my daughter back... of which is missing at the moment... the Hornet who seemed too eager to kill for her own love of death... the last of the Cartel's enforcers because I hate loose ends. All to kill each other, and the last one standing to kill myself."

He then turned to Aaron's back, as he pulled out his modified Lexington, "But now there's only one left to kill. Mr. Carver."

Aaron blinked, as he was letting this sink in, "Ah what...?"

"The man.." he then said as he pointed his gun at the back of Aaron's head, "... who murdered my wife."

"Wait... I'm not Mr. Carver! I'm Aaron Snow!" Aaron shouted, trying to delay the White Death.

"Got it!" one of the two thugs working on the case shouted. Though they heard a beeping sound, as the two looked to see a trigger mechanism, and said, "Oh shi..."

KA-BOOM!

Aaron, TWD and some of his thugs were shot from the force of the explosion. ears ringing, Aaron saw he was back on the train. Apparently, the force of the explosion send them all colliding back inside, as they groaned.

Just as some of the goons recovered, they were mowed down by a cackling Maritza who pulled out two semi-automatic Uzi weapons, followed with Kurt swatting a few as he grabbed a missile launcher rifle.

TWD shook his head before his vision cleared, seeing Kurt and growled, "You!"

Even using a goon as a shield when he was being shot at.

However, he heard from behind as the train started, the sounds of screams and blades cutting through flesh. He turned to see two twins slashing through. one wielding a katana and mantis blade, while the other used Netrunner micro-wire as a melee weapon to slice through the chairs and the men.

Recognizing the blades and their style he snapped, "You!"

Once Innoske was close, he looked to him, "Yes. us. The heirs of Minagishi you didn't kill. Fate, I believe you cursed out."

Getting angry TWD went and actually crushed the head of his meat shield before he made his way to them, "I'll make to kill you two brats for good, myself then those two who failed to protect my fuck'n wife!"

The two lunged at each other in combat.

---

Meanwhile

Aaron slowly recovered back onto his feet, as he groaned, "That bomb was new." He then radioed, "Seth, you there?"

"Ya man, Ah'm 'ere."

"He's on the train you can tell Lee to stop," Aaron said as they were moving.

In the front car, the control station, Lee was working on it, while Tio and Ernesto were protecting him work, as Seth kept contact. Though as Lee messed with the wiring, he said, "Yeah about that. I took in the velocity and the fuel of how much we have... and I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO HOTWIRE OR CONTROL A BULLET TRAIN!"

"Oh giv' me a break, Man. Ah tought you'd do anything fer yer lady." Seth said to him.

"I did, and I honestly thought I could,"" Lee spoke, as Aaron sighed from this turn of bad luck. "BUT I'VE NEVER TINKERED WITH SOMETHING THIS COMPLEX!" Lee then shouted, "IS ALL THAT TENTOMOSHI'S FAULT!"

Aaron groaned, as he spotted a thug's katana, and grabbed it, "Do what you can. I'm gonna help everyone out."

He kept working muttering, "Do what I can, he says.."

Tio fired off a few rounds, even using X-Ray to fire armor piercing rounds in the next car over, "Less complaining, more Tech-ing."

Lee muttered as he kept working, fueled by the hopes of getting Maritza safe than the others.

Speaking of which, Maritza charged full in, cutting down the thugs with her Mantis blades. She then retracted them, as she did a backflip over a decapitated thug, and fired above her. The wheel of armor-piercing bullet blasting through the roof and gunning down the thugs riding atop the roof.

"Damn yer girl's getting all dem kill shots...She wears de pants of yer relationship?" Seth asked sounding smug.

Lee blushed, "Shut up."

"Make me by gett'n dis train ta stop, man."

Lee grumbled as he kept working on getting this train to stop.

The White Death and Innosuke fought as the WD grabbed one of the downed men's swords and fought the kid. Though using a gun made it tricky for Innoske as WD would shoot if he got close.

---

Back in the Cars

Innoske and the WD were slashing and clashing their blades, attempting to kill the other. Though the WD seemed to be pushing Innoske further back, as he was pinned to a chair, as the WD leaned in to kill him.

"Cockroach, I don't know why you're here," The White Death said, but then smirked, "But you and your sister will soon share the fate of your whole clan soon. You should have stayed in hiding."

"My sister didn't want to do so, but there was someone else who wanted to use us for her gain," Innoske grunted, as he tried to push back a bit.

"And who was that," the White Death asked, only to wince as a blade shot out from Innoske's right knee, making him push back, as he clutched his bleeding thigh.

Innoske stood at the ready, now with three blades out: his two swords in hand, and a Mantis blade in his right leg, as he said, "Your daughter to whom you cast out instead of your son." He smirked, as he took a stance, "But either way… our paths were destined to meet once again."

---

Elsewhere

The front of the train, Tio and Ernesto was mowing down most of the gang members as best they could. Lee though, was freaking out as he tried his best to get the train working to his favor. But the wiring was getting too much for him, as he screamed, "DAMMIT! The best thing I can do is cause this fucker to crash!"

"Nothing else," Tio asked, as he shot two more goons.

"Not even! Ugh, this is insanity," Lee groaned, crashing to his knees. He looked to the two as he said, "Sorry, guys."

"Well…" Tio smiled, as he said, "At least I found a good friend."

Lee looked touched by that, as he asked, "Really?"

Tio smiled, until it faded into annoyance, as he said, "Fuck no!"

---

You know, what? I should probably just skip it all to the ending. I can't even remember most of what happened.

"Really," Batou asked, sounding rather unconvinced.

"Look, let's just skip to the end okay," Aaron argued.

---

(Lots of fighting and a big crash later)

The train was in ruins and the buildings they smashed in were a wreck. Aaron groaned, as he turned to see Kurt unconscious, who had managed to save him. He looked around to see if he was breathing, and much to his relief, he was. He didn't see the others, as it all happened so fast in that crash. Though he did see the boomslang slither out and leave everyone. Aaron arched an eyebrow at this scene, as he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing if the snake survived. However, when Aaron turned, he jumped.

There, standing a few feet from him, was the White Death, battered and bruised. The blade still in his left shoulder as he looked worse for wear, but still standing. He shuffled to him, his right hand still armed with the revolve, though still had no bullets as he lost them all against Innoske in the WD's failed attempted to kill him the way he killed his grandfather and father. Knowing full well that the WD wanted him dead thinking he was Carver, Aaron sighed as he tried to reason with him yet again.

"Look, man, I'm not Carver. Like I said, I'm Aaron Snow," Aaron attempted to reason with him as WD was close to him by inches, but slowed down. Almost like he was listening. "I'm a fresh Edgerunner. I haven't done any battle jobs like this. Yet. This was just a snatch and grab."

The White Death took that in, as he shook his head, trying to make it clear, "What?"

"Like I said, I'm not Carver," Aaron said again.

"You're not Carver? I want Carver, I hired Carver," he questioned and complained at this.

Aaron shrugged, as he answered, "He had a big stomach problem. He asked for a replacement; I was just filling in."

The White Death looked visibly pissed off, as he attempted to calm himself, but failing as he groaned, "You're... filling... in?!"

Aaron shrugged, as he tried to soften this, "Well, if it's any consolation, I always thought of Carver as an asshole. World's best assassin, my ass. More like the most arrogant."

But in a fit in that his vengeance was ruined because of this flaw, he decided to take it out on Aaron. he pointed the revolver as he pulled the trigger... but no avail. He continued to fire the empty gun at him, growing more and more frustrated at this failure. Though as he did so, the others managed to stumble out and witness what was happening before they did anything. Getting fed up, the White Death threw the revolver away, a s he pulled out the gun his daughter had dropped. The gun that fell out of her backpack as she sped off to go rant that she'd kill him herself. The rigged gun.

Aaron though was unaware of the gun, as he sighed, "Oh come on, man. Just... just let it go, bro!"

His rage finally given in, his insanity reached breaking point, as the White Death spewed out at Aaron, "DO NOT CALL ME BRO!"

Unable to reason with him, Aaron shrugged, "Okay..."

And the White Death fired... although the explosion took effect, as the guns pieces blew backwards, taking out the right part of his upper head. Aaron and the other slinked at this, as the White Death, a look of shock on his face... collapsed onto his knees, and fell face first dead.

Kurt smirked, "bout time."

Aaron turned around, as he blinked, "Holy... you're awake?!"

"Got awake when you started that big brawl in the train." Kurt said stretching his neck.

Aaron blinked, as he asked, "Are you braindead? You were awake at that time. I meant after you used yourself as an airbag to save my life."

Kurt blinked, "Oh. I guess I woke up from the whole shouting."

Lee and the others stumbled, as he blinked, looking at the downed psycho, "Dude. You just killed the White Death."

Maritza then said, "That's sorta hawt." But then said looking at Lee, "But you know you're the only man for me Lee."

Innoske though walked over to the WD, and pulled out his sword from the shoulder and resheathed it. His sister helped him stand due to his injuries. And everyone proceeded to walk away... only to get stopped by warning shots. It was Milinka, standing there, and injured, but still alive, "It's my Luck...that delivered... my father.. to his death!"

Aaron shook his head, "The narcissism on this lady."

"Now I am the..."

"Wait, wait, wait," Aaron stopped her, getting in front of the others, "Wait! You need some serious suggestive therapy."

Milinka blinked, "What?"

"May I suggest something," Aaron asked.

But Milinka wasn't taking it as she shouted, "NO! I AM THE WHITE DEA...!"

Though before she finished, a tangerine truck ran in and knocked her away, sending her flying and presumed dead. Though at the driver's wheel was the ably named Ghost, who turned to them and waved. Aaron blinked and asked, "Is that, the Ghost you talked about?"

Innoske nodded, but he and Fumika walked to him, "Farewell... Tentomoshi."

The others then began to disperse, as they made their limping separate ways. Aaron though sighed, as he scratched his head, "This has been one nutty job."

---

Present Time

Batou blinked his hand covering his mouth when he heard about the truck in Aaron's story.

Aaron said, "Look, that's exactly how it happened. When we went our separate ways, I looked to see if she was there, but I didn't find a body."

"Though getting hit that hard, I doubt she would start trouble that soon," Major implied, but looked to Aaron, "but you all left. You didn't form the team then?"

"No, that's when we first met," Aaron answered. "It was only a month later at where we would stop for victory party drinks and food, did we finally decide to become a team. 'Bout that time, Mari and Lee broke up but still lived together. It's kind of an off-and-on relationship with them."

They turned to see Lee pleading for Mari-chan to listen to him.

"Apparently, it's still on and off. though in this case, off at the moment," Batou commented.

Aaron nodded, "Yeah." He then looked to the two and asked, "So is that all?"

Mira shared a look with Batou.

Aaron then stood up as he said, "If that's done then.." And then pointed to the door, signaling them to leave.

Mira got up before asking, "Are you sure you don't want to join us? We can help your crew who might begin to show signs of Cyber Psychosis."

"The only ones who go full cyber-psycho, are those that go overload on cyber augmentation," Aaron defended. "And sorry. But I'm not interested. Last thing anyone wants are corporate lap dogs like you working side with Aasaka-Tech."

Mira remained silent and asked, "How do you know about me and Asaka-Tech?"

"You're not the only ones who can find info," Aaron stated, as he explained, "When we take a job, we have to be thorough to know what it is we're doing and who we're working for. That way we don't make the mistake of falling into a giant death trap."

Lee, who had recovered, sat up as he said, "We had this one fixer, Faraday. He had this smug look thinking he could play us for pawns. Expendable, and he'd walk away clean. Basically, he'd leave out intel or push us too far. Aaron almost went psycho under the pressure and the constant distrust."

Aaron sighed, "I had to take a hiatus, until he managed to calm myself. We cut ties with that maniac, and made sure we'd know things beforehand. Like Seth finding out about Arasa-Tech; Arasaka's sub-child corporation." And then pointed to Mira, "And about how you have a contract with them for shelling your mind." Which he waved, "Which I think is a stupid thing to do to a person. It would drive a person further psychotic."

"I was about to die!" Mira snapped, "I went through this becoming full-Prosthetic so that no little girl would go through the same trauma that I did!"

Aaron walked up to her and said, "Maybe you're the one who needs to make sure she doesn't go cyber-psycho then. You know what they do, right? There're no emergency procedures, no cures, only hit teams to gun people down. That's why I'm not too eager to be what you are." And then backed away, as he said, "but I'm not too eager to disconnect from everyone. I don't hate the world or everybody that much."

Mira was angry as she ordered, "Batou, we're leaving..." And marched out, but stopped and said, her town dripping with disappointment, "And I thought you were different from the others... I thought maybe we could bridge the divide..."

Then left the room.

---

Batou walked past Aaron but stopped, as he held a card out, but Aaron refused, "No, I'm not..."

"At least just take it if you change your mind," Batou stated. "Arasa-Tech may have a contract with us, but she's still Section 9. And that's not even a corporation."

Aaron thought on it, and took the card anyway, as Batou left. He closed the door behind them, as he followed the Major as he asked, "Bridge the Divide? I'm not sure we're trying to make a difference on this. At least that's what he thinks."

Mira looked won and said, "I honestly thought he was different..." She looked around at her surroundings, "The people who become cyberized to get a competitive edge or because they cany pay for it... and the people who can pay for it making more stable Cyborgs..." She then looked at her hand and a wristwatch she had since they recovered her. but she exhaled and said, "I honestly don't know anymore... especially since I know our mission is not solely for the benefit of Asara-tech..."

She then clenched her fist and asked, "Makes me wonder if we really can make a difference..."

The major sighed again before saying, "Let's return to base Batou..."

"You know he's not like you, Major," Batou reminded her. "You were given a prosthetic body because you didn't have a choice. He had to give up parts of himself to survive in a world where it was life or death. In a way he still has something he's connected to."

"I know that... but for some reason my Ghost is telling me I feel like I can trust Aaron..." She reveals to him, "I can't explain it..."

Mira then glanced back to where She and Batou left, before proceeding to leave the complex.

---

Next Chapter: The Great Brain Caper

---

Sorry if I had to cut out the massive battle, but it was getting nowhere. Maybe I'll include it in a retelling in a separate story. But this editing was taking too long, and I know you were all waiting for an update.

Until the next update, Stay on the Net. Listen to your Ghosts and start CHIPPIN' IN!