Ch.102
Sae and Makoto had just cut off Senor Senior Senior's head, retreating to a safe distance when a mercenary cussed.
"Shit! The old man is down." The mercenary yelled.
A moment later the sound of gunfire stopped as the mercenaries had emptied their mags. As the mercenaries up front reloaded, some at the back by Senior checked their surroundings. It was clear with no sign of whoever killed Senior. As those at the back started whispering among themselves and the ones at the front scanned the area for Akito, the man's voice was heard over the area.
"Desert Wolves mercenaries, this is your one and only chance to stand down! Now that your employer is dead, you should retreat before the rest of you join him." Akito's voiced echoed around them making it hard to find the source.
"So you've heard of us, eh." A bald man in his late fifties spoke up with a smile. He was famous under the moniker Stripes.
"Yes, Michael Jeffrey's, we KNOW of you." Akito replied with the information that Wade was providing.
That unsettled and wiped the smile from Stripes. "So you do." He said and asked. "Given how much you seem to know about us, how are we going to retreat safely and not expect a bullet to the back of the head down the road?"
"You're not but I can guarantee that if retaliation for today's actions is to occur, it will stop with your deaths." Akito said, threat and promise obvious. "So, what is your choice?" Akito asked revealing himself.
Stripes and the remaining mercenary looked at Akito and couldn't help suck in a deep breath. Akito was still garbed in black but from a distance of about five meters they all could see the growing puddle of blood as well as areas where he seemed to be missing pieces of his body. No doubt a result of when they bathed him in lead.
"Seeing you at deaths door now, wouldn't it be better to finish what we started?" Stripes asked what he knew his men were wondering.
"I assure you that I am but one of many and not truly who you should fear. Our whole encounter is being streamed live and not only are my associates aware of what is going on but so is the world. If you do retreat, even in death, my promise will be kept. Of that I assure you." Akito said.
"Not who I should fear." Stripes repeated to himself and couldn't help but ask. "Are you referring to the rest of the ninja?"
"No though some might pay you a visit." Akito said aloud then added telepathically. "You should have heard of his work across Japan."
Stripes was too stunned by the information that he barely had time to consider that Akito spoke directly into his mind. A man various countries dubbed Demon in their languages, since all who considered themselves evil were afraid of him. A man who took the nuclear warheads offline singlehandedly. And a man who he just made an enemy out of.
"I see." Stripes said when he got his composure back. "Men, collect our fallen! We are retreating."
No one voiced a complaint, as a few of them had confirmed Akito's claim about the live stream now and saw their faces as they confronted Akito. Another feed showed the monkey ninja under Monkey Fist trying to get into some form of secured room.
As soon as Stripes had spoken, Akito disappeared from sight and rushed after Sae and Makoto who had left after Wade said the monkey ninja had breached the elevator to the lab.
~~~~~
Monkey Fist had taken the opportunity of Killigan's death to lead his monkey ninja forward. Under his lead, only three more fell to the estate's traps. Soon he found Jones' body, head and a severed arm holding a laser cutter. Monkey Fist ordered his monkey ninja to break through the glass door with their weapons but they couldn't so much as leave a scratch. Noticing the tool in Jones' hand, Monkey Fist quickly tried it and got inside Ron's estate by cutting a hole big enough to fit two adults. The monkey ninja quickly spread to look for the inhabitants at Monkey Fist's signal.
The ones that went upstairs came back a minute later and reported to Monkey Fist that it was clear. One by one the monkey ninja spread throughout the property came back with the same report. All but one of his ninja came back with a negative. Monkey Fist's recognized the absentee as Chippy, a gluttonous and spirited monkey ninja. Monkey Fist expected to find her in the kitchen and had a monkey ninja lead him to it but for once was surprised to be wrong in his guess. Commanding his monkey ninja to search for her led Monkey Fist to the elevator leading to the lab.
"Well done Chippy! For once your train..." Monkey Fist praises died in his throat as he noticed the monkey eating a banana. 'Results are what matter this time!' He thought to himself as Chippy finished her banana and tossed aside the peel.
Stepping up to the sealed elevator door Monkey Fist used Jones' laser cutter to gain access for him and the monkey ninja by cutting out a space to fit two adults and pushing in the reinforced alloy. Past the doors was a hole with lights leading the way down, so once again Fist ordered his monkey ninja to head in first. A minute after the monkey ninja climbed down Chippy came back up explaining that they ran into another set of doors.
"The pretender sure spared no effort for security but all is futile." Monkey Fist announced ad he made his way towards the lab. Landing on top of the elevator platform, Fist saw where the alloy remains had landed. Noticing it was crowded he ordered. "Five of you go and keep and eye out for reinforcements, should they be enemies intercept them." Noticing Chippy about to leave he said. "Chippy you're to stay by my side."
After his command, Monkey Fist watched five monkey ninja disappear up the elevator shaft then turned to cut an opening into the lab, muttering. "Give up pretender! If you surrender to me your loved ones will live long enough to see me become the Ultimate Monkey Master!"
Just as Monkey Fist was losing himself in his fantasies the sound of battle reached him. 'Guess Senor Senior Senior couldn't distract them any longer. Too bad they're too late!' With a push, a hole big enough for two adults opened up into the lab as the reinforced alloy fell.
Before stepping out of the elevator Monkey Fist gleefully commanded. "Monkey Ninja's attack!"
~~~~~
Akito got to the elevator in moments but in his wounded and hurried state of mind he neglected his training and missed the banana peel left by Chippy on the floor. Unlike he intended (to stop and survey the battle), he slid right into the shaft, falling feet first. A second into the fall Akito reacted and used his dwindling Ki to perform Air Steps, pushing himself at the wall and adhering to it using Ki.
Looking down from his position, Akito spotted Makoto and Sae fighting five monkey ninja with a combination of Air Steps and Ki Adhesion, which he was using to walk on the wall. As he looked at the battle he saw an opening and free fell at a monkey ninja with his last kunai in hand. Once he was right above the monkey ninja, Akito swung the kunai across the back of it's neck, severing it's spine and claiming it's weapon, a wakizashi, while letting the monkey ninja fall to it's death.
Instead of staying to assist Sae and Makoto, Akito chose to go ahead of them. "Makoto, Sae I'm going ahead to delay Monkey Fist." Akito informed telepathically.
"Understood!" Sae/Makoto replied telepathically.
After hearing their reply, Akito fell while using Air Steps to slow his decent. In moments he landed and approached the opening Monkey Fist made.
~~~~~
Shego stood side by side with Yori a good ten meters away from the trap set by the twins. She looked as the laser cutter worked it's way across the reinforced alloy, hoping silently that it runs out of power.
"Everyone go to the back, Monkey Fist is almost through." Wade advised as he stepped up beside Shego. "Shego give me the controller, I'll take it from here."
Shego was surprised by Wade's request but shook her head negative. "Thanks ner-, Wade, but I'm in charge of the weapon." Shego said softly.
As Wade and Shego spoke, Ann, Bonnie, Tara, Monique and Amy came to stand beside them.
"Ladies I understand your intentions but you should really head towards the back, things are going to get chaotic and one wrong move will lead to someone getting hurt." Wade again advised but all he got in response was a firm stare that showed their resolve. Wade had yet to take it all in when Felix's wheelchair and Zita cane up on his other side. "Not you too!"
"Sorry chico, but you think we didn't prepare after what happened three years ago." Zita spoke up for everyone by their side.
"Remote controlled through the Neuro Linker." Felix voice was heard through the wheelchair. "Should help in restraining a few assailants."
Angela, Oliver, Gwen and Jacob wanted to step forward but were instantly shut down by the majority of those present. The reason simple, 'We have Ron's barrier tech!', so reluctantly they agreed though Olivia pulled Wade aside and had a word with him. No doubt to warn him to be careful most thought but Wade knew it was to demand her own barrier tech so she wouldn't have to sit back next time.
With that settled, the noncombatants went towards the back by Felix and everyone else stood by Shego and Yori.
Soon there was a boom as the reinforced alloy fell to the ground followed shortly after by Monkey Fist command. "Monkey ninjas attack!"
Shego waited precisely half a second before turning on the laser grid. Why did she wait that precious half a second you might wonder? Simple, it was to see if Fist would join his monkey ninja in the assault. Again you might wonder how that is enough time to tell? Yet again simple, his stance would have given Shego all the information she needed. Once Shego confirmed he didn't plan to join the initial assault she took action.
The instant the laser grid went online, it's was highlighted for a second before it looked to have disappeared though it simply stabilized in output. Then the chaos began.
The monkey ninja began to screech in agony while the smell of burnt flesh and blood filled the air. Out of the eleven monkey ninja that attacked, only three made it pass the laser grid and that was thanks to Chippy who pulled the monkeys nearest to her to safety with her. Sadly for the monkey, Felix caught her mid air before she could land with the wheelchairs retractable arms.
As for the other two monkey ninja they weren't as fortunate as Shego and Yori kicked them back into the laser grid.
"Shego!" Yelled Monkey Fist when he noticed her actions. "Must your vendetta against Drakken interfere in my plans? I'll make you a deal, shut down the defenses and bring me the pretender and I'll tell you where Drakken is hiding."
"How about you retreat Monkey Fist and I'll personally not hunt you down." Shego countered.
"Pity..." Monkey Fist comments before stepping into the room, stopping just shy of the defense grid. "...that this is how you die!"
With a throw so swift that his arm was a blur, Monkey Fist threw the laser cutter at the laser defense grid. The cutter was coated in a heavy layer of Ki that protected long enough to reach it's target and cause a series of explosions as it disabled the laser defense grid.