Misfit Mercs Saga

Pull Back the Curtain

Part 1

Everything You Know is Wrong

By Nick Maro

:: Writer's Note: [ ] Indicates speaking Japanese ::

The cold winds whipped across the snow covered mountainside while the five white figures struggled their way up. From a distance they were virtually invisible against the snowy landscape. They trudged through the snow in single file formation. Together they moved carefully and slowly so not to trigger an avalanche. The leader stopped and looked up at the stronghold before him. It was about another half day's journey. The lead figure motioned for the rest to stop as the sun began to vanish on the other side of the mountain.

The head figure pulled out a white tent, unfolded it and let it set up automatically. It was large enough for the five people to sleep in comfortably. Each person entered one at a time as the lead figure pulled down his hood and ruffled his green hair quickly. David looked at his four friends. "We're about a half day away give or take depending on the weather. I'd forgotten how nasty the weather can get up in the mountains."

Each of The Misfits took their packs off and set them on the floor of the tent. Pizzazz pulled out a battery operated space heater and set it far from the tent wall. Jetta warmed her hands with a chemical hand warmer as Roxy searched her pack for the food they had purchased in the town where they had bought their supplies. Stormer set up her bedroll and tried to get feeling back in her wind burned cheeks.

"So what's the plan?" Pizzazz asked after moving aside to let Stormer warm up.

"We'll take turns standing watch outside. At sunrise we break camp and start moving again while we try to avoid trouble." David finished setting up his bedroll.

Roxy snorted out a short laugh. "Us? Avoid trouble? You're funny, Gabor." She tossed Jetta a bowl of instant noodles.

Jetta put some snow in the bowl and held it over the heater to melt the snow. She stirred the noodles into the water and ate it cold. "So who's gettin' what shift?"

"I'll take first watch. Then it's Roxy, Sheila, Phyllis, and myself again. Each watch will last an hour and a half. I hate having to volunteer you guys but it's the best way." David thanked his sister for the noodles she had made him.

"Wh-what about me, David?" Stormer stuttered partly from being nervous and cold.

"You just get some rest, Mary. I'm concerned about those headaches of yours. I promise we'll see a doctor about them when this is finished." David put his snow mask and goggles back on. "I'm going to start my watch. Roxy, come get me in about two hours." David's voice was muffled by the mask.

"But you said an hour and a half!"

David picked up the katana and opened the tent door. "Yeah, that's for you three." He disappeared out the door before Roxy could object. He sealed it behind him and sat in waist deep snow in front of the door. David thought about their journey to Japan after they had left Egypt. Roxy relieved him an hour and a half later. They sat and talked quietly for awhile.

In the middle of his second shift David thought about when they arrived in Japan. He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the movement of the snow-covered form coming from behind the tent.

"[Welcome to Kyoto, hope your stay is a good one,]" the customs officer said politely after The Misfits exited the security area.

David bowed his head slightly and smiled politely. "Domo arigato."

After picking up their bags The Misfits gathered in front of the airport. Roxy pulled her coat around her neck as a gust of cold wind blew by them. Techrat pulled Clash closer to himself helping keep her warm. David let Stormer lean against him and used his body as a shield from the cold gusts. Pizzazz buttoned up her jacket and shivered slightly. Jetta handed a package of tissues to Eric that she had bought in the gift shop who began wiping his clothes off again.

"Last time I agree to let a mother and her three year old child sit next to me," Eric complained under his breath.

Pizzazz laughed as she watched her former manager struggle. "Now you know why I passed on letting them sit by me. I could see that the kid looked sick. All you wanted to do was hit on the mother, serves you right by getting puked on."

Eric was about to retort when Jetta cut him off. "Save it, Eric. Where do we go now, David? To the village or to a hotel so we can relax?"

"We'll get a hotel room for the night. Everyone is exhausted and someone really needs to hose Eric off." David picked up his bag then grabbed Stormer's bags for her. Pizzazz and David both hailed a taxi. The Misfits split up into two groups and got into a taxi. They asked to be dropped off at the closest, but reasonably priced hotel.

David checked them in and handed Pizzazz her room key. They got rooms with a connecting door. Once in the room Eric grabbed a new set of clothes and hurried into the washroom to change. Clash and Techrat began unpacking some electronic equipment. Roxy discussed if they should order room service now or later with Jetta. Pizzazz and David took care of Stormer who was now crying from the pain of the headaches she'd been having since they left Egypt.

"David, she needs a doctor." Pizzazz's voice was laced with concern for her half sister.

"I-I-I'll be-be fine, Phyllis," Stormer said quietly through her tears. "J-just give me so-some more of th-the aspirins. I-I just haven't had them si-since yesterda-day." Pizzazz gave her two tablets and got her a glass of water. Stormer washed the tablets down and lay back on the bed. "Th-thank you."

Pizzazz brushed the hair off Stormer's forehead. "Just thank me by feeling better." Stormer nodded and smiled at her. Pizzazz grabbed David by the elbow and started dragging him towards the bathroom. "We need to talk." She opened the door and tossed Eric out who was in his underwear. A second later his new and soiled clothes came flying out after him. "In private," she finished her sentence by slamming the door.

"Hey! I was changing in there! You coulda used the other bathroom!" Eric yelled at the closed door. He looked at the women around him. "What are you all starin' at? Never seen a man in his underwear before?"

"Teddy Bear boxers, Eric? I always thought of you as more of a red heart type." Roxy smirked at him and then began laughing with Jetta. Eric quickly put on his pants while mumbling under his breath.

Inside the bathroom David chuckled as he listened to the muffled exchange in the hotel room. "Sounds like Eric is the butt of a joke again."

"No!" Pizzazz snapped pointing her finger at him. "You are not going to turn this into a big joke. Something is seriously wrong with Mary. We have to get her to see a doctor."

"You don't understand, Mary says that she gets these headaches every so often. She said that they have been worse than this and they just pass in a few days." David put the lid down on the toilet and sat down. "Besides we can't go to a doctor. We're supposed to be dead."

Pizzazz slapped David hard across the face. He put a hand on his cheek and looked just as shocked she was. "oh god. I'm sorry, David. I didn't mean to hit you. I just did it." She sat on the edge of tub. "I'm sorry for yelling and getting so angry. I'm just tired, hungry and have one hell of a case of jet lag." Pizzazz sighed and looked at the floor tile then looked up at her twin. "If Mary says that it'll be fine then it'll be fine. But if it continues beyond this then promise me we'll take her to a doctor."

"I promise," David said keeping his eyes on his sister's. He stood up and held out his hand for his sister. She looked at him still ashamed of her actions. "I'm not angry." She slowly took his hand and stood. He jerked his head at the door. "Let's go see about taking care of that lack of food problem." Pizzazz sighed and followed him out the door.

The Misfits ate a quick dinner then settled down to rest. There were two beds in each hotel room. David shared the bed with his half sister, Stormer. Pizzazz and Jetta shared a bed. Techrat and Clash slept in the same bed, cuddled close. Roxy had a bed to herself. Eric began to climb in with her.

"Excuse me, Raymond, but what in the actual fuck do you think you're doing?" Roxy asked somewhat shocked but mostly annoyed, watching the man carefully.

Eric stared at her confused for a minute. "Getting into bed, I'm tired and I want sleep."

Roxy shook her head slowly. "Oh hell no! You sleep on the floor. No way in hell I'm sleeping in the same bed as you." She rolled over on her side with her back to him. "Might get baby vomit on me or something."

"The floor? I can't sleep on the floor!"

"Just shut up and sleep on the floor, Eric! I can't sleep with your bitchin'," Jetta yelled.

"Your bellyaching isn't making my headache any better, Eric." Stormer called from the other room making Roxy snicker at her comment.

Eric sighed and lay on the floor making a big production of doing so. "All right, fine. I'll sleep on the floor. But you're paying for my chiropractic bill, Roxanne. I have a bad back." He looked around. "I need a pillow."

"Here, use this!" Roxy said throwing an object at him and hit Eric in the face.

"ow," he moaned holding his nose. "that was a shoe."

The next day Jetta and David went shopping for supplies for their trip up the mountainside. They stopped in a sushi bar around lunch time and picked up some food to go. She suggested they eat by the shore. It was cold out but no snow was on the ground yet. They sat at a table on a pier. "When we ask questions about Daisuke we'll have to be careful who we ask. There's no telling who is aligned with him."

Jetta finished chewing her sushi roll. "I was just thinkin' that meself. Are we almost done with shopping for the supplies?"

"Yeah I just want to buy a few more things then we can head back. Clash and Techrat are making a few gadgets for us but nothing that will help when we get to the stronghold." David dipped a roll in wasabi sauce.

"So what do we do when this is all over?"

"I have no idea, Sheila. We'll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, I just have too much on my mind." David quickly finished his second roll. He was reaching for a third when he paused and looked at Jetta. "Did you feel that? Felt like a vibration."

Jetta shook her head. "Probably just a truck or train goin' by? I wouldn't worry about it." David nodded as he chewed. "Or maybe it's Godzilla."

David choked as he tried not to laugh his sushi roll out of his mouth. His eyes began to water when Jetta went to pat his back, he waved her off. David finally regained his composure. "Okay, you caught me off guard with that comment. Just next time wait until I'm drinking something. Spewing rice from your nose hurts. Trust me I know. Just don't ask how."

Starting to laugh at the thought Jetta finished her food. "Can you handle the rest of the shoppin'?" David nodded while eating another roll causing Jetta's to face light up. "Great. I wanted to pick up somethin' for Roxy then head back to the hotel. I'll take the supplies back with me."

"Okay, thanks Sheila. I'll see you back there. Tell Mary that I hope she feels better." David waved to Jetta and he started walking to a small shop he had noticed earlier. He opened the door slowly and was met with pleasant chime. The smell of sandalwood hit his nose immediately. David walked up to the store owner. "Kon-nichi-wa."

The man turned and looked at David with a raised eyebrow. "[Hello, young man, what can I help you with?]"

David gestured at the swords on the walls. "[I'm looking for a high quality sword. It's a gift for my sister who is ill. She's been fascinated by with Japanese culture since she was a child.]"

"[Yes, I'm sure she has been,]" the man said slowly. He waved David into the backroom. "[Come, I'll show you where I keep my finest swords.]" David followed the man into the back. Once in the backroom the man turned to David. "[David, my boy! You're alive and well! I knew a simple bomb explosion couldn't kill you.]"

"[It's great to see you also, Swordsmaster. I'm so glad you got my letter and understood the code. It's important that no one knows that I'm alive. This includes my mother. Especially her.]"

The Swordsmaster just smiled. "[Yes, yes David. I can read and comprehend words. No one knows about the letter or anything. Now do you want to see the katana I made or not?]"

David smiled. "[Show me.]"

"Are you sure you don't need anything, Mary?" Pizzazz asked while putting her shoes on.

Stormer sat up in the bed and looked at her half sister. "No I'm fine, Phyllis. The headache is gone. All I needed was a good night's sleep and some pain killers. You go out and have some fun. I want to catch up with Roxy anyway."

Pizzazz opened the hotel door and looked at her. "I'm just glad you're okay. I'm also glad Eric isn't here for you guys to torment. See you in a few hours." She shut the door and went to the elevator doors. She rode the elevator down to the lobby and left the hotel. Pizzazz caught a bus to the shopping district. David had given each of The Misfits and Eric some spending money. Pizzazz window shopped for awhile then finally entered a book store and started looking around.

Turning down an aisle Pizzazz spotted Eric flipping through an English to Japanese dictionary. She quickly turned on her heel and started walking out of the aisle. Eric looked over and caught sight of her. "So Pizzazz, what are you doing in a place like this?"

"I was just looking for something on Japanese culture." She slowly turned and looked at him. "Not that's it's of your business." She began to walk away from him again.

"Phyllis wait!" he called quietly. "Just wait a minute. Your brother forgave me for everything I had done to you, your band mates and your family. Why can't you just put everything into the past like your brother?"

"I am not my brother," Pizzazz said through clenched teeth. Eric was about to say something when everything began to shake violently. A bookshelf by Pizzazz started to fall towards her when Eric shoved her out of the way without thinking. He and Pizzazz landed in a side aisle. The bookshelf landed on Eric's lower leg. The shaking stopped but a few books fell off the shelves and hit her on the head. She saw that Eric was trapped and tried moving the bookshelf herself. It was too heavy for her to move alone.

A Japanese man hurried over to her and Eric. "[We'll lift it together.]" He told her in Japanese.

"Gomen. [I do not speak Japanese.]" Pizzazz said in far from perfect pronunciation. She was thankful that David had taught The Misfits what to say if they needed it.

The man cleared his throat and spoke in English. "We lift together." Pizzazz nodded and they lifted the shelf off of Eric's leg. He carefully pulled his leg out. Once his leg was clear, the man and Pizzazz dropped the shelf.

Eric tried to stand, but fell back down from the pain in his leg. "I think it's broken."

The man motioned for Eric to lie down. Once he did the man pressed on his leg feeling for something causing Eric to in pain. The man looked at Pizzazz. "Not broken, just fractured," he said in broken English. "Help me to clinic?"

Pizzazz nodded and helped the kind Japanese man carry Eric to a clinic that was around the corner. They helped Eric on a table and the man cut off the leg of his pants. "Whose clinic is this?" Eric asked looking around. Bottles and jars were knocked down, but no serious damage. Outside wasn't that bad either, only a few store fronts had their windows shattered and car alarms were going off.

"My clinic," he said proudly. "I am Dr. Tofu." He started putting a cast on Eric's leg.

"I'm sorry, but this is all the money I have to pay for this." Pizzazz held out all of the Yen David had given her.

The doctor shook his head. "Free of charge. I am doctor, not businessman." He finished making the cast and told them to wait for it to set and dry. He gave Pizzazz a set of crutches for Eric. He then left them alone to see if anyone else was hurt around the neighborhood.

Pizzazz walked in front of Eric and looked at him. "Listen," she said quietly and a little ashamed at the same time. "Thank you for saving me. I honestly didn't believe you when you'd said that you've changed. For once I'm happy to be proven wrong. I'm also sorry for being such a bitch to you. I'll talk to the other Misfits. Tell them not to be so hard on you." She felt the plaster on the cast. It had dried quickly. She found a marker and signed it. Thank you! Pizzazz.

Eric swung his legs off of the table as Pizzazz helped him to his feet. "You would've done the same for me, Pizzazz." She only nodded as handed him the crutch, but she knew deep down that he was right.

David helped his old family friend to his feet, the swordsmaster Saotoshi Kanno. "[Are you okay, Saotoshi?]"

"[I'm fine. I'm more worried about my swords.]" Saotoshi went into the front of the shop and started inspecting the swords on the ground. David helped in picking them up. "[I'll clean up here, David. You take your weapons and see if The Misfits are all right. When you get back we'll spar like when you lived here.]"

"[Thank you again, Swordsmaster. I look forward to sparring with you. This time I won't let you win.]" He gave Saotoshi a smirk that made the older man chuckle. David rushed into the back room and picked up the bag with the weapons. He left the building through a secret side entrance and quickly made it back to the hotel.

The earthquake was a sudden jolt that wasn't as serious as it felt. It looked as if there had been little damage and injuries. A few windows had broken at the hotel and the elevators were shut down. David jogged up the stairs and went to the room he was staying in. He opened the door to find everyone there. The only injury he could see was Eric's leg. David put the wrapped weapons on a bed. "I'm glad everyone is okay. How did you break your leg, Eric?"

Pizzazz spoke before Eric could. "It got crushed under a bookshelf after he pushed me out of the way of it. It's not broken just fractured."

"Before you ask, a doctor who was in the bookstore helped me out for free." Eric explained further.

"Just as long as everyone is safe and okay. This just means that you won't be able to go with us up the mountainside, Eric. But I guess that's for the better." David stood in the doorway connecting the two rooms. "Uhh, Techrat, Clash, would you mind sticking behind when we go up to the stronghold? I'm going to need you to watch Eric and help him out. Also, I won't have to worry about you getting hurt. We don't know what to expect up there."

"Don't worry about it, David. I was just asking Techrat why we had to go."

"Thanks, Clash." David went back to the bed and took the weapons out of the bag. He took out a katana in a white scabbard. "Roxy, this is for you. You're not a master swordswoman by any means, but I think you're ready for this. Just take care of it."

Roxy took the katana very carefully and slid the blade out of the scabbard part of the way. The metal blade shined in the light. "it's beautiful, david," Roxy whispered almost soundlessly. She slid the blade back in and hugged him in thanks.

"Just be careful. The blade is razor sharp." David handed Pizzazz a belt with ten leather pouches. "I never had a chance to really train you in the way of the sword but this will do. Each pouch has five shurikens. They're quick and easy to learn. You'll do fine." He then picked up a wakizashi with a blue scabbard.

Stormer smiled when she saw it. "I know, David. I've been practicing as long as Roxy has. I'll take great care of it. I can't promise that I'll use it, but I'll take care of it." She took the sword with care.

David grinned. "I didn't think I was getting to be so predictable." He turned to Jetta. "I'm sorry. But I don't have anything for you. However you do have your pistols." He sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't want any killing. We won't use our weapons unless it's called for. We'll be using the cloaking devices once we get into the stronghold."

"When do we leave?" Pizzazz asked with a feeling of impatience.

"Tomorrow morning. We'll get a hotel in Kashihara for Techrat, Clash and Eric. So everyone get your rest. We have a big day ahead of us."

That night Roxy let Eric have her bed. She shared the bed with Stormer and David. In the morning David checked out of the hotel and had two taxis take them to the town of Kashihara where they got another room. David didn't need to ask where the Matsuura stronghold was located. They could see the compound from the village. David and the four Misfits started climbing up the mountain a little after noon.

David felt a hand grab him from behind and yank him back inside the tent. He was quickly brought out of his thoughts. "G-get in here, D-David," Stormer stuttered.

The blade of a sword appeared where David was just sitting. He cursed his carelessness to himself and pulled his katana free of his scabbard. "We have company!" he yelled waking the others and slowly bringing them to attention. He ran back out and attacked the snow covered warrior.

The warrior silently swung his sword at David again. David blocked and kicked him in the stomach. He then launched his own attack. His katana struck the attacking warrior in his sword arm, causing the man to drop his blade. David then backhanded the man as hard as he could across the face knocking him out. He took a length of the rope they used to climb the steeper slopes, restraining him. Afterwards, The Misfits quickly broke down the tent and got their gear together to make the climb to the stronghold.

With the cloaking devices turned on, The Misfits had no trouble finding their way inside. They had taken off the heavy back packs and most of the winter clothes. They had hidden the packs and coats in a storage closet. Finding the room Daisuke was in was easier than expected. Together David and the Misfits walked into the room while cloaked.

A Japanese man of average height stood with his back turned to them. He wasn't thin, but he wasn't overweight. His long hair was a mix of black and white that flowed behind him. He had his hands clasped behind his back. "Welcome, David Ikari. And do please turn off those silly gadgets since we all know they don't work against heat sensors." He finally turned around. "I was beginning to wonder what was taking you so long to arrive."

The Misfits and David switched off the cloaking devices as David stepped forward with his hand still on the sword hilt. "Why did you try to murder us? What have we ever done to you?"

Daisuke smirked as he looked down at them as if they were children. "Hiroki Bayushi. Hiroki owed me a good deal of money but I was unable to collect because of you, Ikari. He died before I had a chance to kill him myself, all because of you and your insipid fight of honor. Because of you he died of blow fish toxin and not by my hand. Killing him was my right!" Daisuke yelled, causing his voice to echo in the room.

"Killing another person is no one's right," David said calmly and glaring at the man before him.

Daisuke raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that so?" He pulled a gun that was in his robes and shot David, who fell to the ground and didn't move. The Misfits screamed and began rushing towards him. Daisuke nodded and ninjas that were concealed in the shadows attacked each of The Misfits quickly. They each fell to the ground laying still. "[Take care of the three in Kashihara as well. You know where to bring the bodies.]"

Mariko Ikari was helping her daughter Ayumi cook dinner when a noise came from the backyard. Ayumi turned to the direction of the noise. Although she was blind, she didn't let that bother her. "[What is it, Mother?]"

"[I don't know. You wait here. I'm going to check.]" Mariko walked out the backdoor carrying a broom. The yard was still lit by the fading sun. It was empty. Mariko lowered the broom and was about go indoors when she saw a light inside the dojo. She slowly walked to the dojo door and slid it open. What she saw inside made her gasp in total shock.

"[Something wrong, Mother?]" Ayumi asked from behind.

Mariko swallowed hard only to find that her throat was suddenly dry. "[It's – it's David and The Misfits, Ayumi. They're alive,]" she told her daughter quietly. Ayumi couldn't find her breath to express her shock.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "UNMASKED"

PART 2 OF PULL BACK THE CURTAIN