Misfit Mercs Saga

Pull Back the Curtain

Part 3

Endgame Sacrifices

By Nick Maro

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

A week had passed since Shin and David had visited the Arashikage Clan to request their help. The week's events were somewhat uneventful. David and Shin trained Kyoko, Roxy and Jetta. Pizzazz and Stormer were going along but only as support. They were to help with the wounded and get them out of the way. Everyone knew that this wasn't going to be pleasant. This was a war. Not any kind of war, but a clan war.

Shin taught each of The Misfits, plus Kyoko and David, basic Arashikage ninja techniques. He showed Stormer and Pizzazz how to disappear while in plain sight. They were not going to use the cloaking devices so this was important to learn. Stormer and Pizzazz were each to wear their weapons that David had given them in Kyoto but only for their own defense. Everyone, including the Arashikage Clan ninjas, was going to wear a radio link that fit on their ears. This was so they could report which areas were safe and where the Matsuura ninjas were located. But most importantly it was to report where Daisuke was at in the stronghold.

David had just finished his morning meditation and practices. He insisted that everyone who was going to practice with him that morning. He went into the house and The Misfits followed him completely exhausted. Ayumi had made everyone tea to warm them up. Snow was now on the ground and only added to The Misfits exhaustion. David didn't even notice there was snow.

Stormer sat next to David and groaned. "I used to love snow, but after this stay in Japan I hate that white terror. How do you do it, David? How do you train in the snow and not be cold?"

"I trained in snow for fifteen years, Mary, you get used to it." He sipped his tea again and felt himself warm up a bit. "Also, Hiroshi would take me on trip into the mountains. There we'd train in just our underwear. Now that took getting used to. Come to think of it, I'm still not."

Mariko sat down next to David and put her hand on his. "It's been so wonderful to see you training out there these past few weeks, David. It's almost as if you've come back to live here." Eric moved past Mariko and David on his crutches. He gave Mariko a warm smile that made her blush a little.

David tried to hide his shock but failed when his jaw dropped a bit. He lowered his voice so only she could hear him. "Kasa! Are you and Eric, uh, seeing each other?" He raised his eyebrow.

"David! No, we're not. We've just been talking a lot. It's nice having someone to talk to that you can identify with." She took a bite out of a cookie and sipped her tea. "It's nice having Ayumi here but there are some things we can't talk about."

"Did I just hear David right?" Pizzazz asked quietly leaning in close to her brother. "You and Eric are dating?"

Jetta raised her eyebrow slowly. "Interestin'."

Stormer smiled and sipped her tea. "I think it's nice that Eric has found someone."

Mariko's face began turning a deep red. "Eric and I are not dating, okay!?" She didn't realize that she had screamed her words until she looked up and saw that all eyes were on her. Eric looked up at her with his fork half way to his mouth. Mariko blushed deeper and then started walking to the kitchen. "Uh, more tea anyone?" Mercifully, Clash and Jetta agreed to some more, letting her disappear into the kitchen to hide her embarrassment.

Gradually the whole table began giggling, including Eric. Pizzazz stood and took Clash and Stormer's tea cups. "I better apologize. This is partly my fault." She went into the kitchen to talk with the woman who she considered her surrogate mother. "Mariko, I'm sorry with what happened out there. I didn't mean to embarrass you." She watched her for a minute. "Are you crying?"

"No, I'm laughing." Mariko looked up at Pizzazz trying to catch her breath from her laughing fit. "I just realized how silly all that was but at least that broke up the stress of the day." Mariko got a serious look on her face as she handed Pizzazz the tea cups. "I'm scared," she said quietly.

Pizzazz took the cups and gave a small smile. "We all are," she said equally as quiet.

"So what are you going to do about that sword?" Roxy sat next to David on the porch step. He picked up the sword, thrust it between two rocks and hit the hilt with his palm. The sword snapped in two. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Why did you do that?"

David put the half connected to the hilt into the scabbard. "It was too badly damaged and I couldn't fix it or resharpen it. The next time I would've used it, it would have broke anyway. Now I'm a swordsman without a sword." Roxy undid the sword at her side and offered it to him without being asked, but he refused the weapon. "No, Roxy, that's yours. I can't accept it."

Mariko walked past David quickly and slipped inside the dojo. She came back out moments later holding the family sword of Ikari. "Have you forgotten this sword, David? It's your right as head of Ikari School to use it. I know that Hiroshi would be proud of you."

"Kasa, thank you. I know I'll make Hiroshi proud." He took the sword and bowed to his adoptive mother who returned the deep bow. David pulled the sword out to look at the blade. It was still as sharp as he remembered. He tied it to his side. They were attacking the stronghold that night. The Arashikage knew of a quicker route to the stronghold that what he and The Misfits had taken originally.

Mariko hugged David tightly. "He's proud already, honey. Just take care up there. Protect your friends and come back alive." She kissed his cheek, hugged him tighter and started crying on his shoulder. David held his friend and adoptive mother close.

"Hey Roxy, can I talk to you in private?" Jetta asked coming up behind her. Roxy nodded and she followed her best friend into the dojo closing the door behind her. Jetta cleared her throat and paced. "This is harder than I thought it would be."

"What's on your mind?"

Jetta sat closely next to Roxy as she took her best friend's hand in hers. "There's somethin' I've been wantin' to say for a while. But as usual I've waited till the last minute to say somethin'." Roxy just looked at her confused. Jetta let out the breath she was holding slowly. "I love you, Roxy."

Roxy let her shoulders relax and snorted a quick laugh. "I love you too, Sheila. You're my best friend. How couldn't I?" She began to stand to leave but Jetta yanked her back down to the bench.

"No, I love you like this." Jetta took Roxy in her arms and pressed her lips to Roxy's, kissing her soft at first then deeply. Confused, Roxy just sat there with her eyes open. She slowly returned the kiss to Jetta, not realizing that she was. Jetta broke the kiss and held Roxy's forehead to hers. Tears fell on the legs of their pants. "Now do you understand?"

"yes," Roxy said softly. She lifted Jetta's head and smiled at her clear confusion in her eyes. "I love you too, but I'm just not that way. I'm sorry. I just don't know…" Roxy let her sentence trail off as she left the dojo feeling like she had just turned her back on her best friend.

Sitting back on the bench, Jetta licked her lips slightly still tasting Roxy's lipstick on them. It wasn't an outright rejection but one of confusion and indecision. Her own confusion ran through her mind wondering if she had put their friendship at risk. They were best friends, but was this actual unrequited love or the start of something wonderful? She saw the questioning look in Roxy's eyes after the kiss. She wished that she had someone could talk about this with, but none of her friends here would fully understand. She desperately wanted a drink.

The Misfits and David were picked up by Shin and Kyoko a little after dusk. The silence in the vehicle was deafening. Roxy grabbed David's hand and squeezed it. He returned the squeeze to put her at ease. She then turned to Jetta and smiled as she whispered in her ear, "Best friends no matter what happens." They were nearing the location where they had agreed to meet with the Arashikage Clan members, a mile from the Matsuura stronghold.

Shin parked the van and the passengers got out. A young Arashikage member ran up to Shin out of seemingly nowhere. "[Shinobi-sama,]" he said quietly and bowed quickly. "[I am Akira. Sensei Arashikage sends his best wishes to you and your friends. Let me introduce you to the men.]" The young ninja quickly made the introductions while David and Kyoko translated for The Misfits.

They split into three groups with Shin, Roxy, Jetta and a group of five Arashikage ninja were in one team. Kyoko, David, Akira and five other Arashikage ninja were on a second team. Stormer, Pizzazz and six Arashikage ninja were the third team. Shin made sure that one of the ninjas with Pizzazz and Stormer spoke English. Their team was the support and back up team. They were to stay ten minutes behind the first two.

Taking a deep breath Shin addressed the men and women before him. Kyoko translated again for The Misfits. "[Tonight we attack our age old enemy, the Matsuura Clan. Daisuke Matsuura took it upon himself to declare a war on us when he attacked our brother David Ikari and his family. It was a cowardly attack. David took it upon himself to try and defeat Daisuke alone. Daisuke showed the level of coward that he truly is when he shot David with a stun gun and knocked out his friends.]

"[Tonight he will learn that letting David and The Misfits live was a grave error. Tonight, Daisuke Matsuura and anyone who stand in our way will die. We will attack without mercy. We will kill any enemy who gets in our way. They are without honor! Daisuke Matsuura is to only be confronted by David, Kyoko or myself. Not to insult your skills but Daisuke is known to be a master swordsman. There will be enough to kill tonight.]

"[Now my brothers and sisters, I wish you good fortune and may you slay those who stand before you quickly, for there will be many more behind them. May the Gods smile upon you all and let your enemy's last vision be the Hexagram so they know it was an Arashikage that slew them.]" Shin then revealed the hexagram tattoo on his forearm.

David nervous stepped forward and whispered to Shin. "I don't think I can kill again, Shin. It's not in me."

Shin pulled David aside. "You don't have to kill but you will. I'll explain." He guided David behind some trees and they both knelt in the snow. Shin made an L shape with both of his index fingers and thumbs. He connected his two hands so he made a triangle. He held it over his eye and stared at David while he spoke in a soft, even tone. "This is the Arashikage mindset technique. With this I can make you a wraith of death. You will only slay members of the Matsuura Clan. You will protect The Misfits and the other members of the Arashikage Clan. Do you understand?" David nodded in his trance. Shin smiled. "Good. Let's go, Assassin."

When David and Shin came back, The Misfits immediately saw that David was a changed person. Pizzazz grabbed her twin by the arm. "Are you okay, David?"

David turned his head but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking beyond her. "I'm fine, for I am a bringer of death to Matsuura Clan." He walked away and joined Kyoko with his group. Pizzazz found it hard to breathe. What she saw in her twin's eyes had scared her to her very soul. Her brother wasn't in those eyes.

"That wasn't David was it, Phyllis."

"No Mary, it wasn't the David you or I know. That one is gone."

After the groups split up, Shin's team ran along the eastern perimeter of the stronghold and found an opening. Each member brought out a grappling hook and threw it over the side of the wall. They scaled the wall in unison, landing silently at the top. They found no guards or sentries. With Shin in the lead they ran along the wall silently. Jetta pulled out her pistols, Roxy had her katana ready. Shin and the other ninjas had their weapons ready for combat. One of the ninjas found the way to the ground level.

Once at the bottom, Shin stopped Roxy and Jetta. "Are you sure you're up to this? This isn't going to be easy," he asked quietly.

Roxy rolled her eyes. "For the final time yes! The quicker we get in there the less bloodshed."

"I was just making sure." Shin signaled the others onward.

Jetta and Roxy followed the ninjas. Slowly each ninja was breaking off from the rest to search the stronghold. Roxy and Jetta stayed with Shin. They were nearing a door when the sounds of battle rang out. Shin was looking around for potential attackers.

The door they were near flew open and a Matsuura ninja attacked Shin. He quickly brought up his sword to block the attacker. Roxy was slammed against the wall by another ninja. He raised his sword over his head to strike her. Roxy was terrified and didn't know what to do. She had forgotten that she held a sword as well. Tears ran down her cheeks as she was frozen in place. "please don't," she said barely audible to anyone but herself. She closed her eyes awaiting certain death.

"[Gaijin, bitc—!]" His sentence was cut off by a blade now protruding through the middle of his neck. It twisted sideways, spraying blood everywhere. The body fell and Shin was standing behind her. He offered her his hand that she accepted immediately.

Roxy saw that her hand and arm was cover in blood. In fact both arms and hands were. "blood. I'm covered in blood." Roxy was beginning to panic again. She saw that Jetta stood next to her not knowing what to do.

Shin stared at Roxy with a reassuring smile. "Yes, it's blood. Not your blood, but the blood of the enemy. Now pull yourself together." He put his hand on her shoulder. "You're almost home, Roxanne."

"Let me." Jetta moved Shin aside while she took some snow and washed all of the blood she could off of Roxy. "There ya go, luv. All better. Best friends no matter what, remember?" Jetta took her guns out again and pulled the hammers back.

"Thanks, Sheila. I'm sorry, Shin. I got scared and panicked."

"It's okay, Roxy, just remember getting scared like that will get you dead. Now let's move." Shin moved past the two men he had slain. Roxy picked up her katana as she and Jetta ran after Shin and disappeared into the belly of the stronghold.

The bodies marked the path of death Kyoko and David had forged. A ninja jumped in front of Kyoko. She quickly reached out for his throat and yanked making a fountain of blood gushed forth. She threw the chunk of flesh that she had ripped from him. Kyoko was using the climbing claws that she wore to scale the walls to kill at close range. She held her katana in her left hand.

The ninja David had just run through fell in front of him. They were almost to the room that Daisuke was suspected to be in. They moved as quickly as possible each striking ninjas down as they walked. They arrived at the door before Shin did. Kyoko grabbed David who was heading for the closed door. "No, we wait for Shin." David stared at Kyoko blankly.

Shin, Roxy and Jetta came through a side door. All of them were covered in blood. A ninja attacked Jetta, but Roxy was quick to strike. She slit his throat causing the attacker to fall with little sound. "Roxy, thank you."

"wow. I can't believe I just did that." Roxy was in awe at how she acted on impulse. While getting to the room she let Shin and Jetta take care of the ninjas. Roxy turned to Jetta with her sideways smile. "I told you, you're my best friend."

Stormer and Pizzazz arrived with a few of the Arashikage Clan ninjas with them. David opened the door to the chamber. Daisuke was sitting in a chair clapping and laughing, clearly amused by their entrance. "Good! Very good! If there is one thing you are its entertaining." He stood up and strode towards the group. David brought his katana up and Daisuke smiled wider. "Oh let me guess, this is the part where I'm challenged to a duel to the death, right?"

"No," David said without emotion, "this is where you die." He lunged at Daisuke who dodged out of his charge and knocked him to the ground with a powerful backhand.

Daisuke spun on his heel. "Could you be any more cliched, Ikari?" A sharp pain pierced his back. Daisuke screamed in pain and spun around to face his attacker. He pointed at Pizzazz who looked shocked that she was able to strike him. "For that you bitch, you'll die painfully." He threw the shuriken to the ground.

Pizzazz was ready to throw another star when Kyoko stopped her. "No, Phyllis, he's mine." Kyoko took off the climbing claw and gripped her sword with both hands. "[Daisuke Matsuura, I am Kyoko Bayushi. I swear on my family honor that you will die by my hand tonight.]" She swung the katana at Daisuke who pulled a sai out of his robes and countered the strike with ease.

"[No young one, I will not be the one dying tonight, but you will die. You'll be the last to die. I want you to watch as I torture and kill your friends.]" He used the leverage to break Kyoko's grip on the sword. It clattered to the ground, skidding away. She chased after the weapon but Daisuke was already bringing the sai down on her back.

"No!" Shin leapt in front of the sai blade. It went smoothly through his chest with the point a mere few inches from Kyoko's face. She grabbed him before he could fall as Shin stood on wobbly feet. Kyoko got to her feet as he smiled at her serenely. Shin finally spoke so only she heard him. "[H-hiroki is p-proud of y-you. I-I l-love yo-you.]" He pulled the sai from his chest and fell into her arms. With his last breath Shin looked into her eyes and kissed her softly. Shin's dead body fell from Kyoko's limp arms and she only felt one thing: Unbridled hatred for Daisuke Matsuura.

Daisuke deflected David's attack while he turned back to him. "When will you learn, Ikari? I am your better. You will never defeat one like me. You will never –" Daisuke wasn't able to finish his sentence. The sai that he used to slay Shin now stuck through his robes. Daisuke looked at the enraged women who had stabbed him. "[You think I'm going to die? Y-you're wrong. I'm just a sm-small p-part of a big-bigger wh-whole.]" Daisuke took one last deep breath and yelled a single word. "Cobra!" His eyes glazed over as he fell to the ground as his lifeblood spilled out on the cobbled floor.

Kyoko spat on Daisuke's dead body and allowed herself a sad smile. "[I told you that tonight you would die at my hands.]" Her eyes slowly went to Shin's still form. She fell to her knees next to him. She hugged his body and started crying silently. David knelt beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. He was brought out of his trance with the death of Daisuke. "He sacrificed himself for me," she said very quietly.

Stormer joined her half brother and put her arm around Kyoko's shoulders. "He saved us all, Kyoko. He's a hero. I was proud to have known him."

"Kyoko, the Arashikage are waiting for your command," Pizzazz said quietly behind her.

Regaining her composure Kyoko stood and addressed the ninja clan. "[Burn it all down. This obscenity of a clan must be destroyed.]" Several of the clan brothers went to pick up Shin's body but she stopped them. "[No, I'll carry him on my own.]" Kyoko put Shin's katana in his scabbard and then picked him up. She carried him out with her head held high. David and The Misfits followed closely as the young ninjas began setting fire to the enemy stronghold.

The Misfits and David walked the mile in the snow back to the van. Kyoko loaded Shin's body into the back and they drove to Kyoko's home in silence.

The funeral was held a week after Shin's death. Friends and family of Shinobi Arashikage gathered at the riverside. Shin was cremated as stated in his will. Kyoko, David, The Misfits and Sensei Arashikage were given small canisters with his ashes in them. One by one, they said a few words and poured the ashes into the river and placed a small raft with a lit candle sail down the river current.

The entire Arashikage Clan sailed lit rafts down the river. Shin's cousin, Tommy, talked to David and The Misfits in private. "Daisuke Matsuura was connected to an organization that Hebime, Akai and I are fighting against. Was there anything you can remember that he did or said?"

They each shook their heads no. "It was pretty chaotic, Tommy. All I remember is seeing Daisuke's body fall and feeling this haze I was in lift from my mind. Whatever Shin did, it wore off when Kyoko killed Daisuke."

"I understand. Thanks, David. If you remember anything just give me a call. You have my card, right?"

"Actually I kinda lost it when the mansion blew up." David said with a smirk.

Pizzazz knocked on the bedroom Kyoko was using at Mariko's home. "Hey Kyoko, can I talk to you?" Kyoko nodded. She didn't want to be alone. Mariko was letting her stay with her and Ayumi. Pizzazz sat next to her on the bed. "I was just talking with The Misfits and you're invited to stay with us out there. Mariko said that she and Ayumi will take care of your home and watch after everything. What do you say?"

Kyoko smiled sadly at Pizzazz. "I think Suzaku needs a new manager anyway." She let out a tear filled giggle and hugged her friend. "I say yes. Shin would have wanted me to follow my heart and move on. But I better warn Kimber now that I'm single David is fair game. My father did prearrange our marriage." Both women began laughing quietly.

Epilogue 1

The World Witnesses the True Rebirth

Laughter filled the Starlight Mansion. It was Christmas morning and the Starlight Girls opened their gifts as they giggled. Jerrica and The Holograms sat on couches and chairs to watch their young wards open their presents. Kimber sat apart from the celebration where she sipped her hot chocolate and stacked the gifts the Starlight Girls gave her. She thanked them with a smile and went back to looking out the window.

Ba Nee was there with her father Martin. She tugged on Kimber's pajama top getting her attention. "Kimber, aren't you going to open your gifts?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Oh I will, honey. Later, okay?" Kimber told her softly not wanting to disappoint her. "I'll let you when know I'm ready." The young girl smiled and ran off to play with her gifts. She put her cup down and kissed her sister on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Jer. I'm going back to bed. I don't feel good."

"Huh? Oh, okay. I'll wake you in a few hours?" Jerrica turned to The Holograms as Kimber slowly went up the stairs. "Have any of you known Kimber to go to bed and miss out on opening presents before?" They each shook their heads and agreed they haven't.

"She's usually worse than the Starlight Girls," Aja joked while she set a gift down on her pile.

Ashley overheard Aja's comment and turned her head. "Hey! You know I'm worse than Kimber on Christmas morning."

The doorbell rang and Jerrica got up to answer it, but Mrs. Bailey stopped her. "You go spend time with the girls." Jerrica sat back down and Mrs. Bailey went to the front door. A few minutes later a visibly shaken Mrs. Bailey tapped Jerrica on the shoulder. "Jerrica, there's someone at the door for you." Jerrica gave her old friend a strange look. "It's very important that you don't scream."

Jerrica slowly stood up and nodded even more confused but now also concerned. She went to the door and opened it. "Yes, how may I hel—oh my god!" she said quietly and put her hand over her mouth in shock.

"go away, I'm sleeping." Kimber mumbled into the pillow. The knocking at the door became harder. "Alright! Fine, I'm awake." She opened the door to find Deirdre was there holding a card for her. "Sorry, just a bit cranky today."

"You've been cranky since you've got here," the young girl mumbled. She handed Kimber the card. "We found this under all of the other gifts."

Kimber looked at the envelope and she didn't recognize the handwriting. "Thank you." She shut the door and sat on her bed to open the envelope carefully. The front of the card was just a Christmas tree and a message that read: Christmas is a Time for Surprises. She opened up the card and read the message.

Surprises are everywhere. Check the pool house for your Christmas surprise.

"What the hell does that mean?" Kimber looked for a signature and couldn't find one. She lay back on her bed and sighed. Staring at the ceiling she wondered what to do. Curiosity got the better of her. She sat up and put on her slippers and robe while mumbling to herself. She went down the stairs and opened the backdoor. She turned to Jerrica. "Heading out to the pool house something about a gift." She held up the card to her sister.

Kimber walked out of the house and slid the door closed. A cool wind whipped through her hair as she walked. She opened the pool house door. "Okay, I'm here. Who the hell are you?" She searched the pool house for the gift. "I knew this was bullshit." She put her hand on the door when someone behind her put a hand on each of her shoulders.

She felt someone lean in and whisper in her ear. "Merry Christmas, Kimber."

Kimber froze in place in both joy and fear. I'm still asleep. I've gotta be, she thought to herself. Turning around with her eyes closed she braced herself for nothing being there. When she opened her eyes she knew then she wasn't dreaming. David was standing before her. She jumped into his arms and kissed him deeply.

David broke the kiss after a few tries. "Kimber. Kim! Wait!" She kissed him deeply again and he tried to get her attention again. "Kimber, we're gonna fall into—" They both tumbled into the pool together. "—the pool," he said finishing his sentence.

Wrapping her arms around his neck again, Kimber hugged David tightly and kissed his face. "I don't care where we are. You're alive. That's all that matters." She pulled herself closer to him.

"Kimber, there's something I have to ask first." He waded to the shallow end of the pool with her following him. David pulled a small box out of his pocket then got on one knee. "Kimber Benton, will you be my wife?" He put the ring on Kimber's finger.

"yes." Kimber said in a soft squeak and without hesitation. She then fell into his arms whispering her answer over and over.

Pizzazz finished telling Jerrica the story of what had happened. "And just where the hell is that brother of mine?" She looked out the kitchen window to the pool house. "I better go see if they've drowned or something." The pool house door opened David and Kimber came running out holding hands. "It's a miracle! They live," she mumbled to herself.

The other Misfits were in the living room telling The Holograms and the Starlight Girls about everything that had happened. Kimber and David came through the doors laughing, smiling and dripping wet. Kimber ran up to Jerrica and hugged her tight. She whispered in her sister's ear. "He asked me to marry him! I'm getting married!"

Jerrica and Pizzazz each exchanged shocked looks. Jerrica smiled at her younger sister. "Congratulations! Go tell the others." Kimber giggled, grabbing David's hand and they ran off to the living room. Jerrica put her arm around Pizzazz's shoulders. "Looks like we'll be sister-in-laws."

"Oh God, I'm going to be in-laws with Jerrica and The Holograms!" Pizzazz rested her head in hands. She then hugged Jerrica. "But I'm glad it's you and not The Stingers."

"Careful, I could go and marry Riot then we'd both be miserable. Come on, let's go join the others." Jerrica and Pizzazz each brought a tray with hot chocolate into the living room.

"Pizzazz, obviously no one but a small handful of people knows you're alive. How are you going to make it known to the world?" Shana asked on sitting next to Anthony Julian, her longtime boyfriend.

Pizzazz looked at the other Misfits and David. "I have no idea. We said we were going to handle that when the time came and now it's here and we have no idea what to do." She handed the last mug to Stormer. She then sat next to her half sister on the floor.

Techrat slowly raised his hand. "I might have an idea."

A large crowd gathered in the park where Jem and The Holograms were holding the benefit concert. It was the same park that the band first made their original debut. The crowd's voices buzzed like the inside of a beehive. Cameras to broadcast live worldwide were still setting up. Backstage the stagehands were limited as all of the onstage and backstage technical equipment were handled by Techrat, Clash, Video and Rio.

The Holograms took the stage behind the curtain. After a few minutes the stage lights and the curtain began to rise. Jem began singing the first song she ever performed.

At the pause in lyrics, Techrat turned a dial. Jem and each of The Holograms began to fade and were slowly replaced with The Misfits playing exactly where their counterpart had just been standing. The transition went perfectly. Pizzazz sang right where Jem had left off.

The crowd stared in stunned silence at first. After a few seconds to take in what happened, they erupted into cheers and applause. Backstage, David and Eric came out of the room they hid in so the surprise wasn't ruined. They watched the concert backstage with Jem and The Holograms.

Jem and The Holograms had left the stage when their cloaking devices turned on. The cloaking devices that they and The Misfits wore were linked together. The Misfits were on stage when Jem and The Holograms started the song. They started playing at the same time the Holograms did. When Techrat turned the dial, The Misfits cloaking devices were turned off and their volume was turned on. At the same, Jem and The Holograms' volume were turned off and their cloaking devices were turned on.

The Misfits shared the stage with Jem and The Holograms many times during the show. The crowd loved every moment of the unexpected surprise. Jem and The Holograms and The Misfits did the final song together. The crowd's applause was deafening. Pizzazz finally grabbed the microphone. "Thank you everyone! We're back! Everything will be explained in an exclusive interview on the Lin-Z Pierce Show! And finally have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!"

Eric stayed in the backstage area while The Misfits greeted the fans. He saw The Stingers hugging and talking to David and The Misfits. He was happy that he didn't have the cast on his leg anymore. His leg was finally fully healed but was still a bit stiff and weak from not being used. He twirled his cane and started walking away when someone grabbed his arm from behind. He turned around and Minx hugged him tightly. "You're back, too!" she said in her German accent.

Rapture hugged and kissed Eric on the cheek. Riot shook his hand and smiled. "Next time you want a vacation, just ask." Eric felt his own tears begin while he smiled wide. Riot led Eric back to where The Misfits were greeting the fans. "It's Christmas, Eric. We're not going to let you spend it alone. Evelyn has invited us all back to Misfits Music to party on the terrace."

Eric couldn't help but feel that he was finally fully accepted.

Kimber and David watched the city lights while they leaned against the railing. Kimber sipped her champagne glass. "So, that was you in the fight at my concert?"

David laughed and tried to hide his embarrassment. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't realize where we were. If I knew it was your concert, I wouldn't have flung him through the doors."

"Don't worry about it. Just don't go faking your own death without me again." She kissed him deeply again. "Come on. Let's get home." She turned around to find the party was dying down. David refilled her glass then his own.

"One last toast to our future." David tapped Kimber's glass with his and sipped it. "I love you."

Kimber sipped her glass. "I love you. Now, let's go open some gifts." She winked at David and grinned.

Epilogue 2

Snakes in Hiding

"Who does he think he is?!" screamed the man in the blue helmet and silver face plate. "We should be taking our revenge out on those who have wronged us. Instead we're sitting here while he tries to play world conqueror!"

A man in a silver mask addressed him. "Commander, I believe now is the time for change. His time to reign is over. It is your time again."

"Yes. Yes!" The Commander hissed his words loudly. "You are right, my old friend. It is my time to rise back to power!" He pressed a button on the table. "Is this line secure?" A voice gave an affirmative. "I have need of your services, Zartan. Two gold bars will be sent to you as down payment. You will meet Destro and I at the new meeting place in two weeks time. I'll send instructions with the payment."

"I see you have a plan, Cobra Commander."

Destro's reflection shined in Cobra Commander's face mask. He could feel the Commander's smile even though he couldn't see it. "Yes! I most certainly do!" He touched another button and the image of the leader of Cobra came on the screen. "First I take care of Serpentor," he pressed another button. The screen split. David and The Misfits appeared. "Then I make an example out of these five!" He burst into a high pitched laugh and shook his arms in the air with clenched fists. "I'll show them what it means to cross COBRA!"

TO BE CONTINUED IN "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE"

PART 1 OF RECOILED