Two Birds Trapped

Melia Bali Resort in Bali, Indonesia…

With the revealing of the newest base the Jackals were building, Victor aka Phantom and Hide aka Crow both linked up at the rendezvous point in Bali. As no surprise, Victor picked a five-star resort with a beach view front overlooking the sea above the highest floor. Hide was not one for high maintenance living, but to stay cordial with his coworker, he had little choice but to comply with Victor's needs.

Hide: "Victor, why choose a place like this to have our reconnaissance meeting?'

Victor: "I enjoy places like this to help me focus and to have a good time before a mission. A ninja doesn't have to be so antisocial and distant from normal people."

Hide: "Discretion is of high priority in a ninja's life. Too much exposure and we will be compromised."

Victor: "Duly noted. Look, we are in a beautiful penthouse room with a lavish view of the sea, and no one is around us. It is all the discretion we need. Can we begin?" (Sitting down on a big sofa.)

Hide: "Fine then. Give me a moment to set up the projector."

The projector is now ready…

Hide: "This is the base in question. I'm sure you recognized some of the buildings don't you?"

Victor: "Is this place in the Philippines or Okinawa?"

Hide: "No, Papua New Guinea. This is a top view of Rabaul on the island of New Britain. The old Japanese Imperial Army built an underground base here for their air force and navy operations. The Imperial Army operated here for at least five years until they were defeated by the American & Australian forces in World War 2. Since that time, a new town was built next to the old base, but the base itself has been abandoned up until recently. The Jackals under Cain isolated the city from the Papuan government as they rebuilt the infrastructure. The citizens of Rabaul are basically under the Jackals subjugation as you can see here."

Now showing videos of the citizens being abused by Jackal soldiers…

Victor: "Such disrespect. Even the children are crying."

Hide: "Yes. Everyone regardless of age is forced to do labor jobs to help with the reconstruction of the base. Anyone who disobeys or tries to leave the town will be found and of course killed."

Victor: "Can you go back to the top view of the city?"

Hide: "Yes."

Victor: "So obviously we can't enter the city by boat especially with the high mountains surrounding the north and west side of the area. Perhaps we could airdrop from the southern tip of the peninsula, and we can sneak in this way. We will catch Cain by surprise and plant explosives. Blowing up their supply warehouses and tunnels."

Hide: "You brought explosives?"

Victor: "At the last minute of course. Its not my favorite thing to do, but to send a message at these Jackals, we need to blow up as many places as possible."

Hide: "Again, not the most convenient thing a ninja would do."

Victor: "What is your plan may I ask?"

Hide: "I agree with the airdropping part, but I have pinpointed where Cain is living at this base. His home is underground and there are at least 5 ways to venture inside it. I want to get in there and confront him. If he does not surrender himself, then he will perish under my blade."

Victor: "Without the blast commotion, that will not be an easy feat even for you Crow. And I don't like the idea of you going in there alone."

Hide: "If we make too much noise, then he is likely to flee. I don't see a better way of surprising him or his woman Ikroop."

Victor: "I forgot about her. She will no doubt protect him from harm. Let's settle this matter with an I Ching reading."

Hide: "You know of I Ching?"

Victor: "Of course I do. My sensei taught me, and his readings were never wrong. Trust me on this. I know what I am doing."

Hide: "Very well. I will let fate decide."

Victor used the three coin method to factor in the scores needed to draw the I Ching reading's lines. After making two hexagram codes, the results were in. Victor was silent for a moment. He did not like the reading, but it did suggest that his plan would be the safer option.

Hide: "Well…what do you think?"

Victor: "This is code represents determination. It implies that my plan will be the more successful option. However, I will follow you as soon as I create the necessary distraction for you to get underground and find Cain. It is my guess that Ikroop will have no choice but to confront me first. I will see to that."

Hide: "Alright. We have ourselves a plan. We should start this at nighttime. Do you agree?"

Victor: "If it comforts you fine, but we should enjoy the lovely day here first. I'm going out. Will you stay here?"

Hide: "Yes. I have no interest in tourist spots. I will wait for you here so we can eat."

Victor: "Don't wait too long Crow. I might be late coming back."

Hide: "I see. Then I will see you later."

Victor: "A plus tard!"

Victor heads out of the room…

Hide (sighs): "I can't be as carefree as him. Anyhow, I must prepare my mind for what is to come."

The next morning, leaving Bali…

Victor made sure not to party too much while visiting Bali's most exclusive bars. Before he and Hide rested, the two did one last meeting to go over the plan of infiltrating Cain's new hideout base. They moved out after seven o'clock in the morning. Victor was dressed up in his United Nations military gear. Hide was in his traditional ninja outfit, but he wore the United Nations logo covered around a light blue sash. It was wrapped around his left arm. In Hide's hovercraft, the two set a course for Rabaul.

Rabaul, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea…

It was another onerous day in the city of Rabaul as citizens were hard at work trying to construct more buildings and fortifications on behalf of the Jackal organization. There were many guards watching the citizen's every move. Anyone trying to flee would be shot, captured, or get blown up by the city's border mines. Ikroop, Cain's strongest and most skilled assistant, was overseeing the new highway being cleared out. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening so she would return to Cain's office which was once the old Imperial Japanese Army's army compound. She would brief him on the progress of the construction and future plans inside of his personal office room.

Ikroop: "Cain, it's me."

Cain: "Come in." (Opening the door for Ikroop.) "I trust everything is taken care of out there, yes?"

Ikroop: "No problems today so far. Everyone is complying to our orders. At this rate, we will have our new offices completed in no time at all."

Cain: "Good good. Are you thirsty? I have tea."

Ikroop: "What flavor?"

Cain: "I have Jasmine herbs."

Ikroop: "That is fine. Thank you."

Cain (Making the tea.): "Ikroop, when we first encountered each other, I was wondered something."

Ikroop (Sitting down.): "Wonder what dear?"

Cain: "Why did you choose to work for me, and not say the Zaibatsu?"

Ikroop: "Ohhh…" (Blushing.) "Well Heihachi's conglomerate is powerful, but it has a short legacy. You on the other hand are an underdog with much potential. People underestimate you, just like they have me. That was why I joined your group. The challenges it brings fulfills me as a warrior."

Cain (Smiling.) "That makes me happy to hear that. I know good talent when I see it. However." (Pouring the tea into the cups.) "We can't be satisfied either. Jabir, Cristian, and Hooper have all been arrested by the United Nations. They are the only other force that has stopped my plans. Especially that one spy and his team. If they come here and mess up everything I worked hard for then I will have to hunt them down!"

Ikroop: "If they try…then I will eliminate them myself." (Takes the cup of tea from Cain's.)

Cain: "Not by yourself Ikroop. They are formidable fighters. Though I know you are very strong. You will not take them on as you are."

Ikroop: "I am an assassin. My skills go beyond just mere brute force. I can have them kill each other with hallucination drugs for example. They won't know the difference between reality and fantasy." (Laughing.)

Cain: "I hope what you say is true. I have a bad feeling they are lurking somewhere. Just waiting to tear everything we Jackals have built together."

Ikroop (Leaning closer to Cain, staring at his eyes.): "Have confidence and trust. All great men have a great woman behind them. Together we will crush anyone who opposes us."

Ikroop then leans in to kiss Cain as a way of reassurance…

At the same time…

Hide: "There it is. Rabaul! Up ahead!"

Victor: "Ah yes, I see! Certainly looks busy there. So much construction."

Hide: "I'm going to land the aircraft using stealth mode. We can't get detected by their radars that way."

Victor: "Affirmative."

Hide quickly made his hovercraft go in stealth mode as the vehicle blended in a camouflage coating to lower its presence from local radar systems. As planned, the hovercraft landed near the shores of Rabaul's eastern peninsula. From here, Hide and Victor would migrate through the trees on foot. There was a nearby cliff overlooking the old Japanese Imperial HQ. So the ninjas took the high ground and made their ascent at the very top of the cliff for reconnaissance.

Hide: "Do you see where the tunnels are?"

Victor (With the shade binoculars): "Hmmm…there!"

Hide: "Which way."

Victor: "Zoom in and turn to your right."

Hide: "Yes now I see the way. It's a way's off. Now where can you make the distraction happen?"

Victor: "The new control tower over there." (Pointing.) "I can set a few explosives there and this will give you the time to enter the tunnels."

Hide: "Yes I see." (Setting his watch.) "Let's get started. The explosion will happen when?"

Victor: "I just need 15 minutes. Think you can make it to the tunnel entrance at that point."

Hide: "Only one way to find out. Commencing mission!"

Meanwhile, back at the Shika Compound, in Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…

Urenna (wondering.): "I still have not heard from master. Where is he?"

Urenna was getting impatient. It was not like her master to not return messages whenever she asked for his whereabouts. It has been like this for some years now ever since Urenna became a full-time agent for the United Nations. It had only been two days, but that two days was something Urenna was not truly used to. So after waking up from her sleep, she called Hide's commanding officer Kari to find out what he was doing.

Kari: "Urenna? Hey! I was just about to go home until you called. Anything wrong?"

Urenna: "I'm afraid so. Don't go home just yet. Can you locate Crow for me? He hasn't responsed to me in almost two days now. It's not like him to not notify me on his missions."

Kari: I can. One moment."

About a minute later…

Kari: "He is in Rabaul. Apparently he and Phantom have decided to take on the Jackals on their own. This is where their alleged true headquarters is."

Urenna: "They are doing that? And without telling me?"

Kari: "I was absent when he talked with my subordinate the other day. They decided to go ahead and try to arrest Cain at this location in New Britain Island."

Urenna: "Where is this island? What country?"

Kari: "It is Papua New Guinea it looks like."

Urenna: "If Cain is there, then I have to go myself."

Kari: "Won't Hide get upset if you show up there?"

Urenna: "Let him! If anything, I'm more mad at him for not telling me what he planned to do! And he knows my history with Cain! I want justice for my old family!"

Kari: "And what of your injuries?"

Urenna: "It's fine. I feel a lot better really Kari. Now can you send me the coordinates to this Rabaul or whatever its called?"

Kari: "Alright then. I'll do it. Though I know Crow will get mad at us both."

Urenna: "Let me deal with him. He's just being cautious about me is all. Now please. Fax me the location."

Kari: "Very well."

Back in Rabaul…

Hide: "Sssshhhhaaa!"

Hide (Crow) decapitates a soldier's head with his ninjatou blade. He had already slayed 25 men while getting closer to the underground bunker entrance. The lowly Jackal soldiers began to panic and run for their lives. How could they slay a man who could dodge bullets and multiply himself? The situation was deteriorating fast.

At Cain's office…

Ikroop: "Did you hear that?"

Cain: "Yes. That was an explosion! Right above us!"

Ikroop: "Just what is happening?"

Then the speaker com turned on and spoke to Cain at his office warning of an attack on the base…

Speaker: "Attention! Attention! We are under attack! This is not a drill! We are under attack! All soldiers must find and capture the intruders! Repeat! This is not a drill! We are under attack!"

Cain: "No! An attack! Now?"

Ikroop: "Let me find them dear! You should hide!"

Cain: "I will not leave this place without you! Be careful!"

Ikroop: "Those who try to stop us should be the ones careful! I will be back!"

The two hugged again and puckered up for one last time…

Back outside…

Machine guns sound off…

Hide: "Huh?"

Two of Cain's tanks appeared after the sirens went off due to the intruder alert. On top off the tanks were mounted machine guns operated by the driver inside of them. They came at a rapid speed and started shooting directly at Hide. Hide barely managed to find cover at the adjacent building across from the underground bunker entrance. Their firepower was awesome. Now how could Hide stop those tanks without getting shot?

Hide (Thinking): "Their firepower is exceptional. I could use a clone jutsu, but will I be able to stop them both? It's worth a shot but I need to find the right moment."

Suddenly…

Victor: "Kkkkkkiiiiiyyyyyyaaaaa!"

Victor came out of nowhere and used his katana blade to slash one of the tanks blindsided. The impact of his blade was infused with enough ki energy to blow up one of the tank's mounted guns. The driver inside was stunned! And so was Hide!

Hide: "Victor!"

This gave Hide the moment to move out. The second tank nearly shot Victor after seeing what happened with the first tank. However, Hide came to his aid and did a jutsu spell which gave out fireworks. This blinded the vision of the second driver. With his ninjatou, Hide jumped on top of the second tank to slice down the mounted gunner. In a panic, the second driver tried to flee but it was no use. Hide pounced on the Jackal soldier and got him in a hold by only applying pressure on the soldier's back using his knees only.

Hide: "Get me inside that bunker! Now!"

Jackal soldier: "Ok! Ok! Don't kill me please!"

Hide (Letting him go.): "Open the door to the bunker!"

Victor (Looking on.): "I made it right on time."

Hide: "That you did. How did you get here so fast?"

Victor: "I just simply followed your trail after I blew up the control tower. And these men are poorly trained in unarmed combat. All they have is their flashy guns and rockets. Now what is behind this door I wonder."

The Jackal soldier typed in the code to open the underground bunker gate. It was slow to open but once he did, the Jackal soldier was shot immediately from the inside. He took a bullet to the head. This caught the ninjas by surprise. They both stood ready for what was to come. Coming out of the bunker gate was none other than Ikroop. She was in her combat gear. She showed no remorse or fear looking at the very men who would try to arrest her and Cain.

Ikroop: "Well…I have to say I am impressed you have caused all this chaos. Do you we need introductions, or shall I get on with killing you both right here and now?"

Victor: "Interesting. Which country are you from mademoiselle?"

Ikroop: "My homeland is Nepal. I am a daughter of a shaman and a famed Gurkha. If I tell you my name, then you must both die."

Victor: "I can tell you my name anyway. Call me Victor."

Hide: "Phantom? Seriously?"

Victor: "You go on ahead. She's all mine." (Winks.)

Hide: "Are you sure?"

Victor: "Very." (To Ikroop.) "You know, I think two on one is hardly fair. Let's say a fair fight between you and me. My friend will go inside and find our real target. If you kill me, then you can go after him. Deal?"

Ikroop: "None of you are getting in here!"

Ikroop tried to use her pistol to shoot at the ninjas, but Hide was fast enough to evade and get past Ikroop. He ran inside the bunker untouched. Ikroop was irate! She tried to run after Hide but Victor got in between and stopped her using a smoke bomb. Victor tried to slash Ikroop with his katana, but she blocked the attack using her kukri blades. This forced her to drop her pistol, however.

Victor: "Impressive. Your reflexes are almost ninja like."

Ikroop: "Asshole!"

Ikroop kicks Victor in the stomach as he backed away…

Victor (Feeling his stomach in pain.): "Agh! Well now…I will enjoy this first date, that I will!" (Smiling.)