*Whew* Took me damn near forever, but I finally finished chapter 4. After
this, things really get interesting. Oh, BTW, anyone know what's the status
on that fic where Tenchi was a girl and the pirate in the cave was Kagato?
Compliments warm the heart......
Criticisim Strengthens the Soul.....
Flames Shall Be Used As Target Practice. :-)
-Agreeable Komodo
He who bought it, supplied it.
Just say yes to prophylactics.
A session with a fortune teller:
"I see you with a house, a dog, and 2.5 kids."
"Two kids huh?"
"No. 2.5. The Dog ate half of the third one."
Previous chapters at:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Keep/5268/Fanfic/index.html
********
The Kingpin gazed for a moment longer at the com system before he stood and
headed for the wall behind his desk. At his approach, a hidden elevator slid
open. Inside, his hand hovered for a moment over the buttons. He could go up
to his apartment, or down into the basement. He really should go deal with
that informant. On the other hand, there were two ladies waiting for him in
the apartment. A smile spread across his lips and he stabbed his finger at
the button for the apartment.
Within seconds, the doors slid open, revealing a long hallway, lushly
carpeted. Expensive works of art hung on the walls, and a vase from Earth sat
on a small end table next to the large wooden doors at the end.
Grinning madly, he pushed open the double doors, marched through the rooms
until he came to a locked door.
Carefully, he composed himself and then pressed the palm of his hand to the
plate, causing the door to hiss open. Inside, backs to the wall, two women
huddled dressed in only the thinnest of clothing.
"S-stay back," The older of the two said, placing herself between him and her
companion.
"Amusing," said the Kingpin as he brushed her aside as casually as one might
swat a fly. The thunk of her head hitting the wall registered faintly in his
ears and he relished her moan of pain as he grabbed the younger one by her
clothing and pulled her to her feet. For a moment, he enjoyed the fear in her
eyes before he began dragging her towards the bed.
***************
Four months later, Ayeka's limo
"And you're positive of this?" Tenchi asked as he stared out of the small
monitor of the secure terminal that kept him and Ayeka in constant contact.
"Yes," Ayeka replied. "The plan was definitely the Rinosake, or End Flank.
Its a political move used within Jurai Royal Family for the purpose of
testing one's defenses."
"And you're positive it came from the Kingpin?"
"No, but it definitely came from within the higher echelons. If the Kingpin
is not Jurai Royal Family, then he has one on his staff."
"Any clues as to who it could be?"
"Unfortunutly, no. The Family is large and we have our share of renegades. I
can think of fifty people right away who fit the profile and they are, what's
the phrase? From all corners of the globe."
"Not good," Tenchi mused. "Can you narrow it down any?"
"Not from where I sit within the Hierarchy at the moment. As bosses go, I am
still of a fairly low rank."
"How much longer before you are within range of the Kingpin?"
"I don't know, he's very well protected and has gone to great lengths to keep
himself hidden."
"You have to bring him down Ayeka, Sasami has been having nightmares about
her mother again and there was another assassination attempt yesterday."
"We can be on the next liner out," Ayeka said as reached for the intercom to
give the driver new instructions.
"No," Tenchi said, shaking his head. "Bringing down the Kingpin is vital to
Jurai security and if you leave now it could ruin everything you've done so
far."
"I can't sit by and let ruffians go after my family!"
"No," Tenchi said firmly. "Sasami and I knew the risks. We need you but I
can't pull you out, you're in too deep." His lips compressed to a thin line
and he was silent for a moment. "We'll come to you. Grandpa tells me I'm
supposed to inspect Noa, it's holdings and receive a financial report from
you every so often and it has to be done in person." He gave her a wry smile.
"Might as well get it over with."
"Three assassination attempts on Sasami's life and you go to Saradin? One of
the most corrupt planets in the Empire? I can't fault your reasons but you do
realize that the media will be on this like starving cats in a meat shop?"
"I know," he said grimly. "But having all those courtiers and reporters
around might shake things up enough in the underworld that you'll have a shot
at the Kingpin."
"Very well," Ayeka agreed reluctantly. "I'll arrange things here."
"See you in two days then," Tenchi said and his image vanished.
"Two days," Ayeka sighed as she folded the book-sized terminal in half as it
had been designed and tucked it into a pocket. "Not nearly enough time."
"How much would be enough?" Ryoko asked from where she was lounged on
opposite seat and "investigating" the contents of the bar.
"Several weeks," Ayeka replied as she consulted a day planner and then dialed
a code into the limo's com. Within moments, the rumpled, sleepy face of the
governor appeared.
"L-lady Ayeka!" He sputtered when he saw who his caller was. "You honor me!
What can I do for you?"
"I apologize for the lateness of the hour governor," Ayeka said smoothly,
"but it has come to my attention that the Emperor is coming to Saradin."
"Emperor Tenchi? Here?" A look of badly concealed real fear crossed the man's
face and Ayeka made a mental note to look into it. If the governor was afraid
of a visit from the Emperor, then there was probably a reason outside of the
normal embezzlement and scams. 'That, or he has a mistress and he's afraid
the Emperor wouldn't understand,' she thought wryly.
"Yes, to Saradin. In two days."
"T-t-two days? Why?"
"Routine bisnuess. I'm sure you're aware the Emperor is supposed to inspect
Noa periodically."
"Yes, of course," he said with a limp smile and Ayeka could almost see the
relief flooding through him. "Thank you for letting me know."
"Justy," called a woman's voice from off screen. "What's taking so long?"
"Is that Admiral Star?" Ayeka asked, hiding her smile. "Again, my apologies,
governor, I hadn't realized you had company. Good night, and do give the
Admiral my regards."
"Of-of course Lady Ayeka, good night."
"The governor and Admiral 'by the book' Star?" Ryoko laughed from where she
lounged. "That's a new one. I thought they hated each other. Isn't she one of
his worst critics?"
"They did serve on the same ship together," Ayeka replied. "And the Admiral
is entitled to her own opinion. Besides," Ayeka allowed an arch smile to show
on her face. "I'm sure there's a perfectly legitimate reason for Admiral Star
to be visiting the governor's mansion at," she checked her chrono, "three in
the morning." Both women looked at each other and then started laughing.
***************
The warehouse was located in one of the more disreputable sections of town. A
dingy, rundown section of the planet lit only by the distant lights of the
skyscrapers and the running lights of the independent cargo starships passing
overhead as they lifted out of the planet's asmotsphere from the small spacepo
rt nearby.
"How lovely," Ryoko noted as the limo switched to ground mode and turned onto
the driveway that led to one warehouse set aside from the others. "Reminds me
of this toxic spill victim I used to live next to. Only he was prettier."
"I'm sure," Ayeka said dryly, turning off the interior lights as a shadow
detached itself from the wall and moved to the window.
"Whaddya want?" Growled a rough voice.
"We have an appointment," Ayeka said levelly.
"Go on in."
"You do remember the plan?" Ayeka asked as the limo moved forward.
"Yeah, yeah," Ryoko yawned as she straightened her suit. "You do all the
talking and I handle everything else."
"Not the way I would put it," Ayeka noted, "but clear enough."
"How would you put it then?" Ryoko demanded as the limo pulled to a stop
inside the warehouse. Ayeka didn't answer, instead flipping a switch and
cracking the window ever so slightly before sitting back and waiting.
"Lady Ayeka," boomed an amplified voice perhaps five minutes later. "The
terms of the agreement was there was to be a face to face meeting."
"Perhaps I wish to change the terms," Ayeka replied, her voice echoing out of
the limo's exterior speakers. There was a pause before the answer came.
"The terms are non-negotiable. Kingpin's orders."
"I have never sworn to follow the Kingpin."
"That is hardly the point. You claim to wish to meet the Kingpin, you
survived the test. A face to face meeting is the next step."
"And how many more steps? I grow weary of this and I will take decisive
action soon if I do not get my wish."
"The terms stand."
"Very well," Ayeka agreed and switched off the speakers before bringing up a
display on the screen. "As I thought," she said, not without a tone of
satisfaction in her voice. "All according to theory. Ayeka, you are a genius."
"And I'm sure Ayeka agrees with you," Ryoko said sarcastically. "Mind telling
me what that was about?"
"The Kingpin or at least the Juraian on his staff, is here, in the building."
"What? How do you figure that?"
"No com transmissions, no psi activity that I could detect and there's
someone of immense power nearby. Can't you feel it?"
"Yeah," Ryoko said thoughtfully. Now that she was looking for it, she could
feel it, a gentle pressure on the back of her head that she had felt only
around the Emperor and the most powerful members of the Jurai Royal Family.
"If it is him. You told Tenchi that there might be a member of the Royal
Family in the Kingpin's inner circle. The Kingpin might not even be Juraian.
Hell, he's probably some little green guy with pointed ears who talks funny
and lives on this really swampy planet out in the boonies."
"I think we all get the picture," Ayeka said but Ryoko had a full head of
steam now.
"And the reason he's hiding is that these guys who wear black and carry
glowing-hey!" she cried and ducked as Ayeka threw a small pillow at her.
"That's quite enough of that," Ayeka said and reached for the briefcase on
the seat beside her before opening the door and exiting the limo. Ryoko
simply teleported out and hovered over its roof. Looking around, she noticed
that there were three guys in the middle of the warehouse and she picked out
shadows along the rafters that might be more people. Standing towards the
back of the warehouse, masked in deep shadow was another figure, but it was
to dark to make out any details. 'That has to be the Juraian', she thought as
she landed on the floor and then wrapped her reputation around her. Ryoko,
the woman who had destroyed Jurai, stands before you, the Gods help you if
she gets her hands on you. 'Amazing what a little body language can do',
Ryoko thought with a silent laugh, even as she kept her poker face on.
"To bisnuess then," Ayeka was saying. "I'm offering a fifteen percent share
of the profits from my underground holdings and a ten percent from my legal
ones in return for nessacary contacts to communicate with the Kingpin
directly."
"Twenty-five percent minimum on both," was the counteroffer. "And a fifteen
percent ownership in Noa."
"That's half of my total profits! And I can't use Noa, it's watched to
closely by the Security Directorate. If there's even a hint that I'm using my
position illegally, they'll start investigating and the entire Saradin
underworld could be in jeopardy."
"You have no choice," was the reply as a holoprojector suddenly came to life
and began playing scenes from some of the crimes committed by Ayeka's
organization over the past four months, focusing on the ones she had taken a
personal hand in. ""The offer stands, or we will release this tape to the
media. Emperor Tenchi will never recover from the bad press."
"This-this is blackmail! Extortion!" Ayeka said her tone hinting at barely
concealed rage.
"Well what did you expect, we are criminals," was the reply.
"And I am a Princess of Jurai Royal Family," Ayeka said levelly as she
flipped the briefcase over and ripped away the handle. Small ports opened and
began spilling heavy amounts of Tryanox, an all purpose intoxicant gas used
to pacify the violent members of a wide range of species, into the room. "Let
me remind you why we are still in power after twenty thousand years." With
that, she slapped a mask over her nose and mouth as she vaulted over the
small table, her feet driving into the sternum of one of the men on the other
side. Ryoko flashed into action, slapping a similar mask on her face as the
swords formed into her hands and she brought them down, carving one of the
men in half and seriously crippling the other.
"I thought you said I was going to handle everything else!" Ryoko shouted as
Ayeka took a blaster from one of the downed men and fired a shot at the
rafters, eliciting a shout from the unfortunate, (and now dead) soul who had
been up there.
"You were," Ayeka said calmly as she shot another person out of the rafters.
"This is bisnuess." She pointed at the group of people emerging from the
shadows, various blunt and pointy instruments in their hands, advancing
towards them from the right side, apparently ignoring the similarly armed
group coming from the left. "/That/ is everything else."
"Nah," Ryoko grinned. "That's low impact aerobics." With that, each of them
sprang forward into battle.
Ryoko loved a good fight. She suspected that it was something Kagato
instilled in her when he and Washu put her together. He loved a good fight
too and then the thought was dismissed as she cleared her mind and focused on
battle.
The world snapped into sharp focus, each sight each movement of air caused by
movement of her opponents registered on her senses. The swords became
extensions of her body, whirling and flashing as she delivered death and pain
to those around her. It was euphoric and frightening and yet she reveled in
the feeling.
Once, during a lull, she caught sight of Ayeka. The princess didn't just
move, she /flowed/ and the former space pirate had to admire the difference.
Much of Ryoko's skill came from Kagato's programming and then honed to a
razor edge in the worst parts of the Galaxy.
Ayeka on the other hand had probably the best teachers in the galaxy. Men and
women who would have given even Kagato pause, had probably trained Ayeka
relentlessly, and all their styles had been mixed, refined and blended so
completely that it wasn't a hand to hand combat form, but an Art.
As she watched, Ayeka snatched up a laser mace and began laying about her in
graceful swings and then some other tough came at Ryoko from behind and the
space pirate plunged back into the fight.
Ayeka looked over at Ryoko and had to admire her. The pirate's fighting style
was beautiful in a primal sort of way. Moving fast, the reformed pirate
struck like a jungle cat. Fast, efficient and deadly. It was odd. In all the
times she and Ryoko had fought, she had never noticed how good Ryoko was.
How. . .graceful. Shaking her head to clear her mind of such thoughts, Ayeka
ducked a clumsy swing and drove both fists into the thug's sternum.
***************
Ryoko chuckled softly as the leader of the group, the one Ayeka had talked to
before the fight hit the hood of the limo with a thud and a crack of breaking
bones.
"How did you know?"
"I knew, you gave yourself away."
"How? It's impossible, they had sensor screens!"
"An old warehouse, in the middle of the night?" Ayeka scoffed. "Please. It's
right out of an Earth crime thriller. This is either another test, or perhaps
the Kingpin thinks I'm stupid?" She let that hang in the air for a moment
before she squatted down on one knee to look the man in the eye. "I will ask
only once. Where is the Kingpin?"
"I don't know. Nobody knows!"
"Can you get a message to him?"
"Yeah, yeah I can."
"Very good," Ayeka purred as a greenish colored ball of light formed on the
tip of her left index finger. "In fact, that's excellent. . ."
***************
When Ayeka and Ryoko returned to the penthouse suite, there was a message on
the terminal.
While Ayeka checked the message, Ryoko poured them each a well-earned drink
and turned back to find Ayeka's face was white with a mixture of shock, rage
and horror.
"Ayeka? Hey Princess?"
"It can't be," Ayeka said softly, still staring at the screen, which Ryoko
couldn't see from where she stood. "It can't be him. It can't be."
"It can't be who?"
"IT CAN'T BE HIM!" Ayeka screamed and the surge of power was all the warning
Ryoko had before the entire terminal exploded.
"Who can't be him?" Ryoko demanded when the smoke had cleared. "Who's him?
Ayeka, what's going on?"
"I know who the Kingpin is," Ayeka whispered.
"Who?"
"Never mind that, we have to prepare." With that, Ayeka spun on her heel and
headed to her room. Ryoko followed, more in the hopes of getting answers then
anything else."
"You're not making sense Ayeka," Ryoko said, hoping to get her friend
talking. Instead, she was hit in the face by thrown clothes. Throwing them
aside, she watched as Ayeka, clad in a simple shift, walk to the tall wooden
cabinet in one corner and open it to reveal a streamlined version of the
traditional Juraian battle regalia which she began to put on with quick
movements. It was obvious that the princess was thoroughly shaken, but still
functioning.
When finished, Ayeka reached in and with a hiss, the back wall of the cabinet
slid forward and opened, revealing a plain white surface. Set within it was a
wooden staff, one end curiously twisted and containing a crystal colored orb.
"That's a Juraian Knight staff!" Ryoko gasped.
"Of course it is," Ayeka said as she laid her hand on it fondly. "I'm a
Knight of Jurai."
"Since when?"
"Since always. Where do you think I learned to fight?" Ayeka asked as she
touched one spot and it slid out like a drawer. Reaching in, Ayeka removed a
sword hilt and then touched another spot and the cabinet closed back up. "The
Nochi-ken," Ayeka said as she walked back to Ryoko. "I crafted it with my own
hands as part of my graduation from the Academy. It's been centuries since I
last used it." For a moment longer, she stared at it and then placed it
inside her clothing before going to the bedroom terminal. "Security, this is
Lady Ayeka. I need a two person assault craft prepped and waiting for me on
the roof. Five minutes."
"Five minutes, aye," was the reply.
"Where it all began," Ayeka muttered as her fingers began dancing on the
keys. "What would it mean?"
"What would what mean?"
"The message on the terminal said that if I wished to meet the Kingpin, find
him on Saradin where it all began."
"Maybe he's referring to the way Saradin became the information and financial
center of the empire?"
"No. Everything he's done has been influenced by Jurai. It has to be related
to Juraian history," Ayeka frowned. "Think Ayeka, think, what was central to
Jurai's beginnings?" Then she stopped and a dangerous smile spread across her
face. "Cerban corp. . ." She said softly and then headed for the door. "Come
on, I'll explain on the way."
"Cerban was the name of first emperor's grandfather," Ayeka said as they
entered the lift. "Back then, Jurai was controlled by several super
corporations who constantly battled for money and bisnuess. Cerban finally
came out on top, not by conquering his competitors as so much as he bought
them out. His grandson, when he assumed the position his grandfather held,
swept away the weak republic that was the government, named himself emperor,
and founded the empire based on his grandfather's bisnuess practices."
"Damn," Ryoko said admiringly.
"Yes," Ayeka agreed. "I'm now glad Father made me study ancient Jurai
history, or I never would have made the connection." A sad smile flitted
across her face. "I wonder if he knew, even back then. . ."
***************
Cerban corp. headquarters was a graceful towering skyscraper, thrusting up
towards the stars. Ayeka, who was piloting slowed and with one single shot,
punched a hole in the window of the CEO's office before guiding the shuttle
into place next to the newly made hole.
"My, he certainly likes to go overboard, doesn't he?" Ryoko said as she and
Ayeka entered the room.
The office was lushly carpeted and must have cost a small fortune to furnish.
"Gel's teeth," Ryoko whistled as she examined one of the bookcases. "Will ya
look at this? Real Casnar sculpted wood. You know how tough it is just to get
a cane made from Casnar wood, much less furnishing an entire room? I could
buy a small planetoid with the money from selling just a shelf from this
thing."
"Later, Ryoko, later," Ayeka said, making a slow circuit of the room while
closely examining the wall. "I'm concentrating."
"On what?" Ryoko asked acidly, but received no answer.
"No secret passages," Ayeka said when she had finished.
"So where to?" Ryoko asked. "Out the door?"
"No," Ayeka replied and pointed at the wall behind the desk. "There. An
elevator is behind that wall."
"Doesn't an hidden elevator qualify as a secret passage?" Ryoko asked. Ayeka
didn't respond, but instead walked towards the wall. "You know, I'd feel a
bit better if I knew who we're going to be facing."
"No you wouldn't," Ayeka replied as she searched for a control to open the
wall panel. "He's the last person you want to face," she added under her
breath.
It took Ayeka and Ryoko an hour of searching before they stood back and blaste
d the door open and flew up the shaft and wrenched open the topmost doors.
They were confronted by a long hallway, lushly carpeted and decorated with
expensive works of Art.
"Woah," Ryoko said as they alighted on the floor and started towards the
door. "I'd hate to see his decorator's bill-hey what's that?" The two women
hurried down the hallway to where two huddled forms lay. "It's a pair of
women," Ryoko noted and rolled the larger of the two over. "Holy-" she gasped
out. "Ayeka, it's -"
"I can see who it is," Ayeka said quietly as she knelt next to the prone
woman. "Can you hear me?" she asked her.
"Ayeka?" the woman's voice was weak and hoarse.
"Yes," Ayeka said, relief in her voice.
"Ayeka, you have to get out of here. The Kingpin's-"
"I know who he is," Ayeka's tone was gentle. "That's why I'm here."
"No, you don't understand," the woman said, starting to raise herself up on
her elbows only to fall back, groaning in pain.
"I do understand," Ayeka said quietly. "More then you'll ever know." For a
moment she was silent and then looked at Ryoko. "Ryoko, take them to the
nearest hospital. I will deal with the Kingpin."
"No way princess," Ryoko retorted. "If the Kingpin is who I think it is,
you're gonna need all the help you can get."
"Please Ryoko. They need medical attention and I trust you to make sure they
get it."
"But-"
"Please, Ryoko. This is. . .family bisnuess." Ryoko opened her mouth to
protest again, but the words died on her tongue and she closed it.
"Alright," Ryoko agreed. "But you'd better win, Sasami will kill you if you
die." Ayeka nodded and then turned and swept through the door.
Inside, Ayeka slammed her hand on the lock and sent a surge of power through
it. It melted. The heavy door would take time to open. Time someone in a
fight to the death wouldn't have.
Turning, she drew the Nochi-ken and faced the Kingpin. He was dressed in full
Juraian battle regalia and also holding a sword. For some reason, the twin
lights of madness burning in his eyes made her feel a little better about
what she had to do.
"So you came," He said, igniting his sword and moving into a guarding stance.
"Yes Father," Ayeka replied, igniting the Nochi-ken and moving into a similar
stance. "I came."