Friday, April 16, 2004
Episode 8A “ Come into my parlor…”
Batou stood frozen as the vortex of the ARMS gear evaporated and the lizard-thing behind him smoked. Steiner’s eyes were clouded over with a film and his cheeks were puffed and pale. Nanami was bent over him worriedly, shaking hands absently tracing the blue, icor that now clogged his veins.
“Batou… what’s, what’s wrong with him…?” she said, her voice breaking.
A voice, feminine but hard, called out from the darkness.
“It’s the poison from the claws of Silverscales.”
Batou whirled around, and Nanami’s head jerked up to see the woman striding out of the pooled shadows. She was tall, delicate yet muscular. Her eyes were violet and her hair a cascade of spun moonlight.
“Who are you?” Batou demanded.
“One not unlike yourself, Mr. Ukisawa.” She replied, the hint of a smile on her lips. Batou’s eyes widened reflexively before he could stop himself. Nanami rose and he protectively shifted himself in front of her.`
“No need to be afraid, Mr. Ukisawa. If I wanted to kill you you’d already be dead. And it would be a pity to destroy someone who’s adapted to ARMS so well.
“What are you talking about lady?” Nanami called out from behind Batou before he could stop her. “You trying to kill us?”
”Not exactly.” Her face wore the look of a parent indulging a petulant, rather dim-witted child. “Why don’t we discuss this at my cabin. We can may be even able to help your friend here…” She motioned to Steiner. Batou raised an eyebrow, and Nanami looked incredulous.
“You don’t leave us with much of a choice, lady.” He said simply.
“Very good, if you would be so kind as to follow me…” she motioned off into the woods. Batou nodded, hefting Steiner over one shoulder.
“Lead the way.”
And they disappeared into the foliage, and the stench of cooked lizard wafted in the breeze.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The cabin was surprisingly close, if cabin was the right word for it. It was more of an actual house, half hidden in the rock of the jungle mountainside. The mysterious women led her charges into the foyer, where they were greeted by a pair of wildly different men. One was thin and on the short side. In fact, he was almost apish, with a narrow waist and long arms. His eyes were the color of blood and his nose had a wicked hook in it. The
other man was dark skinned and built heavier then a tank. He stood nearly 7 feet tall with a shaved head and gold eyes. They both radiated a kind of primal, if slightly different flavour. of pure terror.
“These are my… aides. Deimos-“ she motioned to the tall, scary man “- and Phobos” Waving back towards the sinister man with the bloody eyes. The tall man called Deimos spoke first.
“What can we do for you, Lady Eris?” Deimos asked in a deep baratone..
“Always ready to serve our mistress, we are.” Added Phobos, he seemed to relish the effect he was having on Nanami, who was white and clearly uncomfortable around him. Batou found him unnerving as well, the way he seemed to slip and melt in and out of shadows.
“Take our injured friend here to the infirmary. Make sure he gets the silverscales serum.” Replied Lady Eris. Deimos took Steiner off Batou’s shoulder like he were picking up a rag doll, and headed off down a hall out of sight.
“I’m sure the two of you would like to get cleaned up. If you would follow me…”
* * * *
It was quiet in the hospital, and Malakai couldn’t sleep. The nurses and doctors were adamant that Malakai not take the bandages off. But it was driving him insane, not being able to see, with that infernal cloth wrapped around his head. Supposedly they had had to perform some kind of emergency surgery on him when they found him, and the wounds wouldn’t heal for weeks, if not months. But he was having none of it. He was NOT going to stay in this blasted nursery any longer, his fathe… no, THE CHAIRMAN’s visits were beginning to become unpleasant. He was getting out of here. Tonite.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he jerked the IV from his arm, wincing in response. He fumbled for the monitor’s controls before yanking the cord out of the wall instead. Quietly as a blind, weakened man not a week out surgery could go, he moved for the bathroom. Impatiently he began to unravel the wrappings from his face, letting the bandages pool at his feet. Once that was off, he clawed off the medical tape and dug the gauze from his sockets….
His empty sockets. The hospital would have resonated with his screams had the voice of The Chairman not burst into his skull.
This changes nothing. Agent Ashitaka. You WILL recover ARMS. Pull yourself together,
He pulled himself together.
However. In light of your… UNIQUE condition, the Inner 9 has decided to grant you a special consideration. The Chairman continued,
“And what would that be sir?” but the voice of the Chairman was silent. Instead, a new voice whispered softly from behind him.
“That would be me, sir. Lucius Apollo.” The voice was male, young but not without a taint of something dark in it. Malakai’s head turned, smooth and controlled once again.
“Apollo. The agent who got Yamada off the train.”
“That’s correct sir.”
“The Chairman tells me you come highly recommended. Well let’s get out of here, shall we?”
“I already have a car waiting, sir.” Lucius replied. Malakai smiled.
* * * *
Nanami relished the bath, and took her time enjoying the chance to wash up and get a fresh set of clothes. Wrapping a towel around herself, she found a fresh set of clothes, slightly more formal and definitely a tax bracket or two above who usual attire. She admired the clothes briefly before there was a knock at the door.
“Ma’am?” It was Deimos. “Lady Erus would like it if you would join her in the parlor at your earliest convience.” His voice was polite enough, but something about it made her shiver.
“Alright. I’ll be out in a moment.” She replied. No reply, just the sound of footsteps moving off down the hall.
* * * *
Batou raised an eye at the clothes he found on the bench waiting him. Black silk shirt by Vercacci. Black slacks. No ball cap. He frowned slightly at the expensive clothes.
His frown curled into a snarl at the sound of Phobos’ voice behind him.
“Hurry up, boy, Lady Eris is waiting.” Phobos snickered. Batou spun around, clutching the towel around his waste. He glared.
“Haven’t you heard of KNOCKING?” he growled. Phobos just snickered some more.
“Why knock when I can just let myself out?” The apish, oily bastard then melted into the shadow of the open bathroom door. Batou shivered and muttered something.
* * * *
Batou entered to find Nanami dressed in a stunning set of clothes, siting on an expensive couch with Eris seated at a piano playing something classical and obscure. At the fireplace, stood a man in an expensive robe, wearing an even more expensive smile. His wore a neatly trimmed beard along with a full head of dark brown hair. One hand held a cigar, the other a bourbon. Batou noticed the ring on the man’s finger. It was engraved with the symbol of mars. Batou’s eyes narrowed at this, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.
“Councilman Ares”, Batou said. Ares smiled.
“Hello, Batou.” Ares replied. Smiling all the while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Batou stood frozen as the vortex of the ARMS gear evaporated and the lizard-thing behind him smoked. Steiner’s eyes were clouded over with a film and his cheeks were puffed and pale. Nanami was bent over him worriedly, shaking hands absently tracing the blue, icor that now clogged his veins.
“Batou… what’s, what’s wrong with him…?” she said, her voice breaking.
A voice, feminine but hard, called out from the darkness.
“It’s the poison from the claws of Silverscales.”
Batou whirled around, and Nanami’s head jerked up to see the woman striding out of the pooled shadows. She was tall, delicate yet muscular. Her eyes were violet and her hair a cascade of spun moonlight.
“Who are you?” Batou demanded.
“One not unlike yourself, Mr. Ukisawa.” She replied, the hint of a smile on her lips. Batou’s eyes widened reflexively before he could stop himself. Nanami rose and he protectively shifted himself in front of her.`
“No need to be afraid, Mr. Ukisawa. If I wanted to kill you you’d already be dead. And it would be a pity to destroy someone who’s adapted to ARMS so well.
“What are you talking about lady?” Nanami called out from behind Batou before he could stop her. “You trying to kill us?”
”Not exactly.” Her face wore the look of a parent indulging a petulant, rather dim-witted child. “Why don’t we discuss this at my cabin. We can may be even able to help your friend here…” She motioned to Steiner. Batou raised an eyebrow, and Nanami looked incredulous.
“You don’t leave us with much of a choice, lady.” He said simply.
“Very good, if you would be so kind as to follow me…” she motioned off into the woods. Batou nodded, hefting Steiner over one shoulder.
“Lead the way.”
And they disappeared into the foliage, and the stench of cooked lizard wafted in the breeze.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The cabin was surprisingly close, if cabin was the right word for it. It was more of an actual house, half hidden in the rock of the jungle mountainside. The mysterious women led her charges into the foyer, where they were greeted by a pair of wildly different men. One was thin and on the short side. In fact, he was almost apish, with a narrow waist and long arms. His eyes were the color of blood and his nose had a wicked hook in it. The
other man was dark skinned and built heavier then a tank. He stood nearly 7 feet tall with a shaved head and gold eyes. They both radiated a kind of primal, if slightly different flavour. of pure terror.
“These are my… aides. Deimos-“ she motioned to the tall, scary man “- and Phobos” Waving back towards the sinister man with the bloody eyes. The tall man called Deimos spoke first.
“What can we do for you, Lady Eris?” Deimos asked in a deep baratone..
“Always ready to serve our mistress, we are.” Added Phobos, he seemed to relish the effect he was having on Nanami, who was white and clearly uncomfortable around him. Batou found him unnerving as well, the way he seemed to slip and melt in and out of shadows.
“Take our injured friend here to the infirmary. Make sure he gets the silverscales serum.” Replied Lady Eris. Deimos took Steiner off Batou’s shoulder like he were picking up a rag doll, and headed off down a hall out of sight.
“I’m sure the two of you would like to get cleaned up. If you would follow me…”
* * * *
It was quiet in the hospital, and Malakai couldn’t sleep. The nurses and doctors were adamant that Malakai not take the bandages off. But it was driving him insane, not being able to see, with that infernal cloth wrapped around his head. Supposedly they had had to perform some kind of emergency surgery on him when they found him, and the wounds wouldn’t heal for weeks, if not months. But he was having none of it. He was NOT going to stay in this blasted nursery any longer, his fathe… no, THE CHAIRMAN’s visits were beginning to become unpleasant. He was getting out of here. Tonite.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he jerked the IV from his arm, wincing in response. He fumbled for the monitor’s controls before yanking the cord out of the wall instead. Quietly as a blind, weakened man not a week out surgery could go, he moved for the bathroom. Impatiently he began to unravel the wrappings from his face, letting the bandages pool at his feet. Once that was off, he clawed off the medical tape and dug the gauze from his sockets….
His empty sockets. The hospital would have resonated with his screams had the voice of The Chairman not burst into his skull.
This changes nothing. Agent Ashitaka. You WILL recover ARMS. Pull yourself together,
He pulled himself together.
However. In light of your… UNIQUE condition, the Inner 9 has decided to grant you a special consideration. The Chairman continued,
“And what would that be sir?” but the voice of the Chairman was silent. Instead, a new voice whispered softly from behind him.
“That would be me, sir. Lucius Apollo.” The voice was male, young but not without a taint of something dark in it. Malakai’s head turned, smooth and controlled once again.
“Apollo. The agent who got Yamada off the train.”
“That’s correct sir.”
“The Chairman tells me you come highly recommended. Well let’s get out of here, shall we?”
“I already have a car waiting, sir.” Lucius replied. Malakai smiled.
* * * *
Nanami relished the bath, and took her time enjoying the chance to wash up and get a fresh set of clothes. Wrapping a towel around herself, she found a fresh set of clothes, slightly more formal and definitely a tax bracket or two above who usual attire. She admired the clothes briefly before there was a knock at the door.
“Ma’am?” It was Deimos. “Lady Erus would like it if you would join her in the parlor at your earliest convience.” His voice was polite enough, but something about it made her shiver.
“Alright. I’ll be out in a moment.” She replied. No reply, just the sound of footsteps moving off down the hall.
* * * *
Batou raised an eye at the clothes he found on the bench waiting him. Black silk shirt by Vercacci. Black slacks. No ball cap. He frowned slightly at the expensive clothes.
His frown curled into a snarl at the sound of Phobos’ voice behind him.
“Hurry up, boy, Lady Eris is waiting.” Phobos snickered. Batou spun around, clutching the towel around his waste. He glared.
“Haven’t you heard of KNOCKING?” he growled. Phobos just snickered some more.
“Why knock when I can just let myself out?” The apish, oily bastard then melted into the shadow of the open bathroom door. Batou shivered and muttered something.
* * * *
Batou entered to find Nanami dressed in a stunning set of clothes, siting on an expensive couch with Eris seated at a piano playing something classical and obscure. At the fireplace, stood a man in an expensive robe, wearing an even more expensive smile. His wore a neatly trimmed beard along with a full head of dark brown hair. One hand held a cigar, the other a bourbon. Batou noticed the ring on the man’s finger. It was engraved with the symbol of mars. Batou’s eyes narrowed at this, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.
“Councilman Ares”, Batou said. Ares smiled.
“Hello, Batou.” Ares replied. Smiling all the while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Friday, April 09, 2004
Episode 7: Silverscales
Several days had gone by, and the three had moved deep into the wilderness. Steiner’s outdoor survival training had served them well, and Batou’s almost supernatural sense had helped avoid the less blatant patrols and search parties. There hadn’t been any for a more then a day, but some kind of 6th sense kept the disturbed young man on edge. Nanami, usually pretty talkative, had been somewhat quiet since last night:
It had been quite, the fire burnt down low, and Steiner was somewhere off in the woods patrolling the camp. She heard sobbing, and had spied Batou rocking back in forth in the shadows, the glint of firelight illuminating his face in sickly balefire, his chin stained with blood from when he had bitten his lip to keep from screaming in agony. She saw his eyes wide and soulless, staring out in some waking nightmarish vision he couldn’t escape from….
“Hold on.“ Steiner gripped her shoulder. They were at a stream, swollen from the recent snowmelt, but still clogged with muck on it’s banks. Batou was crouched in the foul shit, examining something.
“What is it?” Steiner said.
“Spore of some kind.” Batou replied.
“Spore? From what? I don’t know any natural creature that makes prints like those.” Steiner scoffed.
“That’s because it’s not natural.” Batou called back.
A piercing shriek echoed off of the spires of rock that lined the stream.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Nanami said, backing up. Steiner cocked his pistol, scanning the nearby trees.
“Now don’t get shaky on me…” he started to say.
And then the canopy rained down a ferocious slavering storm of scales and fangs from above.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
A savage reptilian thing dropped down from the trees above Steiner. It stood some four feet high, but was all muscle and adrenaline. It’s scales were a deep shifting green, as if changing with foliage. Its eyes were a satanic gold, and each limb ended in a four digit clawed mitt. The Interpol agent rolled to the side, dodging the razors that capped the beast’s twisted fingers. Coming up on one knee, the kraut emptied his clip into lizardman. Nanami stumbled back into cover as Steiner kept the monster busy.
“Come on you Jurassic Park reject…. DROP ALREADY!” he shouted. The lizard man shrieked, but seemed more irritated then harmed by the bullets. It charged Steiner, tackling him part way into the stream.
“Nanami!” Batou yelled.
He tried to pistol jab it, but it smacked his gun away and crushed his hand. He grunted. It’s jaws ran with a foul slime, and it hissed in triumph in his face.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” Nanami picked up a rock and dropped it on the scaly beasts skull. It gurgled in anger and rose to turn on her.
“NANAMI!” Batou yelled again.
“Oh know you don’t, scaly!” Steiner tried to push it off him, but succeeded in only drawing it’s wrath back on him. It screeched and raked its talons across his chest and face. Steiner cried out, and convulsed as some kind of contact poison raced into his veins. Batou grabbed Nanami and hauled her up. Her clothes were muddy and torn but she was okay.
“Gimme the belt!” he yelled.
“What?” she asked, still in shock
“The belt… aw never mind.” He grabbed her satchel and pulled out the rectangular pad, snapping the ends out and pulling them apart, the belt spooled out of the back piece. He slung the thing around his narrow waist and slammed down the buckle and the activation control on his left hip.
“HENSHIN!” He roared.
A nimbus of protoplasmic energy erupted from along the length of the belt. The mercurial substance swelled and hardened around his arms; encasing his body in other worldly armor. ARMS’ eyes flashed with the surge of power and it grabbed the lizard man with one hand, tossing him across the stream with ease. The beast squawked in indignation, its hard skulled head cracked stone as it landed right on a boulder. The monster righted itself and hissed in hatred. It charged ARMS.
ARMS was waiting, one well placed uppercut juggled the lizard man into the air, and then ARMS fist blossomed into an array of lens and barrels, following the concussive force with a point blank assault of a focus energy discharge. The monster’s smoking carcass fell with a thud. ARMS turned to Nanami, who was crouched over Steiner. The vortex of dimensional energy washed ARMS away and left Batou to stand over a blue veined, puffy looking Steiner….
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Several days had gone by, and the three had moved deep into the wilderness. Steiner’s outdoor survival training had served them well, and Batou’s almost supernatural sense had helped avoid the less blatant patrols and search parties. There hadn’t been any for a more then a day, but some kind of 6th sense kept the disturbed young man on edge. Nanami, usually pretty talkative, had been somewhat quiet since last night:
It had been quite, the fire burnt down low, and Steiner was somewhere off in the woods patrolling the camp. She heard sobbing, and had spied Batou rocking back in forth in the shadows, the glint of firelight illuminating his face in sickly balefire, his chin stained with blood from when he had bitten his lip to keep from screaming in agony. She saw his eyes wide and soulless, staring out in some waking nightmarish vision he couldn’t escape from….
“Hold on.“ Steiner gripped her shoulder. They were at a stream, swollen from the recent snowmelt, but still clogged with muck on it’s banks. Batou was crouched in the foul shit, examining something.
“What is it?” Steiner said.
“Spore of some kind.” Batou replied.
“Spore? From what? I don’t know any natural creature that makes prints like those.” Steiner scoffed.
“That’s because it’s not natural.” Batou called back.
A piercing shriek echoed off of the spires of rock that lined the stream.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Nanami said, backing up. Steiner cocked his pistol, scanning the nearby trees.
“Now don’t get shaky on me…” he started to say.
And then the canopy rained down a ferocious slavering storm of scales and fangs from above.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
A savage reptilian thing dropped down from the trees above Steiner. It stood some four feet high, but was all muscle and adrenaline. It’s scales were a deep shifting green, as if changing with foliage. Its eyes were a satanic gold, and each limb ended in a four digit clawed mitt. The Interpol agent rolled to the side, dodging the razors that capped the beast’s twisted fingers. Coming up on one knee, the kraut emptied his clip into lizardman. Nanami stumbled back into cover as Steiner kept the monster busy.
“Come on you Jurassic Park reject…. DROP ALREADY!” he shouted. The lizard man shrieked, but seemed more irritated then harmed by the bullets. It charged Steiner, tackling him part way into the stream.
“Nanami!” Batou yelled.
He tried to pistol jab it, but it smacked his gun away and crushed his hand. He grunted. It’s jaws ran with a foul slime, and it hissed in triumph in his face.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” Nanami picked up a rock and dropped it on the scaly beasts skull. It gurgled in anger and rose to turn on her.
“NANAMI!” Batou yelled again.
“Oh know you don’t, scaly!” Steiner tried to push it off him, but succeeded in only drawing it’s wrath back on him. It screeched and raked its talons across his chest and face. Steiner cried out, and convulsed as some kind of contact poison raced into his veins. Batou grabbed Nanami and hauled her up. Her clothes were muddy and torn but she was okay.
“Gimme the belt!” he yelled.
“What?” she asked, still in shock
“The belt… aw never mind.” He grabbed her satchel and pulled out the rectangular pad, snapping the ends out and pulling them apart, the belt spooled out of the back piece. He slung the thing around his narrow waist and slammed down the buckle and the activation control on his left hip.
“HENSHIN!” He roared.
A nimbus of protoplasmic energy erupted from along the length of the belt. The mercurial substance swelled and hardened around his arms; encasing his body in other worldly armor. ARMS’ eyes flashed with the surge of power and it grabbed the lizard man with one hand, tossing him across the stream with ease. The beast squawked in indignation, its hard skulled head cracked stone as it landed right on a boulder. The monster righted itself and hissed in hatred. It charged ARMS.
ARMS was waiting, one well placed uppercut juggled the lizard man into the air, and then ARMS fist blossomed into an array of lens and barrels, following the concussive force with a point blank assault of a focus energy discharge. The monster’s smoking carcass fell with a thud. ARMS turned to Nanami, who was crouched over Steiner. The vortex of dimensional energy washed ARMS away and left Batou to stand over a blue veined, puffy looking Steiner….
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 6: Ground Zero and Square One…
It was mid morning now, the remnants of the campsite were far behind the trio of Batou, Steiner, and Nanami. They had gone late into the night talking, and not just about Batou’s past. Steiner was mulling over how much he should tell the other two.
How much can I trust them? And what to do after this is all over…? He thought.
Batou’s shout snapped Steiner out of his reverie. The shadow of a VTOL craft spilled over the forest as it toped a nearby rise and began skimming over the area. Nanami and Batou had already scrambled for cover when Steiner rolled to the other side of the trail they were on and underneath some leafy fronds. The huge Selene Systems logo could be seen plastered over the aircrafts sleek black wasp-like form, and the blisters of ducted fans were arranged along it’s belly and flanks along with two small tilt rotary arrays. The oily craft circled the area a few times before buzzing back towards the river near the crash site of the train.
“We’d better stay off the trails”, Batou said.
“Yeah, this place is going to be swarming with a Selene Systems recovery team in a matter of minutes…” Steiner replied.
The three ducked into the foliage and started cutting cross country, hoping to blend in and disappear deep enough into the wilderness before the Selene Systems team was onto them. And from the darkness of a jungle thicket, a pair of glowing eyes watches silently…
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Seconds after EYES had gone active, Gendo Yamada was turned to a kind of superheated jelly. Within ten seconds, the pressure inside the chamber ruptured the titanium reinforced walls and a backblast not unlike a small payload nuclear weapon tore down the hallways, searing metal and evaporating organics in a two mile radius. Within 60 seconds, Selene System’s Central Control had evaluated and dispatched a team to contain the incident. Within 5 minutes, all roads within the compound’s control sphere were locked down and secured. Within 30 minutes, and additional 25 miles of roadblocks had been erected by local government authorities under Selene’s control. Within the hour, a report had been filed with the media explaining an alternative nuclear reactor prototype had been undergoing tests, when a militant splinter faction of Green Peace had attacked the compound. Fighting had apparently compromised the fusion generator’s water cooling system and the rupture resulted in a catastrophic incident not unlike Hiroshima.
In the smoking crater that was the carcass of the testing facility, one body stirred… unlike the rest, it’s flesh was neither missing nor melted… in fact the most appropriate way to discribe the state it was in would be a kind of freezer burn. In the darkness, it clawed its way through the rubble…
* * *
Argh. My head hurts. What’s covering my eyes? Where am I…? Last thing I remember… EYES. Gendo Yamada’s screams. PAIN.
Ashitaka bolted upright and gulped air, a strong hand steadied him.
“Easy son. You’ve been through a lot,” spoke the hidden stranger. Malakai tore at the bandages on his face. The man was tall, older, with dark reddish brown hair, lines in his face hinted to the roads he had walked… some clearly not meant for man to walk.
“What’s going on? Why can’t I…”
“EYES, Agent Ashitaka.” The older man’s reassuring voice was gone, replaced with the echoing metallic speech of…
“Director Andross.”
“That’s correct.”
“The facility?”
“Gone.”
“Yamada?”
Silence greet him, Malakai knew the answer. A tingling in the back of his mind told him to be quiet. A heavyset nurse wandered into the room.
“OH! Our patient’s awake!” she said.
“Yes, thankfully.” The man’s voice was back now, warm and paternal.
“Would you like some soup hon?”
“Yes… please. And some for my… father.”
“Why I’m sure we can find something for him in the cafeteria.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.” The paternal voice was back again, and the hands rested on Malakai’s bare shoulders. He only had a pair of blue cotton hospital pants on… in the cool of the recovery room Malakai’s flesh tingled. He shivered. The paternal voice was gone, and the cold echoing loneliness of the director’s voice sang in Malakai’s mind.
“I need you to recover ARMS, Agent Ashitaka.”
“Yes, sir, bu…”
“No. With you’re mind. The nurse’s will suspect something otherwise. This is hospital is not fully under our control.”
“Understood sir.”
“Very good. After this incident I expect better results from you. PANDORA’s Inner 9 is not pleased with you’re apparent lack of control. This will not be easy to recover from. In the last 12 hours alone we’ve had to pull the plug on 42 operations.
Malakai gulped. It won’t happen again, sir.
Of course, you’re history of outstanding performance will curb the worst of the council’s wrath. But expect a heavy deduction on your wages and command privleges for the remainder of this operation.
Most generous of you, sir.
Do not let my relationship with you bring any false sense of protection. I will terminate you if you fail me again.
Of course, father.
Good.
The nurse waddled back in bearing two trays of fresh bread and soup for the two. Director Andross’s voice was gone, replaced by the warmth of a proud father relieved to see his son alright.
“Ah, here’s the nurse now, Malakai. Ready to see if you’re appitite’s gone blind too?” There was warmth in his words, but it was merely a velvet glove for the cold, cruel steel of sarcasm underneath. Malakai choked slightly, and then smiled weakly, clumsily extending his hands for the tray. The nurse stayed and helped Malakai eat. He and the director were a regular father and son, if just for a little while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
It was mid morning now, the remnants of the campsite were far behind the trio of Batou, Steiner, and Nanami. They had gone late into the night talking, and not just about Batou’s past. Steiner was mulling over how much he should tell the other two.
How much can I trust them? And what to do after this is all over…? He thought.
Batou’s shout snapped Steiner out of his reverie. The shadow of a VTOL craft spilled over the forest as it toped a nearby rise and began skimming over the area. Nanami and Batou had already scrambled for cover when Steiner rolled to the other side of the trail they were on and underneath some leafy fronds. The huge Selene Systems logo could be seen plastered over the aircrafts sleek black wasp-like form, and the blisters of ducted fans were arranged along it’s belly and flanks along with two small tilt rotary arrays. The oily craft circled the area a few times before buzzing back towards the river near the crash site of the train.
“We’d better stay off the trails”, Batou said.
“Yeah, this place is going to be swarming with a Selene Systems recovery team in a matter of minutes…” Steiner replied.
The three ducked into the foliage and started cutting cross country, hoping to blend in and disappear deep enough into the wilderness before the Selene Systems team was onto them. And from the darkness of a jungle thicket, a pair of glowing eyes watches silently…
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Seconds after EYES had gone active, Gendo Yamada was turned to a kind of superheated jelly. Within ten seconds, the pressure inside the chamber ruptured the titanium reinforced walls and a backblast not unlike a small payload nuclear weapon tore down the hallways, searing metal and evaporating organics in a two mile radius. Within 60 seconds, Selene System’s Central Control had evaluated and dispatched a team to contain the incident. Within 5 minutes, all roads within the compound’s control sphere were locked down and secured. Within 30 minutes, and additional 25 miles of roadblocks had been erected by local government authorities under Selene’s control. Within the hour, a report had been filed with the media explaining an alternative nuclear reactor prototype had been undergoing tests, when a militant splinter faction of Green Peace had attacked the compound. Fighting had apparently compromised the fusion generator’s water cooling system and the rupture resulted in a catastrophic incident not unlike Hiroshima.
In the smoking crater that was the carcass of the testing facility, one body stirred… unlike the rest, it’s flesh was neither missing nor melted… in fact the most appropriate way to discribe the state it was in would be a kind of freezer burn. In the darkness, it clawed its way through the rubble…
* * *
Argh. My head hurts. What’s covering my eyes? Where am I…? Last thing I remember… EYES. Gendo Yamada’s screams. PAIN.
Ashitaka bolted upright and gulped air, a strong hand steadied him.
“Easy son. You’ve been through a lot,” spoke the hidden stranger. Malakai tore at the bandages on his face. The man was tall, older, with dark reddish brown hair, lines in his face hinted to the roads he had walked… some clearly not meant for man to walk.
“What’s going on? Why can’t I…”
“EYES, Agent Ashitaka.” The older man’s reassuring voice was gone, replaced with the echoing metallic speech of…
“Director Andross.”
“That’s correct.”
“The facility?”
“Gone.”
“Yamada?”
Silence greet him, Malakai knew the answer. A tingling in the back of his mind told him to be quiet. A heavyset nurse wandered into the room.
“OH! Our patient’s awake!” she said.
“Yes, thankfully.” The man’s voice was back now, warm and paternal.
“Would you like some soup hon?”
“Yes… please. And some for my… father.”
“Why I’m sure we can find something for him in the cafeteria.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.” The paternal voice was back again, and the hands rested on Malakai’s bare shoulders. He only had a pair of blue cotton hospital pants on… in the cool of the recovery room Malakai’s flesh tingled. He shivered. The paternal voice was gone, and the cold echoing loneliness of the director’s voice sang in Malakai’s mind.
“I need you to recover ARMS, Agent Ashitaka.”
“Yes, sir, bu…”
“No. With you’re mind. The nurse’s will suspect something otherwise. This is hospital is not fully under our control.”
“Understood sir.”
“Very good. After this incident I expect better results from you. PANDORA’s Inner 9 is not pleased with you’re apparent lack of control. This will not be easy to recover from. In the last 12 hours alone we’ve had to pull the plug on 42 operations.
Malakai gulped. It won’t happen again, sir.
Of course, you’re history of outstanding performance will curb the worst of the council’s wrath. But expect a heavy deduction on your wages and command privleges for the remainder of this operation.
Most generous of you, sir.
Do not let my relationship with you bring any false sense of protection. I will terminate you if you fail me again.
Of course, father.
Good.
The nurse waddled back in bearing two trays of fresh bread and soup for the two. Director Andross’s voice was gone, replaced by the warmth of a proud father relieved to see his son alright.
“Ah, here’s the nurse now, Malakai. Ready to see if you’re appitite’s gone blind too?” There was warmth in his words, but it was merely a velvet glove for the cold, cruel steel of sarcasm underneath. Malakai choked slightly, and then smiled weakly, clumsily extending his hands for the tray. The nurse stayed and helped Malakai eat. He and the director were a regular father and son, if just for a little while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Sunday, February 08, 2004
Episode 5: I only have EYES for you
Yamada stood with his mouth gapping open, like a hooked bass, gasping for air. Malakai smirked and stood square, and walked around the table. He towered over the piggy little man.
"Come now, Mr. Yamada, you didn't really think the chairman was unaware of you're side project? EYES was a natural evolution of ARMS... the stealth/scout version of the soldier model..." Malakai was obviously pleased to see Yamada's look of fear and apprehension. Yamada's face turned dark as he saw the sneer of disdain, the obvious distaste in Malakai Ashitaka's eyes.
"H-how DARE you speak to me that way!" Yamada sputtered. "Just wait until the chairman hears of this!!! You'll never work-" Hysterical laughter erupted from all sides, booming out from speakers hidden in the walls. It was Director Andross.
"Shut your mouth, old man. The chairman is well aware of your little side project," he snarled in between hysterical giggling. "You must be a fool to think the chairman that simple, Gendo Yamada. I never approved your appointment. We have my predecssor to thank for that, but unless you FULLY cooperate with Agent Ashitaka..." The giggling bubbled over, drowning out the Director's voice. Yamada gulped.
"We-well then, let me show you the test facility..." he stammered.
"Excellent." Malakai smiled.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The underground tram slowed, and shuttered to a stop on its maglev cushion…the power cut out and the transport dropped the half foot to the rail line floor. The doors wisked open, and Agent Ashitaka strode out, Gendo Yamada in tow. They walked for the elevator tube, which decended further into the Earth. The doors opened onto chrome corridors that reeked of antiseptic. Mousy lab techs scurried from cubicle to test rooms and back, by Malakai paid them no mind. He seemed to know where he was going, each step seemed to bring a growing tide of urgency…Mr. Yamada was to precoccupied huffing and puffing in an attempt to keep the long and easy strides of Agent Ashitaka. He tried to look officious and in control, and even tried to order a few techs about, but that was swiftly halted with a glance back by Malakai, a clearing of the throat, and an icy stare.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, they came to the first of several airlock style doors. Malakai motion for the disgruntled executive to authorize entry and then took the lead again. It was clear Malakai was in control, and Yamada was merely a key to open the treasure…
“Ag..Agent Ashitaka, may I ask you why you need access to EYES?” Yamada croaked.
“No.”
“Then may I..”
“No.”
“Would it be…”
“No, Mr. Yamada. The answer to your questions is no.”
Ashitaka never broke stride as he stepped around a small knot of lab techs, Yamada just stood, reeling at this unabashed abuse. Malakai turned on the far end of the compartment.
“Come Mr. Yamada. We have a schedule to keep.” Malakai called.
* * * *
The mist clung to the forest floor as the sun rose, the early light filtering through the foliage. Steiner had scattered the remains of their campfire and the trio set off into the woods. Nanami was silent, thinking about what Batou had told them last night, as Steiner’s interrogation winded down…
“I don’t remember everything… mostly nothing, actually. I remember the stench of burning meat, the screams of my little sister… well, I think she was my sister. The monsters came out of the woods… they played with her like a cat plays with a mouse its going to eat. I remember… a cave, leaving the trails and going off into the woods. My… father had said something about wild animals. I didn’t listen. I think I was about… 9, 10 years old. And then… I remember seeing mother and father being stretched out… and…” his voice had broken then. Bitter tears in his eyes, glaring at Steiner, he continued.
“And there was a man, he was tall, older. His had a predatory look about him. The creatures broke away when he entered the clearing. For some reason, they had saved me… I remember being tied up with vines or something with spines… The man spoke in a bestial tongue, and the THINGS cowered before him, almost fawning over him…” Batou hadn’t said much else that night. And now the he walked next to her, and she almost wanted to say something. Anything. But she didn’t and instead the trio continued with Steiner leading the way…
* * * *
Further in the depths of the remote facility, Malakai and Gendo Yamada were making their way through the final check point to the holding bay where EYES was. Yamada wanted to say something, but held his tongue, sweating bullets, he punched in the last numerical sequence and the door hissed open with a blast of tepid air. Yamada loosened his tie and stumped in after Agent Ashitaka’s long legged stride. Several lab workers were in there, clad with white coats. They glanced at Yamada briefly, who jerked his head to the side after Malakai waved a hand. The technicians left hurriedly.
Malakai vaulted over the railing to the pit where EYES case was. He began bypassing the security lockouts, and lifted the belt out of its armored cradle.
“Agent Ashitaka…if you would let me coordinate a test subject, some trials at least… the device has never been used by humans…” Yamada stammered.
“There isn’t time, Mr. Yamada. We have you to thank for that. ARMS is running loose, and someone has to stop it.” Malakai spat.
“But… but…” Yamada whimpered as Malakai slung the belt around his waist, and locked it into place…
“Henshin.”
Yamada screamed as Malakai was consumed in a globe of hypersonic energy, shattering glass. The light was blinding, and in the center of the globe stood a being crafted from forbidden lore and alien technology… and it spoke in a high pitched whine…
“I… I… can seeeee!” then its howling was consumed in the back-blast that incinerated the bunker.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Yamada stood with his mouth gapping open, like a hooked bass, gasping for air. Malakai smirked and stood square, and walked around the table. He towered over the piggy little man.
"Come now, Mr. Yamada, you didn't really think the chairman was unaware of you're side project? EYES was a natural evolution of ARMS... the stealth/scout version of the soldier model..." Malakai was obviously pleased to see Yamada's look of fear and apprehension. Yamada's face turned dark as he saw the sneer of disdain, the obvious distaste in Malakai Ashitaka's eyes.
"H-how DARE you speak to me that way!" Yamada sputtered. "Just wait until the chairman hears of this!!! You'll never work-" Hysterical laughter erupted from all sides, booming out from speakers hidden in the walls. It was Director Andross.
"Shut your mouth, old man. The chairman is well aware of your little side project," he snarled in between hysterical giggling. "You must be a fool to think the chairman that simple, Gendo Yamada. I never approved your appointment. We have my predecssor to thank for that, but unless you FULLY cooperate with Agent Ashitaka..." The giggling bubbled over, drowning out the Director's voice. Yamada gulped.
"We-well then, let me show you the test facility..." he stammered.
"Excellent." Malakai smiled.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The underground tram slowed, and shuttered to a stop on its maglev cushion…the power cut out and the transport dropped the half foot to the rail line floor. The doors wisked open, and Agent Ashitaka strode out, Gendo Yamada in tow. They walked for the elevator tube, which decended further into the Earth. The doors opened onto chrome corridors that reeked of antiseptic. Mousy lab techs scurried from cubicle to test rooms and back, by Malakai paid them no mind. He seemed to know where he was going, each step seemed to bring a growing tide of urgency…Mr. Yamada was to precoccupied huffing and puffing in an attempt to keep the long and easy strides of Agent Ashitaka. He tried to look officious and in control, and even tried to order a few techs about, but that was swiftly halted with a glance back by Malakai, a clearing of the throat, and an icy stare.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, they came to the first of several airlock style doors. Malakai motion for the disgruntled executive to authorize entry and then took the lead again. It was clear Malakai was in control, and Yamada was merely a key to open the treasure…
“Ag..Agent Ashitaka, may I ask you why you need access to EYES?” Yamada croaked.
“No.”
“Then may I..”
“No.”
“Would it be…”
“No, Mr. Yamada. The answer to your questions is no.”
Ashitaka never broke stride as he stepped around a small knot of lab techs, Yamada just stood, reeling at this unabashed abuse. Malakai turned on the far end of the compartment.
“Come Mr. Yamada. We have a schedule to keep.” Malakai called.
* * * *
The mist clung to the forest floor as the sun rose, the early light filtering through the foliage. Steiner had scattered the remains of their campfire and the trio set off into the woods. Nanami was silent, thinking about what Batou had told them last night, as Steiner’s interrogation winded down…
“I don’t remember everything… mostly nothing, actually. I remember the stench of burning meat, the screams of my little sister… well, I think she was my sister. The monsters came out of the woods… they played with her like a cat plays with a mouse its going to eat. I remember… a cave, leaving the trails and going off into the woods. My… father had said something about wild animals. I didn’t listen. I think I was about… 9, 10 years old. And then… I remember seeing mother and father being stretched out… and…” his voice had broken then. Bitter tears in his eyes, glaring at Steiner, he continued.
“And there was a man, he was tall, older. His had a predatory look about him. The creatures broke away when he entered the clearing. For some reason, they had saved me… I remember being tied up with vines or something with spines… The man spoke in a bestial tongue, and the THINGS cowered before him, almost fawning over him…” Batou hadn’t said much else that night. And now the he walked next to her, and she almost wanted to say something. Anything. But she didn’t and instead the trio continued with Steiner leading the way…
* * * *
Further in the depths of the remote facility, Malakai and Gendo Yamada were making their way through the final check point to the holding bay where EYES was. Yamada wanted to say something, but held his tongue, sweating bullets, he punched in the last numerical sequence and the door hissed open with a blast of tepid air. Yamada loosened his tie and stumped in after Agent Ashitaka’s long legged stride. Several lab workers were in there, clad with white coats. They glanced at Yamada briefly, who jerked his head to the side after Malakai waved a hand. The technicians left hurriedly.
Malakai vaulted over the railing to the pit where EYES case was. He began bypassing the security lockouts, and lifted the belt out of its armored cradle.
“Agent Ashitaka…if you would let me coordinate a test subject, some trials at least… the device has never been used by humans…” Yamada stammered.
“There isn’t time, Mr. Yamada. We have you to thank for that. ARMS is running loose, and someone has to stop it.” Malakai spat.
“But… but…” Yamada whimpered as Malakai slung the belt around his waist, and locked it into place…
“Henshin.”
Yamada screamed as Malakai was consumed in a globe of hypersonic energy, shattering glass. The light was blinding, and in the center of the globe stood a being crafted from forbidden lore and alien technology… and it spoke in a high pitched whine…
“I… I… can seeeee!” then its howling was consumed in the back-blast that incinerated the bunker.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Episode 4: Brain Drain
Gendo Yamada stood in the cone of light that shone in the sea of darkness around him. He was shaking nervously, obviously distressed with this recent turn of events and the response it garnered from the Chairman and Board of Directors. A voice boomed out from every direction, deep and menacing.
"Report, Gendo Yamada!"
"Well, Mr. Chairman...Kamen Rider ARMS has clearly gone rogue...in fact, I encountered it in my escape from the bullet train."
"So it is active?"
"Y-yes sir."
"Did you recover it."
"N-no, Mr. Chairman..." Yamada stammered. A new, higher, screeching voice responded...the chairman's silent.
"Fool! Do you think we want excuses?! How dare you come back here without the belt!" It shrieked.
"My... my apologies, Director Andross..."
"Silence." Boomed the Chairman's voice. "While director Andross is correct in chastizing you, I also should commend you for the wisdom in reporting the location of the belt...if you had been eliminated, the unit would be lost. Now we can send a qualified squad of agents to retrieve it."
"...Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won't fail you again."
"Good. Then I expect good news when you return with the recovery team...and the belt."
"But...Mr. Chairman...!" Yamada shrieked and the lights flared to life, illuminating the empty chamber, Andross' maniacal laughter rang in his ears.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
It hadn't been pleasant, the escape from that descending bullet train. But 'Rufus' had managed to high tail it with Nanami into the river at the bottom of the gorge. Thankfully, the pair managed to stay relative close in the surging torrent, while the strange bug borg was left to blown as the hyper velocity railcars impacted on the far wall of the steep ravine with a ROAR. Hours later, the pair had made camp in a small thicket, planning on spending at least the night to recuperate. Nanami was getting fresh water from the river when she saw the battered body of a slim young man trapped on the rocks...unconcious. With Rufus, she managed to carry the body back to the camp...by now night was drawing near....
"We should wake him." Rufus said.
"He needs his rest!" Nanami said. "We don't know how long he was floating in the river...he's the only other survivor of the train...we're lucky he hasn't died on us, with the way you've been manhandling him, Rufus."
"You can stop calling me that now." He replied, getting up from where he was crouched.
"What?!" Nanami gaped.
"My name...it isn't Rufus. I'm not one of Yamada's cronies. Well, I wasn't until 6 months ago when I infiltrated Selene Systems ranks."
"Why?" Nanami asked. "Who do you work for?"
"That isn't important..."
"You're INTERPOL, aren't you?" Batou's voice shocked both of them. Neither had notice him wake or sit up. He sat propped against the trunk of an old tree, the cap miraculously back in place. "I'd recognize a Ruger Redhawke special issue anyday."
"Rufus eyed the slim young man with the strange blue eyes, and then glanced at Nanami. Grinding his teeth slightly, he adjusted himself and took a deep breath.
"My name is Aldbrecht Steiner...and yes, I work for INTERPOL. My assignment is to locate information on PANDORA, and Selene System's involement with these individuals. They've been connected with missing person reports and murders in 33 countries."
"And what makes you think PANDORA isn't connected to INTERPOL?" Batou replied. Steiner's head snapped over like he'd been slapped.
"WHAT?"
"PANDORA has people in INTERPOL, I'm sure. Within weeks, you'd probably have gotten pulled anyways." Batou bowed his head and the trio was quiet for long moments, until Batou felt her eyes on him. He turned and looked at Nanami.
"What's your story?"
"Information Online Network, special assignment."
"You mean that internet tabloid?"
"It's not a TABLOID!" She hollered.
Batou smirked and bowed his head again. Steiner eyed him.
"And what about you, eh? I don't recognize you from Yamada's entourage. You a civilian?" asked the huge Kraut.
"Not exactly." Batou replied, the smirk fading slightly.
"Not exactly?" Steiner echoed incredulously.
"Let's just say I owe PANDORA some hell." Batou said. Steiner's eyes narrowed. Nanami spoke.
"You're the bug robot thing, aren't you?" she said. Batou glanced at her, eyes shining like blue neon ice in the firelight. Her mouth gaped, frozen by the terrible beauty of his eyes.
"Sharper then I thought." he thought aloud. He didn't move as Steiner reached across and hauled him up by the shirt collar. His eyes were unwavering, looking at Steiner's black mood plastered all over his face.
"You little BASTARD..." he growled. "Endangering all those people's lives for your stupid VENDETTA?!"
"So what?" Batou replied.
"So...SO WHAT?!" Steiner yelled.
"So what if they die today...does it really matter when they'll die tomorrow if it suits PANDORA!" Batou whispered.
"Why,,,I outta knock you..."
"Go ahead and try..." Batou retorted. His hand slipped to the back pocket of his jeans...and came up empty. Nanami held up the rectangular pad that she had found in Batou's back pocket.
"Looking for this?" she asked innocently.
Batou's eyes flashed a rare emotion: shock. Steiner pushed him back to the ground, grateful for Nanami's intervention, giving him a second to reign his emotions in. He put on his game face and sat down across from Batou.
"Why don't you start from the top..."
* * * * *
"Mr. Yamada, I'm pleased to introduce agent Malakai Ashitaka. He'll be in charge of the recovery operation." The aide then turned and hurried out of the non descript corner office, a spare in the Tokyo building of Selene Systems. Malakai was a tall, well muscled man in his mid to late twenties, his hair short and dishelved, his eyes belaying the easy going look on his face. Mr. Yamada, short even by asian standards, had to crane a little bit to look him in the eye. He held out a greasy paw to Malakai.
"Good to meet you, my boy." He said, smiling gingerly. Malakai arched an eyebrow, but he didn't take the hand.
"Mr. Yamada...do you have any combat experience?" he asked cooly.
"Um...well, I was...what I mean is, when I was younger..."
"I'll take that as a no, sir." Malakai looked at him and begun to walk behind the desk, and looked out the window. Hands clasped behind his back. "Mr. Yamada, I didn't ask for this assignment, but I was assigned to it. And I intend to carry that out to the best of my ability. However, before we can accomplish our objective, there is a serious matter I must attend to."
"Y-yes, my boy?" Mr. Yamada stammered. Malakai turned, obviously annoyed.
"Mr. Yamada, as leader of this operation, I expect nothing but the best from my men, and I give them the same in turn. However, I cannot present a professional image or run an efficient squad when our corporate liason has such...putrid, body habits."
"What?!" Yamada gasped.
"From now on, Mr. Yamada, I expect you to keep yourself in better health. You are to dress in appropriate attire at all times, and do something about that offensive body odor that clings to you worse then dung flies on a donkey's ass. Furthermore, you will address me as my position merits, Agent Ashitaka. You are not to call me or my men 'my boy'. You will address them with the same respect you address me. Need I go on?" Malaki finished, leaning across the desk with his hands on the table. Mr. Yamada shook his head vigourously. "Good. Now, Mr. Yamada, we shall discuss a most interesting development. Namely, the status of the Kamen Rider EYES project."
"How do you know about that?!" Yamada gasped.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Gendo Yamada stood in the cone of light that shone in the sea of darkness around him. He was shaking nervously, obviously distressed with this recent turn of events and the response it garnered from the Chairman and Board of Directors. A voice boomed out from every direction, deep and menacing.
"Report, Gendo Yamada!"
"Well, Mr. Chairman...Kamen Rider ARMS has clearly gone rogue...in fact, I encountered it in my escape from the bullet train."
"So it is active?"
"Y-yes sir."
"Did you recover it."
"N-no, Mr. Chairman..." Yamada stammered. A new, higher, screeching voice responded...the chairman's silent.
"Fool! Do you think we want excuses?! How dare you come back here without the belt!" It shrieked.
"My... my apologies, Director Andross..."
"Silence." Boomed the Chairman's voice. "While director Andross is correct in chastizing you, I also should commend you for the wisdom in reporting the location of the belt...if you had been eliminated, the unit would be lost. Now we can send a qualified squad of agents to retrieve it."
"...Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won't fail you again."
"Good. Then I expect good news when you return with the recovery team...and the belt."
"But...Mr. Chairman...!" Yamada shrieked and the lights flared to life, illuminating the empty chamber, Andross' maniacal laughter rang in his ears.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
It hadn't been pleasant, the escape from that descending bullet train. But 'Rufus' had managed to high tail it with Nanami into the river at the bottom of the gorge. Thankfully, the pair managed to stay relative close in the surging torrent, while the strange bug borg was left to blown as the hyper velocity railcars impacted on the far wall of the steep ravine with a ROAR. Hours later, the pair had made camp in a small thicket, planning on spending at least the night to recuperate. Nanami was getting fresh water from the river when she saw the battered body of a slim young man trapped on the rocks...unconcious. With Rufus, she managed to carry the body back to the camp...by now night was drawing near....
"We should wake him." Rufus said.
"He needs his rest!" Nanami said. "We don't know how long he was floating in the river...he's the only other survivor of the train...we're lucky he hasn't died on us, with the way you've been manhandling him, Rufus."
"You can stop calling me that now." He replied, getting up from where he was crouched.
"What?!" Nanami gaped.
"My name...it isn't Rufus. I'm not one of Yamada's cronies. Well, I wasn't until 6 months ago when I infiltrated Selene Systems ranks."
"Why?" Nanami asked. "Who do you work for?"
"That isn't important..."
"You're INTERPOL, aren't you?" Batou's voice shocked both of them. Neither had notice him wake or sit up. He sat propped against the trunk of an old tree, the cap miraculously back in place. "I'd recognize a Ruger Redhawke special issue anyday."
"Rufus eyed the slim young man with the strange blue eyes, and then glanced at Nanami. Grinding his teeth slightly, he adjusted himself and took a deep breath.
"My name is Aldbrecht Steiner...and yes, I work for INTERPOL. My assignment is to locate information on PANDORA, and Selene System's involement with these individuals. They've been connected with missing person reports and murders in 33 countries."
"And what makes you think PANDORA isn't connected to INTERPOL?" Batou replied. Steiner's head snapped over like he'd been slapped.
"WHAT?"
"PANDORA has people in INTERPOL, I'm sure. Within weeks, you'd probably have gotten pulled anyways." Batou bowed his head and the trio was quiet for long moments, until Batou felt her eyes on him. He turned and looked at Nanami.
"What's your story?"
"Information Online Network, special assignment."
"You mean that internet tabloid?"
"It's not a TABLOID!" She hollered.
Batou smirked and bowed his head again. Steiner eyed him.
"And what about you, eh? I don't recognize you from Yamada's entourage. You a civilian?" asked the huge Kraut.
"Not exactly." Batou replied, the smirk fading slightly.
"Not exactly?" Steiner echoed incredulously.
"Let's just say I owe PANDORA some hell." Batou said. Steiner's eyes narrowed. Nanami spoke.
"You're the bug robot thing, aren't you?" she said. Batou glanced at her, eyes shining like blue neon ice in the firelight. Her mouth gaped, frozen by the terrible beauty of his eyes.
"Sharper then I thought." he thought aloud. He didn't move as Steiner reached across and hauled him up by the shirt collar. His eyes were unwavering, looking at Steiner's black mood plastered all over his face.
"You little BASTARD..." he growled. "Endangering all those people's lives for your stupid VENDETTA?!"
"So what?" Batou replied.
"So...SO WHAT?!" Steiner yelled.
"So what if they die today...does it really matter when they'll die tomorrow if it suits PANDORA!" Batou whispered.
"Why,,,I outta knock you..."
"Go ahead and try..." Batou retorted. His hand slipped to the back pocket of his jeans...and came up empty. Nanami held up the rectangular pad that she had found in Batou's back pocket.
"Looking for this?" she asked innocently.
Batou's eyes flashed a rare emotion: shock. Steiner pushed him back to the ground, grateful for Nanami's intervention, giving him a second to reign his emotions in. He put on his game face and sat down across from Batou.
"Why don't you start from the top..."
* * * * *
"Mr. Yamada, I'm pleased to introduce agent Malakai Ashitaka. He'll be in charge of the recovery operation." The aide then turned and hurried out of the non descript corner office, a spare in the Tokyo building of Selene Systems. Malakai was a tall, well muscled man in his mid to late twenties, his hair short and dishelved, his eyes belaying the easy going look on his face. Mr. Yamada, short even by asian standards, had to crane a little bit to look him in the eye. He held out a greasy paw to Malakai.
"Good to meet you, my boy." He said, smiling gingerly. Malakai arched an eyebrow, but he didn't take the hand.
"Mr. Yamada...do you have any combat experience?" he asked cooly.
"Um...well, I was...what I mean is, when I was younger..."
"I'll take that as a no, sir." Malakai looked at him and begun to walk behind the desk, and looked out the window. Hands clasped behind his back. "Mr. Yamada, I didn't ask for this assignment, but I was assigned to it. And I intend to carry that out to the best of my ability. However, before we can accomplish our objective, there is a serious matter I must attend to."
"Y-yes, my boy?" Mr. Yamada stammered. Malakai turned, obviously annoyed.
"Mr. Yamada, as leader of this operation, I expect nothing but the best from my men, and I give them the same in turn. However, I cannot present a professional image or run an efficient squad when our corporate liason has such...putrid, body habits."
"What?!" Yamada gasped.
"From now on, Mr. Yamada, I expect you to keep yourself in better health. You are to dress in appropriate attire at all times, and do something about that offensive body odor that clings to you worse then dung flies on a donkey's ass. Furthermore, you will address me as my position merits, Agent Ashitaka. You are not to call me or my men 'my boy'. You will address them with the same respect you address me. Need I go on?" Malaki finished, leaning across the desk with his hands on the table. Mr. Yamada shook his head vigourously. "Good. Now, Mr. Yamada, we shall discuss a most interesting development. Namely, the status of the Kamen Rider EYES project."
"How do you know about that?!" Yamada gasped.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 3, Part 2: Derailed Agenda
Rufus looked out of a window. And he saw...a figure perched high on a rocky spire, armored and insectile. It's large multifaceted eyes were bloody red, and it 's face plate sprouted two antennae of fluorescent gold. It's chest was covered in angular pectoral plates, and its shoulders and upper arms enclosed in metal sheaths. It's knuckles were covered in protruding caps and fore arms housed a huge vent like appuratus. It rose from its kneeling position and jets encased in it's calves flared up...sending it skyward out of view.
"Mein gott." Was all Rufus could manage.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Nanami tried to look out the window, but the train was shaking now that it was near impossible to stand up. Rufus cursed and tried to drag her to her feet. Even he had a hard time standing still with all the turbulence. He turned and pushed her to the ground.
"Stay here." He said.
"Bu...you...I..." she sputtered.
"DON'T." he said. And left. Nanami heard the door lock from the outside. Perturbed and disarrayed in a heap on the floor, she muttered.
"BAKA!"
* * * * *
"Rufus! Rufus my boy, where are you!" Gendo Yamada shrieked. He was clutching his chair, sweating in a torrent and that bourbon he had was running down his thighs. The Aryan entered, disshelved.
"Well?!" Yamada howled.
"Sir?" Rufus asked. The German accent was thick and nearly indecipherable.
"What's going on out there?!"
"I do not know...sir...the girl...she..." his words degenerated into German. Yamada stared, horrified. He shooed the giant man out of his booth.
"Well go find out! What do you think I PAY you for?!" He locked the door and slumped back into his chair, shaking.
* * * * *
Rufus moved to the next car, where more Selene System employees were huddled, a few were armed security guards.
"You three. Come with me." He ordered in clear, measure tones. Shaking, they obeyed and headed to the front of the train. Rufus didn't notice the slim youth with the huge glasses and green fire in his eyes slip back the way he came. The majority of the passengers were white faced and silent. A child cried in his mother's arms in one aisle. They found the operator at his post, clearly afraid, but trying to control his distress.
"What's going on?" Rufus asked. The operator looked at him, clearly terrified and not understanding. Rufus turned to a guard.
"You speak Japanese, dont you?" he asked. The guard nodded in response.
"Then TRANSLATE."
The guard talked to the operator. He turned to Rufus. "He says there a bug robot outside, shooting at the train."
"Just one of them?!" Rufus asked incredulous. "Shouldn't we have passed it far behind?!"
"The operator says the robot is running along the train. And GAINING." the guard replied, nearly frantic.
"Wha..."
The ceiling above them crunched, and exploded as a armored fist came punching through. The operator screamed as he was torn out of his seat and cast off the side of the train to collide with the huge rock formations off the tracks. The train rattled as it hit a dip and entered the woods. The armored figure clutched to the roof of the train and tore it like tinfoil, it didn't expect the Ruger Redhawke Rufus held ready, or the bullet that hit it square in it's face plate.
* * * * *
The door to Mr. Yamada's room slid open, and the slim man with the huge glasses and green eyes slipped inside.
"What...who...where's Rufus?" sputtered the old man.
"No need to worry, sir. He's taking care of the disturbance."
"What is it?"
"Kamen Rider ARMS, I believe, sir."
"The belt is HERE?! We...We have to recover it!"
"Sir, I don't think that is possible at this time. In fact, I'm positive I'm only equipped to evacuate key personnel."
"Equipped?"
"Yes sir. If you will allow me, I would like to show you."
"How?"
The strange young man knelt on the ground, drawing out a chalk stick, and begun tracing a pentagram...
* * * * *
"What the hell was that thing?!" Rufus yelled. One of the guards turned and fled back into the train. The other ceased to be when the floor blew out from underneath him, and the third fell out after him. Rufus cursed. "Shit!" He spat something in German as the bug eyed robot came crashing thru the side of the train. With an armored fist, it back handed him. Rufus felt a tooth or three loosen and fell against the control panel. The robot grabbed a shard of metal, and pinned his shirt to the board. Rufus struggled as he saw the creature jam the accelerator forward, It turned towards him, aiming a fist. But he was ready. He kicked out with both his legs, and tore himself free. The creature stumbled back and Rufus tried to crash thru to the next car, but it stuck out its leg. Ducking into a roll, Rufus came up with the Ruger pointed at the creatures face again. It cocked its head and seemed to shake with laughter. Rufus' mouth gaped a little, and then he let out a whoosh as the armored fist crashed into his gut. The machine man stumped over him and head for the back.
* * * * *
The chanting continued, the alien tongue coming in a torrent that bleed raw power, and a purple vortex begin to form in the ceremonial circle...and Yamada screamed.
* * * * *
Nanami squealed as she managed to pick the lock of the cargo room, she slipped the pick back into the packet strapped to her upper inner left thigh and pushed the heavy door open...
* * * * *
Rufus stumbled to his feet as he saw the cyborg bug near Yamada's compartment, stumbling to his feet, he gapped in amazement as the wall blew open and a shiny scarab monster clutched a strange young man with green eyes and a shrieking Yamada. The cyborg stopped and tried to charge, but the creature spat some foul glue, sealing the bug bot to the floor plate...the scarab ducked out into the howling wind, sucked away. Nanami burst out on the other side of the car when this happened, and shrieked, but managed to not get sucked out.
Rufus looked at the machine man, struggling, but before he could act, he heard Nanami scream. The whole bullet train was headed for a gorge in the middle of the forest. The bridge was gone. He cursed an oath... and then the whole train sailed into the gaping, rocky canyon. The whole train began falling into the mist obscured void below.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Rufus looked out of a window. And he saw...a figure perched high on a rocky spire, armored and insectile. It's large multifaceted eyes were bloody red, and it 's face plate sprouted two antennae of fluorescent gold. It's chest was covered in angular pectoral plates, and its shoulders and upper arms enclosed in metal sheaths. It's knuckles were covered in protruding caps and fore arms housed a huge vent like appuratus. It rose from its kneeling position and jets encased in it's calves flared up...sending it skyward out of view.
"Mein gott." Was all Rufus could manage.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Nanami tried to look out the window, but the train was shaking now that it was near impossible to stand up. Rufus cursed and tried to drag her to her feet. Even he had a hard time standing still with all the turbulence. He turned and pushed her to the ground.
"Stay here." He said.
"Bu...you...I..." she sputtered.
"DON'T." he said. And left. Nanami heard the door lock from the outside. Perturbed and disarrayed in a heap on the floor, she muttered.
"BAKA!"
* * * * *
"Rufus! Rufus my boy, where are you!" Gendo Yamada shrieked. He was clutching his chair, sweating in a torrent and that bourbon he had was running down his thighs. The Aryan entered, disshelved.
"Well?!" Yamada howled.
"Sir?" Rufus asked. The German accent was thick and nearly indecipherable.
"What's going on out there?!"
"I do not know...sir...the girl...she..." his words degenerated into German. Yamada stared, horrified. He shooed the giant man out of his booth.
"Well go find out! What do you think I PAY you for?!" He locked the door and slumped back into his chair, shaking.
* * * * *
Rufus moved to the next car, where more Selene System employees were huddled, a few were armed security guards.
"You three. Come with me." He ordered in clear, measure tones. Shaking, they obeyed and headed to the front of the train. Rufus didn't notice the slim youth with the huge glasses and green fire in his eyes slip back the way he came. The majority of the passengers were white faced and silent. A child cried in his mother's arms in one aisle. They found the operator at his post, clearly afraid, but trying to control his distress.
"What's going on?" Rufus asked. The operator looked at him, clearly terrified and not understanding. Rufus turned to a guard.
"You speak Japanese, dont you?" he asked. The guard nodded in response.
"Then TRANSLATE."
The guard talked to the operator. He turned to Rufus. "He says there a bug robot outside, shooting at the train."
"Just one of them?!" Rufus asked incredulous. "Shouldn't we have passed it far behind?!"
"The operator says the robot is running along the train. And GAINING." the guard replied, nearly frantic.
"Wha..."
The ceiling above them crunched, and exploded as a armored fist came punching through. The operator screamed as he was torn out of his seat and cast off the side of the train to collide with the huge rock formations off the tracks. The train rattled as it hit a dip and entered the woods. The armored figure clutched to the roof of the train and tore it like tinfoil, it didn't expect the Ruger Redhawke Rufus held ready, or the bullet that hit it square in it's face plate.
* * * * *
The door to Mr. Yamada's room slid open, and the slim man with the huge glasses and green eyes slipped inside.
"What...who...where's Rufus?" sputtered the old man.
"No need to worry, sir. He's taking care of the disturbance."
"What is it?"
"Kamen Rider ARMS, I believe, sir."
"The belt is HERE?! We...We have to recover it!"
"Sir, I don't think that is possible at this time. In fact, I'm positive I'm only equipped to evacuate key personnel."
"Equipped?"
"Yes sir. If you will allow me, I would like to show you."
"How?"
The strange young man knelt on the ground, drawing out a chalk stick, and begun tracing a pentagram...
* * * * *
"What the hell was that thing?!" Rufus yelled. One of the guards turned and fled back into the train. The other ceased to be when the floor blew out from underneath him, and the third fell out after him. Rufus cursed. "Shit!" He spat something in German as the bug eyed robot came crashing thru the side of the train. With an armored fist, it back handed him. Rufus felt a tooth or three loosen and fell against the control panel. The robot grabbed a shard of metal, and pinned his shirt to the board. Rufus struggled as he saw the creature jam the accelerator forward, It turned towards him, aiming a fist. But he was ready. He kicked out with both his legs, and tore himself free. The creature stumbled back and Rufus tried to crash thru to the next car, but it stuck out its leg. Ducking into a roll, Rufus came up with the Ruger pointed at the creatures face again. It cocked its head and seemed to shake with laughter. Rufus' mouth gaped a little, and then he let out a whoosh as the armored fist crashed into his gut. The machine man stumped over him and head for the back.
* * * * *
The chanting continued, the alien tongue coming in a torrent that bleed raw power, and a purple vortex begin to form in the ceremonial circle...and Yamada screamed.
* * * * *
Nanami squealed as she managed to pick the lock of the cargo room, she slipped the pick back into the packet strapped to her upper inner left thigh and pushed the heavy door open...
* * * * *
Rufus stumbled to his feet as he saw the cyborg bug near Yamada's compartment, stumbling to his feet, he gapped in amazement as the wall blew open and a shiny scarab monster clutched a strange young man with green eyes and a shrieking Yamada. The cyborg stopped and tried to charge, but the creature spat some foul glue, sealing the bug bot to the floor plate...the scarab ducked out into the howling wind, sucked away. Nanami burst out on the other side of the car when this happened, and shrieked, but managed to not get sucked out.
Rufus looked at the machine man, struggling, but before he could act, he heard Nanami scream. The whole bullet train was headed for a gorge in the middle of the forest. The bridge was gone. He cursed an oath... and then the whole train sailed into the gaping, rocky canyon. The whole train began falling into the mist obscured void below.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 3, Part 1: Scoop Chase
Prelude
The steps of a high rise building. Tokyo. A swarm of reporters descends the chr ome and glass tower that is the Selene Systems, PANDORA's front company. Gendo Yamada, a greasy overweight man tries to push his way thru the mire of flash bulbs and mikes...
"Mr. Yamada! Is it true that SEVENTEEN Selene Systems employees were found dead at the scene of last week's fire incident? "
"Mr. Yamada! Can you tell us about the research Selene was commissioned for aboard the Trinity Shuttle?"
"Mr Yama.."
The voice was silence as the stretch limo door slammed shut with Gendo Yamada inside. Mr. Yamada pulled a kerchief out and dabbed his balding head, it was all he could do to keep his jowls from quivering with rage and fear. The limo pulled away from the throng of journalists and the inky black stretch merged into the traffic. Mr. Yamada leaned back in the buttered leather seat, and worried himself silly.
Where are these damn reporters getting all of this information from? The Chairmans furious! I have to do something...but that damn belt is still missing and the press is having a field day...
He was still shaking, as he lit a cigar and poured himself a brandy from the mini fridge in the limo. He gulped the alcohol, feeling the liquid warmth wrap his insides in that pleasant fuzzy sensation of 'liquid confidence'. The limo finally arrived at the Bullet Train terminal, and Mr. Yamada was ushered into a special section of the train reserved for VIPs and such. Within minutes they were well underway to their destination...and the troubled executive started to relax. Then the door slid open and trouble walked in...
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
As far as trouble goes, she was pretty as it came. Delicate but firm body, the simple rumpled jumpsuit and chocolate hair pulled back in a simple ponytail helped hide her elegant beauty. She pulled out a mini cam, and smiled at the greatly surprised executive.
"Hello, Mr. Yamada! I'm Nanami Segawa with Information Online Network, and I'd like to ask you a few questions!" she said, smiling.
"Wha..How DID YOU GET in HERE!" he growled, trying to hide his surprise.
"Oh come now, Mr. Yamada, you know a girl can't give away the secrets of the trade!" She said coyly. "However, I'm sure millions would be interested to hear about Selene Systems involvement with the space shuttle Trinity incident!"
"Uh...uh...Selene Systems has no official comment other then the press release we issued last month! Don't you read the paper?" He was clearly on the rocks, grasping for anything while trying to regain his senses.
"Of course I do sir, but I'm sure there's bound to be more to the accident then what we've heard..." she continued.
"Information Online Network...you mean that internet tabloid?!" He interupted . Her pretty face turned ugly.
"We are NOT some filthy tabloid!" she roared.
"Now, now, Miss..." he chortled, but sweated even more, his jowls moist.
"Segawa. Nanami Segawa." she said.
"Uh huh." he said off handedly. While this had been going on, he had been secretly trying to push the button on the underside of his armrest. He spoke aloud now. "Rufus... we have a a Miss Nanami Segawa in my private car. She seems to have become lost... would you please escort her to the... chaperoned section and see her off at our earliest convience?"
"Yes sir." Came the reply over the loud speaker. Nanami's eyes bugged out at this turn off events, and she started to sputter as the door slid open and Mr. Yamada's good looking german bodyguard Rufus strode in to 'escort' the reporter out. He was taller then most, with spiky blonde hair and a square jaw, the perfect Aryan...except for his blue eyes with flakes of green. Nanami sputtered angrily, actually managing to dodge Rufus' grasp several times until he managed to pin her down. Mr. Yamada reclines back in his seat and let a deep, phlegmy laugh escape his throat... Nanami saw she had only one opportunity and played her hand...
"I know about PANDORA!"
Rufus stopped, and Gendo Yamada's jaw dropped for the second time that day. He frantically motioned for Rufus to slide and lock the door. The German did so, obviously very confused.
"What?!" he rasped.
"I know about PANDORA. I know you're involved with the Trinity incident and I've laid plans for this information to go public if I'm murdered." she replied. Rufus said something in German to Mr. Yamada, who turned green and shook his flabby head vigorously. Rufus stopped and looked at Nanami, before speaking in a thick accent.
"Accidents always, happen, Miss." He grinned. She paled. Gendo Yamada thought and nodded his head, a small little smile stretching his thin lips wide.
"Yes... yes..." Yamada motioned for Rufus to take care of her. As he was out the door, Gendo stopped him. "And, my boy, you will forget everything you heard about my involvement with PANDORA."
Rufus nodded, before taking Nanami, kicking and screaming, to the luggage car. A quick swat to the side of her head rendered Nanami unconscious, so he could carry here thru the public cars without incident. Once he slid the door shut and locked it, he dropped Nanami roughly to the ground. Rufus grabbed an immense crate and shoved it in front of the door. He knelt beside her, and shook her awake... awake...sheshe came around slowly.
"Where is this information?" he spoke in perfect english. She looked at him, wide eyed. She sputtered...
"Where's what information?!"
"This file on PANDORA you were talking about... where is it?"
"Why do you need it?"
"Look... I don't have time for this. Where is it.?!" Nanami looked down, mumbling something.
"What?" growled Rufus.
"I... I... don't have any information... packets."
"WHAT?!"
"Just... a couple of blurry photos, a name to go off of and some fourth hand rumors Yamada is running with a shady bunch these days." She said,
"...Ach der lien." He swore in German. "Stay here."
"Wa..wait!" she cried, grabbing a muscular forearm. "Who are you? What are you doing and why are you so interested in..."
"BOOM"
They both stopped as the explosion rumbled. The train shuttered.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Prelude
The steps of a high rise building. Tokyo. A swarm of reporters descends the chr ome and glass tower that is the Selene Systems, PANDORA's front company. Gendo Yamada, a greasy overweight man tries to push his way thru the mire of flash bulbs and mikes...
"Mr. Yamada! Is it true that SEVENTEEN Selene Systems employees were found dead at the scene of last week's fire incident? "
"Mr. Yamada! Can you tell us about the research Selene was commissioned for aboard the Trinity Shuttle?"
"Mr Yama.."
The voice was silence as the stretch limo door slammed shut with Gendo Yamada inside. Mr. Yamada pulled a kerchief out and dabbed his balding head, it was all he could do to keep his jowls from quivering with rage and fear. The limo pulled away from the throng of journalists and the inky black stretch merged into the traffic. Mr. Yamada leaned back in the buttered leather seat, and worried himself silly.
Where are these damn reporters getting all of this information from? The Chairmans furious! I have to do something...but that damn belt is still missing and the press is having a field day...
He was still shaking, as he lit a cigar and poured himself a brandy from the mini fridge in the limo. He gulped the alcohol, feeling the liquid warmth wrap his insides in that pleasant fuzzy sensation of 'liquid confidence'. The limo finally arrived at the Bullet Train terminal, and Mr. Yamada was ushered into a special section of the train reserved for VIPs and such. Within minutes they were well underway to their destination...and the troubled executive started to relax. Then the door slid open and trouble walked in...
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
As far as trouble goes, she was pretty as it came. Delicate but firm body, the simple rumpled jumpsuit and chocolate hair pulled back in a simple ponytail helped hide her elegant beauty. She pulled out a mini cam, and smiled at the greatly surprised executive.
"Hello, Mr. Yamada! I'm Nanami Segawa with Information Online Network, and I'd like to ask you a few questions!" she said, smiling.
"Wha..How DID YOU GET in HERE!" he growled, trying to hide his surprise.
"Oh come now, Mr. Yamada, you know a girl can't give away the secrets of the trade!" She said coyly. "However, I'm sure millions would be interested to hear about Selene Systems involvement with the space shuttle Trinity incident!"
"Uh...uh...Selene Systems has no official comment other then the press release we issued last month! Don't you read the paper?" He was clearly on the rocks, grasping for anything while trying to regain his senses.
"Of course I do sir, but I'm sure there's bound to be more to the accident then what we've heard..." she continued.
"Information Online Network...you mean that internet tabloid?!" He interupted . Her pretty face turned ugly.
"We are NOT some filthy tabloid!" she roared.
"Now, now, Miss..." he chortled, but sweated even more, his jowls moist.
"Segawa. Nanami Segawa." she said.
"Uh huh." he said off handedly. While this had been going on, he had been secretly trying to push the button on the underside of his armrest. He spoke aloud now. "Rufus... we have a a Miss Nanami Segawa in my private car. She seems to have become lost... would you please escort her to the... chaperoned section and see her off at our earliest convience?"
"Yes sir." Came the reply over the loud speaker. Nanami's eyes bugged out at this turn off events, and she started to sputter as the door slid open and Mr. Yamada's good looking german bodyguard Rufus strode in to 'escort' the reporter out. He was taller then most, with spiky blonde hair and a square jaw, the perfect Aryan...except for his blue eyes with flakes of green. Nanami sputtered angrily, actually managing to dodge Rufus' grasp several times until he managed to pin her down. Mr. Yamada reclines back in his seat and let a deep, phlegmy laugh escape his throat... Nanami saw she had only one opportunity and played her hand...
"I know about PANDORA!"
Rufus stopped, and Gendo Yamada's jaw dropped for the second time that day. He frantically motioned for Rufus to slide and lock the door. The German did so, obviously very confused.
"What?!" he rasped.
"I know about PANDORA. I know you're involved with the Trinity incident and I've laid plans for this information to go public if I'm murdered." she replied. Rufus said something in German to Mr. Yamada, who turned green and shook his flabby head vigorously. Rufus stopped and looked at Nanami, before speaking in a thick accent.
"Accidents always, happen, Miss." He grinned. She paled. Gendo Yamada thought and nodded his head, a small little smile stretching his thin lips wide.
"Yes... yes..." Yamada motioned for Rufus to take care of her. As he was out the door, Gendo stopped him. "And, my boy, you will forget everything you heard about my involvement with PANDORA."
Rufus nodded, before taking Nanami, kicking and screaming, to the luggage car. A quick swat to the side of her head rendered Nanami unconscious, so he could carry here thru the public cars without incident. Once he slid the door shut and locked it, he dropped Nanami roughly to the ground. Rufus grabbed an immense crate and shoved it in front of the door. He knelt beside her, and shook her awake... awake...sheshe came around slowly.
"Where is this information?" he spoke in perfect english. She looked at him, wide eyed. She sputtered...
"Where's what information?!"
"This file on PANDORA you were talking about... where is it?"
"Why do you need it?"
"Look... I don't have time for this. Where is it.?!" Nanami looked down, mumbling something.
"What?" growled Rufus.
"I... I... don't have any information... packets."
"WHAT?!"
"Just... a couple of blurry photos, a name to go off of and some fourth hand rumors Yamada is running with a shady bunch these days." She said,
"...Ach der lien." He swore in German. "Stay here."
"Wa..wait!" she cried, grabbing a muscular forearm. "Who are you? What are you doing and why are you so interested in..."
"BOOM"
They both stopped as the explosion rumbled. The train shuttered.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 2: Karaoke Massacre
Prelude
Japan. A gas station. A small bosozoku gang pulls in to fill up and harass the attendants. Typical kids, dressed in American clothes, talking like Gaijin, trying to be Gaijin. The Japanese equivalent of whiggers. They don't notice the lithe man dressed in the long shirt black dress shirt, the black dickies with studded belt and the silver cross ear ring in his left ear. A black ball cap is pulled low of over his face. The motorcycle punks carouse inside the kiosk, while the attendant scrambles to serve his sudden influx of customers. The man in black walks over to the bikes, examining each in turn. He discards the usual mix of Suziki Katanas and Kawasaki Ninjas. They're crap. He keeps looking. He finds it... the slim black Ducati racing bike. The diamond in the rough. He straddles it, as its owner comes walking out the door of the kiosk. The biker is shrieking a storm as the black clad stranger slips back off his prize. He motions for the keys. The biker refuses and howls for his mates, but his shrieking chokes in his throat as the black clad man wraps long, supple fingers around the throat and lifts the biker into the air. Whimpering, he surrenders the keys, only to be tossed into the pump across the way. The biker's head lies at a crooked angle from his neck... flopped against the pump. His friends come rushing out to here the purr of the Ducati fading away...
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Late afternoon has slid into evening, and miles away the Ducati purrs steadily along. The man in black has yet to don a helmet, and has crossed from suburbia to country to town to country and now he slows his bike finally. He lets the Ducati have a respite briefly, as he watches the shiny chrome and metal business park half empty on the outskirts of this little town, and then he reeves the purr back to a roar as the machine tears down the freeway.
The machine finally slows as he crests a hill in the town, and with a fluid motion, his head arcs to the alley way on the right. He stops the Ducati and dismounts, walking purposefully down the narrow ravine walled with rusty metal siding. He slides thru the shadows, his figure illuminated by the puddles of light given off by the greasy shade lanterns strung up after a bend in the alleyway. Drunken laughter spills out from the unevenly placed sheets of metal farther on down the side of the warehouse. Karaoke drifts in and out, and the man in black slips up to the cloth overhang erected over the back alley, and enters the makeshift karaoke bar unnoticed. The usual mix of corporate kids are there, to young to have a family, but still awkward with women. They're scattered about the bar and a heavy set older man is behind the counter. His eyes watch the black clad figure, with plain ebony ball cap pulled low. The lithe figure slinks back to the back, where a duo of two particularly ungainly young men sit, drunk and laughing. They're fresh faced out of college, maybe a few months with their company and the bitter reality of their pointless jobs has just begun to set in. The man in black lets their conversation continue briefly, waiting to act.
"Hey, Makoto, how long you think before we get promoted by old man Yamada?" The tall one slurs his words to his pimply friend.
"I don't know, Kaz, but it can't be much longer! The old man is gonna break wind when he sees what we've got!"
"Yeah... I don't know where you got that data disk..." Kaz stopped laughing as he saw the slim black shoulders, barely visable in this shadows. Kaz pushed his glasses up on his face and squinted, sloshing his glass and guzzling the golden brew. "Who are YOU?" The shadow whispered back.
"Correcting an error."
Kaz could barely shriek as the hand shot out, shattered the mug into his face and slumped as the hard palm slid his nose back into his brain cavity with a squashing crunch. Makoto stumbled out of the booth and tried to make it out the bar. But he stumbled on the cracked pavement outside the seedy little dive. His squat little body was lifted into the air, and tossed thru several sets of walls, by his friend's killer, who casually stepped thru the broken walls and with out a second thought, snapped Kaz's neck. A simple search revealed the dead man's keys, wallet, and the data disk. He turned to go back to his waiting Ducati, but the barmen strode out of the bar and called out to him.
"Stop right there. Batou. Batou...Ukisawa." The figure stopped as he heard the barman speak his name. The bar man continued. "As cell agent for PANDORA in this area, I'm ordering you to surrender the belt and report to the Chairman." Batou smirked, eyes still hidden by the cap.
"I don't work for you anymore, puppet." Batou reached into his back pocket, and withdrew a long, rectangular pad. He snapped the wings of the pad forward and set the middle piece around his back. He steadily pulled on the wings around until the click snapped as in buckle in the front of his waste. He thumbed a lever on the left side of the belt and it seemed to bulge for a second, filling out and growing in mass until it resembled the belt from the snow resort. The bar man sighed.
"Have it your way, Ukisawa. As the cell leader, I'm reporting you for insurrection against PANDORA." The bar man pulled out an Egyptian talisman and begin to chanting in an alien tongue.
Batou raised his head, leveling those blue chips of ice in his sockets at the barman. Without much thought he spoke. "Henshin."
* * * * *
That night, authorities responded to a fire and multiple explosions in the warehouse district. The body of the barman wasn't recovered. The intensity of flames was said to rival a chemical fire... but no traces of chemicals were found at the scene, nor were any flammables in the vicinity. Reports described a large purple vortex of energy and a shadowy figure leaving the scene shortly after the explosions ended. Authorities, baffled by the events, file the incident with Section 12. The unsolved mysteries arm of the government.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Prelude
Japan. A gas station. A small bosozoku gang pulls in to fill up and harass the attendants. Typical kids, dressed in American clothes, talking like Gaijin, trying to be Gaijin. The Japanese equivalent of whiggers. They don't notice the lithe man dressed in the long shirt black dress shirt, the black dickies with studded belt and the silver cross ear ring in his left ear. A black ball cap is pulled low of over his face. The motorcycle punks carouse inside the kiosk, while the attendant scrambles to serve his sudden influx of customers. The man in black walks over to the bikes, examining each in turn. He discards the usual mix of Suziki Katanas and Kawasaki Ninjas. They're crap. He keeps looking. He finds it... the slim black Ducati racing bike. The diamond in the rough. He straddles it, as its owner comes walking out the door of the kiosk. The biker is shrieking a storm as the black clad stranger slips back off his prize. He motions for the keys. The biker refuses and howls for his mates, but his shrieking chokes in his throat as the black clad man wraps long, supple fingers around the throat and lifts the biker into the air. Whimpering, he surrenders the keys, only to be tossed into the pump across the way. The biker's head lies at a crooked angle from his neck... flopped against the pump. His friends come rushing out to here the purr of the Ducati fading away...
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Late afternoon has slid into evening, and miles away the Ducati purrs steadily along. The man in black has yet to don a helmet, and has crossed from suburbia to country to town to country and now he slows his bike finally. He lets the Ducati have a respite briefly, as he watches the shiny chrome and metal business park half empty on the outskirts of this little town, and then he reeves the purr back to a roar as the machine tears down the freeway.
The machine finally slows as he crests a hill in the town, and with a fluid motion, his head arcs to the alley way on the right. He stops the Ducati and dismounts, walking purposefully down the narrow ravine walled with rusty metal siding. He slides thru the shadows, his figure illuminated by the puddles of light given off by the greasy shade lanterns strung up after a bend in the alleyway. Drunken laughter spills out from the unevenly placed sheets of metal farther on down the side of the warehouse. Karaoke drifts in and out, and the man in black slips up to the cloth overhang erected over the back alley, and enters the makeshift karaoke bar unnoticed. The usual mix of corporate kids are there, to young to have a family, but still awkward with women. They're scattered about the bar and a heavy set older man is behind the counter. His eyes watch the black clad figure, with plain ebony ball cap pulled low. The lithe figure slinks back to the back, where a duo of two particularly ungainly young men sit, drunk and laughing. They're fresh faced out of college, maybe a few months with their company and the bitter reality of their pointless jobs has just begun to set in. The man in black lets their conversation continue briefly, waiting to act.
"Hey, Makoto, how long you think before we get promoted by old man Yamada?" The tall one slurs his words to his pimply friend.
"I don't know, Kaz, but it can't be much longer! The old man is gonna break wind when he sees what we've got!"
"Yeah... I don't know where you got that data disk..." Kaz stopped laughing as he saw the slim black shoulders, barely visable in this shadows. Kaz pushed his glasses up on his face and squinted, sloshing his glass and guzzling the golden brew. "Who are YOU?" The shadow whispered back.
"Correcting an error."
Kaz could barely shriek as the hand shot out, shattered the mug into his face and slumped as the hard palm slid his nose back into his brain cavity with a squashing crunch. Makoto stumbled out of the booth and tried to make it out the bar. But he stumbled on the cracked pavement outside the seedy little dive. His squat little body was lifted into the air, and tossed thru several sets of walls, by his friend's killer, who casually stepped thru the broken walls and with out a second thought, snapped Kaz's neck. A simple search revealed the dead man's keys, wallet, and the data disk. He turned to go back to his waiting Ducati, but the barmen strode out of the bar and called out to him.
"Stop right there. Batou. Batou...Ukisawa." The figure stopped as he heard the barman speak his name. The bar man continued. "As cell agent for PANDORA in this area, I'm ordering you to surrender the belt and report to the Chairman." Batou smirked, eyes still hidden by the cap.
"I don't work for you anymore, puppet." Batou reached into his back pocket, and withdrew a long, rectangular pad. He snapped the wings of the pad forward and set the middle piece around his back. He steadily pulled on the wings around until the click snapped as in buckle in the front of his waste. He thumbed a lever on the left side of the belt and it seemed to bulge for a second, filling out and growing in mass until it resembled the belt from the snow resort. The bar man sighed.
"Have it your way, Ukisawa. As the cell leader, I'm reporting you for insurrection against PANDORA." The bar man pulled out an Egyptian talisman and begin to chanting in an alien tongue.
Batou raised his head, leveling those blue chips of ice in his sockets at the barman. Without much thought he spoke. "Henshin."
* * * * *
That night, authorities responded to a fire and multiple explosions in the warehouse district. The body of the barman wasn't recovered. The intensity of flames was said to rival a chemical fire... but no traces of chemicals were found at the scene, nor were any flammables in the vicinity. Reports described a large purple vortex of energy and a shadowy figure leaving the scene shortly after the explosions ended. Authorities, baffled by the events, file the incident with Section 12. The unsolved mysteries arm of the government.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 1: Heaven Fire
Prelude
High above Earth, a conspiracy goes horribly wrong. Supposedly, the Shuttle Trinity was doing agricultural research, testing soybean's behavior in zero g. However, the international crew of 9 was not aware of the alternative agenda of some of its crew... A group calling itself PANDORA was planning on developing a super soldier program... but no sane government would open the political can of worms that was gene tech.
Instead, they planned on testing embryo's growth in the null g... space wasn't bound by the same political pussyfooting as Earth. The other part of these agents mission was to test a new super soldier weapon... ARMS... in space. Unfortunately, the Russian biologist and Cantonese communications officers discovered the agents. Doing their solemn duty, the PANDORA agents set the quarantine plan into motion. They were going to dive the shuttle straight into the atmosphere, eliminating all the witnesses and evidence. Instead, the Shuttle ricocheted off into the void, but no before debris broke off the shuttle. Debris of great interest.....
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The blizzard tore down through the narrow canyon walls, ricocheting through the sharp crevices and over every precipice. It was relentless, making it almost impossible for the search team to find any victims of one of the worst storms in years. There had been heavy avalanche activity in Diablo Pass, one of the ski runs at Crystal Peak ski resort, and the rescue units had been working steadily for the last 72 hours... bringing in stranded skiers and snowboarders. Sherry was tired, she and team 4 had been out all over the damn mountain when the call came in.
"Explosion sighted in Hell's Kitchen. Approximately 3 skiers were reportedly using that run today. Please respond."
"Damn," she rasped. Frizzy hair crunched as she pulled her cap and goggles back on, shouldering her pack.
"Oh, well. C'mon Bosco..." her K9 partner raised his head off a paw. He growled and woofed before scampering away from the fire place to the door. "Dispatch, this is Team 4. We're on our way..." She slipped out into the cold, a cup of cocoa on her mind...
* * * * *
3 1/2 hours later they had found three survivors... one man had been trapped in a drift twenty minutes outside the cabin. The other man, a retired hand surgeon, had been found 'examining' his secretary in one of the old cabins near the top of the mountain. Rolling her eyes, Sherry had secured the cabin and loaded everyone else into the truck when she saw the bright amber flashes playing off the frozen sheets of water near the cabin...
What the hell? She thought. She tried raising the lodge or dispatch. Nothing but static, and these were top of the line radios. She turned to her partner who was readying the modified little Chevy rig to head back.
"Steve. I'm going to something out. Get yourselves in the cabin here and If I'm not back in an hour or the storm worsens... head for the lodge," Steve obviously worried, nodded nonetheless and reversed what he was doing. Within a few minutes the Truck was in the shed by the cabin and the people were inside. Sherry left Bosco with Steve and headed off towards the falls. She had to be care as she went, because the falls rarely froze, but it was still icy cold spray...and the slick ice was treacherous going. Sherry had begun walking across the small ledge that wound behind and then up and over the falls (where the last pocket of Fir Trees sat, crouched near the base of the final spire of the mountain) when the first explosion rocked the mountain side. Sherry froze, and scurried across to the other side of the ledge, where she slipped and a few tense seconds passed as she tried to stand without falling off the side of the trail. She managed to scoop herself up and ran, just as a concussive set of tremors tore the ground away and tossed it to the mist shrouded depths.
Racing up the snow choked path, she slogged her way to the top in time to see a screaming vortex of purple black something flare up and dissolve.... Screaming, she ducked. Wisely, it turned out, because a sonic boom slashed out... the whole resort must have shook...ice and glass shattering. Shelly crawled to her feet again, and picked her way thru the melted, bare ground... scorched, bare earth... in February. The waterfall was fed by a deep well of water that must have risen from a deep fissure in the Earth, because the thing fed fresh water year round... and as she made her way the spring's cave, she gasped at the gouged and splintered timber... deep clawed divots in the soil and a great deal of melted snow. There as a huge crater off to one side, like someone had taken a monster cigarette and grinded it into the side of the mountain. Sherry shivered.
Stranger still, she found herself sweating... she actually dropped her parka as she got near the spring because it was so warm... like one of those natural hot springs....
But Crystal Peaks has no geothermal vents near it. All the water is COLD... she realized silently. Thats when she say the body in the very deep part of the cave, bobbing in the water. It began sinking, face down.
"Shit!!" Sherry lunged into the water, and cursed her thick ski boots almost immediately, awkwardly kicking down to the sinking body. She grabbed it and was immediately yanked downwards. Sherry wiggled around and saw the heavy metallic belt around the person's waste. She managed to push it off and struggled for the surface, the person in tow. She sputtered as she flopped the body onto the dry stone ground.
There's no snow here either, She realized. The crystal dome far overhead was shattered, and the mournful howl of the wind could be heard... ... butbut it was balmy as a San Diego Summer day where she was. She turned her attention to the man's life she had just saved. He was beautiful, to say the least., with his delicate hands and high cheeks. He was dressed in some kind of one piece jumpsuit affair... though it was torn to rags. Sherry put her ear to the man's chest, and was amazed to hear the strong, steady heartbeat. She wasn't ready for it when his gorgeous eyes, purest frozen chunks of blue, inset under long lashes, to open and hold her hostage.
* * * *
Her body wasn't found for months, until the ice of the spring surrendered the staring, empty eyed carcass. The belt and the man were gone.
Next Time: Kamen Rider ARMS- Episode 2- Karaoke Massacre
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Prelude
High above Earth, a conspiracy goes horribly wrong. Supposedly, the Shuttle Trinity was doing agricultural research, testing soybean's behavior in zero g. However, the international crew of 9 was not aware of the alternative agenda of some of its crew... A group calling itself PANDORA was planning on developing a super soldier program... but no sane government would open the political can of worms that was gene tech.
Instead, they planned on testing embryo's growth in the null g... space wasn't bound by the same political pussyfooting as Earth. The other part of these agents mission was to test a new super soldier weapon... ARMS... in space. Unfortunately, the Russian biologist and Cantonese communications officers discovered the agents. Doing their solemn duty, the PANDORA agents set the quarantine plan into motion. They were going to dive the shuttle straight into the atmosphere, eliminating all the witnesses and evidence. Instead, the Shuttle ricocheted off into the void, but no before debris broke off the shuttle. Debris of great interest.....
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The blizzard tore down through the narrow canyon walls, ricocheting through the sharp crevices and over every precipice. It was relentless, making it almost impossible for the search team to find any victims of one of the worst storms in years. There had been heavy avalanche activity in Diablo Pass, one of the ski runs at Crystal Peak ski resort, and the rescue units had been working steadily for the last 72 hours... bringing in stranded skiers and snowboarders. Sherry was tired, she and team 4 had been out all over the damn mountain when the call came in.
"Explosion sighted in Hell's Kitchen. Approximately 3 skiers were reportedly using that run today. Please respond."
"Damn," she rasped. Frizzy hair crunched as she pulled her cap and goggles back on, shouldering her pack.
"Oh, well. C'mon Bosco..." her K9 partner raised his head off a paw. He growled and woofed before scampering away from the fire place to the door. "Dispatch, this is Team 4. We're on our way..." She slipped out into the cold, a cup of cocoa on her mind...
* * * * *
3 1/2 hours later they had found three survivors... one man had been trapped in a drift twenty minutes outside the cabin. The other man, a retired hand surgeon, had been found 'examining' his secretary in one of the old cabins near the top of the mountain. Rolling her eyes, Sherry had secured the cabin and loaded everyone else into the truck when she saw the bright amber flashes playing off the frozen sheets of water near the cabin...
What the hell? She thought. She tried raising the lodge or dispatch. Nothing but static, and these were top of the line radios. She turned to her partner who was readying the modified little Chevy rig to head back.
"Steve. I'm going to something out. Get yourselves in the cabin here and If I'm not back in an hour or the storm worsens... head for the lodge," Steve obviously worried, nodded nonetheless and reversed what he was doing. Within a few minutes the Truck was in the shed by the cabin and the people were inside. Sherry left Bosco with Steve and headed off towards the falls. She had to be care as she went, because the falls rarely froze, but it was still icy cold spray...and the slick ice was treacherous going. Sherry had begun walking across the small ledge that wound behind and then up and over the falls (where the last pocket of Fir Trees sat, crouched near the base of the final spire of the mountain) when the first explosion rocked the mountain side. Sherry froze, and scurried across to the other side of the ledge, where she slipped and a few tense seconds passed as she tried to stand without falling off the side of the trail. She managed to scoop herself up and ran, just as a concussive set of tremors tore the ground away and tossed it to the mist shrouded depths.
Racing up the snow choked path, she slogged her way to the top in time to see a screaming vortex of purple black something flare up and dissolve.... Screaming, she ducked. Wisely, it turned out, because a sonic boom slashed out... the whole resort must have shook...ice and glass shattering. Shelly crawled to her feet again, and picked her way thru the melted, bare ground... scorched, bare earth... in February. The waterfall was fed by a deep well of water that must have risen from a deep fissure in the Earth, because the thing fed fresh water year round... and as she made her way the spring's cave, she gasped at the gouged and splintered timber... deep clawed divots in the soil and a great deal of melted snow. There as a huge crater off to one side, like someone had taken a monster cigarette and grinded it into the side of the mountain. Sherry shivered.
Stranger still, she found herself sweating... she actually dropped her parka as she got near the spring because it was so warm... like one of those natural hot springs....
But Crystal Peaks has no geothermal vents near it. All the water is COLD... she realized silently. Thats when she say the body in the very deep part of the cave, bobbing in the water. It began sinking, face down.
"Shit!!" Sherry lunged into the water, and cursed her thick ski boots almost immediately, awkwardly kicking down to the sinking body. She grabbed it and was immediately yanked downwards. Sherry wiggled around and saw the heavy metallic belt around the person's waste. She managed to push it off and struggled for the surface, the person in tow. She sputtered as she flopped the body onto the dry stone ground.
There's no snow here either, She realized. The crystal dome far overhead was shattered, and the mournful howl of the wind could be heard... ... butbut it was balmy as a San Diego Summer day where she was. She turned her attention to the man's life she had just saved. He was beautiful, to say the least., with his delicate hands and high cheeks. He was dressed in some kind of one piece jumpsuit affair... though it was torn to rags. Sherry put her ear to the man's chest, and was amazed to hear the strong, steady heartbeat. She wasn't ready for it when his gorgeous eyes, purest frozen chunks of blue, inset under long lashes, to open and hold her hostage.
* * * *
Her body wasn't found for months, until the ice of the spring surrendered the staring, empty eyed carcass. The belt and the man were gone.
Next Time: Kamen Rider ARMS- Episode 2- Karaoke Massacre
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
