Chapter 37: Ghost Ship, Attack of the Perfects!
Subtitle: United as One
QR & Crew had found us in the back alleyway, and we all helped transfer Shinyu into the infirmary ward of the HMS NaruSaku. QR was pretty surprised to see him fully detoxed and physically well, but it was the psychological addiction and withdrawal that he would have to deal with. There's a reason why detox takes weeks, months, and sometimes years. You do it one step at a time, but I had no choice. It was either save him now, or have another one of my crew members dead. Only this time there was no one else to save him, but me. I don't regret doing what I did, and if I had to do it again I would. I believed in him, and I know he'll get through this. After all, he's one of us. He never gives up.
The reason why we took the HMS to sail was that, I felt that it was time for a full voyage out to sea. With every crew member available to sail with us, although some did chose to stay behind. Of course we had the usual new recruits, but to name those who came where: Smiter, Ash, Alpha, Blayze, Aethos, Yoko, Soritia, QR, HH, Bass, Arashi, Keira, Mel, UN, Shinyu, and myself. It was gonna be a full voyage this time around, and I was glad that a few of our members who were station out in NF were able to join us again, namely UN.
This voyage was more of another one of our leisure "cruises", well except for our new recruits; we let them do all the work since this was their boot camp now. It was funny because the fresh meat swabbed the decks, did our busy work, and were on full duty, while we sat back and enjoyed the ride. I think Blayze even did volunteered to be a drill instructor, hazing them, and pushing them to be tough. It was good training for them, and good relaxation time for all of us main crew members. With all the drama and excitement happening now a days, even we need vacations.
And so we sailed for about a couple weeks, to a month. I checked in the Infirmary each day to see how Shinyu's progress was doing. He was recovering quite well, sometimes his moods would change. Either he would be completely exhausted and dead tired, or others he would be awake and wanting to talk. But physically his body was still exhausted; he only got up when QR took him to physical therapy. But over all he was getting stronger each day.
On the third week of our vacation ... errr ... "Training Exercise", we decided to take to the air, because there was storm coming towards our coarse of direction. But once in the air, something most unlikely happened...
*bleep bleep* - *bleep bleep*
Alpha was sitting leaned back, feet on the console when the radar signal went off. At first glance she thought it was just in her head. But then the beeping continued for another few minutes. So she got off her chair and sat up to see what the big deal was.
"What the crap???" She said with a confused look.
A few moments later, she called me up to the bridge room to show me her problem. Alpha took me over to her monitor and showed me the radar on screen. There was a distress signal within the area of where we were, only it was right already almost in front of us. The problem with this distress call was the fact that we were already airborne ... and the signal isn't coming from below, or above, but on the same air space as us. It at first Alpha didn't believe it herself, but double checked it and it was a real signal, not some glitch in the system.
"What do we do, captain?" She asked just as baffled as I was.
I put a hand to my chin and thought of what to do. What this some kind of a joke, or another trick/trap waiting for us. After all we weren't the only ones with airships and such. Finally I decided-
"Okay, let's check it out, but everyone stay on alert."
Alpha nodded her head and went back to her station to try and open a communication link to the distress call. I went over to my chair and opened the com to everyone.
"Attention all crew members. We've just received a strange distress signal. If this is some kind of joke or prank, whoever is responsible is in big trouble. But regardless, we are going to the signal's location to see if it is real or not. All hands be on alert incase of sudden attack."
I closed the com, and sat down into my chair. Soon some of the main crew came to their stations. Arashi, Soritia, Smiter, Ash, and Yoko came to the bridge room to report in. Everyone else either continued on with their own business, or went to their stations. I wasn't ordering them to battle stations, but I just wanted everyone to be prepared in case worse comes to worse. Our ship kept its coarse, soon the signal was getting stronger, and we were getting closer, but Alpha couldn't get a direct communication link up with the distress call. After about another ten minutes or so, we came to the spot where the signal originally was coming from. But there was nothing there...
"This is where the distress call originates." Alpha said as she looked at the radar and then out the front window.
All there was in front of us was clouds ... but the effect made it look like we were still on the sea with heavy fog in the air. Suddenly I had a very bad feeling about this, and stepped over in front of the window and looked all around.
"Nothing. There's nothing here or out there." I mumbled to myself. "Something doesn't feel right."
Soon after a few moments, Blayze & Aethos came up to the bridge to scope out the situation.
"Oy! Boss why've we stopped? What's the big deal?" He spoke in his usual gruff voice.
Smiter updated them both on the situation. Just then I though I saw something in the fog. Something that I thought could not be possible, so I ran out of the bridge room and onto the outside deck area.
"Hoku! What is it!?" Smiter responded to my reaction and came after me, followed by Yoko, Ash, and Blayze.
We were all out on the main deck surrounded by the heavy fog. Something indeed didn't feel right, and if what I saw was correct ... then this isn't some kind of a prank, but a trap indeed. I wondered how this could be possible, but had to be sure so I called down back to Alpha by direct com link.
"Alpha, look closer at the frequency. And please tell me I'm wrong." I spoke quickly.
Alpha back on the radar looked at the signal and analyzed it as quickly as she could, and when the frequency number came back ...
"Oh my God. What the kitten is this? Captain, it can't be!? It's one of our own, but ... it's-it's-" She muttered back.
"-The NaruSaku Mk.II." And after I had finished the sentence, out of the dark fog came the silhouette of our previous ship.
Just about everyone couldn't believe their eyes. From the distance it looked like it had just come back from hell or wherever it was, all broken and rickety, the sails all torn and what not. It wasn't possible; the Mk.II was completely destroyed to nothing more than kindling wood. We even recovered our sail.
"A Ghost Ship, Hoku?" Smiter asked me first.
"Oh come on! It's probably the booze just messing with our minds!" Blayze shook his head and tried to reason. "I knew Geno put something extra in those drinks last night!"
---
Meanwhile in the Infirmary...
"Hey why have we stopped?" Shinyu said as he was lying in bed, QR checking up on him.
"Iunno. Captain said something about a distress call." QR spoke as she check his blood pressure. Then his heart rate monitor. "Although it's kinda silly. We're in the air for God's sake. What kind of distress signal comes from the air-"
QR finally turned back around to check Shinyu's breathing, only to find that he wasn't in the bed anymore. But limping over to look out the window of the infirmary.
"What!? Hey! Come back here you!" QR angrily shook her hand at him, and walked over to the window to get him by the arm. But then neither of them moved from the window. "You know you're not supposed - to ..."
"... whoa ..." Was all Shinyu could mutter, as they were both staring at what looked like a ghost airship.
---
"Even if it were a ghost ship, are there such things as Ghost Airships?" Ash began to question.
I spoke to myself, and then Arashi called me from the bridge room. "I suppose even airships have ghosts-"
"-Captain no! That is NOT our ship, and I know it. I fell with our ship, and although it still pains us, I saw it shatter to pieces! And remember! We only have one ship! This one, the one we are on right now!" Arashi put some sense back into all of us.
We all shook our heads and wiped our eyes to really see if the ship was there before us or not. But to our surprise the ship had suddenly disappeared, and the signal had disappeared from radar.
"Are you kittening kidding me? Now it's gone-" Just as Alpha began to swear and get angry, a new signal came up only more rapid.
*beep beep* - *beep beep*
"Captain! Contact! There's a ship on sea level that's really in distress!" Alpha tried to get a com link to the distress call, this time there was an answer.
It was a female voice. "Coast Guard! Coast Guard! Somebody! Anybody! S.O.S.! We're trapped out here in the storm-" *wind blowing* "-need assistance immediately! We can't get out! Please!"
After that the radio went dead, and Alpha tried to get a signal back, but the storm below us must be jamming the communications temporarily. Alpha then reported back up to me, and we all came back down to the bridge room. I ordered everyone to their stations for rescue operations. And so we began our decent down back into the storm we sought to escape. There was the ship; it was like another small battleship, strangely similar to our old MK.II. Their ship had been struck dead out in the water, one of their rotors had been torn off by the violent waves of the storm. We came down and assisted as many of their crew into our ship ... but strange as it was ... there was only one survivor. That same woman who called in the distress.
We got her off the boat and tied off her boat to ours, so that they were side to side. Since the HMS NaruSaku was full-fledged battle-destroyer we could afford to wait out this storm, and help the girl fix her boat. As we took her out of the storm and into our ship, I believe it was Ash & Alpha who helped he dry off. We all gathered to see who this lone survivor was in the middle of this horrific storm.
It was a young girl, not much older than Ash, or me. For some strange reason we all felt like something was coming over us. As she dried her air off and swung it all around, it was like being mesmerized by a goddess. Her beauty was beyond comparison, her skin light and smooth, her fair silky and shiny, the way she smiled as we helped her out of the storm was just ... whoa.
What the hells gotten into me!? I shook my head to clear of those strange thoughts, and went over to see our new guest. Meanwhile everyone was still ogling her, so I had to tell everyone off.
"Okay Fresh Meat! Nothing to see here, everyone back to your posts. Or it's 3 weeks in the meat grinder for you dogs!"
I barked at everyone, and they all immediately left. It was only me, Ash, and Alpha with this girl. I made it first to introduce myself, so I held out my hand to assist her to her feet.
"Welcome aboard. I'm the captain of this ship, Hokuten. We had just received your distress call, and came as quickly as we could, miss?"
"Mary. My name is Mary." She had the voice of a goddess, so sweet and pure, almost heavenly. "And thank you for saving me. I was traveling to this place called H&E, but my ship got caught in the storm so I was trapped out there..."
As soon as she said it, the three of us looked at each other. Did she just say H&E? This had caught our attention, and I grew a little suspicious of this, but maybe she was just trying to get there.
"Well, you're in luck Mary. You are aboard the ship main ship of H&E. The HMS NaruSaku herself! We are of the NaruSaku, and it seems that we found you, instead of you finding us!" Alpha cheerfully told her.
I gave a hearty laugh, and she laughed herself. My God! That laugh it to was soo heavenly, like angel's singing. I nearly lost my mind once again, so I had to shake my head free of this spell!
"I'm sorry? Are you okay?" She asked with a smile.
Something was wrong; I'm not one to act like this. So I tried to avoid eye contact and simply stood up from where I was.
"I'm okay. Ash, Alpha, take care of our guest, while we wait for the storm to pass." I turned away and began to walk over to the elevator back up. As I got into the elevator, and turned around again. "Please make yourself comfortable. Our ship is your ship. Feel free to stay in any of our rooms, and recreation areas."
As I left the three girls to their own, Ash & Alpha already go Mary up and they took her to the infirmary to get checked. Meanwhile on my way back to the bridge, I was in the elevator, heavy in thought.
Something wasn't right. This new girl couldn't have just been a coincidence. Something or someone must have set her upon us. I don't have a good feeling about her, but for now we'll harbor her. And that way she was making us all feel, what the kitten happened back there...
---
Mary got checked up by QR, who said she was absolutely fine. In fact she was better than fine, almost in perfect condition. Not a scratch or injury to her in that storm. She must have been one tough girl, sailing all by herself like that. In the infirmary she met Shinyu, who was still in bed but awake. Next she went around meeting everyone on the ship, getting to know them and saying hello. This girl went from person to person like a ship on water. Almost everyone's responses were the same, all of them cheerful and happy to see a fresh new face. They even had time to talk with her a bit and tell her about themselves. From what I had heard, it was like talking to someone who knew exactly how they felt and matched their every persona. That was what I had a problem with, so I called Smiter, my First Mate, into my office.
"You sent for me captain?" He spoke with that awesome grin of his! (You know what I'm talking about! )
I was sitting in my tall chair leaning back; my face was covered by shadow. "The new girl. Have you met her yet?"
"Aye captain, I have." He replied.
"What are your thoughts? I think I know who she is, but I want your analysis as well."
"The men say she's like the perfect woman to ever exist. She matches each person to their own specific tastes. I don't trust her either Hoku." Smiter explained his thoughts.
I leaned forward onto my desk, with my elbows supporting me. My face was dark with though. "Then if we're right about who she is, then we've got a bigger problem on our hands..."
---
Later that evening, I sent Aethos over to the other ship to see if he could fix it, by the end of the night. But more importantly, I wanted him to check for something in specific. Only now he would find something even more troubling...
*static* "Boss, I'm in the ship now. You're not gonna believe this. Over." *static*
I was sitting in my office again, on a private channel with Aethos. "Well what do you think?"
*static* "This ship ... is practically a replica of the Mk.II! And the only reason I can think of how is that this ship is actually a ..." *static*
My assumptions were correct, and I leaned over onto my desk again with my elbows supporting me, and my face was dark. "... N***H*** ship."
*static* "Yeah. Hey what the kitten!? Boss! They've got one of our transponders!?" *static*
"What!? That's impossible!" I stood up from my chair now, as this was even more perplexing news. "The only way they could have that is if ..."
*static* "Yeah, they must have salvaged the one from the Mk.II. This is some kittened up kitten right here, but after all we did steal their ship. So it isn't that hard for them to find it." *static*
"But lucky for us, when that other storm came, they didn't track our movements to H&E. Okay, good work Aethos. I want you back immediately, the storm seems to be calming down." I sat back down into my chair and now had to think of a plan to get the SPY off of our ship without taking her to H&E. But suddenly...
*static* "10-4 Boss- Hey! Who the kitten!? You want a piece of me!? COME GET SOME!!!" *static*
After I heard Aethos' do his infamous battle taunt, and there was suddenly noises of fighting in the background. I could hear Aethos' blades clashing with whatever, or whoever was attacking him! After a good minute or two the radio went dead, and I tried to call in Aethos.
"Oy, Aethos. What happened? Report."
*static* " ... " *static*
"Report soldier!" I yelled, but what happened next I could not expect.
*static* " ... we're coming for you ... " *static*
And then there was complete radio silence. The voice was low and too broken up. It wasn't Aethos, but it was definitely a male. So now we have another unknown variable in our way. Was it a surprise attack waiting for us? Or is it just two people who think they're confident they could take me on? Either way, I knew what I had to do. Soon the storm would end as well as this whole mess.
I called Smiter back into my room again, to tell him of what I had planned...
In the early hours of the next day, the storm had completely passed, but the fog was still there and twice as thick. Smiter met with Mary, and escorted her to the main deck, alone. To Mary it seemed very quiet and there wasn't much movement going on in the ship, but then again it was very early out. So she asked...
"Excuse me Smiter, but where is everyone?" She asked in that sweet tone of voice.
Smiter fought against her spell with his strong will and love for Ash. "It's still early out. The captain only wished for you to get a move on before things got busy."
As they both walked out onto the deck docking her own ship, she looked around, and saw that they were still in the ocean. She then turned around to give this confused puppy dog look.
"Where are we? Are we not going to H&E?" She asked yet again.
"No." Smiter pushed her away from him and his blade quickly before her.
Still playing the confused maiden, she put on a confused and frightened face. "Why are you doing this?"
She got up from where she was, and began to take a step toward Smiter. But he immediately pointed his blade at her, making her jump back.
"We don't take kindly to spies, or assassins." He said with a dead tone.
After realizing that her gig was up, it was like she completely transformed. No longer was a sweet and innocent girl, but now a sweet and dark looking girl. She still had that look of utter perfection, but her attitude was different.
"So I guess you've finally figured it out huh? When did you realize this? Or did was your captain too slow to know?" She mocked Smiter and gave this laugh as if she were some higher being.
Smiter gave no reaction to her taunt, only answered with. "The captain exactly knew who you were the moment you stepped onto this ship, Mary Sue."
The girl now scoffed, but was still laughing. "And he sends his First Mate in his stead, rather than face us himself!? How cowardice-"
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE HIM!" Smiter spoke angrily. "Rather than have him bloody his hands, I would gladly slay you myself."
"And yet he lets us go? Your captain is a fool." She retorted.
"Do not take our Captain's kindness as stupidity. He took you in even knowing that you were an enemy. Even enemies can show a decency of respect. But you, snaking through all of our crew members. Gather info and what not. But you won't get anywhere near our home." Smiter stood fast, showing his bravado.
He knew he may not have a chance, he could die at this very moment, but it was his devotion and pure strength of will that kept him there.
"Now leave."
The girl was at a stand off, she knew he was ready and willing to die, so how could she fight this. Instead she simply turned her charms on to full power, and she began to work her spell on him once again. Smiter tried to fight it off, but little by little everything began to become wavy and loose. He didn't know what was coming over him, all he could hear was some sweet voice in his head speaking his name. Before he knew it, Mary Sue was upon him and already disarming his katana. Smiter was completely under her spell now, he couldn’t move nor could he do anything. All he could hear was his name being called ...
~Smiter~ ... ~Smiter~ ... "Smiter!"
That last one sounded very familiar, not the same voice that was running through his head.
"Oy! Smiter!"
There it was again, the only voice he knew that could call him like that. Suddenly the spell was broken, and he shook off his head to see whom it was that broke the spell! It was non-other than Lady Luck herself, Ash! Ash had woken up and saw him go off on his own, all she saw was him out on the deck with THAT girl all up on him. Almost immediately Ash instantly transformed into Inner Kyuubi!
"OY! Get your bloody hands off my MEAT!" She shouted out.
Smiter tripped over himself as Ash had just called him "a piece of meat". Ash came running over to him and pulled him away from Mary Sue. Then she held him close to her like a rag doll.
All Smiter could say before he passed out was. "I'm a piece of meat to you?"
"Not just any piece of meat." Ash simply smiled at him with this big grin of satisfaction, but she happily responded with. "MY MEAT!"
Unsure of whether this was good or bad, it seemed like angels were over his head now taking his soul to heaven. And poor Smiter passed out. Now Ash in Inner Kyuubi mode stood before the temptress. Mary Sue looking away innocently, as if she didn't do anything, tried to walk away.
"Oy! Look here b*tch. I don't care if you're our guest anymore, but no one messes with my Smiter!" Just then Ash pulled out her guns and pointed them dead on at Mary Sue. "We're canon and I intend to keep it that way!"
Just as Ash was going to pump the girl full of lead, Mary Sue pulled out a barrage of Kakashi plushies, but Ash stood still. Amazingly it had no effect on her ... this time!
"That won't work missy. I know when love comes before obsession." Ash still had her sights dead on Mary Sue.
Mary Sue somehow disappointed, simply cocked her head and sighed. "Oh."
And again just before Ash was about to go trigger happy, she got knocked in the back of the head. Just as she fell to Smiter's side she saw who knocked her out. It was a guy, who looked almost exactly like Mary Sue ... Just then Ash realized who it was.
"ughh ... Gary Stu ... uggh" And she was out cold.
"Well sister, you sure took your sweet time." He spoke in his sweet voice. "But it seems we've already revealed ourselves.
Gary Stu pointed up at the bridge room, and Mary Sue looked to see that I was standing at the window watching them both. Mary Sue simply gave this cutesy wave at me, and Gary Stu pointed directly at me signaling. "We're coming for you."
I nodded my head to signal to them. "I'm waiting."
---
Back up in the bridge room...
I stepped away from the window and moved back over to sit in my chair.
"Yoko. Full lock-down. Make a path leading to here. They want me, let them come to me."
"Hai, sensei." She did as she was told, went over to a control panel and began to access the ship's security system.
Arashi & Sori were unsure what to make of my decision and began to question my motives. I sat back in my chair and told them everything. Then I picked up the intercom and announced to my crew.
"All hands. This is your captain. Prepare for full interior lock-down. All members are to remain in their rooms until further notice. This goes for Senior crew members as well. I don't want anybody being stupid and acting like a hero. Do not, I repeat, do NOT come in contact with the intruders. This dispute is between myself and them."
Just then after my announcement, the ship went into red alert, and the red lights in all the hallways began to flash. Most of the ship was completely locked down and secured, except for a specific pathway that led up to the bridge room. Now all I could do as wait. But instead I sat back down in my chair and put a hand to my head.
"Great. Just what I needed ... twins."
---
Outside on the deck...
Mary Sue & Gary Stu made their way into the ship. Everything was completely locked down, and they couldn't access any other pathways or computer systems. All that was before them was a single open path leading to a stair well to the second floor, then that pathway to the elevator to the bridge room. They both laughed and scoffed at such a tactic I had provided with them.
"The man wants to die." Gary Stu laughed.
Mary Sue scoffed and also giggled. "If he wants death so quickly, let's give it to him. Shall we brother?"
"Yes." He had an evil grin and looked to his sister. "Let's."
And they began their siege, making their way into the first hallway. They took a few first steps into the hallway, the red lights flashing. As they came up to the first door on their left, it bursted open! And about a hundred Naruto plushies came storming out! It was Keira trying to avenge her master!
"Go my pretties go! Ahahahaha!!!" She laughed maniacally and ordered her army of little Narutos to charge!
The little Narutos swarmed all over the two twins and soon they were overwhelmed. At first Keira thought she had beat them, since there was no movement from under the swarm. So she started to do her victory dance, when suddenly the pile exploded and she being held up choking. Mary Sue had grabbed her by the throat, strangling the poor girl. Just then she was shot in the arm by another girl across the room.
"She's with me." There was Mel sitting back in her chair with her gun smoking! And then stood up, tipping her hat. "You dun knocked up my friend, Ash. Now that's a crime!"
Mel saved Keira, but then in that room it got rowdy. Mel and Keira tried to fight off the Perfects, but it was no use, they got battered in and beaten down. It was a valiant try for the two new comers, but they were out classed. After the brawling and shoot out, the two Perfects walked out of that room unharmed. They continued down the hallway a few more doors, then the fifth door on their right bursted open and there was a great explosion! Bombs! All sorts of bombs and firetraps came out! It was my brother Blayze's turn to strike! He threw all sorts of Molotov cocktails and explosive concoctions at the two twins!
"You want my brother!? You gotta go through me!" He bellowed out and threw more fire bombs at them.
But even then, they simply walked through the fire, and entered the bar room to cause a ruckus! Blayze, Geno, and anyone in the tavern part of the ship fought with their lives! It was one hell of a bar fight! But even with the numbers and such they all gotten beaten to a pulp. After the intense bar fight, the twins once again left unharmed, and continued up the stair well. In the close and confined area of the stair well they were drop kicked from above! It was Alpha! She ran out of the bridge room after witnessing her sister go down, and intercepted them in the stair well! Alpha tried to pull her MegaTon hammer but got stuck on the railing above her! But it was no big deal; she let go and took hand-to-hand combat! She fought off the two as if it was nothing, but soon they both adapted to her style and technique rendering it useless!
Alpha then was taken out of the picture. Even still beaten she grabbed hold of Gary Stu's ankle, but he simply kicked her off. Now they were on the second level. Only down the hall and to the elevator was left for them. They began walking slowly again, expecting for more "surprise attacks" that were futile, but instead came to the galley, where the door was open. Just as they passed it, a volley of stiletto knives came flying through! It impaled the both of them lightly, but they simply plucked them out like it was dust. Just then UN threw his trump card, his butcher knife! But to his surprise Gary Stu caught it like a twig in the wind and immediately threw it back!
UN still shocked at this couldn't react in time, but luckily his wife opened a refrigerator door to stop the blade just inches from his face. Then HH quickly closed the door to seal them out. They lucked out that time.
The twins kept moving forward. Almost seven doors away from the elevator, when suddenly Shinyu came busting out of his door with his dual Gladius swords! But then he lost grip of one and fell to the side, supporting himself against the wall. The twins knew that he was still weak and not fully recovered. So they simply laughed and mocked him. QR came to Shinyu's aid and tried to reason with him.
"Lee no!" She tried to pull him back to his bed.
Shinyu still struggling to get back up, willed himself back to stand on his own two feet. "Let go of me Haylee! Don't you understand!? They'll kill the captain! I have to stop them! I am the last line!"
"But you could get killed!?" She still held him back.
Shinyu looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. "Then at least my life has meaning, and I can die protecting someone I treasure! Someone we all treasure!"
QR couldn't fight that argument, and let go of Shinyu. Shinyu grabbed his other Gladius and with all his might ran out the door charging at the two twins with all his speed! Even though he was bedridden for the past two weeks, he still had his training! He came in low, and struck from anywhere he could! His dual sword technique was magnificent! He fought with whatever willpower that drove him! Actually driving the twins back a few steps! And suddenly Shinyu had an opening to finish them both! He did a quick jump back, and folded his arms across his chest in an X and closed his eyes to focus energy!
"Hhhhhhaaaaaaa!"
He opened his eyes, had 100% concentration and moved like a demon! Like a shadow that follows its master! But suddenly in mid flight-
"Holy Cro-"
But it was too much! Even though he got himself up with pure will, he was still limited to his physical domain! He hadn't fully recovered, he hadn't finished his physical therapy, and now his body was completely exhausted again.
"argh ... no ... not now!"
He weakly spoke as he saw the twins counterattack. They both punched him in the gut, then did a uppercut that sent him flying back to where QR was. QR quickly went to his aid, and dragged him back into the Infirmary. The twins walked passed and simply mocked the poor boy who was unable to move again.
"Fool. Wasting your life for some stupid captain." Gary Stu said in that elegant upper class voice.
QR angered and treating Shinyu as quickly as she could replied back. "He cares for us all. Enough that we'd risk our lives for him. And I hope he sends you both back to whatever hell you came from!"
The twins scoffed and laughed at her threats. They finally made it to the elevator, and pressed up. Now the only ones left in their way were Arashi & Sori, Yoko, and finally me. It would only be a few seconds before they would be upon us, and wreck havoc. Both Arashi & Sori drew forth their blades ready to strike as soon as the doors opened. I was still sitting in my captain's chair, my katana leaning against the side. My hand was on the hilt, but not grasping my blade. Yoko was standing at my side, also prepared to do battle, but she did not draw her katana or wakazashi yet.
*DING*
The elevator had reached the bridge room and the doors opened! The two twins simply stepped out, and saw Arashi & Sori so they dueled! Arashi was fencing against Mary Sue as Sri was fighting against Gary Stu! They both gave the best as they could but both were knocked away and hit their backs against the walls. Now it came to Yoko. Gary Stu came form the left as Mary Sue came from the right. The both of them walking slowly towards us. Yoko then stepped out in front of me and drew forth both her katana & wakazashi!
"I won't let you take him! HAA!"
And she charged them both! Yoko had been training intensely since we came back from the Juno incident. I kept teaching her new, better, stronger techniques and strategies on fighting. She increased her speed, her strength, and stamina within those few weeks before we sailed off. Yoko charged them both, fighting one, and then kicking the other away so that she could fight them one-on-one at a time! Then as they both came simultaneously she indeed impressed me with her sword work! She fought the both of them at the same time with great speed and strength! But still she was way out of her league and was knocked away down to where I was.
The twins began to move forward to finish her off, and Yoko began to back up to me. Then they both raised their swords to strike at Yoko, but as their swords came crashing down, they were both stopped by another blade. My blade. I had stood up from my chair, and blocked their blades from striking at Yoko. I was holding my katana with my right, while my left was holding my sheath. The two twins saw that I had finally taken action, and they backed away.
"So finally the fool captain fights-" Mary Sue began.
And Gary Stu finished. "-after we had dispatched all your crew members."
I said nothing and stood fast not making any movement. "..."
"What's wrong great leader?" Gary Stu began.
Mary Sue finished. "Too afraid to speak, when death is upon you?"
They both taunted me with their starting and finishing each other's sentences. After another moment, I moved my blade and then they both flinched. Getting into a battle position as if they were spooked. I simply lifted my blade up and sheathed it slowly. It was a tense moment for them, because they didn't know what to expect from me. I found it funny how here they are, dispatched my entire crew, and now have a two-on-one advantage, yet still show fear of what I could do. Too them, I was their unknown factor. I was the only one they haven't had any contact to establish any weaknesses. They still stood in battle position unsure of what to do. Next I took a step forward, just past Yoko who was watching me, and the twins moved back a step as well.
"Yoko." I spoke in a low voice.
She immediately got up and had her fighting spirit back again. She was ready to charge again, but I held out my arm to stop her. She looked to me and understood why I had stopped her. This was now my fight. The twins saw that I was now very serious about fighting, so they both grinned and then jumped backwards out the windows and onto the main deck. It must have been at least a 20 ft drop down?!
"They're not human..." Yoko quietly said to herself, but the witnessed me jump out the window myself and landed perfectly on the deck. She couldn't believe her eyes and ran to the window to see if I was okay. "Captain..."
Then she ran over to the elevator and tried to catch up with me. Meanwhile on the deck, I faced off with the two twins. They both backed away from me keeping their distance, as I slowly stepped towards them. It was like they were ready to strike at any moment, yet still backing away from me. They knew that they could make the jump down, but hadn't expected me to do the same.
"What's wrong? Are the high and mighty Perfects finally afraid that they've met their match?" I said with a low tone. "You're starting too disappoint me. And here I thought I was as good as dead."
They both scoffed then began to laugh. Afterwards the got into battle stances, and looked at each other as if to synchronize. Yoko had finally made it to the doorway out onto the deck, and saw me engage battle!
First they both rushed in one following the other! I blocked the first one without drawing froth my blade, simply knocked Gary Stu with the butt of my sheath. But as he went down, his sister Mary Sue followed directly behind him, leapt up and over! Again, I blocked her attack from above with my sheath, not revealing my blade.
Their first strike had failed, but they hadn't given up. Next they came simultaneously from both sides and then all around! To them it was like cutting air literally, because I could read both of their movements and dodged each attack with great ease. To Yoko it looked like I was doing a waltz around in a circle, simply moving my body form left to right, or shifting me head left to right.
Their second attack was futile. When there was an opening, I focused my inner chi and pushed them both back at the same time, throwing up my katana, pushing them with the palms of my fists, then catching my katana on its way back down. I stood there still unharmed, unscathed, and growing tired of this meddlesome affair.
"I know you were sent by the N***H***. I knew you were contracted by them a long time ago. But ever since the downfall of NT, it got hard for you to track us. Until you salvaged our old transponder and faking a call out to us so that we would come to you."
I began to explain their plan to them.
"And here I thought Perfects were something to be feared of. You're nothing more than a pair of jokers."
The two twins, got up together, and then looked to each other laughing.
Mary Sue began. "You forget, one thing..."
"...we adapt, and learn faster when fighting." Gary Stu finished and started. "And now we have found a way to beat you..."
"...O' foolish captain of the NaruSaku." Mary Sue finished.
Just then they both dropped their weapons and started powering up. Then they did some kind of a funky dance, like out of Dragon ball Z, the fusion dance!? Soon two became one, and now the true face of the Perfect was revealed. It looked like a blank model, sort of like a non-molded piece of clay. It was blank but that was its deadliness, the power to adapt rapidly and change at the will of a thought.
"Time to die." The blank model emitted its thoughts into my mind, like some sort of a higher being, of course it had no mouth.
It charged at me with even greater speed than before. Now I was in trouble, every attack it made, I countered, but then it countered my counterattack! It matched my speed, my strength, my tactics. But through all of this I still had not drawn forth my blade from its sheath. It wondered why I haven't done so, and tried to force me to, yet I refused.
"Draw your sword, human." He ordered me.
"..." I said nothing.
We went another few rounds against each other, and I was getting beaten down now. Again it had me in its grasps and projected into my head.
"Draw your weapon, weakling."
"..." Still I said nothing.
It beat me a few more times, and I tried to dodge what I could. But I was getting nearly exhausted. Once more time, it grasp hold of me, held me up to choke the life out of me, and angrily projected.
"WHY WON'T YOU DRAW YOUR SWORD?"
Struggling against its grip, I responded with. "Because you aren't worthy of its blade."
In the Perfect's fit of rage, it was time for it's finishing blow. It threw me across the deck, near the front end, and formed it's arm into a sharp blade, like a T1000. It came up to me and stood before me.
"Any last words, Captain Of Fools?"
I got up as best as I could on one knee wiping the blood away form my mouth with the sleeve of my coat. I told it, "You know why you Perfects never win?"
And I spat blood to my side, and the Perfect picked me up by the collar. "And why's that?"
Looking down at the Perfect, I smiled and coughed. "You always focus on the individual."
And just as I finished that sentence, I made a flipping kick to push the Perfect away from me! Just as it made a recovered fall and charge back at me, it now faced another opponent. Ash was standing before me, she whirled her guns in hand and aimed dead at the Perfect. Then another pair of arms came from behind Ash, whirling HER guns too! It was Mel!
Ash began. "It's-"
"-Showtime!" Mel finished!
In that split second, the Perfect tried to cower and curl up to absorb the damage! AND THERE WAS A FIRE FIGHT! Both Ash and Mel unleashing hell! Total rapid fire, bullet after bullet! It was like they had infinite ammo & a no reload code! Firing & firing into the Perfect, the bullets bouncing off of it, but it was being pushed away and shot into the air!
After the fire fight finished, then came not one, not two, but three different blades coming from a triangular strike in mid-air!
"SAN" - "TEN" - "SUTORAIKI!"
("Three Point Strike!")
Smiter, Sori, & Arashi all impaled the Perfect from all different sides! After all of them hit the ground the trio were knocked away, and then Perfect forced the swords out of its body by shear will, but it wasn't the end! Just as the last blade was falling out, a barrage of knives, daggers, caltrops, and just about anything small and sharp came from all around being thrown by UN & HH! The Perfect soon looked like a walking porcupine, suddenly it crouched down and powered up again. Then it exploded with energy, and all the blades scattered like a frag grenade! But before it fully stretched itself out, UN charge in and did his ultimate technique!
"TETSU-JIN KIZU!"
("Iron Chef Cut!")
There was deep cut mark on the front and back of the Perfect, but then it began to heal itself once again! It began to grow agitated at all these constant attacks, and used its anger to manifest itself into a massive beast! It looked like a sort of a mating between a man and a beast, teeth like a lion, head like a bear! Claws sharp enough to tear planks into kindling! It was like the Old Norse folklore of the wendol! It then retargeted me and had me in its sights. Thus it charged at me with great speed! Just as it was about to take a large swipe, the Perfect was suddenly pulled back with great strength!
It was Bass! He had whipped his steal whips around both of the beast's arms and pulled back with all his might! But it wasn't only just Bass, but Keira's little naruto plushies came swarming once again! This time, she focused her energy into all of her minions and they all swarmed around, pulling the beast away from where I was. After Keira had full control over the beast and held it in place, Bass began his attacks! He did like a dance that spun him around whipping and lashing the beast with his steal whips! The razors on the whip slashing and cutting through the Perfect as it was yelling in pain and anger! Then Bass did a sort of a lasso throw, and threw the beast into the air with all of Keira's little narutos still attached to it! Then Keira muttered some words and clasped her fists together! The plushies all had explosive tags on them! There was a great explosion in the air!
Yet the Perfect was STILL THERE! Only bloodied, but still cut open! The explosives must have slowed down the healing process! While it was in mid-air, QR helped Shinyu out onto the main deck, and the beast hit the deck with a great shockwave that it made the ship bob up and down once. Now was Shinyu's turn to exact his revenge! Only this time, QR properly treated him and wrapped him in special bandages that would keep him intact! She saw the look in Shinyu's eyes and let him go.
"Eikei! Lee!" (Go Lee!)
"Yosh!" He felt the rush come back to him and with both dual Gladiuses in hand attacked the same way as he did in the hallway!
As the Perfect hit the deck, Shinyu was already on top of it! He moved once again like a demon! Speed that was like a disappearing shadow! Slashing and striking at all the vital points! It was his Dance Of Death! Just as his dance as coming to a finish, he started spinning like a tilted pinwheel, upper cutting the beast several times, before sending it flying once again into the air! Suddenly the air grew thick, and time had slowed down! Shinyu crouched over again, folding his arms across his chest like an X, the flat of his blades just resting on his shoulders. He closed his eyes and focused his chi once again. This time no mistakes, this time he could strike! And then after he was up to 100% concentration time returned, and Shinyu leaped from where he was and was now face to face with the injured Perfect! It was like a flash, no one could have seen his movements, except for me, but the end result was like a giant glowing cross! One hundred strikes, he flew at the beast, and then through it!
"SEISHOU JUUJIKEI"
("HOLY CROSS")
He floated back to the deck, his arms spread out, so that in mid-air he too was like a cross. His bandages were all ripped and torn away, rustling in the wind making him look like a fallen angel! As he landed on his two feet, he leaned over exhausted again, but satisfied that he could still perform his special technique. QR quickly went to his side and supported him again. She was glad that he was still in one piece.
Meanwhile as the Perfect was falling down head first, it saw another person, only this person with flaming red hair had an evil grin and had something in between his fingers. Then the beast realized what exactly what it was...
Blayze was already in position with a big smiling grin that it was payback time! He gathered all of his special "goodies" for this battle! As soon as he let the enemy get a good look at him, he threw all of his super explosives into the air! All of them exploding on impact, violently knocking the Perfect all around! After his damage was done Blayze stepped back from his position! When the body hit the ground once again, it still got up, all blackened from the explosions and still bloodied from Shinyu's attack. Somehow it still kept going!? Whatever drove this monster it must have had some motivation! Just as it made its way towards me again, it got smashed dead on by a MegaTon hammer! Sending it sliding back several feet again, but someone then attacked it from behind kicking it forward!
It was Alpha & Aethos! They both charged from opposite ends and did this simultaneous combo! They beat the living hell out of that Perfect, beating it with their bare hands! Their bloodlust level at an all time high! Aethos getting his revenge for that surprise attack on their ship, and Alpha avenging her sisters’ earlier attack! As a finishing blow, Alpha did an elbow attack that smashed the skull of the beast, while Aethos drew forth his dual daggers and dug them into the spine!
In another fit of rage, the beast swung its massive arms to knock them both away! Now there was no one left. Only me standing before it. It was battered down like a piece of ripped meat. Shredded from all sides, blasted, burned, beaten, sliced, diced, stabbed, and much more ... yet, it still moved, but only slightly.
"Do you see now?" Somehow I felt pity for the Perfect, and spoke to it one last time. "Individually, we have our flaws-"
It got up from its own pool of blood and still charged at me with all it's might! But then everyone came and attacked it at once! Bass and Keira once again restrained it with all their might! Bass wrapped each whip around its arms, while Keira summoned a SUPER Giant Sized Plushie of Doom! But this would be the Beast's final attack, so it kept inching forward! Then Smiter, Arashi, Sori, and even Shinyu came at it from four different angles impaling it through and through! Then Alpha & Aethos made a frontal attack, trying to use a Buddha's fist to drive the demon back, yet STILL it pushed forward! Next UN & HH tried to cripple its legs, and throw all sorts of poison daggers, and such! Still no effect! Blayze would have attacked, but his explosives might have knocked away Bass' whip restraints and Keira's Giant Plushie!?
Finally it came within only five paces of me. Mel & Ash were on my left & right, ready to shoot, but I held my arm out to stop them and let the monster come closer. It's arms still held back, its legs being constricted, it was one hell of a bloody mess, and so it opened its huge mouth and tired to bite my head off!
I simply stood there looking at it dead on, with no movement, or showing any fear. Just as the sharp jagged teeth came near of my face, my long coat waved in the wind and from out behind me came a wakazashi driving deep into the bottom of the jaw through the mouth and into the head, sealing the mouth!
Yoko had made the final attack closing the beast's mouth from biting my head off. It stood there with its eyes wide open in disbelief. I came this far and a this little girl would stop it.
"-but together, we are invincible."
In its last desperate attack, it tried to open its mouth by force, catching Yoko off guard for a split second! Still trying to bite my head off, but Yoko immediately forced her wakazashi all the way in and shut the mouth once more!
It would soon all be over, I had one last bit of business before we send this monster back to hell. We picked it up, and placed it dead center of the deck, putting it on its knees as it reverted back to its blank model form. It knew it had been beaten, and I was to provide its finishing blow.
"You're the first to ever fully take on all of us, and still move. That I commend you, your confidence and will power was strong. But here it ends." I told it as I walked over to its side. "I'm only going to ask you this once, and depending on your answer, I may give you a swift death."
The blank head turned as if it were looking at me, and projected into my head alone these words. "You know who it is. But can you act upon it? O' Captain of the NaruSaku?"
And it began to laugh maniacally, something also happening to me. It was forcing images into my head, so many rapid images. I put a hand to my head as if someone was forcing information into my mind! I closed my eyes and saw these images that struck my heart in pain. Upon the last image the Perfect sent to me, I opened my eyes wide open, and drew forth my katana. The blade vibrating against the sheath, making it ring majestically.
I lifted it with both hands, high above my head, the red sun rising in the east, reflecting upon my blade to make it set a fire!
"Namu Amida butsu."
I spoke the last words for the Perfect, and then my blade came down swift like wind! And it was over. The twins were dead, the Perfect was beaten. We were all severely exhausted. The good news was that we had gotten another ship to our fleet, maybe not the MK.II, but we named this one the Bellefonte. We had won the battle, but at what cost?
The sun rose, and it was a beautiful dawn. But the images left in my head, would leave me in deep thought for a while.
Images of a burning ship,
Images of people running,
Images of losing someone close & dear to me,
Images of who our traitor was ...
To Be Continued.