He helped her in and then hopped in himself. Yuko explained the harness, and they told the EI interface the address. Within moments the door had slid shut and the Pod lifted into the air.
It hovered twenty feet above the immediate township for a brief time to allow them to take in the view and then it shot higher, the town disappearing from view.
Seconds later it descended, appearing again over a different part of town.
“We should probably drop into an alley or something. No point in flaunting the technology,” Yuko said modestly.
Hirano nodded, his eyes wide and mouth still hanging open. He had not said a word since giving her the address of the restaurant.
The Pod slipped into the alley next to their destination, stopping less than a foot from the ground. The door opened, allowing them to exit. Yuko got out first and Hirano followed, turning and practically stumbling backward, trying to take in the whole concept of the machine as he disembarked.
Yuko waited for his bewilderment to subside.
“So, the restaurant is this way?” she asked, pointing to the street.
Hirano seemed to remember himself. “Yes. Yes, it is,” he confirmed as he watched the door close and the Pod disappear into the stratosphere again. “Is it… Is it safe on its own?”
Yuko chuckled, covering her mouth. “Why? Did you want to stay with it while I go to the restaurant?” she asked jokingly.
Hirano took her point and directed his attention back to her. He offered her his arm and she linked her arm around his, thrilled to be that comfortable with him so soon.
Once on the street, Hirano got his bearings and then led them to the restaurant he had booked.
Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France
The Duke looked around the large room in surprise and a little wonder. “They all work?” he asked aloud.
Evan nodded to his boss. “Yes. Damned surprising that so far nothing has been stolen and everything is in working order.”
There were five people in the room with William and Evan. The others were checking the machines, comparing their findings to the notes that had been left by those who had shut the buildings and equipment down.
“We just knew, absolutely knew, that it had been completely destroyed!” Evan spoke to himself in wonder. “No one ever came to look.”
William broke his personal thoughts and commented to Evan, “That isn’t true. I noticed some bodies, skeletons really, to the north. At some point there were fights, so it probably became a myth and a warning to not come here. Eventually those protecting the place either died in the fights, died of old age, or finally drifted away.”
“Still,” Evan turned back to his boss, “I would have thought the effort to keep it complete would have failed.”
“Sir?” One of the men William had tapped to join them on this expedition called from a desk some thirty feet away. Both William and Evan turned to look. The man pointed down. “We can’t seem to get this machine to boot up appropriately.”
William watched Evan walk between the desks and make his way to the computer in question. A moment later, William watched Evan’s face show confusion as he bent over and started typing on the keyboard. It took the scientist a couple of minutes to finally exhale. “There,” he told the guy as he stood up. Then Evan bent back down and typed some more. “Oh, hell.” It was another minute before he stood back up and turned to William.
“Sir,” Evan said, “we are going to need some more.”
“More what?” William asked, his annoyance flaring.
“Minds,” Evan answered as he played with something on the computer.
The Duke ground his teeth together. “If I didn’t need you in a good place,” he whispered to himself. “I would leave your blood-drained corpse for the crows to eat in the sun.” William waited a moment, then spoke louder. “What kind of minds, Evan?”
The scientist looked up. “What? Oh, we need the best minds.”
William nodded and turned around, then walked to the door and stepped out. His physical demeanor would have told anyone paying attention to stay away. Unfortunately, William was very familiar with this type of human called a ‘scientist’ now. They seemed to have way too much of the curiosity gene, and way too little of the self-preservation one.
The first attribute furthered his plans, but the second tried his patience. Moreover, he had learned that should you ask a scientist how to kill practically unkillable people, they would start rattling off ways as if they were making a list to go to the store.
He didn’t want that effort focused on himself, and he needed them to have access to the tools which could kill Michael.
Or him.
So for now, he would hold onto his anger.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nagoya, Japan
“I must admit, I still can’t really believe you’re here,” Hirano confessed.
The restaurant had one of the most romantic settings Yuko could ever have imagined. They had been seated on a balcony overlooking the city. Fairy lights framed the handrail and trickled from above and down the sides of the framed structure in strategic places.
The city itself looked more beautiful from this vantage point.
“How do you mean?” she asked. “We arranged it.”
Hirano smiled, appreciating Yuko’s literal interpretation of what he was saying. “I know, but I’m still pinching myself. It’s like, maybe I didn’t really get up this morning. Maybe I’m still dreaming this incredible dream, and you didn’t really show up on my doorstep.”
Yuko smiled, fidgeting awkwardly with her napkin.
Hirano moved the conversation on. “Tell me about your world. What do you do when you’re not fighting bad guys?”
Yuko chuckled quietly to herself as the waiter arrived with the bottle of wine Hirano had selected. He and the waiter went through the tasting routine and the glasses were filled.
“I research. And explore. And build things with Eve,” Yuko tried to explain succinctly. “It would be rather boring to anyone watching, I suspect.”
The waiter placed the bottle down and left. Hirano leaned forward, holding his glass up in a toast. “I don’t think you could be boring if you tried,” he told her confidently.
Yuko raised her glass to his and they chinked. “I hope this is the case,” she answered demurely.
Hirano smiled, holding her gaze. “I know this is the case.”
Yuko blushed. Again.
Hirano changed the subject, taking the pressure off her. “I’ve never had a bad dish here,” he said, picking up his menu. Yuko, glad of the task-oriented distraction, picked up her menu too.
“But the duck is especially good, whichever way they cook it,” he added.
Yuko started reading the menu, basking in the romantic atmosphere. She briefly found herself wondering if this was what Bethany Anne experienced when she was on a date with Michael.
The butterflies, the ambiance. The anticipation.
Suddenly there was a crash.
Yuko thought she saw a couple of black shapes swing over the balcony in front of her. There was a woman’s scream, and then a shuffling of chairs and some movement. She heard something behind them, too.
In a heartbeat she was on her feet, slipping her Jean Dukes out of the thigh holsters she had worn under her dress. She pinpointed the targets immediately. They were dressed all in black with their heads almost completely covered by their masks and hoods. She recognized the way they moved.
This order she had fought before.
“Get under the table,” she told Hirano calmly but clearly. Hirano looked shocked. He had drawn his weapon too. “You’re kidding?”
She shook her head. “You don’t want to mess with these guys.” Seeing the sudden agitation in her eyes, he conceded and did as she had instructed.
And with that, she started firing. She took out the two ahead of her, beautifully avoiding any of the patrons. Then, as if she were merely dancing as the evening’s entertainment, she shifted her
weight onto the other foot and turned to face behind her. Two more fighters had made their way from the roof onto the balcony. She fired two shots, taking them out almost silently.
There were more shouts and cries from staff and guests alike, but Yuko kept her focus. She scanned for the next wave, and sure enough, fighters were entering through the doors and climbing over the balcony.
She took out three as they came through the main restaurant, despite one trying to use a passing waiter as a human shield. Again she turned, picking off the black suits as they appeared over the railings. One, two, three, four…. And then another four in close succession.
By the time she had finished, a number of her fellow diners had already moved off the balcony and into the main restaurant to take cover. Only a few remained, paralyzed by fear.
Yuko walked over to the balcony and searched above and below to make sure the threat had been neutralized. Satisfied as she could be without sweeping the entire place, she headed back to her table and sat back down before she remembered that her date was under the table.
She ducked her head under the cloth. “You can come out now,” she told him casually.
A somewhat befuddled Hirano shuffled awkwardly back into his seat, holstering his weapon and looking at the destruction around them.
Yuko took a sip of her wine as if nothing had happened.
“So,” she said, “what do you do in your free time?”
Hirano looked at her in utter amazement. She winked, and the pair burst out laughing.
After the shock had dispersed and the staff started venturing back into the public areas and talking to their guests again, Hirano found the presence of mind to ask her what had just happened.
Yuko looked fleetingly concerned. “I’m not sure,” she confessed. “I recognized the fighting style and have no doubt they were here for me. Though why—and why now—I’m not sure. Our operation has only been back in town for a matter of days, so I guess they must have been waiting since our incident last time.”
Hirano looked confused. “You think it was the same organization we messed with?”
Yuko shook her head, tidying the table as she contemplated her answer. “I don’t think so. I think this is another group. Maybe something to do with the fact that Michael is back.”
Hirano searched his mind, trying to get everything straight. “The ArchAngel, who has been in a different place?”
“Exactly,” she confirmed.
Hirano whistled through his teeth, then looked at the chaos in the restaurant. “I think we’re going to have to go somewhere else if we want to eat tonight,” he commented, looking at the confusion.
Yuko agreed. “I know just the spot.”
“Ok,” he said, smiling despite the disarray that surrounded them. “Let me go settle up and then we’ll go.”
Yuko sat there for a moment more looking at the cityscape, mulling who on Earth might be trying to make their presence known to her. She tapped her communicator and filled Eve in.
“I’ll monitor cameras and see if they give us anything,” Eve told her. “Are you coming back to base?”
Yuko saw Hirano approaching. “Not yet. Don’t wait up,” she added mysteriously.
Eve started to protest about her safety and the like, but Yuko ignored her and concentrated on her date.
“Ready?” Hirano asked, holding out his hand to help her up. Yuko took it and allowed him to lead her out of the restaurant and the chaos.
Dukes Chalet, France
The Pod descended in the barely increasing light, the sun just cracking the eastern horizon as Akio adjusted a few controls.
As the craft approached the ground the canopy cracked open. Before it had risen enough for Akio to get out, Sabine had a gun out and was looking around the creepy chalet. Michael had already exited, and was fairly stomping toward the house.
Sabine nodded toward the rapidly receding Michael. “Is he nuts?” she whispered. “Who knows who is here?”
Akio touched the side of his head. “There is nobody here, Sabine,” he replied as the Pod took off into the sky. “We would know already, have a feeling, if you will. I’m sure Michael is searching to see if there are any hints or suggestions as to where our target has gone.
Sabine looked around for a moment, taking in the dark recesses and shadowy areas. “This place gives me the creeps.” She looked up at the three-story-tall roof. “A few weeks ago while I was running across the plains, I would never have thought I’d be helping chase down the scary monster who was in command of the evil branleurs pursuing me. The one who was behind the problem in the first place.”
Akio kept his own vigilance, understanding Michael didn’t want the human with him at the moment. “I’m afraid I don’t know that term,” he finally replied.
Sabine brought her gaze down from the chalet’s roof and turned to Akio. “What term?” She thought about what she had just said. “Oh, branleur? It, uhh…” She thought about it a moment. “’Wanker,’ the English would say ‘wanker.’”
Their discussion was interrupted when an explosion occurred out of sight.
“Shit!” She turned and was going to run toward it, but her arm was held fast. She turned to Akio, who was looking toward the chalet but didn’t seem concerned. She tried to pry his fingers off. “Michael—”
His fingers didn’t budge. “Is ok. You can keep trying, but you won’t be able to pull them off, and trust me, the Archangel is fine. The reason he went ahead is so you don’t run into that,” he nodded toward the chalet where the explosion had occurred, “and have your body parts become part of the wallpaper.”
Her head turned from Akio to the chalet and back. Akio released her arm and she surreptitiously rubbed where his hand had grasped it. “You’re kinda strong for a short guy.”
Akio grunted and tried another smile. “Big things come in small packages.”
Sabine looked at Akio for a moment, then her eyes narrowed. “Was that a comment about, uh…” Her eyes glanced down and then back up to Akio’s face, which was a study of calm and repose. “No, never mind. I’m sure my mind is just making things up.”
They both turned when they heard boots crunching on gravel to see Michael coming down a path between the chalet and the tall brick wall some fifteen feet away.
Sabine stepped away from Akio and looked at Michael’s coat. “How did you…” she started as she walked around him. Michael stood still, his head turning around first one way and then the other, tracking her. She put out a hand to rub his arm. “How did you not get anything on you?” Looking at him, she asked, “You can switch into your misty stuff that fast?”
“I can and did,” he answered. “However, if you were there I would have had to grab the two of you as well. Doing that is a bit of a pain, and I would have been less than pleased with myself if I had missed. Better to skip the mistake than court disaster.”
“How many?” Akio asked Michael when he turned toward him.
“The one fire trap I accidentally tripped. Three more of those, once I figured out how I missed it. Five normal traps and some poison.” Michael turned to look back at the chalet. “I think I found most everything. Sabine, you might want to stay out here.”
Sabine nodded. “I’m good, but I’m not indestructible. I’ll keep the perimeter clear.”
Michael turned and walked back to the chalet. Akio patted her shoulder as he stepped past her. “Keep your guns handy. We don’t know if anyone has been notified.”
Sabine’s head swiveled to the gate. Moments later she was heading in that direction. “God,” she called over her shoulder, “I hope so!”
Akio heard her open a door as he entered the house behind Michael.
—
William received a buzz on his small phone. He lifted it and listened for a moment before he replied in a gruff tone to the person on the other end of the line. “Take ten and go find out who is messing with my home, the home I wish to come back to someday.” He paused as the other party asked
him a question. “No, I doubt it is him. Not if we have explosions happening. Hmmm? Yes, if you find anyone in the house, you may do with them as you please. Just don’t kill them in the chalet if you can help it. I don’t want a complete mess to clean up. Also, don’t let them go. Either kill them or enslave them. Yes, you can do that as well. Ok, goodbye.”
He snapped his phone case closed and went back to reviewing the extensive architectural drawings of the Hadron Collider. He marked the exits and other places he might be able to make exit holes out of the large ring and sub-ring for his new permanent lair.
__
Sabine looked around and considered the difference between when she had first been saved by these two men and now.
Her reunion with her cousin James and spending time with his friends Kirk and Timothy had been enjoyable, but she had still wanted to see Akio again. She smiled, trying to figure out if the Japanese man had been joking or not. Had he actually made a sex joke? She didn’t get the vibe that he liked her.
Dammit, it was all too confusing. Sabine wasn’t sure if she was attracted to him because he saved her, because he gave her a way to fight back, or because he had a hot body that oozed sex appeal.
Maybe all three.
She sat herself down in a corner where two walls came together. She was in the dark. Not that it would have mattered, she thought to herself. The sounds of people coming toward the chalet were loud enough to wake the dead.
Well, shit. She thought about Michael and Akio. That includes the mostly dead.
—
“It’s feeling too damned weird,” Adlar whispered to his boss. Adlar was dark-skinned, but Derick was so dark Adlar thought he could make a moonless night seem like daylight at times.
“Yes,” Derick agreed and turned to the others in the squad. “It feels wrong, people. Shut your mouths and try to be silent.” He pointed to the three in the back who had been talking. “You three swing around to the north and come in from the garden side.”
“Why do we have to swing around?” Hoary hissed.
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