Reprisal

by Charles Tillman

  Hino’s face went pale at Sero’s outburst. Everyone was used to Sero being the calming influence on Muto. With Muto dead, he was worried that Sero was going to be worse. “Hai, Sero. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  Sero turned to Yasou without answering. “Were you able to get the girl without issue?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, we grabbed her off the sidewalk at the corner. We had her in the van so fast, no one saw a thing.”

  “Good. Maybe we can salvage this before it goes completely to shit. I warned Muto that these people were bad news, but he wouldn’t hear it. Now I’m the one stuck cleaning up his mess, literally.”

  “It’s gonna work out, Sero. Diago has the girl, and he is going to scare the hell out of her at Yono’s place. He plans to put her in one of the dungeon rooms so she can think about what he’s going to do to her until he hears from you. He laughed. “He also told Madame Yono to have some screamers in the house tonight, and to have them put on a show when he brought her in. She should be ready to answer anything we ask after a little bit of that.”

  “If she doesn’t talk, Diago will be doing more than putting on a show for her,” Sero growled as he went back to his whiskey.

  Sogo ran back through the door about a half-hour later. He was panting and covered with sweat. “Sero,” he gasped, his face flushed red from exertion. “I… I found that…that guy. He said to wait, he wants to question her himself. He said that he will be here in a while and not to fuck this up.”

  He collapsed into a chair as he finally got the message out, and reached for a glass in front of Hon. He slammed back the clear liquid and his eyes bugged out of his head as the straight gin burned down his throat. He forced it down and fought to catch his breath, tears running down his face.

  “Serves you right, dumbass.” Hon laughed. “Next time, get your own damn drink.”

  Sogo looked at him with hard eyes. He was about to reply when Hino set a glass filled with ice water in front of him with a smirk.

  Sogo grabbed the glass and chugged it to the laughter of the men watching.

  TQB Base, Tokyo, Japan

  Eve and Abel had been going through countless video feeds for several hours when Abel announced, “Eve, I have detected an anomaly in the data I have determined that it is related to the vehicle used to kidnap Koda Rii.”

  “What have you found?” Eve asked.

  “It is not a matter so much as what I have found, but more what I have not,” Abel replied. “I was able to track the vehicle into a residential section about ten kilometers from the Yakuza restaurant. There seems to be a section of about four square blocks where I am unable to locate any working surveillance. The cameras are listed in the government database, but all of them are inactive.”

  “Show me,” Eve instructed.

  A map of the city came up on the monitor and zoomed in to cover the suspicious area.

  “The vehicle was last spotted here,” Abel told her as a red dot appeared on the edge of the highlighted section. “I have located working cameras at these coordinates.” More dots appeared, lighting up in a box that surrounded the same section. “There is no footage showing that the vehicle exited the area.”

  “Good work, Abel. Let me know if it shows up,” Eve called as she ran out of the room to the elevator.

  When she arrived in the courtyard, the sun had set and the sky was dark. She called down the Black Eagle and in seconds was over the area Abel had shown her. She hovered a kilometer above the area and released the surveillance drones from the launcher on the Black Eagle. It wasn’t near the number that a drone carrier held, but the drones were larger and had far more advanced built-in sensor suites. She had also upgraded the propulsion system and armor on these units. This was the first time she had used them other than during an operational test.

  She activated the Black Eagle’s HUD and it separated into six individual screens with a command from her. The screens showed each drone’s individual video feed. “Okay, dead men walking, where have you hidden my friend?” she murmured.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Acheng, China, Research Laboratory

  “Horst, come to my lab,” Heinz called over the intercom.

  What the hell does he want now? Horst wondered. I’m sure whatever it is, he will tell me how to do it in nauseating detail.

  “You called for me?” he asked as he entered the lab.

  “I want you to take the craft and meet Dieter,” Heinz ordered. “He should have had time to find out what those Yakuza idiots have learned, or gotten them moving in the right direction if they haven’t cracked the case yet.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to take the craft near Japan?” Horst mused. “You said it was too dangerous.”

  Heinz pinned him with a sharp look. “That’s why you’re doing it. I don’t trust any of the other crews to do it. I know that you will do exactly as I say.”

  Horst dropped his eyes. “Ja, Father.”

  “You are to take the craft and go no higher than five meters from the surface all the way. When you get to Japan, it will be dark, so use your best judgment on how close you can get to the city. I suggest you find a remote place in the mountains and go in wolf form from there into the city.”

  Horst ducked his head to hide his grimace. “What do I do when I find Dieter?”

  “If he has the location of the base, come back so we can get going. If not, assist him until you find it.”

  “Ja.”

  Heinz wasn’t done. “Send Miko to me on your way out. I want him to take the pack tonight and get the Nosferatu ready to go.

  “Ja.”

  “Horst,” he scolded.

  “Ja, Father. I will take my leave now if that is acceptable.”

  “Don’t fail me in this,” Heinz ordered as he turned back to the blood samples he had been analyzing when Horst entered.

  Horst managed to keep his body language under control until he was back in his room, gathering the items he would need on the trip.

  That arrogant leech. He always acts like he is so much better and smarter than everyone. Horst, keep it low. Horst, do not fail me. Horst, fetch Miko for me. Horst, help Dieter. He should have died years ago. I hope the Dark One finds him and tears his black heart from his body while he still lives.

  When he was done, he drew a calming breath and headed for the common room where he had seen Miko. When he walked in, Miko was sitting with Gerhart and a couple of other Weres.

  “Father wants to see you,” Horst told Miko. “He says you’re to take the pack and get the beasts ready to go,” he called as he strode through the room, not slowing as he made his way toward the hangar.

  He prepped the craft and took off at a slow speed. It was still a few hours before dark, and he decided to wait until the sun had set before he crossed the open ocean. He took the craft deeper into the mountains and flew close to the ridges and down through the valleys as he killed time.

  When he crossed the ridge and swooped into the valley where the prison was, he pulled up short. His eyes bulged as he saw the total devastation.

  I need to get back to base and warn… His lips curled up in a slight smile. I need to find my brother and get both of us away. I should be able to get us to Germany with no problem.

  He landed the craft next to the crater that was once a prison, then got out and surveyed the damage.

  “Ha,” he barked. “Looks like Heinz has been found out. I would like to see the Dark One kill him, but from what I hear, he will probably kill everyone. I will say a prayer to the Old Gods that when he catches that leech, he makes him suffer.”

  He didn’t notice the small drone that had detached from his craft and zoomed in to hold station above him while he thought out loud.

  Riko’s Noodle House, Tokyo, Japan

  “Where the hell is he?” Sero wondered for the tenth time since Sogo had returned. “The bastard acted like it was imperative to get this information, and now he keeps us waiting on him for hours.”


  “Sero, what’s the deal?” Yasou wanted to know. “He’s only a man, he bleeds like everyone else. I think we should kill him and forget about this.”

  Sero cut his eyes toward Yasou and grimaced. “I’m not so sure he is only a man, and I know that there is something off with Chang. You were out dealing with a problem when they came here and set this up with Muto. I don’t think we need to get on these people’s bad side. It could cause problems higher up in the organization.”

  Yasou paled. “You don’t think this is like those cat men we’ve been hearing about out in the rural areas, do you?”

  Sero nodded. “Hai, I think they may be, or worse. That guy moved faster than I could see, and Muto’s head exploded when he hit him.”

  Yasou went back to staring at his glass for a moment before he quietly pulled a large black pistol from his belt and carefully reloaded it with a magazine of silver-infused bullets. Several of the soldiers saw this, and the sound of gun actions echoed throughout the room as they too loaded with the precious bullets.

  Dieter waited until the sun was setting before he left the inn and started toward the Yakuza shop. He chuckled to himself as he thought about how unsettled Sero must be after waiting for so long.

  I bet he is pissing himself about now. Father always told me it was best to set the stage for how things are to be when dealing with inferiors. I might be able to use these idiots in some way when we control Japan. Provided they understand their place.

  Inspector Yonai had ordered his team to stay out of sight until it was time for them to block off the area around Riko’s. As it approached closing time for the neighboring businesses, he sent trusted officers in plainclothes into the buildings. They were to get the few workers still in the ones directly adjoining Riko’s to safer locations. He also had them keeping the people out of the possible line of fire in the other buildings on the block. Akio had joined him in his observation post on the tenth floor of a thirty-story office building across the street from Riko’s to wait.

  “Akio, I have received information from one of the drones I was able to get into the shop,” Abel called. “Sero is waiting for the Were to come before they go where Koda is being held.”

  “Thank you, Abel.” Akio approached the table that Yonai was using as his makeshift command center. “Inspector Yonai, we are expecting another guest for the party and do not want to alert him. Advise all your people in the buildings to keep quiet and move to a secure location away from the street.

  “They were instructed to do that when they went in,” Yonai informed him. “Everything in the area has been reported secure. Who else are you expecting?”

  “The one who killed Muto,” Akio replied. “It will be better to go ahead and deal with him now instead of having to hunt him down. He could injure a lot of people if he runs.”

  “Akio,” Abel called again a few minutes later. “The Were is leaving the inn and heading toward you, now.”

  Akio turned to Yonai. “Inspector, I just received word that he is on the way. He is a big blond European. Tell your people not to approach him, he is extremely dangerous.”

  Yonai keyed his radio and relayed the instructions to the officers concealed around the area.

  Akio called Yuko on her implant. “Yuko, Dieter is approaching Riko’s. Once he is inside, pick me up in the Pod. I will head to the roof of the building across the street from Riko’s as soon as it is certain that he is there.”

  “Akio, I have a plan for when we hit the place,” she advised.

  “What’s that?”

  “I propose that I go in the front door and pose as a customer while you come in from the rear. I have been looking at the footage from the drones. There are several young women in a back room across from the office. I believe they are prostitutes that the Yakuza keep around to entertain themselves.”

  “It would be too dangerous to go in without your armor with that Were at the site,” he replied.

  “I have borrowed some clothes from Asai that are loose enough to conceal the armor,” Yuko assured him. “I won’t be able to wear the helmet, but I do not think that will be too much of a risk. I only need to keep them off-guard long enough for you to clear the guard at the rear, then get between the main room and where the girls are,” she explained.

  “What about the Were?” Akio reiterated. “Can you hide a sword under the clothes?”

  “No,” Yuko admitted. “But I can hide both of my Jean Dukes Specials under them. They should be sufficient for the task.”

  He thought for a moment. “Hai, they should be enough, and I will not be long in the back. Just do not let him get too close to you.”

  “Akio, he just went inside,” Yonai called from the window where he was watching the street below.

  “Yuko, it’s time.”

  Chapter Forty

  Near Riko’s Noodle House, Tokyo, Japan

  “Eve,” Akio called. “Can you bring the Black Eagle and fly overwatch while Yuko and I deal with the Yakuza and the Were?”

  “I can if you really think it necessary,” she advised. “But Abel discovered that the van entered a neighborhood where all of the cameras are offline. It was not detected leaving the area on the surrounding surveillance network. I am currently over the area with the drones from the Black Eagle searching for the van.”

  Akio jumped into the Pod hovering above the roof. “No, keep looking for Koda. I’m certain that someone at the restaurant knows her location, but if you find her before I can get it, notify me and see if you can get her out.”

  “That’s the plan,” Eve agreed. “But, I can’t make any promises about how big of a mess Saint Payback is going to demand once I have her secure. We need to send a message to these scum that we are not people they want to piss off.”

  “Be certain that any damage you do is limited to the people actually responsible,” he warned. “We do not want to have an incident where innocents are harmed.”

  “Understood,” Eve confirmed. “Keep the damage restrained to the wastes of oxygen who deserve it. Got it.”

  Akio cut the connection and slowly shook his head.

  “What is it?” Yuko asked.

  “Eve has found an area where she suspects Koda is being held. I have advised her to initiate a rescue if it is feasible.”

  Yuko nodded and then noticed that Akio looked slightly uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”

  He pursed his lips before the corners turned up in a slight smile. “She says Saint Payback requires payment for taking Koda. I wonder just how much of Bethany Anne’s personality ADAM incorporated into her initial code.”

  “Does it really matter?” Yuko argued. “I happen to agree that this requires a lesson to the organization responsible. We do need to send them a message, after all.”

  Akio’s eyes widened. Right before he stepped out of the Pod, now hovering above the back door of Riko’s, he deadpanned, “Perhaps I am mistaken as to just where Eve got this from.”

  Yuko chuckled as the Pod moved to drop her off for her part of the operation. “You never know.”

  Dieter stalked into Riko’s with an arrogant swagger. When he spotted Sero sitting at the bar, he pointed his index finger at him and then at the office without speaking as he continued through the room and disappeared through the office door.

  Sero sighed as he unsteadily pushed himself to his feet. Damn, how much did I drink while I was waiting for this ass? he wondered, unconsciously using the same word to describe Dieter that Muto had before he died.

  He slowly made his way to the door, placing each foot carefully as he tried not to appear as drunk as he was. When he entered the office, Dieter was sitting behind the desk, leaned back in the high-back chair with his boots propped on the desk.

  “Is this how you handle your business, Sero?” Dieter growled when he took in the man’s bleary eyes, unsteady stance, and the odor of whiskey coming from him. “You get drunk instead of performing the duties you are paid to do?”

  “I sent word to
you hours ago that we had the girl. What took you so long?” Sero answered defiantly.

  Dieter’s eyes flashed yellow briefly, and a small growl rumbled in his chest at Sero’s outburst. “I told you once, Sero. Do not question my actions.”

  Sero blanched as he realized how close he was to meeting the same fate as Muto. As he started to apologize, Dieter glanced out of the window, movement near the door catching his attention. His eyes went wide and he shot to his feet, slamming the chair into the wall as he stared through the glass into the dining room, fear evident on his face.

  “In position,” Yuko called over her chip as she approached the door to Riko’s.

  “Rear door is secure,” Akio replied.

  Yuko drew a deep breath and walked through the door. She was immediately met by a man wearing a white shirt with the name Kaito embroidered on the pocket.

  “Sorry, we’re closed.” He stood there blocking her way.

  There were fifteen men lounging around the dining area, all bearing the tattoos that identified them as Yakuza. Yuko heard the faint click of a door opening in the rear and brief sounds of the city outside.

  “Oh, that’s so disappointing,” she lamented. “I was told that you had the best Udon beef dish in the neighborhood.”

  She sighed and looked up at the man with her best innocent look. “Is there no way I could get an order to go?”

  “Ah, Kaito, let her in.” One of the soldiers leered from a table. “She’s a cute little thing, and I could use some entertainment.”

  The remaining Yakuza all laughed at this. As Kaito turned back to invite her in, a panicked voice shouted, “Vampire!” from the office.

  Black Eagle, One Kilometer above Tokyo

  “Where are you?” Eve wondered out loud as she watched the feeds from the drones. She had been holding her position in the Black Eagle for fifteen minutes and still had not located the van.