Darkest Before The Dawn (The Second Dark Ages Book 3)

by Michael Anderle

  Akio stood up. “I’ll see if she has worked it out of her system.”

  Michael stood and pushed his chair in before grabbing the papers. “I’ll find some energy.” He started walking toward another door out of the room. “Chalet on fire in five.”

  “Meet you in front,” Akio called over his shoulder.

  Twenty minutes later the three figures watched as the roof of the chalet, engulfed in flames, crumbled down into the center of the outer stone walls. Sabine rubbed her nose. “I don’t suppose I had to be so effective with that large picture of,” she looked at Michael, “who was it?”

  “A short man with a large ego,” Michael replied. “His name was Napoleon.”

  “Where was it from again?”

  Michael smiled. “The last time I saw it was hanging in Versailles.”

  A minute later a black Pod drifted down out of the sky. The three walked toward it.

  “Where are we heading?” Sabine asked.

  “Back to Frankfurt,” Michael replied. “The Duke has a residence there we need to check out.”

  “Shotgun!” Sabine called and raced toward the Pod. She screamed in frustration when the Pod lifted out of her reach. She stomped a foot, turned around, and pointed at the retreating Pod. She stared daggers at Akio, whose eyes glinted in humor. “You dick!” she shouted. “That’s not fair!”

  “How does she even know what ‘shotgun’ means?” Michael asked.

  “Some phrases,” Akio answered, “resist change by time and circumstance.”

  “Yes,” Michael agreed as the approached the red-faced woman, “but we are talking about a century and a half and the end of the world as we knew it.”

  Akio just shrugged. Some things even he still couldn’t figure out, and he had lived them.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Yokohama, Japan, Kashikoi’s Dojo

  Yuko and Eve arrived at the door to the dojo and this time made their way straight upstairs.

  Kashikoi was in his usual spot, but this time was instructing a small group of new disciples in their training. They continued, despite the presence of the strangers.

  He called for someone, who came in through the far door, listened to an instruction the old man gave him, and then disappeared through the door again.

  Yuko waited patiently and Eve stood almost motionless, but for her small efforts to maintain an appearance of being human.

  As they waited, Yuko observed the techniques the young fit students were using. She noticed that their applications deviated a little from when she had trained here, and she judged that they were a little more effective.

  She smiled, wondering if perhaps Kashikoi had perhaps bowed to her influence in effectiveness over style after all.

  The young boy appeared again and bowed to Kashikoi, receiving a nod in return before he disappeared. Kashikoi pulled himself to his feet and issued his final instructions to the group training.

  “Yame,” he instructed.

  The fighting stopped immediately. “Rei.” They bowed to their respective opponents. “Kurasu shuryo,” he finished. The group gathered the pieces of gear and training equipment they had left strewn along the side of the hall and jogged out of the training room.

  Kashikoi beckoned Yuko and Eve over. They bowed and walked around the mats to meet him.

  Just as they approached, four slightly older students arrived at the far door dressed in outdoor clothes. Yuko turned to acknowledge them with a bow.

  “Konnichiwa,” she said politely.

  They lined up and bowed to their master and then to the visitors.

  Kashikoi was on his feet already, aided by his stick. “Yuko, Eve, may I present my best students?” He waved his hand at them, taking a few steps onto the training floor. “Haruto, and Riku.” The two Japanese males stepped forward and bowed before returning to their place in line.

  Kashikoi continued, “And Akari and Ichika.” A small, proud smile reaching his lips. “Ichika is, in fact, my granddaughter. And, even though she causes me much trouble, she is nevertheless one of the most courageous warriors I have ever met.” He paused before continuing, “All four of these disciples I offer to you as the most dedicated to the cause of all of my students. They will assist you on your mission and represent our interests in maintaining the vallitseva tila no matter what.

  His voice took on a warning tone. “While our interests are aligned, we are faithful allies. If the integrity of these relics were to become compromised, rest assured that these warriors you see before you would do whatever it took to ensure that the packages were kept from falling into evil hands.”

  Yuko bowed her head. “I understand entirely. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” she added optimistically. She turned back to the four new team members. “I am Yuko. This is Eve. We welcome your assistance and hope that we remain allies on this task.”

  She looked at Kashikoi. “Thank you, old friend.”

  Kashikoi smiled and said something in Japanese. The four bowed to him and jogged the length of the training room and out toward the front entrance that Yuko and Eve had used.

  Eve watched them leave.

  “Go ahead.” Yuko nodded to Eve. “I’ll catch up.”

  Eve narrowed her eyes, deliberately conveying her mistrust about automatically being excluded from the conversation that was about to happen. Regardless, she turned and headed out the door after their new teammates.

  Yuko turned her attention back to Kashikoi.

  He smiled, the essence of a young boy returning to his field. “You’re ready for your next clue?” he asked her almost teasingly.

  Yuko smiled. “Hai.”

  Kashikoi lowered his eyes before he spoke. “We know the Chinese government has some of the salvaged boxes. I gleaned that much from their early interrogations of me. The person you want is someone deep within the remaining organization.”

  Yuko sighed. “Looks like we’re heading to China then,” she said, resigned to the prospect.

  “Īe,” Kashikoi insisted. “You must stay on the island. During the time you’ve been gone, anyone with any power or money has migrated to the place which can offer the most comfort and security. Consequently, most of the remaining governments and tech powers have relocated to Tokyo.”

  “China, as you know,” he continued, “is mostly destroyed. Their citizens don’t live as we do. They have villages interspersed over large areas of land. You will find the individuals who govern the country in Tokyo. The man you are looking for, if he is still alive, is Qin Shi.”

  Yuko frowned. “The emperor himself?”

  “Hai,” Kashikoi confirmed. “He wasn’t always the emperor, though.”

  Yuko understood. “And where in Tokyo will I find him?”

  Kashikoi’s face took on a seriousness. “Shouldn’t be hard. I’d start at the Chinese Embassy.”

  Yuko couldn’t believe it might be that easy. “You mean we’ll just be able to walk into the Chinese Embassy and make these demands?”

  Kashikoi smiled, bemused. “No one said it was going to be easy, though the Diplomat gaining access to an embassy should be what your American friends call ‘child’s play,’ no?”

  Yuko smiled. “This is true. I will proceed. Qin Shi,” she said, repeating the name of the man she needed to locate.

  “Good. Very good,” Kashikoi concluded. “You always were an excellent warrior, Yuko. And from what I’ve heard over the years, an excellent diplomat. I look forward to hearing of your success.”

  The old man bowed to Yuko.

  Yuko returned the bow. “And I look forward to reporting our success to you, old friend.” She smiled at him before heading out of the dojo to join the others on the street.

  She pounded down the stairs in her boots and out the front door, finding their four escorts and Eve huddled in a group on the sidewalk. She pulled the front door closed behind her and headed over, interrupting their somewhat awkward “getting to know you” conversation.

  Yuko smiled faintly
as Eve turned to her. “You have the information?”

  “I do. Tokyo is our next stop,” Yuko divulged, setting off down the street. The warriors exchanged puzzled glances and followed her, Eve bringing up the rear.

  Yokohama, Japan, Yokohamakeon (Park)

  Yuko and Eve strode across the lawn of the park where they had left Jacqueline and Mark to make preparations.

  Ichika jogged up to Yuko to speak with her. “Excuse me, Yuko-san? Shouldn’t we be going to a train station if we’re to go to Tokyo?”

  Yuko instantly understood Kashikoi’s warning when he had introduced his granddaughter. Hiding her smile behind her practiced blank expression, she glanced at the young woman as they walked. “Īe. We’re going to Tokyo directly. The fast way. But first, let me introduce you to our friends. Our other allies on this mission.”

  Ichika glanced back at the others nervously. They had heard about the incident the day before when Yuko’s friends had laid waste to nearly thirty attackers in a demonstration. The atmosphere around the trained warriors turned from mission orientation to one verging on dread.

  Eve noticed they had slightly slowed their pace.

  They approached the container and Eve led the way up the steps into it. Yuko and the others followed.

  Eve was vaguely aware of scrambling and the shuffling of a chair being repositioned. As she entered the doorway she saw Jacqueline zipping up her jumpsuit and Mark tucking his shirt into his pants. Mark’s hair was somewhat disheveled.

  She ignored what they had walked in on and headed straight for her computer to get the box underway.

  Yuko ushered the Japanese contingent into the office and lined them up to meet their new team. “Jacqueline and Mark, may I present to you Ichika, Kashikoi’s granddaughter.”

  Ichika bowed, and Mark and Jacqueline awkwardly tried to mimic the strange bobbing custom.

  Yuko continued, “This is Akari. And those are Riku and Haruto at the back,” indicating each in turn.

  “Gakusei-no Kashikoi,” she said, addressing the group of their new allies, “this is Jacqueline and Mark. I must warn you that they are enhanced; you’ll have heard the stories.”

  It was Haruto who spoke this time. “You mean like Weres?”

  Jacqueline, still a little flushed and embarrassed, tried to cover up being caught off-guard by venturing into the conversation. “I’m a Were, but he’s not.” She jerked her thumb at Mark, who was now standing a complete arm’s length from her.

  “Vampire,” Mark said, grinning and baring his teeth. He allowed his eyes to glow red.

  Akari, Haruto, and Riku all shuffled back in response, their hearts frozen in their mouths. Only Ichika remained relaxed. “Ahhh, that explains how you could overcome our troop in combat!” she exclaimed excitedly. Then she frowned. “How come you left them alive?”

  Jacqueline frowned too, stepping forward as her skin color normalized. “Why would we want to kill them?”

  Ichika chuffed. “It’s what your kind do, no? You can’t help it, I thought?” She glanced at Yuko for clarification.

  Yuko frowned. “You know that I’m a vampire?”

  Ichika nodded. “Of course, but you are the Diplomat. You enforce the strictures in the absence of the Patriarch. But other vampires and Weres…” She looked puzzled.

  Yuko laughed, waving her hand at Mark and Jacqueline. “No, these are also good Weres and vamps. They have both trained with the ArchAngel. You can trust them. They have honor as well.” Her eyes took them all in. “There are additional good vampires and Weres around the world, not just myself and Akio. Not many, but certainly more than the two of us.”

  Ichika seemed to understand, and the others relaxed a little too.

  With the introductions out of the way, Jacqueline and Mark pulled up separate seats in the far end of the container. The others found places to sit or perch and Eve gave her chair to Akari, explaining she wasn’t human and didn’t need to sit. Akari thanked her cautiously before sitting down.

  Yuko felt herself stepping into a leadership role, something she had barely had cause to do in all the time she had been stationed here with Akio. “Kashikoi told me where we might find at least some of the other boxes,” she began, bringing Jacqueline and Mark in on the information she had to share. “He suggested that we talk with someone in the Chinese government.

  Mark glanced at Jacqueline. “China, here we come!” he exclaimed, the excitement of the unfolding adventure piquing his curiosity.

  Yuko shook her head. “The government is here in Japan. Tokyo, to be exact.”

  Mark’s brow furrowed and then quickly smoothed as his eyebrows jumped up. “Because Japan is the place to be? With all the tech and stuff?”

  Yuko nodded.

  The warriors had started looking around the container, their eyes taking in all the computers and equipment this strange team of renegades had at their disposal.

  She continued, “The man we need to see is Qin Shi. We will most likely find him at the Chinese embassy.”

  Eve was already typing away on the computer. She looked up, pulling Yuko’s attention.

  “What is it?” Yuko asked.

  Eve checked her screen again. “I think the reason we’ll find him at the embassy is because he is the emperor, not some run-of-the-mill official.”

  Yuko pursed her lips.

  Eve held her eyes. “But then, you already knew that.”

  Yuko nodded and paused, waiting for a reaction from Eve. When none was forthcoming, she said, “I suggest we request an audience with His Highness. Could you put in an official request?”

  Eve nodded. “Adding us to his schedule now,” she reported.

  Ichika had a look of amazement on her face. She gazed at Eve in awe. “You’re the Eve. The legend that only a few have ever encountered.”

  Eve thought back to the written account the detective’s family had been keeping, realizing that someone through the generations had indeed been paying attention despite her efforts to cover their tracks digitally. She sighed and confessed, “Yes, I am she.”

  Ichika glanced at Akari. “So cool,” she mouthed, her face alight with excitement.

  Eve continued her work. “Plotting a course for the Chinese Embassy. In Tokyo,” she added, lacing her tone deliberately with a hint of irony.

  Yuko noticed and smiled. “Those human algorithms are working out all right when you use them.”

  Eve shrugged. “I suppose now that we have more people around, I will make more of an effort.” She glanced at the two young men, who had barely said a word. “And maybe in return, they might also feel comfortable in sharing some facial expression with us,” she added cheekily.

  Haruto and Riku exchanged puzzled glances, but Ichika sniggered, understanding Eve’s comment precisely.

  Yuko grinned. “To Tokyo, then,” she concluded, moving to a computer herself to do some research before they arrived.

  Tokyo, Japan, Chinese Embassy

  The group of warriors stared at the embassy building. Like the rest of Tokyo it remained, not just intact, but had been enhanced over the last several decades as the economy here flourished. Though they had arrived in less than fifteen minutes—much to the amazement of the new crew—they waited patiently until their appointment time.

  Now, with the sun low in the sky and many of the embassy personnel dispersing for the evening, they stood outside the main gates.

  “Ok, here’s the plan,” Yuko told them, her eyes still fixed on the building. She rehearsed in her mind where all the exits were from the rapid research she had done on the way there.

  “Eve and I will go in first. We will ask for their help. If and when that fails, we will try more extreme measures.”

  Mark chuckled. “You mean measures Michael would approve of?”

  Yuko nodded, her expression once again blank and matter-of-fact.

  He sniggered. “Why even bother asking them nicely? They’re not going to give up this information easily.”

  Yuko
turned to face him. “Because it’s something I need to do before we break hell loose over them. It’s good form,” she said, suddenly aware of Akari and Ichika paying close attention to their exchange.

  She changed the subject. “We’ll move inside the gate now. When you hear the signal, you can come inside and lend assistance.”

  Jacqueline frowned. “What’s the signal?”

  Eve transformed her hand from a five digit implement to the enormous gun she had used in battle previously. “You’ll hear it.” She smiled.

  Yuko couldn’t keep her face straight. It was almost like there were two personalities still duking it out within her. This Yuko— warrior Yuko—smiled with satisfaction at Eve’s Michael-approved response.

  Yuko raised her voice a little so all the allies could hear her. “Jacqueline, you’re in charge. Try not to kill anyone until we get the intel we need.”

  Ichika looked a little put out. “How come she is in charge?”

  Yuko glanced at the young woman and allowed her eyes to flare red. “Because I said so,” she told her quietly.

  Ichika backed down immediately.

  And with that, Yuko and Eve marched ahead of the others to announce themselves for their appointment.

  The rest followed, slipping through the gate behind Yuko, who was readily granted access. Once inside they peeled off in opposite directions, finding their respective ways in the deepening shadows and staying out of range of the cameras despite Eve’s assurance that she had them “taken care of.” Ichika and the others went right, Jacqueline and Mark left.

  Once Eve and Yuko were safely inside the front door, Ichika turned to Haruto. “I thought she was a diplomat, not a dictator!” She hmmpfed, still pissed about not being left in charge.

  Haruto shrugged. “People change, I guess.”

  Mark watched them from the other side of the lawn, debating whether to let them in on Yuko’s decision to become more warrior and less diplomat since Michael’s arrival. He caught Jacqueline’s eye and she shook her head. “Let them find out,” she winked mischievously.