Chapter 9
Operation Commence
Phoebe was lying on her back, on a blanket surrounded by grass. She was naked. The cool air hit her skin, leaving shivers and goosebumps in its wake. A hand, calloused and firm, yet also soft, caressed her bosom. Bright eyes bluer than the sky stared down at her. They were smiling.
“Phoebe,” Kevin said, “let’s have a child together.”
Shock coursed through her body like lightning, and heat pooled at her loins. “R-really?”
His lips lifting, Kevin nodded. “Yes. However, we can’t do it here. Having a child in this place is…” he trailed off, his cheeks lighting up. “Well, it’s not very private. Why don’t we go somewhere else?”
Phoebe, thoughts clouded with the need she had to bear a strong child, nodded. “I’ll do it wherever you want.”
“In that case, let’s go to Neo Seiryuu.”
“Neo Seiryuu?”
“Yes.” Standing up, Kevin offered a hand to her. “Come on, let’s go to Neo Seiryuu and have a child.”
Phoebe stared at the hand. And she stared. And stared. And stared. And then, without warning, she bit the hand.
Hard.
“YEOWCH!!”
Katrina cried in pain as she pulled her hand from Phoebe’s mouth. With tears leaking from her eyes, she tried to soothe her hand by rubbing it. Skin hung in tatters where she’d been bitten and blood leaked from the wound like ooze. Bringing her arachnid legs up to her mouth, she used them to pull a thread from within it, and then used that thread to sew the skin shut.
“Oh ho ho ho! It looks like you’ve been bitten. I’d call this a case of ‘biting the hand that feeds it,’ but you don’t actually feed her anything but lies and deceit.”
“Shut up!” Katrina snapped at her partner, Hilda, whose spidery legs bent as she spoke. “It’s not like you’re doing any better with your target! All she does is scream about boobs all day!”
“Yes.” Hilda cast a withering glare at the blond woman strapped to her table. “This one is quite the pervert, it seems. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
As she and Hilda bickered, the door to the interrogation chamber opened, and the warden walked in. His green skin appeared oily in the low lighting. Shadows cast from above caused his warts to stand out. As he walked into the room, his large gut bounced and wobbled.
Katrina kept her disgust carefully hidden. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Warden?”
“Tch.” The warden’s tongue flicked out between his pudgy lips. “I’m here to check on your progress. Have we managed to pry out the location of Neo Seiryuu from them?”
“We have not,” Hilda said. “These two are quite stubborn in relinquishing that particular morsel, though I can tell you the bust to hip ratio of every female student in this woman’s class.”
“I’m not interested in hip to bust ratios!” the warden gurgled angrily. “The boss has been hounding my ass to get that information! If you two can’t deliver on what was promised, then perhaps we should reconsider our agreement.”
“That will not be necessary,” Katrina sniffed.
Hilda nodded. “We’ll get the information you desire. My target’s will has already weakened considerably, and the poison that I’ve slipped into her system is beginning to take its toll. I suspect it will only be another day, two at the most.”
“I expect you to have that information by tomorrow and no later,” the warden flubbered, leaving the room and slamming the door behind him.
“I really hate that guy,” Katrina muttered.
“I do not agree with you often, sister, but in this case, you and I are on the same page.” Hilda gave a theatrical sigh. “However, for the sake of that girl, you and I must do as this man says. If we do not, then Hebi…”
“I know…”
The two of them were silent for a moment, but knowing better than to remain there doing nothing, Katrina and her sister went back to work.
That morning, Kevin, Lilian, Iris, Christine, Kotohime, and Cien, along with the group of yama uba, woke up early and boarded a train after eating a quick breakfast.
They’d only bought tickets for a single train car. It was crowded.
Kevin sat squished between Iris and Christine, while Lilian sat on his lap. Cien sat on the far side by the door. On the other side, the yama uba looked like sardines in a can—or a bunch of hot warrior women sitting on top of each other. There were ten of them. Kevin only felt slightly mesmorized by the eroticism of ten hot women crawling all over each other in a tangle of limbs and boobs. Kotohime had elected to stand, and her placid gaze surveyed the group with what Kevin could only deem was amusement.
“This place is packed,” Lilian muttered.
“I’ll say,” Kevin agreed. “Maybe we should have bought tickets for two cars.”
“I disagree,” Iris stated.
Kevin rolled his eyes. “That is because you’re admiring the view.”
“Uhuhuhu, and you are not?”
Kevin remained silent.
“Perhaps it is time we go over the plan once more,” Kotohime suggested.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Kevin agreed. He peeked out from around Lilian, setting his head on her shoulder. “Polydora, would you care to do the honors?”
Polydora would have crossed her arms, but Androdaïxa was sitting on her, so she huffed instead. “The plan calls for us to act as a diversion. Our job is to commit a full-frontal assault on the prison, which should bring all of the people guarding the base to us. Meanwhile, you, Lilian, Iris, Christine, Cien, and Kotohime will sneak in through an underground passage that links North Fox Island to Beaver Island.” She frowned. “I still do not approve of this plan. It should be us, the people who know Lady Phoebe best, that should be sneaking in to rescue her.”
“And we already told you why that won’t work,” Kevin said patiently. “You ten will stand a better chance at making the full-frontal assault convincing. Plus, you’re yama uba, so whoever’s guarding the place will believe that you have come for Phoebe. It’s the perfect distraction.”
“Hmph. I understand your reasons. I just don’t like them.”
“I think she just doesn’t want anyone but her rescuing Phoebe,” Euryale whispered into Thoe’s ear.
“Indeed.”
“What are you two whispering about?!”
“Nothing!” the two said at the same time, which just made Polydora glare at them more.
Clutching her frilly dress, Christine tried to ignore her heart hammering in her chest. Like an icy stake, it tried to puncture a hole through her ribcage. She cursed her weak heart. They weren’t even close to starting the operation, and she was already a nervous wreck!
A hand landed on hers. “It’ll be okay,” Lilian said, smiling down at her. “Try not to worry too much, all right? We’re all together in this; you, me, Kevin, and Iris. No matter what happens on this mission, know that we’ve got your back.”
Unable to speak and feeling her cheeks growing cold, Christine looked down and nodded meekly.
“Now then, while Polydora-san and all of you present a distraction, Kevin-sama, Lilian-sama, Iris-sama, Christine-san, Cien-san, and myself, will sneak in through the backway. However, I will be splitting off from Kevin-sama and the others to confront the one in charge.” Kotohime frowned. “I do not know who this Hebi is, and that makes me uneasy about letting him near any of you.” She nodded at Lilian and the others. “While I engage him in combat, you five will find and rescue Phoebe-san and Heather-san.”
“And once we’ve extracted them, I’ll light up some fireworks and you guys will retreat,” Lilian finished. “We’ll escape by speed boat and travel south to Glen Arbor, then make our escape from the city by train.” Lilian paused. “Though just how we’re going to get a speed boat is beyond me.”
“Do not worry,” Cien grunted. “The Yamata Alliance has its own speed boats that we can steal.”
“Oh, good,” Lilian said.
“Get off your high horse, Iris,” Kevin grunted. “We both know that you’re just upset the suggestion didn’t come from you.”
“Owch.” Iris mock winced. “That’s harsh, Stud. Truly, you’ve become a sadistic man.”
“Beloved’s not sadistic.” Lilian pouted. “If he was, he would have tied us to a bed with chains and had his way with us until we were shuddering puddles of orgasmic bliss by now.”
“Somehow, I knew this conversation would end up on sex,” Kevin muttered, then he noticed Christine’s glare. “What?”
“Disgusting,” she said, turning her nose at him.
“I didn’t even do anything!”
“Ufufufu, you four are so cute,” Kotohime giggled.
“You and I have very different definitions of cute,” Kevin snapped.
“I second that.” Christine raised a hand.
“I’m with the stud and Christy on this one.”
“Aw! No fair. I agree with Beloved and Christine, too!”
As the volume picked up and more people joined in on the conversation, Kevin looked out the window, watching the scenery pass by in a blur.
Heather. Phoebe. I hope you two are okay.
The train took them all the way to Lancaster, where they hopped onto an airplane that flew them to Traverse City. After that, it was a one-hour drive in a van to arrive at Charlevoix.
From the moment they arrived, Kevin felt like there was something wrong about the place. There was a stirring in the air, a sense of foreboding that made the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck prickle.
Two hands found their way into his. He glanced down and found Lilian’s hand gripping his left, and Christine’s hand his right. “You guys feel it, too?”
Lilian nodded warily. “There’s something off about this place, and the way that driver left in such a hurry is…”
“I know. It was weird.” Kevin looked down at Christine. “Are you okay?”
“O-of course, I am!” Christine blustered, though the way she gripped his hand tighter told him that she was not, in fact, all right.
He looked at Iris and Lilian, a silent question in his eyes. When they both shrugged, he decided to just go with the flow.
“Come along, all of you,” Kotohime said. “Let us be off. Dog-san, if you would be so kind.”
“Tch, I have a name, you know.” Cien clicked his tongue in irritation, though he still led them into the town. “Follow me.”
The large group moved further into the small town. It was a quaint place, a small hamlet filled with greenery. Trees spread across the landscape, and houses could be seen between them. Green lawns, sprinkled with morning dew, gained a vibrant luminosity in the sun. It was a perfect blend of mother nature and modern suburban development.
There were people there, humans, who wandered the streets, going about their daily lives. Yet there was something off about them, something wrong. Kevin couldn’t place his finger on it, but he felt like they were a little too mechanical, their movements just a little too automated.
“Does anyone else think this is creepy?” Euryale asked.
“These people are not cute at all,” Thoe agreed.
Polydora frowned as she looked at the humans. “I’m just surprised none of these people have even tried talking to us yet. It’s like they haven’t even noticed us.”
“They have, but the reason they’re not talking to you is because you’re with me,” Cien said.
“I thought you said that your people had killed off all the humans,” Iris teased. “Could it be that you Yamata Alliance jerks are really just a bunch of softies?”
Cien glared, but he didn’t respond to her baiting. “These people are dead.”
“E-excuse me?” Christine squeaked.
“These people, none of them are alive. They’re just puppets,” Cien told them.
“Puppet Imitation Technique ,” Kotohime announced solemnly. “It’s a special skill unique to jorōgumo. After poisoning her victim, a jorōgumo can infuse her threads inside of a person and control them as if they were a puppet.”
“I’ve never heard of that technique,” Kevin muttered, warily eying a young woman as she walked her dog. He shuddered. The idea of being killed and his body being stuffed with threads was not a pleasant one. He felt sorry for these people.
“That is because it is rare for anyone to be capable of using this technique. Only a jorōgumo that has lived for at least six hundred years can use the Puppet Imitation Technique to its fullest.” Kotohime observed an old man as he bent down to pick up an imaginary newspaper. “Whoever used this is quite skilled. Not only has she turned everyone here into puppets, but they are all automated to act like they did in life.”
“Creepy,” Menippe whispered softly.
“Very creepy,” Euryale agreed.
“Come on,” Cien urged. “Let’s keep going. So long as we do not touch them, they won’t respond to us. However, if we try to talk to one, it will set off an alarm and a whole swarm of spider yōkai will be on us before we can blink.” He looked at Polydora. “That’s what happened to you and your friend.”
Polydora looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.
They moved silently through the streets. Kevin could see the lake that sat in the center of the town. Several piers lined the round lake, which had two outlets that split Charlevoix in half. Those piers were their destination.
They traveled lengthwise around the lake, walking along the pavement. Several buildings stood out from the rest. They were larger than the houses, their shapes more boxy and not as aesthetically appealing. Signs hung from them, showing that they were shops selling various items, though Kevin couldn’t tell what. On their other side was the lake, which expanded before their eyes. He could barely make out the line of trees on the other side.
When they reached the docks, everyone followed Cien as he stepped onto a wooden pier, his boots thunking against the grainy wood as he led them to where two boats sat. One was a tiny speed boat that wouldn’t fit more than five or six people; the other was much larger, and Kevin estimated that it could carry at least ten people.
“I want all of you to wait here while I go get the keys,” Cien said.
“I will accompany you,” Kotohime declared. Cien frowned at her, but he seemed to have realized that nothing he said would convince them of his sincerity. He nodded at her and together they set off for a building several dozen yards from the pier.
“I don’t think she trusts him,” Kevin commented.
“Can you blame her?” Iris asked rhetorically. “The dude is totally suspicious. I mean, he was an enemy before, but now he’s agreeing to completely help us?”
“And that’s not suspicious at all,” Christine added, her tone laden with sarcasm.
“You two clearly don’t understand how shōnen mechanics work,” Lilian said. She then reached into her bosom and pulled out a book called Tv Tropes for Dummies.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve seen her bring one of those books out,” Kevin said.
“I bet you miss watching the way her boobs bounce when she pulls something out of her storage space, don’tcha?” Iris said, a teasing grin plastered on her face. “You little perv, you.”
Ignoring the byplay between her sister and her mate, Lilian coughed into her hand and began speaking. “In any action-based series that’s centered around an endless series of one-on-one fights, defeating a Worthy Opponent, or The Rival, will often convert them to the hero’s side. Also, no matter how much trouble the Worthy Opponent has caused for the heroes, once he or she shows remorse or selflessly helps out other people, he will be welcomed into the hero’s circle of True Companions.”
Snapping the book shut, Lilian shoved it back into her Extra Dimensional Storage Space, then looked at the others.
Most of them were staring at her with blank expressions.
“W
hat?” she asked.
“I didn’t understand any of that.” Euryale turned to Thoe. “Did you get any of that?”
“I… do not know. It did not make much sense to me, but don’t you think that kind of friendly rivalry is bromantic? W-why do you people keep staring at me every time I say something?!”
“Because you’re weird,” the other yama uba said at the same time.
Christine pressed a hand to her face. “I had forgotten how weird you foxes can be sometimes.”
“Hey! I’m not weird!” Lilian crossed her arms and pouted. “You guys are the ones who didn’t understand something so basic. I was simply informing you about the mechanics behind the dog’s inclusion into this group.”
“I don’t know about his inclusion or whatever,” Iris started, “but I can tell you right now that he’s not gaining my acceptance. Not in this lifetime. Our group already has one dog too many.”
“Please don’t badmouth my mentor,” Kevin deadpanned.
As conversation filled the air, Christine stood apart from the others. She looked at the group, then at the lake’s placid water. It was hard to believe that they were going to launch a rescue operation in just a few hours. She looked down at her pale hands. They were shaking.
“Christine?” Lilian saw her friend standing several feet from the group and walked up to her. “Are you still nervous?”
“Wha—no!” Christine said hotly as her cheeks turned ice cold. “Of course, I’m not n-nervous! I’m ready for this. I’ve been training so that I wouldn’t be a burden to you and the others. I—”
Words became logged in her throat when Lilian pulled her into a hug.
“It’s okay to be nervous, you know?” Lilian chided. “I don’t think there’s a single person here who isn’t worried to some degree.” Christine blinked. Grinning mischievously, Lilian leaned down and cupped a hand to her mouth. “Between you and me, Kevin is the most nervous person here.”
“What?” Christine glanced at Kevin, who appeared to be tossing insults back and forth with Iris, a grin on his face. “I don’t believe you. Just look at him. There’s no way someone grinning like that could ever be—”
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