[center][b]Chapter 6:  Shadows[/b][/center]

*SOB*

A young woman sits there, curled up and sobbing into her knees.  Around her are four guards, each one armed with assault rifles.

"She's been crying for the past hour.  Can't we shut her up?"  Nameless guard #3 looks down at the young woman.

"No.  The master said that we weren't to do anything to her until after 24 hours have passed."  The Head Guard checks his gun.  "After that, if the ransom hasn't been paid, then we're allowed."

"Seems pretty stupid, if you ask me.  Pain brings motivation, after all."  Guard #3 kneels down.  "Just a slap to shut her.  Just one single slap."  He snorts.  "Or at least some duct tape."

"No."  The Head Guard easily hefts up the third guard back to his feet.  "You are not to interact with her.  Understood?"  He sees the third guard just stare at him after forcing his arm off.

"Right."  With that, Guard #3 leaves the area and goes behind a block.  Reaching into a pocket, he removes a small packet and opens it, removing a small bit of chew.  "Just how the hell did I end up with these nutjobs?"  Shaking his head, he takes the pinch of chew and puts it against his lower gumline.

Two hands reached down from above. Before the man could react, he was snatched up and on to the block, a metal gauntlet chopping his throat, knocking him unconscious. Away he was pulled, out of sight.

Soft footsteps on the large block, around to the rest of the three. Two with their backs to the subject, one keeping watch on her still. The other two were looking around to make sure of intruders.

[i]Thump.[/i] Feet touched ground lightly, and two hands wrapped around the one who was not paying attention, the Head Guard. One around his chest, one over his mouth, keeping him quiet as he started to struggle.

A shake of the head to the hostage woman, the rifle pulled up out of the guard's hand...two whacks, and the two guards were knocked out with the butt of the rifle to the back of the heads before it was dropped.

The savior, reached down, picking up the radio from the leader of the group, and looked to the weeping woman. A finger to her lips.

"Shhh..."

The young woman gasps slightly, but immediately nods and follows the command.

[i]"Team 5, this is Team 1.  Come in.  Team 5, do you copy?  Requesting immediate sitrep."[/i]  The communication from the fallen Head Guard's radio comes out loud and clear, devoid of static.

The savior held the radio up to her mouth, praying that their communications were masked both ways enough for her gender to be kept secret. From the sound of the tone, there was a vocal mask. "This is Team 1. Nothing wrong, Team 5."

Azumi thought for a moment. She could use this opportunity to find out the locations of the other groups. Might as well. "Where are the other teams, Team 1? Have they checked in? How many are alive in each?"

[i]Team 4 has yet to check it.  All others have and are in their specified locations.[/i]  However, the Head Guard of Team 1's voice pauses.  [i]"And you know very well that we can't discuss specifics beyond what has been said.  Now, be on the lookout.  The Master suspects that we are to likely have unwanted company.  For the glory of the Demon's Head."[/i]  With that, the communique cuts off.

...right. No looking into information she couldn't expect them to give. But this "Demon's Head..." Time to keep moving. She looked to the hostage, whispering after the communication went down. "Just lie down and pretend to be unconscious."

With that, she clipped the radio on to her uniform's belt, then looked up to the nearest block. Swiftly, she climbed it, coming out on top, and started moving, looking for any signs of nearby groups.

---

The Head Gaurd of Team 1 looks at his group.  "Keep a close eye out.  Our unwanted guest has arrived."  Seeing the nods of agreement, he once more triggers the radio, this time to someone different.  "You were right, Master.  Our guest is here."

[i]"Certainly punctual.  Contact the other teams and inform them.  Be vigilant, and do not underestimate this foe."[/i]

"As you command, Master."  Nodding, the Head Guard #1 begins to radio the other teams.

---

"Understood."  Head Guard #4 nods as he receives his communique.  Putting his radio away, he looks at the four other guards.  "Alright, I need you to listen up.  Numbers 2 and 3 are to begin patrols for potential intruders.  1, 4 and myself will stay with the hostage."  Guards 2 and 3 nod and immediately begin their patrols.  1 and 4 stare ahead, and the Head Guard circles the immediate area, keeping an eye on their hostage, an elderly Aisan man.

Silently, Azumi swore above this group, watching their patrols. She knew she had messed up, but at least she had found a new group. Perhaps she could spread this one out a bit more.

When the two patrols broke off, she waited for both of the remaining guards to be looking away from her. At that moment, she waved to the old man, hoping he saw her, and made a punching motion. She wanted him to distract them, so long as he didn't get himself hurt in the process.

The old man looks up and notices her.  He gives an almost imperceivable nod.  "Could I get something to eat or drink?"  He sees the Head Guard glare at him, so he immediately comes up with a reasonable excuse.  "You see, I haven't eaten today, and if I don't eat regularly, my diabetes will act up."

The Head Guard pauses.  Could he be lying?  He wasn't a doctor, but that sounded rather fishy.  But in the end, he couldn't risk it.  Pulling out an energy bar, he hands it to the man, who eats it.  "Is there anything else?"

"Well, I do need to go to the restroom..."

The Head Guard scowled.  Just how did he end up a baby-sitter?  "4, take him to the restroom."

"Yessir." 4 gets the old man to his feet and begins pushing him.  "Come on."  After a while, he eventually guides him to a block with a door in it.  He removes a key and unlocks the door.  "Make it quick."

Azumi smirked as her plan went into action. No violence necessary to boot. The young woman took two steps back...then charged, lunging forward. Her right hand grabbed the Head Guard's neck before he could even cry out, her left grabbing the other remaining. Her sudden weight forced them to slam down into the ground. It wasn't too loud, all things considered, but it was enough force for a quick knockout. Taking into account the patrols that were made, she hooked her arms under the Head Guard's shoulders, dragging him around a block, off to a section that would only be visited within a few seconds, but enough time for her to come up with a plan.

The woman flattened herself against a wall, waiting for the patrolling guard, number 2, came toward her. He was right there... Two hand grabbed his shirt, yanked him around, smashed his back into the box beside her. The wind knocked out of him, she applied a quick chop to the throat, putting him down beside his leader before creeping out to the other man. Swiftly, she picked him up in a fireman's carry, pulling him back to the others before setting him down. Time to see about those other two. She just hoped she hadn't been spotted yet.

Number 4 stands there, waiting, whistling.  The old man was taking his time.  He takes a look at his watch.  "Hurry it up, will you?"

Meanwhile, number 3 returns to the center, pausing.  Where were the others?  "Wait a minute...  This isn't good."  She flicks the safety off from his assault rifle and chambers the first round.  She places her back against one of the block walls, taking deep breaths.  "What's going on?"

A head reached down beside her, two hands grasping her shoulders. Swiftly, she was yanked up on top of the block, a quick rabbit punch to the back of the head knocking her unconscious as well.

[i]Well, at least this guy is up for equal opportunity in his organization. I'll give him that.[/i]

Finally, number four begins to escort his hostage back to the group.  "Be thankful that you got shown some leniency.  If it were up to me, you'd be using a coffee can."  However, like his predecessor, number 3, he pauses at the absense of his compatriots.  "Ah, hell."  He knew what was gonna come next.  He just knew it.  He begins to turn around, looking at the environment, a state of panic beginning to set in.

Azumi smiled. She looked to the hostage. He had done his part to help her get rid of most of them. Time to see if he could finish the job. The young woman waved to him, then pointed to the last guard. She made a motion of another punch, then a push, then a choking motion, hoping he would get the idea and knock out the guard. Might as well empower him, since it would throw  them off the trail.

The old man nods.  Without a second thought, he tackles number 4 at his knees, making him toss his assault rifle.

"What the hell are you doing!?"  Number 4 removes a handgun, but finds the man sitting on his arm.  "Get off!"

The man shakes his head, instead pressing his forearm against the guard's throat.  This goes for a few minutes, until the guard is knocked out.

Azumi dropped down to the man's level, grinning beneath her mask. "Good job. Just sit tight. I have to get the others. Do you know anything about where anyone is?"

The old man is confused.  "I thought I was the only one."

---

Head Guard #1 looks over at his hostage, then to his two partners.  "Everyone stay together.  We cannot afford to separate.  Especially now."  He looks down at the hostage his group had, an eight year-old boy.  More than likely, the 'guest' had already freed the other hostages.  This was the last line... and even though his master said otherwise, he needed an advantage.  Immediately, he begins to pull out a few explosives.  "For the glory of the Demon's Head."

"Yes sir.  For his glory."

[i]F*** me...[/i]

A kid and three guards with bombs. Fantastic, really. She checked her equipment. Smoke gauntlet had enough. Knife working. A few of those sonic grenades left. She'd take her chances here.

Holding out her gauntlet, she allowed smoke to cover the area, distorting people's vision as she brought up her low-light vision capability. Then she threw down a sonic grenade, waiting for its explosion.

Not waiting any longer, she dropped down. It was time to finish this.

Two of the guards immediately begin to cough from the smoke.  The Head guard grabs the boy and holds onto him, holding his own breath.  Then the grenade explodes, sending concussive waves of sound, striking against all three.  The other two are knocked out, but the Head Guard is merely knocked back.  Still holding onto the boy, he pulls out a knife and holds it against the boy's neck, all the while clenching onto a detonator with his other hand.

*Cough*  "Show yourself."  The Head guard looks around, and hears the whimpering and coughing of the boy.  "Do so, or I slit the boy's throat."  He punctuates this by pressing the tip of his knife against the boy's neck, drawing a little blood.  "Do not test me."

Running, stopping behind him. Knife extended, slice down on the strap on one of the explosives to cut it off of him, another down on the other, then running back and around to the front again as fast as possible. Even from that angle, the best she could do was a kill, no knockout. The smoke was around, but not too bad. In any case, her mask's built-in voice filter worked well enough here. "Let the boy go, and maybe we'll talk about showing myself. Nice and slow, no hurting him. I've dealt with worse, so don't bother trying to be a martyr."

"No.  No bargains.  Either submission by you, or death for us all."  The Head Guard steps back, farther away, stepping on his explosives.  He curses under his breath.  "You won't win."  He applies a little more pressure on the boy's throat.  "Now come out!"  Throwing aside his detonator, he pulls out a pistol and aims at the smoke cloud.

A swear from the cloud. In any case, it was best to just show herself. The smoke began to clear, and finally showed her in her entirety, costume, mask, and all, the blade retracted into her metal gauntlet. Again she spoke. "Well? Let him go. And put down the gun."

The Head Guard drops his gun.  "I don't need the gun for you."  Moving his knife away from the boy's throat, he tosses the boy aside.  "Let's settle this like warriors."  He holds his knife forward and lowers his stance.

"Honor" and "warrior's way" were not the kinds of things Azumi tended to live by.  Still, she would do what she had to in order to fight this man. It would not be too hard. In actuality, she assumed she would have the better training. The ODSTs were considered the best of the UNSCDF before the SPARTAN II program. They still were the best of the Marines. She wouldn't lose to a common criminal. In her fireteam, she had regularly proven to be the best of her group in hand to hand combat. Her CO was better with bladework, though she was close.

Still, she didn't take any real battle stance besides a slight tensing, not even extending the blade he would not know she had. "Warriors? Sure, come at me."

"Rather confident of your skills, aren't you?  Taunting me without standing at ready, or even revealing your weapon."  The Head Guard flips his knife, blade now aimed downwards.  "And even if you defeat me, your victory will be hollow.  My master's plan shall succeed."  He circles around his target, observing this figure.  He returns in front of the figure and kicks the explosives over to the side, clearing the area.  Taking a deep breath, he runs towards his target, his right arm crossing over his abdomen, his left arm crossed over his chest, his left hand holding the knife.

Azumi remained calm, remained without her weapon out...and ducked, sweeping her leg out as he came toward her. Her sweep would hit him in the front of his ankles, his forward momentum hopefully causing him to trip.

The trip strikes, knocking the guard off his feet.  However, he wasn't head guard just because of his looks.  He was fairly competent when times arose, and when dealing with problems like this 'guest', he tended to think ahead.  He tucks his head in and rolls, landing on his knees before leaping up and going for a spinning backhand slash with his knife.

Azumi turned as he fell by her, looking at the stab. In a moment, she extended her own blade, forcing the one against her up before standing up with a hard kick to the abdomen followed by a slash at his knife hand.

The two blows strike, stunning the head guard and causing him to lose grasp of his knife.  Yelling, and not thinking clearly due to the pain, he levels a straight right fist towards his opponent's gut.  However, he didn't anticipate the armor that his opponent wore, and grips his hand.  Kneeling, he gathers his breath.  "I might fall, but the glory of the Demon's Head shall reign."

Azumi gasped as she was punched, but her armor did offer defense. As he fell, she grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt with one hand, retracting the knife. She didn't even spare him a word, just slugging him right in the face in an attempted knockout blow.

---

[i]Another situation.[/i]  Another Head Guard looks over at her crew, now a set of thirty.  "The Master just gave us an update.  Seems the hostages are out of play."

"So what do we do, sir?"  Guard #7 asks.

"He gave orders for retreat and demolition.  Set the charges.  We can't leave any evidence."

"What about the intruder?"  Guard #9 asks.  The others nod in agreement.

"He wants the intruder apprehended, as the best case.  If not, he would go for extermination."  The Head Guard nods to her assualt rifle.  "Load up on ammunition, set the charges, and get out.  If the intruder arrives, disable at best, disposal if not able to."  With the commands made, the group begin to go about their work.

Meanwhile, Guards 7 and 9 set up their charge.  Pressing a few buttons, they nod.  The charge was primed.  All it needed was the trigger to activate it.  And after fifteen minutes, no more traces.  Guard 7 removes a small radio.  "Charge has been set and primed."

[i]Crack.[/i] A fist smashed into the back of 9's head, knocking him unconscious in an instant. Before 7 could cry out, a metal-covered hand grabbed his throat, forcing him back against the charge. With that mask, his assailant could have been Death itself.

"Disarm it. Permanently."

7 immediately begins to flop sweat.  He didn't sign up for this!  "Okay, okay, just don't hur me!"  He immediately turns around and kneels down, putting in the code to disable the bomb.  "What was the code again?  09..."  He puts in the first two digits.  "19..."  Another two button presses.  "Dammit, what were those last four digits?"

Overhead, the Head Guard notices the problem.  "Can't trust anyone to do anything right."  Putting aside her assault rifle, she picks up a sniper rifle and takes aim...

"I think I got it."  Number 7 twitches a little bit as he puts them in.  "1, 9, 3..."  However, his work goes unfinished as a sniper round penetrates his skull.  He topples over, no longer among the living.

Azumi swore as blood and brains splattered on the bomb. Fifteen minutes to disarm... Still, she had to get that head officer.

As she was thinking this, she instinctually flattened herself against the nearest wall, grabbing up the rifle on the ground. She checked it for a suppressor....nothing. Damn.

The soldier dropped it, looking to the bomb. Four wires on top, one grounding wire. Two connected to the timer out of the four. Think, think... she didn't think "cut the red wire" was a good option. The one on the ground was unknown, the ones to the timer probably just causing an immediate explosion. Maybe....one of those directly on the explosive?

Not enough time to look in a manual. She took out her knife...and grabbed one of the wires. Moment of truth... She cut.

Immediately, the timer on the explosive suts off, with any audio signal also deactivating.  The disarm on that was a success.

"Dammit."  The Head Guard kneels down as she tosses aside the sniper rifle.  She was a poor shot with it, but she had to take a chance.  Nevertheless, she still had a few tricks up her sleeve.  She pulls out the trigger and presses it without a second thought.  The audible sounds of the other explosives being armed and counting down begin to resound.

There was a brief period of elation. She had never actually disarmed a bomb, only trying because she was in a simulation. However, she quickly went back to business, hearing the ticking of the bombs. She had to move.

In moments, she was approaching the next bomb, around the corner from her.  She stayed flat to the wall, and quickly grabbed a passing guard number 12, knocking him out with a chop before continuing in. Hopefully her targets would be few so that she could take the next bomb.

Below her, Guards 15 and 13 arrive.  Looking up, 15 spots the intruder on the catwalk above them.  Nuding her partner, they both look up.  Without a second thought, 15 yells out, "Open fire!"  With her exclamation, two sets of assault rifles begin to fire upwards towards their target.

A bullet hit Azumi in the leg, causing a wince before she could react. The smoke gauntlet activated as she slipped down the back of the catwalk, grabbing it with both hands before dropping down to the ground in a crouch as the smoke filled the area. Hopefully, the two would continue to fire at the wrong area as she snuck by them. She needed to keep moving, not to take out every guard in sight, but would if necessary.

13 and 15 keep firing at the clouded area, their intent obvious.  They weren't aiming to disable the intruder.  They were more focused on full-fledged disposal.  They empty their clips into the smoke.  They remove them, and insert new ones into their assault rifles.  They pause for a moment.  15 removes a radio and speaks.  "Intruder is down.  Proceeding to pre-determined evac points."  With that, 15 and 13 makes their way out.  They don't notice that the smoke dissipates with no body.

The Head Guard shakes her head.  She had chosen them personally, and they were acting like this?  Shameful.  Already, she had half of her squad leave.  Immediately, she opens the radio contact for everyone of her minions.  "No one else is going to leave.  Our threat is not dealt with.  Stay around, and stay near the charges.  We cannot afford to let the intruder disable them.  Understood?  If need be, you will die to defend the charges."  Immediately, the remainder of the guards head to their pre-defined areas of charge defense.

Azumi smirked as she saw that they had completely missed her. Taking the advantage, she slunk around behind the two. First, she slugged 15 in the back of the head, aiming to knock her unconscious with a quick rabbit punch. Immediately after this, she grabbed 13 in a headlock, holding the target tightly and putting one hand over the mouth, trying to knock him out via brief suffocation. She saw the bomb in the room, but had to knock out these two just to make sure she could make it.

15 crumples from the punch to the back of her head, while 13 grabs onto the intruder's arm and tries to pry it loose from his neck.  However, the lack of oxygen coupled with the fatigue from a few days with little rest made his effects all for naught.  He ends up going under.

All the while, the charges count down.

[b]13:30[/b]
[b]13:29[/b]

[b]13:28[/b]

Right. The bomb. The woman ran to it, looking over its wires, and cut one of the top ones again. Seeing the timer stop on this one, she sprinted to the wall to the next area, flattening herself beside the door and slowly pulling it open. to see if anyone was inside.

She just hoped she could pull this off.

Inside the room, Guards 22 and 18 stand near two charges.  Close by, foot steps from two other guards, 14 and 17, make their way towards the door as well, doing their patrols.

Inside the room, 22 pulls out his Glock and checks it, before popping in an expanded clip.  "We should go handheld.  Rifles in this small space is too big a risk for recoil and friendly fire."  18 nods and takes out her own pistol, a Desert Eagle.

Handheld pistols... that could be difficult on its own level if they were good shots. She had a good solution, if temporary, though. The door was slightly open. She still had her sonic grenades...

One of them, armed, rolled in through the doorway, toward the group. It stopped in the middle of the four...and exploded.

The concussive waves of sound explode out from the soinc grenade, toppling over 22 and 18, launching 14 out of a window, and slamming 17 into a wall, dropping his assault rifle.  Likewise, the door is blown off its hinges from the force of the sound waves.

Extremely dazed, and more than likely deaf now, 18 shakes her head as she is on her hands and knees.  Desperately, she reaches for her dropped Desert Eagle.

Azumi briefly looked to her equipment, a half-second scan. She had thrown [i]two[/i] grenades in there? Damn, those were her last. In any case, best to get to it.

Quickly, she turned around the exposed entryway, seeing 18. She ran over, kicking her hard in the head in the hopes of knocking her unconscious, then picked up the pistol, stripping it down as much as possible to make it take longer to use if anyone found it. Only when she was done did she dropped the gun.

Immediately, 18 is knocked out cold from the impact.

The Head Guard looks over towards the area of the explosion.  Pulling out her radio, she begins to speak.  "All units, converge on Charges 3 and 4.  Our intruder is in that area.  Ready flash bangs and enter with safeties off."  This was probably one of the more reckless orders that she gave, but it needed to be done.  Besides, she was curious.  The way the intruder reacted... it wasn't him.  Could it be one of his 'children'?  Never the less, she had her orders.

Two slices of the switchblade, and two more bombs were disarmed. This couldn't be it, there had to be more. Still, she needed to listen, to make sure of whether or not others were coming her way. Instead, she just thought, eyes closed, breathing deeply. Calm...calm...think. How to do this faster....

Immediately, the sounds of numerous footsteps fill the area, coupled with the loading of weapons.  6 guards cover the outside of the room, with the others having lost their nerve and fled.

Number 30 takes the lead, standing by the opening of one of the doors.  Reaching into one of is vest's pockets, he extracts a small disk-shaped device.  Grabbing a hold of it, he twists the device and tosses it into the room.  He counts down in his mind.

[i]5... 4... 3...[/i]

She heard the tinks, looked in the direction... [i]Ah crap.[/i] In the last two seconds, she held her hands, her arms over her face, turning away as a blinding flash took the room.

Immediately, guards 26 and 3 enter the room, their assault rifles trained on the costumed soldier.  3 is the first to respond, her voice clear.  "Down on your knees.  Now."

Her eyes stung, the bright light still too much even with her face covered. Normally, she would fight back, but she didn't have a chance against two guards with assault rifles, if the sound of the safety was enough.

[i]I hope you meant for this,[/i] she thought, meaning her mentor as she dropped to her knees, fingers interlocked behind her head as she lowered it, trying to be sure that they did not remove the mask.

Lose? No, she hadn't lost. But maybe, just maybe, she could get to their leader with a little luck. She just knew how to pick her battles.

Immediately, the other four enter in and subdue her.  Placing plastic cuffs on her wrists, they place her on the shoulders of the burliest of the guards, Number 27.  They make their way to the Head Guard, who is now situated inside an empty area.  "We've captured the intruder, Ma'am."  27 puts the costumed soldier down.

"Good.  Now go and head to your retreat points.  I shall deal with this personally."  The Head Guard watches as the others leave.  After she is assured that they have left, she walks over to Azumi and kneels down.  Pulling out a combat knife from her boot, she walks behind her, pausing for a moment.  Grabbing a hold of her captive's arm, she slides the knife through the bonds, severing them, before walking back around and staring at her.

Well, at least she was overly proud. Or curious. Was this the Demon's Head? Probably not. That would be a Demoness. Then again, gender neutral terms could confuse. She did not speak as she was released, did not move. She just remained staring at the woman, arms now at her sides.

"Are you one of his?"  The Head Guard turns around and heads towards one of the walls.  She removes her holster and drops it on the ground.  Without receiving an answer, she continues.  "Sad.  I was honestly expecting him, and not one of his 'children'."  She removes a small pad and puts in an eight-digit code.

The voice filter was on now, enough to mask her. "So, blowing up what's left, or what? You won't get everything."

"No.  I disabled them."  She turns around, drops the device on the floor and crushes it beneath her boot.  "It is the very least I could do for one of my Beloved's partners."  Gripping the balakava that covers her face, she removes it, revealing long brown hair and deep blue eyes.

"Your what."

Azumi didn't think Bruce would be single, not by a long shot. However, to be involved with a villainess seemed...below him. "Who are you, then? The 'Demon's Head'? Inaccurate name if so."

"My father's name."  The unmasked Head Guard, Talia, grips at her left forearm with her right hand.  "And although I do care so for my Beloved, my duty lies with my father."  She lets go of her arm, before looking over at the sword and scabbard that lay near her holster and the remnants of the charge trigger.  "I hope that you can understand my choice is little in this."  She walks over and removes the sword from its scabbard, revealing it to be a katana.

"You know, if I was more cliché, I'd try to talk you out of it." She stood slowly, carefully. "However, I personally don't really care at the moment. Hostages, bombs. What is this, a fight? You want to kill me to send back to him or something? Not exactly the best gift."

"No.  I've become a little rusty, and you would seem to be a most adequate sparring partner."  Talia steps towards Azumi, her katana at the ready.  "So, do you best."

A...sparring partner. After hostages. And bombs. And capture. This was...odd. "And what about me? Do I get a weapon, or just my hands?"

"You have your weapon, do you not?"  Talia gestures towards Azumi's gauntlet.  "Or would you prefer myself to be unarmed, as well?"

Azumi shook her head, flicking her wrist to force out the blade. "This is good enough. Come at me, then."

"As you wish."  With that type of confirmation, Talia rushes at Azumi quietly, her katana drawn back and angled.

The soldier ducked to the side, trying to avoid the incoming blow. Rather than attack straight out, she feigned a stab at Talia, instead kicking hard at her ribs in an attempt to force her back.

While Talia was no fool, she was indeed rusty in her fighting skills.  She should have noticed the feint by her opponent.  Instead, she ended up receiving the kick to her chest, pushing her back a small distance.

Not to be outdone, Talia responds with a triplicate of spinning downward swipes from her sword.  Much like her opponent, this would be a feint, her true intent a spinning kick to her opponent's facemask.

Azumi was definitely no swordswoman. She knew her way around a knife fight, yes, but when facing larger weapons, she was more lost. Therefore, watching the slashes, she was caught by the kick.

Her facemask was shoved hard against her face, and she staggered back, feeling a crack in it. The woman knew that it couldn't take too many hits. In retaliation, she ducked low, trying for a sweeping kick before she would try for more grounded combat with her hands.

The feeling of being in battle was coming back for Talia.  It had been so long since her last true fight.  She hops over her opponent's sweeping kick, and instead retaliates with a right knee raised as high up as possible, straight for the head.

Azumi felt a further crack along her facemask. The vocal filter was broken now, but she still has some capabilities. This woman was very strong. Still, as the knee came up, she grabbed it with both hands, stopping it. Using her blade, she stabbed hard into the leg itself, akin to her Vertigo fight, then rolled like a log to get out of range before standing again.

Talia gasps in pain as her leg is pierced by Azumi's blade.  Stumbling back, she grits her teeth.  "You are better than I anticipated.  You really are one of his 'children'."  She ends up using her sword as a makeshift crutch.

On a small catwalk above the combatants, a single soldier kneels down, his rifle trained on the masked intruder.  The Master wanted this one alive.  No live ammunition.  Only tranquilizer rounds.  He takes aim, and fires a single shot at the target's neck.

The soldier staggered, side to side, before yanking out the tranquilizer dart. Her vision was blurring, but she was still up, albeit silent. She had to finish this. The woman swung a punch from her non-blade hand, then a kick, trying to knock her back and out.

Talia stumbles backwards, still hobbling a bit from the knife wound to her knee.  She was able to dodge the punch, but the kick sent her back to the ground, groaning in pain.  Inadvertantly, her sword rises up with a slash towards the soldier's face mask.

The blade cut through the mask at last, though it miraculously did not cut her face, only just barely touching her cheek and drawing a bit of blood. There was a diagonal cut, from the center of her forehead to the left side of her chin, that section of the mask falling off. Part of her face and her hair visible, the woman finally could not hold herself up. She tried one last kick to the downed opponent...and collapsed in a heap, finally knocked out.

It seemed like it was a draw.

Talia takes the last hit to her own head, resulting in herself being knocked out as well.

The one on the catwalk nods and pulls out a radio, and removes his own mask.  "You were right, Master.  Shall I bring them to you?"

[i]"Do so at once, Ubu."[/i]

---

Ubu pauses as he stares at their now-bound-up guest.  The Master asked that she be chained in case she awoke, and that any equipment that she had be removed.  Part of him was curious.  He knew that the Master had more than a curious eye on the Detective and his 'children'.  But this one was different.  Perhaps a hidden disciple?

"Leave, Ubu."  A man kneeling in front of a fire looks back.  Hearing the steps of his trusted underling leave, the man stands up and turns around.  Ever since this intruder first arrived, he was intrigued.  Watching with numerous cameras that were set up, he noticed the fighting styles, the tactics.  Walking over to his 'guest', he gives a hearty slap to her face.

Ra's al Ghul wanted to see what his 'guest' was truly capable of.

Brown eyes flickered open as the subject grunted in slight pain. Gauntlets gone, mask and hood along with them. the cut had stopped bleeding, but with a small line down her cheek.

It took a few moments to register where she was, what her situation was. Instinctually, arms struggled against the metal bindings for a moment before she realized she couldn't get out in that manner. Perhaps picking them with something later? In any case, she kept her mouth shut, ignoring the stinging pain.

Azumi would not speak. Perhaps she had won, but this was....not exactly according to plan.

"Good, you are awake."  Ra's kneels down in front of Azumi, and looks at her, focusing on her eyes.  "Interesting.  You aren't one of his... not fully, in any event."  He stands back up and turns around, tending to the fire that he once knelt by.  "You fight well, and know enough to plan somewhat ahead.  But I've seen your moments of brashness, impulsiveness.  Though your garb may speak of vigilantism, your actions are that of a dedicated soldier."  Putting the fire poker away, he turns once more towards.

"To be fair, I was expecting the Detective.  For him to... outsource is rather unlike him."

"Do you normally hit women, then?" She up-front ignored his statements. Of course, she [i]had[/i] been rash. She wished she wasn't, but it had happened. "Or is that new?" The 'Demon's Head' wasn't someone she expected to have much sympathy from, in any case.

"And a barbed tongue, as well..."  Ra's smirks.  "Let me guess.  You came to him out of some means to improve yourself, by means of learning tactics and combat skills as a means to settle a score."  Ra's heads towards a nearby table desk and removes a small key.  "An admirable quality, if I do say.  Brash, but admirable."  He takes a few steps and stops in front of her.  "Certainly something that I could accept in my Society of Shadows."  He holds up the key as if it were something that would be important.  "If you are interested, I can and will free you, provided you reject the Detective's ideology and side with the Society."

The woman was silent for a moment. How could a computer program so completely figure out her reasons? Was Batman controlling that much? She began working her hands on the binds very slowly, trying to find a piece she could take advantage of with the right pressure. Her eyes remained on the foe, his key. There had to be another way out. There [i]had[/i] to! She couldn't have surrender be a section of her training!

"You know, your daughter could use with a lot more training. I could have killed her if your goons hadn't tranqed me."

"Rest assured, she'll receive her training once she has recuperated."  Ra's continues to hold the key.  "But you're avoiding the choice.  All it requires is a single word.  Say 'no', and you'll be bound here.  Say 'yes', and you'll be freed, given training superior to the Detective, and carte blanch within the Society."

A frown. She wanted to rile him a bit, have him make a mistake before she had to choose. It wasn't working. "And what would happen to me if I say no? Aside from being locked here."

"Very little else.  You will be watched, fed, much like any prisoner.  However, if you do ever change your mind, I am more than willing to listen."  With that, Ra's turns around and heads towards a door.

The woman bit her lip, not wanting to say a word. She didn't want to tell him a thing, wouldn't give in. She just didn't want to be a villain. No way would she ever do that. On the other hand, she needed some rest. A night would probably help, and she hoped Batman would not mind her waiting that time.

So she waited, sighing, closing her eyes. Eventually, she finally fell asleep. After all she had done in this training session, she needed it.

---

Time passes, and Ubu arrives at the door to Azumi's cell, a tray of food in his hands.  He looks towards the two guards outside the door and nods.  The guards react and open the door for him.  He enters the cell and kneels down, putting the tray on the floor, filled with bread, cooked fish and a cup of water.

The woman within had some use of her hands, not having slept more than two hours. She couldn't exactly escape, of course, but she had enough use not to have to get down and eat with just her mouth. She looked at the food for a slight bit, smelling it. It was nice, she supposed. At least to a degree. Azumi decided to speak.

"What are the odds this has some kind of poison or hallucinogen in it, then?" A distinct possibility, though they could have drugged her in her sleep. "And what's his actual name? All I hear is 'the Demon's Head'."

"Ra's al Ghul has asked that you be kept well while with us.  No trickery, just the offer."  Ubu sits there, pushing the food towards Azumi.  "Do you know why he does what he does?"

"Probably sick kicks," she said nonchalantly, taking the bread and beginning to eat. "I'm used to fighting dogmatic enemies like that, so I wouldn't put it past him. Apparently abuse of potential allies isn't below him, though."

"...enjoy your meal."  With that, Ubu stands and leaves the cell.

Was she rude? Probably. But she was not exactly in a good mood. She continued to eat, finishing the meal, drink and all. That done, she just sat there, thinking, waiting. She had no idea what Batman was trying to show. Did he really want her to give up? Was that a part of her training, abandoning him? What kind of idiot was he?

Of course, there was always the possibility of feigning allegiance. Would that work? This training wasn't supposed to be mental imprisonment. Maybe she could get close, finish off this organization...

All she had to do was wait.

---

More time passes, and Ra's returns again to Azumi's cell, tending the small fire.  "I do apologize about my waking you on our first encounter.  It was rather brash of me."  The crackling of the tinder is audible inside the cell.  "As a side, did you give any thought to my offer?"

Eyes opening again slowly. She had drifted off briefly again. Insomnia left her falling asleep more at random by now. "...what will I get out of it? Aside from a clean slate."

"While you may have training from your military background and from the Detective, you lack finesse and foresight.  They can be taught, but I assure you, such things are difficult if you lack the patience."  Ra's pauses as he puts the fire poker aside and turns to Azumi.  "Also, you would not be bound by the Detective's moral code.  He feels that all people deserve to live, no matter their crimes.  But, I feel that there are those who do not deserve to live, especially if the crimes are most heinous."  Ra's kneels down in front of her, and reveals the key to her bindings.  "And if you ever need assistance from the Society when dealing with your opponents, we shall gladly provide.  For you see, we are more than just a collective, we are a family."

"So, what say you, my dear?"

In all honesty, that was a pretty good deal by her standings. If he hadn't done the things she'd seen, if she didn't know he was [i]a computer simulation[/i], if she didn't hold Bruce far higher, she might have actually meant what she said next.

"...Where do I sign up?"

Ra's gives a mirtful smile.  "Excellent."  Taking the key, he kneels down and unlocks her shackles.  Standing back up, he turns around and knocks on the door three times, signalling the guards to open it.  "Come now."

Azumi would have grinned if she didn't want to give herself away. She stood, rolling her sore shoulders, and looked to Ra's, waiting for him to lead the way.

Ra's steps outside, and begins to explain.  "The Society of Shadows started centuries ago as a counterpoint to the negative excesses that humanity can reach.  We are meant as the balancing force to ensure that humanity doesn't fully crumble under it's own weight.  However, in recent times, we have found ourselves utterly swamped by how diseased humanity has become nowadays.  In these times, money is the new god, and the world's resources are nothing but a means to an end, raping and razing the earth in the progress."  He turns and arrives in a giant area, a massive pit in the center, bubbling green liquid at the bottom of that pit.

Azumi just ignored her target's calm explanation of his extremist viewpoint. She didn't tell him that she herself was not exactly against any of those "excesses" unless they hurt people, instead looking at the liquid in the pit. "Acid? I'd think that would be covered."

"Not acid."  Ra's stands in front of the pit.  "This is a rarity.  A Lazarus Pit.  An alchemical oddity found around ley lines, it has unique rejuvinating properties.  It does not come without risk, however.  Those who enter it leave temporarily crazed."  Ra's stares into the pit.  "With it, illness is a thing of the past.  Wounds thought mortal are inconsequential.  Even the ravages of time are nullified for a period.  However, the energies of the Pit must stay within it's confines."

"And why bring me to it?" she asked. "I don't exactly enjoy insanity. Is this just something you and your daughter use? Seems to valuable for anyone else."

"I do this as a gesture of good will."  Ra's continues to stare at the alchemical soup that is the Lazarus pit.  "Even after centuries, it's power still amazes me."

"So do you need some kind of process, or just a dip in there?" Azumi was considering how to use this, perhaps as a weapon against him. She wanted to just destroy him, to finish him and move on out.

"No process, no tricks.  Just submersion in the pit will let it's effects occur."  Ra's stands there, before turning around and gazing at the soldier.

She looked around the area, seeing several wood chunks, a stand with swords on it... She just had to keep him away from the swords, and she could handle this better. She had to finish this. Who knew if she was going to be near this thing again to destroy it? "Well, I'll just have to keep you away from it, then." With that, she tensed slightly, sweeping out her left leg to try to knock Ra's off balance.

Feigning she could do, but she would not actually change sides. Not then, not for any reason.

Ra's notices the slight tension from his 'companion' and hops over the attempted sweep.  The once mirthful smile is now replaced with a look of disappointment.  "What a shame.  And for a moment, I thought you would have been a most valuable addition to the Society."  A number of armed guards arrive at take aim at the soldier, but Ra's raises a hand, making them stand down.  "I may have watched your exploits, but I wish to see how your skills fare against me."  Unfettered, he unclips the cape from his shoulders and steps forwards.

"Come, now.  Show me what you can do."

Azumi shook her head, taking her slightly tensed battle stance. "I don't make the first move like some idiot unless I know I can land it."

"Are you saying that you cannot touch a six-hundred year-old man?"  Ra's shakes his head.  "Perhaps you aren't the soldier that I thought you would be.  Then again, being a weak-willed woman as yourself, I shouldn't be surprised."

There were a lot of things Azumi was all right with being called. There were also many she detested from the core of her being. To call the corporal weak-willed was about as bad of a mistake as someone could make,

[i]"Use your tongue."[/i]

Eyes widened, then went calm as she strafed around her opponent, putting him between herself and the pit. Slowly, she moved in...and struck.

A feigned punch to the face was replaced with a similarly faked knee to the gut. This last one was replaced by an actual stomp toward the kneecap followed by a hard right hook.

Ra's steps back from the punch and knee.  His stance widens to aviod the knee stomp, but he takes the right hook to the face, sending him stepping back a few feet, a small trickle of blood from his mouth.  A thumb crosses over his lip, bringing the blood up to eye level.  "A nice start, but a poor finish.  Deathstroke would be ashamed."

Ra's says nothing beyond that rebuttal.  Instead, he pauses to stretch.  After a few moments, he quickly dashes towards, a right elbow directed towards her gut.  He thought of his other moves:  grabbing her by the hair with his open hand, pulling it down to contact his knees multiple times; a back trip followed by a closed fist to the gut; a stomp to her head.

"Never heard a name that darkly stupid," was the sharp retaliation as he was stretching. She grabbed the elbow with her hands as defense, turning around for one of her own to the side of his head, but was grabbed by the hair. Wincing, she felt a knee connect with her face twice before she yanked herself away. As she staggered, she was tripped up, falling on her back. Luckily, the shock managed to force her vision back to normal, allowing her to roll to the side to avoid the stomp. On the way, she came to her feet, blood dripping from her lip from the knees to the head, but enough focus for her next strikes, planned for directly after: a knee directly at his groin, followed by both hands grabbing his shoulders and pulling him into a hard headbutt before she stepped back and tried kicking him hard in the chest.

Ra's wisdom from his centuries of life have had many eventful moments.  Receiving a knee to the groin was not one of the one's he wished to remember.  But yet, he still took the force of it, the impact slightly deadened by the cup that he wore for such an occasion.  Still, he stumbled enough to be grabbed and given the head-butt.  Likewise, the kick hits him squarely in the chest, but he doesn't topple over.  Instead, he grabs a hold of her leg, tucking it under his left arm.  Now it was his turn.

He noticed during his surveillance of the escapades that she ended up stabbing Talia in the knee to disable her.  While he had no knife, he still had his right elbow.  One swift blow to her kneecap could end up causing that joint to crumple.  That meant little, since he saw two more points of attack, with a chop to her throat with the aim to bruise or potentially crush the windpipe, and a right cross to her left temple.  After that, if she were still standing, he'd just pull and drop her flat on her back.

Having her leg grabbed was not exactly what she had intended. The chop to her windpipe causing her to gasp and wheeze didn't do much to help her either, though she did, if barely, manage to duck under the punch to her head. Before he could drop her, she jumped up, off of her planted leg, aiming to grab the sides of his head like a vise and throw him down with her as she came down.

The woman hit the ground, still wheezing and unable to speak, but able to fight. She just had to finish this quickly. If she could get a knife from somewhere...maybe that could work. But she would need to have the endurance and strength to use it.

Ra's is brought down to the ground, and he pauses to shake his head.  The drop ended up dropping him on his head, and it left him more than a bit disoriented, and infuriated.  His forehead openly bleeds, and the crimson liquid of life begins to blind him.  He wipes his eyes clean and stares at Azumi, before letting loose a single straight left fist towards her groin.

Getting back to his feet, he stumbles over to the sword rack.  His eyes glimmering like a demon, he grasps a scimitar and turns around.  He [i]loved[/i] swordfighting.  It was an art for him.  He, the artist, the sword his brush, and the battle was the canvas.  A perfect union.  "The games are over."

She gasped louder, in agony from the punch. Nobody had every gone for that, but she had to move through it, had to survive, to get out of this...

The soldier stood, weakly stumbling from one foot to the other, her lip bleeding freely, a new cut on her temple joining it at her chin. Finally, she shook her head, regaining what focus she could. He was half-crazed, looked like. Unlike the calm, collected Rikka, Ra's could make a mistake.

The corporal dove for the table near the pit, snatching up a carving knife. She didn't want to think about what was being carved, but she gripped it, blade down, across her body defensively. She had to finish this, but would wait for the next move.

The rage in Ra's eyes was palpable.  This girl was getting the better of him.  A mere woman!  This was unacceptable!  He would not be defeated, not by her!  She wasn't worthy of even being in his presence!  Breathing deeply, his scimitar slices through the roughly-hewn chair that was situated hear the table.  His open hand pushes the table over, spilling over a small buffet.  A small amount of foam trickles from the side of his mouth, tinged pink from his blood.

"You will die here.  I will cut off your head, and send it to the Detective to show that he should never cross my path again!"  With that declaration, Ra's raises up the scimitar over his head, gripping the handle with both hands.  He wanted to strike as hard as possible.

Azumi knew she had one chance at this. Her rage was cold, and she used it. His rage was hot, and it used [i]him[/i]. Best to make her strike, and think about the consequences later.

The woman stepped forward, stabbing hard at his chest with the carving knife. Turning around, she sliced her way out of him on the backswing, then stabbed again into his back, shoving him with this one before kicking hard at him, to get him away.

Batman would have to talk to her, yes, but she had to defend herself. She was no swordswoman, after all.

Ra's stumbles back from the multitude of strikes, slashes and stabs, teetering on the edge of the Lazarus Pit.  The murderous veil over his eyes has lifted, giving him a sense of clarity.  He drops to a knee, clutching at his wounds before staring at Azumi.  “I guess... I owe you an apology.  You're more than a soldier... but you do not belong among the likes of the Detective...”  He coughs up a little blood.  She had punctured a lung, making breathing for him much difficult.  “No...  You are a Huntress... Focused, determined, waiting for the opportune moment to strike...”  His wounds continue to spill more of his centuries-old blood onto the floor.  “My only regret... is that you fight... too small.”  His sense of balance broken, Ra's falls backwards into the Pit.

The guards waste no time, immediately raising their rifles and take aim at the soldier.  The first rapports of gunfire sound, but the area immediately goes pure white.

[i]Simulation Complete.[/i]

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