Chapter 6:  Shadows

[i]Sob.[/i]

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.  Nudging her partner, they both look up.  Without a second thought, 15 yells out, "Open fire!"  With her exclamation, two 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.