The Power Array Saga - Season Four - Part XXII

Part XXII – The Void and the Teamwork 

The soldiers of High Garden Clearing poured from the watch towers of the city. The city’s stone walls seemed to swell. Support soldiers took their post on the ramparts, their lasguns converted into assault rifles and sniper rifles. Shoulder mounted grenade launchers were hoisted into position. Squads of troops lined up outside with shields and lasgun assault rifles at the ready.

                An eerie and grating voice boomed from the dimly lit Ura Forest. Hundreds of red eyes glowed from its deep shadows.

                “Bring forth the humans that trespassed into our domain,” said the voice of the Ura leader. “If you deliver these humans to us then we will spare this city.”

                Everyone inside of the hotel suite ran outside. They pushed their way past the civilians that were running for cover. Once outside the high stone walls of the city they skidded to a halt.

                Kya turned to Momotaru and asked, “What would you have us do my liege?”

                “Don’t call me that,” said Momotaru. “Just because we’re facing a crisis right now doesn’t mean that I’ve forgiven all of you for betraying me.”

                “I promise you that we did not betray you my liege,” said Kya with a bow. “Yes, at first we were hired by your father to keep an eye on you, but after traveling the country with you we each decided to forsake our previous bonds and follow you truly. I promise you, my liege, that we are yours to command and that we stand ready at your disposal.”

                “Enough talk,” said Monel pushing past her sister. “Let’s just destroy these wretched demons once and for all.”

                The voice of the Ura leader erupted again. “You have five minutes to decide or my demons will storm through and drink the blood of every man, woman, and child in this pathetic city.”

                Momotaru stepped forward. His father, Takeshi, tried to hold him back with a firm hand on his son’s shoulder. Momotaru shrugged it off and turned to glare at his father. He casually strolled past the troops who looked back to the mayor for a clue on what they should do. After a nod from Mayor Warren, the troops stood aside. Momotaru stood several dozen meters away from the Ura leader who had long black hair, red glowing eyes and was shirtless, showing his pale grey skin.

                “And who might you be human?” asked the Ura leader.

                “I’m the man that you’re looking for,” said Momotaru. “Leave the rest of these people out of this. Battle me one on one.”

                The Ura threw his head back with raucous laughter. “And why would I do that? I could just have my demons tear you limb from limb right now.”

                “Either you face me one on one or else I will destroy every last demon here,” said Momotaru.

                “You’re a delusional little human aren’t you,” said the Ura leader with a laugh. The demon raised his hand above his head and ordered his demons to attack with a wave.

                A snarl came from the seething red eyes and the creatures rushed forward.

                Momotaru unsheathed his pitch black straight blade sword and dashed towards the Ura leader. But before he could get close, several Ura sprang in front of their leader, who fell back with a devious smile on his face. Momotaru let out a growl as two Ura slashed at him with their long nails, slob flying from their snarling, sharp teeth. He easily blocked the attacks. With several swings of his sword he struck down the demons yet more took their place.

                In an instant, his team of assassin sisters were by his side. The battle raged all around the wide plains of High Garden Clearing. Everywhere, blue and green lasers seared through the undead flesh of the demons.

                “Coward!” screamed Momotaru as he struck down more of the demon fodder. “I’ll have your head as a trophy on my wall!”

                Iris Longwing, known as the Butterfly Samurai, strolled through the chaos of battle as if she were the prom queen gliding through a crowded dance floor. In the blink of an eye, she was beside Momotaru. She did not bother to unsheathe the sword that was strapped across her back. Her Acro eyes were flaring. Any Ura that got close, locked eyes with her, instantly dropped to the ground where they would writhe in agony and foam at the mouth until death took them.

                “If you really want that creature’s head,” said Iris seductively into Momotaru’s ear. “Then I can get it for you… but you’ll owe me, obviously.” She let out a slight giggle and jumped back as an Ura charged forward.

                Before the blood sucking demon could get close, Monel sprang away from the diamond formation that her sisters specialized in. The other three assassin sisters formed a triangle and continued fighting.

                Monel stepped between Iris and Momotaru.

                “I’ll be the one to claim that demon’s head my liege,” said Monel with a brief bow. Without waiting for a response, she spun around and dove towards the Ura leader.

                Iris let out a low growl and sprinted after her new rival.

               

The Power Array Saga - Season Four - Part XXI

Part XXI – The Void and The Job

A pounding on the suite’s front door jarred Momotaru awake. He arose from the sofa in the hotel’s living room. His mind rifled through the list of names that might be responsible for the banging. Before he could reach the front door, he heard the click and beep of a key card swiping. The small light on the door changed from red to green and the anger on Momotaru’s face dissipated as he heard the announcement from outside the room.

                “The Mayor of High Garden Clearing, Sir Pengar Warren the Third, has requested an audience.”

                To Momotaru’s surprise, the mayor was not the first person to walk inside of the room. Several soldiers rushed in, lasguns drawn and pointed directly at him. He dared not move. They were wearing dark visors. One searched him from head to toe. The other four kept their weapons targeted on Momotaru. Red dots lingered on every one of his vital areas.

                After the guards were certain that Momotaru held no weapons, one turned around and nodded to the mayor while the other guards continued into the hotel suite.

                Momotaru yelled out, “Looks like we have some important company!”

                The mayor walked down the hallway and stopped a few meters in front of Momotaru. “That was a good idea,” said the mayor with a smile showing through his thick grey beard. “We wouldn’t want any misunderstandings between my men and your little gang of fighting girls now… would we.”

                Momotaru bristled silently at the smile plastered across the mayor’s chubby little face. His cheeks were bright pink. The smell of liquor wafted from his tongue, despite the fact that it was barely past the crack of dawn.

                Kya was the first to appear in the living room. She ran towards the hallway. “What’s happening Lord Momotaru?”

                “It seems like the mayor is paying us a visit,” Momotaru replied with a forced smile. “Just as we discussed last night.”

                “So you were expecting me then?” asked Mayor Warren.

                “I wouldn’t say that.” Momotaru walked into the living and took a seat. “Let’s just say that I like to try and plan for every possible eventuality.”

                “Well then, let us see if you have planned for this eventuality,” said Mayor Warren. He took a seat at the bar stool that connected the living room to the kitchen. He nodded to one of his assistants who disappeared out of the room and around the corner. The assistant returned with someone that Momotaru had not seen for a long time; his father Takeshi Hakizimana. The two men eyed each other nervously but remained silent as the elder Hakizimana took a seat next to Mayor Warren.

                One of the mayor’s attendants rifled through the cabinets and brought out a clear plastic cup. Another attendant pulled a small bottle of liquor from the mini-bar. The mayor was soon sipping at his beverage, ice softly clinking.

                In moments, the rest of Momotaru’s assassin sisters left their rooms and scattered around the living room and kitchen with scowls on their faces. Even Iris Longwing and Arif Zahur were forced to leave the master bedroom, having taken seats next to the mayor.

                Momotaru eyed them cautiously.

                “Since you’ve met my associates,” said Mayor Warren with a sweeping hand gesture that took in his two old friends. “I hope that you have had enough time to consider the offer that has been presented to you.”

                It was obvious that Momotaru had not prepared for this. Although he held his shock from showing on his face, everyone in the room could tell that the atmosphere had shifted. The assassin sisters tensed as they shifted their weight from one foot to another. The guards tightened their grip on their weapons.

                Before Momotaru could parse his lips to respond, Iris leaned forward and hurriedly spoke into the uncomfortable silence. “Actually, I’m glad that you brought that up Pengar. I haven’t had a chance to give him the proposal. Things got a little… heated last night but I’m sure that once he hears this wonderful offer he’ll have no choice but to agree.”

                “Fine,” said the mayor, not bothering to hide his frustration. “How would you like a job working for me?”

                “Let me take a guess,” said Momotaru facing his father with narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow. “This is all your doing isn’t it old man? You’ve been keeping an eye on me from the moment I left your luxurious prison.”

                The elder Hakizimana laughed. “How exactly do you think that I’ve been able to keep tabs on you?”

                Momotaru froze. A scowl crawled its way onto his face. He looked around the room. His gaze fell on his group of female assassins. When he looked to the leader of the sisters, Kya, she could not meet his eyes and lowered her head. Before he could question her, the blaring sirens and klaxons from speakers that surrounded the city erupted with a deafening sound. A warning quickly followed the alert.

                “We are under attack. This is not a drill. High Garden Clearing is under attack.”

                Everyone in the room jumped to attention.

                Momotaru was the only one who did not fully understand what that meant.

                “The Ura are attacking us… again,” said Mayor Warren. “This is the job that I wanted to hire you for… so what do you say?”