Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Ronin Warriors: Illusionary War ❯ The Face of the Enemy ( Chapter 7 )

As the Dark Rounin and their ship made their way back to the Miraju camp, there was fuming and more fuming going on back at Kinjiro's.

"Great.  We lost Rajei, they're going to bring him to that Asterra guy, and then the whole planet, the universe, hell, the Megaverse will be screwed!"  Kento shouted.
"Calm down Kento.  We can get him back."  Rowen assured him.
"OH REALLY?  And how pretell do we do THAT?"  Kento asked quite loudly.
"That part I'm still working on."  Rowen explained.
"Kento's mostly right.  We don't know where their camp is, let alone where the rest of the Miraju are.  We know there's a ship in high orbit, but there's nothing we can do to get near it."
"Sai's right.  The Phantom Express doesn't have enough thrust on its own to reach escape velocity, it requires a seperate booster to get it into space, and although it weighs nothing once we get into space, it's still cumbersome."  Ms. Jishou explained.
"And whatever ship got all the Miraju here, is probably brimming with weapons."  Sage concluded.
"What about the Kusanagi?"  Rowen asked.  "That's gotta have enough firepower to et us past whatever sentries they've got patrolling nearby. Then we can use the Phantom Express to find a way on board and get Rajei back."
"I can go check on its readiness."  Ms. Jishou said.

As suggestions, requests, and whatnot bounced around the room, Rowen heard a voice in his head.

"Rajei is not the only one who knows where the base is."  it said.

He looked around.  Everyone else was discussing something with the other members of the team.  Then, he heard it again.

"Over here."

Rowen turned and looked around, still trying to discern where this disembodied voice was coming from.

"The cell...in the cell."  it asked again.

Rowen made his way over to the cell, as he was instructed.  But still, who was talking to him, and why could only he hear the voice?

"Telepathic messages to non-telepaths have to be directed at a single person."  the voice explained.

That answered one of his questions.  But as to who was speaking to him?

"Hello, Rowen of the Strata.  I am Mage Officer Sura, C Company commander."

Rowen spoke no words, but his mind was a different story.

"What do I want with you?  I will explain, with my words."  Sura explained.

The Miraju reached over to a button of some sort on his armor, and pressed it.
"Ah, much easier.  Now, down to business."  Sura said, but now everyone heard it, and whirled around to face the cell.

"You can speak Japanese?"  Anubis exclaimed.
"No.  But with magic, I can understand it."  Sura explained.
"But if you had a way to communicate all this time, why didn't you?"  Ryo asked.
"I had no need.  You however, need to know where our camp is, so that you can try and rescue the Champion before the Dark Rounin can make off with him."
"But why help us?  Isn't that what you want, for Asterra to steal Rajei's secret and then conquer the universe?" Kento asked.
"The Miraju did not just take over Suanapolla so that Asterra could find the secrets of Hoen longevity.  They also refused to accept him as their god."
"So you're saying..."  Anubis began to say, but Sura finished his sentence.
"Yes, right now, Asterra is significantly checked and balance due to his undead-like characteristics.  However, a fully immortal Asterra, would be even harder to stop.  He was created to protect the Ruling Caste, not overthrow them and declare himself both our emperor and god."
"So are all the Miraju fanatically loyal to him or utterly terrified?"  Sai asked.
"Both.  There are those that would follow him to the ends of the universe, and those who simply obey because they do not want to find out what happens if they do not."  Sura explained.
"So why don't we get going?  The Miraju aren't going to wait for us to show up and then get Rajei to their mothership."  Kento suggested.
"He's right.  Okay Sura, we'll trust you, for now.  Let him out of the cell."  Rowen ordered.

The door was opened, and slowly but surely Sura and the remainder of his soldiers exited.

"Now, lead on."

Sura took off into the air, as the heroes followed close behind, either with their armor or by Seishi power.  Sura's remaining troops bounded along below them, making their way towards the camp.  Kale and Dais had stayed behind to see if anything could be done to repair their mecha armor.  A few miles from the landing zone, Sura touched down, as the confused warriors alighted as well.

"What's wrong?"  Kento asked.
"Do you really think they're going to just let us walk in there, say, 'Hey, do you guys mind releasing Rajei?' and expect them to comply?"  Anubis asked.
"He does."  Sura reported.

Anubis promptly whacked Kento upside the head for his idiotic thought.

"Ow!  Then what do you suggest we do?"  Kento asked, rubbing his head.
"Half of you, shed your armor.  I'll take it from there."  Sura explained.

The non-Seishi removed their armor, as Sura's men proceeded to bind their hands, much to some of their surprise.

"Hey!  What's the big idea?"  Kento asked.
"The big idea, Kento, is that we're pretending to be prisoners so that we can get close enough to the camp without arousing much suspicion.  When the time is right, Ryo and the others will blast their way in and together rescue Rajei."  Rowen explained.

As before, a well bound Rajei was in the center of the camp, as the Miraju gathered came to look upon him, helpless and unable to do any more damage to Asterra's plans.  Someone signaled as Sura and the remainder of his troops filed their way into the camp with their Ronin prisoners.  The others saluted.

"Lord Ramito, I have managed to escape capture, and have taken some of my captors prisoner."  Sura explained.
"Very good Sura.  But where are the others?"  Ramito asked.
"Most likely planning a counterattack as we speak.  We should get the prisoner out of here immediately before they can attempt to retrieve him."  Sura suggested.
"It puzzles me, Sura, that when we attack their facility to free you and capture the Champion, that you did not attempt to make a break for it."
"They had guards sir."  Sura explained. "Which  your superior numbers could have easily broken through.  I doubt there were very many of them actually guarding you.  There is no need to devote such troop strength to such a simple task."  Ramito countered.

Nearby, the Seishi and She-Ronin prepared to spring their trap.

"What's Sura doing?  Why hasn't he given the signal yet?"  Yuri asked.
"I have a bad feeling that things are not going according to plan."  Anubis replied.
"That, and the enemy's ability to launch a successful counterattack would require knowledge of the location of the camp, which our opponents do not have.  Of all the officers in this battalion, you seem to have great affinity with those who are not members of our race.  I suspect that there is no truth to this story."

He motioned for one of their dedicated psychics to come out.

"Tell me if he is lying."  Ramito ordered.

"What's happening?"  Ran asked.
"How am I supposed to know, I don't speak Miraju!" Anubis said.
"Should we blast our way in there?"  Ryo asked.
"Give Sura a little more time, he knows what he's doing."  Anubis said.
"I don't know...it looks like they don't believe him."  Ryo observed.
"Well?  What is your judgment?"  Ramito asked.
"He seems very nervous, for someone who has the upper hand in the matter." came the reply.
"Seize them!"  Ramito ordered, as Miraju grabbed Sura and his soldiers.
"You know full well what we do to traitors."  Ramito said, grabbing a rifle from one of the other soldiers.

"The plan didn't work, let's move!"  Ryo shouted, as he, Navcase, Anubis, Ran, and Yuri raced out from their hiding place.  Knowing that the plan had failed, Rowen and the others broke free of their restraints and proceeded to go through their armoring up sequences as the three Seishi fought their way forward, taking down minions and Miraju left and right.  Ramito shouted to the other soldiers, and some of them grabbed the entangled Rajei and headed for the Dark Rounin's ship.  By this point the summonings had finished and Rowen and the remaining Ronin made a break for the ship.  More soldiers attempted to block their path, but Kento steamrolled through them as Sage, Sai, and Rowen himself continued forward, only to get their own path blocked by Pugnare.  With one swipe of his broadsword the three were knocked away, as other troops loaded Rajei into the ship as they raised the access ramp and the ship began to climb.

"Now what do we do?"  Sage asked.

As if in answer, dozens of vines came flying up and wrapping around the vessel.

<"Stop the traitor!">  Ramito shouted, as soldiers were ordered to go after Sura, but many Uranari and Space Elves stood in their way.  Miraju soldiers still under Ramito proceeded to open fire on their own soldiers, taking them down easily as they began to seize up from the paralysis blasts.  There were simply too many troops still under Ramito's command to even hold back.

A large fireball then slammed into a bunch of the troops attacking Sura and his men, as Ryo joined the party.  Quicker than they could find him, Navcase came sweeping through, taking down still more.  Yuri dodged fire from the Heavy Borgs still there, as she returned fire with her own heavy artillery, taking them down.

"Ryo, Anubis!  Clear a path for Sura so we can get him out of here!"  Rowen shouted as the two Seishi took point and began to beat soldiers away from Sura and his men as they followed closely behind.
"Sage, Kento!  Get up those vines and see if you can blast a way into that ship to get Rajei!"

Ran, Sai and Rowen opened fire on the other soldiers, distracting them so Kento and Sage could begin climbing the vines the Demetarians under Sura had been using to hold the ship down.  Arrows and leaves had begun to be tossed at their impromptu anchor, cutting off some as others soon took their place.  Luckily, none of the vines hit were the ones Kento and Sage were on.  The two scrambled up the vines and now had the problem of how to get in.

"Any bright ideas?"  Kento asked.
"Not at the moment, I'm just glad we got this far."  Sage answered.

No sooner did he finish his sentence did arrows hit their vines, sending them falling back to the ground.

"Okay, now what are we supposed to do?"  Kento said no sooner than the two hit the ground.
"Grab another vine and climb back up!"  Sage shouted as he reached for another, only to find it limp as yet another fell to the ground uselessly.
"Sura's guys better send some more up, otherwise we'll never get on board!"  Kento shouted.
"I don't even know how we're supposed to do that!"  Sage shouted.
"I don't suppose these guys can shoot out something more sturdy for us to climb on?"  Kento asked.
"We could try flying up."  Sage suggested.
"WELL WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF IT BEFORE?"  Kento shouted loudly as the two rocketed up using the thrusters on their armor.
"Okay, how do we get this thing open?"  Kento wondered, as good ideas did not seem to be flowing cumulatively.
"I'll try to think of something when there aren't arrows and razor-sharp leaves flying around!"  Sage shot back. "Send one more arrow or leaf my boyfriend's way and you'll be dealing with me!"  Yuri shouted.

As usual, the Nihongo-deprived minions of Asterra knew nothing of what was being said and continued to follow their orders to help the Dark Rounin get away.  Yuri did not take kindly to this, as she attached her cannon to the Knuckle Bomber and proceeded to let them have it.

"Not enough, here, maybe THESE will get your attention!"  Yuri shouted as she opened her chestplates, letting them have it with her technological Mega Smasher.
"Good work Yuri.  Any idea on how to bust this thing open?"  Rowen asked.
"One gaping hole, coming right up!"  Yuri shouted as she dodged several soldiers, kicked up into the air, breaking out her Knuckle Bomber and attempting to make a dent, but there was nary a scratch after her attack.

"JESUS H. CHRIST, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS STUPID THING MADE OF?"  Yuri shouted angrily.
"Various extremely durable alien metals."  Sura explained.
"Gee, that narrows it down."  Yuri countered sarcastically.

Navcase had put up his shield in an attempt to buy Sura and his escaping soldiers some more time, but the shield soon faded out.  He would need some other way to keep them back.

"Gatousu, Reverse Zero Stance!"  he declared, which sent shockwaves out from his position, which sliced cleanly through some troops but managed to knock back still others.

"Reverse Zero Stance?  I didn't think there was one."  Ryo said.
"Technically, there isn't.  But Benitora's Eight Sun is quite similar to my own attack that I figured that I might be able to pull off a Reverse Eight Sun of my own."  Navcase explained.
"He's been watching Anime again."  Anubis groaned.
"Anime?  Is this another of your companions?"  Sura asked, puzzled.
"We'll explain later.  Right now, we need to get you-"

Anubis was unable to finish his sentence as a full strength psychic blast slammed into Sura, knocking him off his feet as he began to groan in pain.  Sura's troops gathered around their commander as more blasts began being aimed his way, many hitting his soldiers but a few managing to do more damage to Sura himself.

"Anubis, get him out of here!"  Rowen shouted.
"All right, grab onto me!"  Anubis shouted to Sura.  Sura told his soldiers to do the same, as Anubis' kanji began to glow and the group vanished.

On board their ship, Illandere was wondering how it could be so hard to take off when all that was holding them down was a bunch of vines.

"DAMMIT!  Somebody man the weapons, otherwise we'll never get back to the flagship!"  Illandere shouted.

Shots began to come from the ship itself as the vines were disconnected in one fell swoop and various Demetarians reduced to fertilizer, as the ship began to rise higher and higher, and then finally shoot off into the distance.

"Let's get out of here, we've lost Rajei, DAMMIT!"  Rowen shouted as he ordered the group to fall back, as more energy  bolts, railgun shots, and other ordinance was sent their way.

"Where'd Anubis go?  He didn't say where he was going to teleport to."  Kento asked.
"He is here at the palace, with the Miraju soldier.  I'll get you out of here."  Amaterasu said, as a portal opened in front of them which Rowen ordered everyone to head for.  It closed just in time as the Miraju forces were almost on top of them before it closed.

Once back in the palace, the group rushed to the infirmary, where Anubis and Sura's soldiers were gathered.

"His wounds are pretty bad.  We need to get his armor off."  Anubis explained as medical people prepared to do their work as Sura explained how to doff their battle armor, which came off quite easily despite all the cracks and broken crystals lining it.  Underneath, his undergarments were somewhat soaked with blood.  The heroes then removed his helmet quite carefully by detaching the clasps at its sides, and slowly lifting it off, only to have the group gasp in total surprise as they saw Sura's face for the first time.

"You guys are humans!?"  Kento exclaimed, breaking the short silence.  "For the most part, yes."  Sura replied weakly.
"He's got internal bleeding.  We'll have to work fast."  came the reply from Amaterasu's doctors.
"Sura, where is Asterra's flagship?"  Rowen asked, knowing that he may not get another chance.

Sura coughed up some blood, before replying, "In the asteroid belt, between the planets you call Mars and Jupiter.  But you'll be going to his flagship, and it is dangerous.  I have never myself seen it, but I assure you, not many have escaped from it alive."  Sura answered.
"Any intel on what we can expect to face there?"  Rowen asked, but Sura did not have a chance to reply as the various medical people shooed the group out of the room and shut the door behind them.

"Now what?"  Kento asked.
"We need the Kusanagi.  Otherwise we've got a snowball's chance in hell of getting near that ship."  Ryo answered. *"Rowen, it's Ms. Jishou.  I have good news and bad news." came a message over his comm.
*"What's the good news?"  Rowen asked.
*"The Kusanagi is all checked out and ready to launch.  There's only one problem."
*"This would be the bad news, I take it."  Rowen said.
*"I don't know how it happened, but suddenly all of Houji's machines came online and are blocking the path to the ship!  I'm contacting Lt. Enzeru and her group, but I think we're going to need more than that, there are lots of mechs."  she explained.
*"Damn.  All right, we're on our way."  Rowen replied, before the signal cut out.
"Time to take care of the warranty on Houji's bots?  Kento asked.
"More than that.  If we don't get to that ship, then we don't save Rajei.  If we don't save Rajei, then we, the Hoen, and even the Miraju, are doomed." Rowen said.
 

NEXT EPISODE:

KENTO:  Okay, how did Houji get his mechs back online?

ROWEN:  I have no idea, but we're going to hopefully find out as we blast our way through the blasted place again.

ANUBIS:  For Houji's sake, I hope he is insured.

ROWEN:  It's next time on Ronin Warriors:  Illusionary War; Return to Otoantou.

ENZERU:  You will not want to miss it!