Paladin Ascending Volume 3 #6: Entrapment

For once, I think hope’s still alive. With half of the team going off to Prague to find the missing sword. And you guessed it, I would be chased down by the others because of my fugitive status. We’ve been doing this for at least, 3 days and night now at least. I dunno, has it been that long? I hate keeping track.

 

I focus on the road while I’m on the bike. Might be floaty given current technology where everything flies, but it’s nevertheless a very hard drive considering the rain and wind, but I hope to make it through. Kieran absorbs the lamp energies and redirects it at the assassins behind, while Ty and Erin provide cover for me, Sam and Gary to handle. This one is called Diremorph. Lady with twin guns, cuz again, why not? But this time, it's me calling the shots by the adage talking and gunning.

 

Diremorph: “I also have my eyes on you, Dusksmoke. You’re valuable bounty here.”

Connor: “Let then go, Diremorph.”

Diremorph: “I’d ask my babies if they would like some fresh kills....hehe. It's very satisfying”

Connor: “The punishable dual guns....well, I'm sure there's more than just that..”

Diremorph: “I had the pleasure of infiltrating the Yakuza as the old man had told me to. Big reveal eh? I knew it always was. Now I have the head and his head on a clock. It’s ticking!”

Connor: “Don’t you dare. You know you can't. Very tempting, isn't it?"

Diremorph: “Oh please, spare me the talk. You know what I want—-and I will do what it takes to get it.”

Connor: “Just for the katana? Really? Never knew you valued money more than your tribe...your people would be disgusted by a invaluable bounty hunter.”

Diremorph: “Shut your trap, loudmouth. I do the terms. I'm in charge here. And you don’t get to talk about my f*cking culture.”

Connor: “If it bothers you so much, then why work for him in the first place?”

Diremorph: “Because I like it. Now, no more chitchat, or else I will kill him.”

Connor: “No worries. I’ll bring it. I’ll see you in an hour."

 

I take a heavy sigh before using my staff to trip the other bikes around me, knocking some drivers out of commission. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of vehicles, but Jesse handles it too well. I couldn’t help but laugh through my mask—-tinkering with electronics was his greatest strength. Having a younger brother who’s a techie sure doesn’t disappoint the family.

 

Right now I was wishing we had a jet so we could reduce the amount of time, but there's only much you can do with hands on stuff. Then Diremorph called in again, saying she had planted bombs through the city. My instinct would tell me to divert my brother’s team to disassemble it, then meeting up again.

 

Khattar: “Dusksmoke, is it? I’m not sure if you can hear me, but after we got under attack, now we got bomb threats.”

Connor: “I know. How is my friend doing.”

Khattar: “Critical condition. She’s stable...but in a coma. I hope with the tech in Japan, they might be able to speed up her healing process.”

Kurt: “Dusksmoke, listen to me. I’m here trying to deduce the other locations, but you have to save the Yakuza leader. Do not dissuade him and his folks getting baited into another battle. I’ll join you in a bit. Dr Edens will keep monitoring the situation then.”

Connor: “Alright.”

 

We cut to the chase as Kurt does makes his word, gunning down a couple of ninjas with his jetpack. He seems to be astounded by the fact that we’re on rush hour as well, but it is what it is; the Yakuza leader. An important witness who has a major involvement.

 

Connor: “We have to stop Diremorph. She’s teleporting in and out too much.

Kurt: “Gotcha. Uncle Kurt’s got this covered.. If you need a boost, just use my atomic bombs. The speed ones I mean. And this tech I worked on, it makes illusions. Not sure if you had this in Tokyo like or the guild would use, but you need to make her believe what she has. I’ll take your brother and your future brother in las for a spin if he needs it.”

Connor: “What? He's dating and he didn't tell me?!”

Kurt: “Oh no, I’m kidding. There’s no engagement yet, haha. But yes, this is a bomb that's fast and slow. Please take care of the harness well, because you don't get to appreciate how well it comes once in a blue moon...”

 

 

**Yakuza headquarters, 1:34 A.M:**

 

We manage to get there in time according to Diremorph’s demands. She stands there with her guns over the beaten leader, and multiple dead bodies.

 

Connor: “I’m here, but you can just give it up already.”

Diremorph: “The sword, now.”

Connor: “Will you promise to let him go first?”

Diremorph: “No means no. I’m doing it my way.”

Connor: “Fine then.”

 

I decide to throw the sword at her which she moves out of the way. Her attempts to shoot the leader fails, thankfully due to Erin’s shadow powers, who extracts the leader to safety. Ty beams up with his energy while Kieran uses his light to shoot through the portals. After missing initially, it lands on a 6th one, which nearly knocks Diremorph out temporarily rendering her powers useless, but her guns are kinda strong for us. I take a closer look at Diremorph’s back, and she seems to have a chip attached to her.

 

Connor: “Guys, she’s under influence. The corruption is taking over.”

Erin: “Is this something I should hack?

Connor: “No, I don’t think so.”

Kieran: “Let’s ask the leader.”

Yakuza leader: “Me? I do not know you guys anyhow....she killed my men....I was too dumb to realize she infiltrated my gang. And your guild....tried to put the blame on me.”

Connor: “So this involved none of you? Even what I did back a year ago?”

Yakuza leader: “No, it isn’t....your guild was always misdirecting us, and we were blamed for it. They tricked us into starting a war, which I didn’t know we would lose...”

Connor: "Should have known better then. I'm gonna start keeping a closer eye on things."

 

I tilt my head, mentally thinking revelation another revelation. Which means....I’ve been lied to this entire time? But I guess my former does have his own secret cabal that follows him loyally. And Diremorph is one of them. I hate secrets, but this is the way of how it happens in societies. Humans can't ever live without secrets.

 

Ty: “You can’t be one of them, are you?” (He points his gun at Diremorph)

Diremorph: “It doesn’t matter. Whatever pleases the leader, I will follow his bidding.”

Erin: “What’s his plan, all along? What about the bombs?”

Diremorph: “You wouldn’t think I wanted to wipe out our enemies so my kingdom could rule as one, right? Maybe, except the emperor, but one day, he’ll follow us too.”

Kieran: “You’re out of your mind. Give it up.”

Diremorph: “Me? Never. Try this then.”

(Explosion sounds happen through everyone’s comms.)

Connor: “What did you just blow up?!”

Diremorph: “Oh, another compound. Don’t be too worried, I’ve still got more games even when you knock—“

 

Erin decides to use her powers, as her eyes turn into a really dark colour. Shadow tendrils start to latch on Diremorph, who doesn’t look surprised. She looks like she’s about execute her enemy with her dual axes. But she stops, as Diremorph stares into Erin's powers. After a while, she eventually gives up for interrogation, possibly from the shadow break. But even with her loyalty for Igarashi is undying, despite Ty removing the control chip from her.

 

Moments later Kieran takes the Yakuza leader into police custody, as our fight took place near the precinct. Agent Khattar keeps briefing us on what happens next. He already has his Interpol team and the police force surrounding the fortified guild base. It sounds like trouble when we’re going to return....and Oddcrow calls me...? He's s going headfirst into the fort himself, deciding to face my mentor alone.

 

I don’t know if it’s too late anymore. Is it, for literally everything?

 

**Prague, night. Time unknown:**

 

Sam: “How long is this going to take? I kinda regret going on this mission now.”

Lyra: “Yeah. Enemies behind. But I know we are medical examiners who can make quite the team. Time to lock and load those launch blasters, Riley!”

Riley: "You're speaking my language gal Here goes nothing!'

Harry: “Now would be a good time!”

Edens: “I’m going to keep you guys autopilot, since ours is destroyed. I can still remotely control it.”

Riley: “Good ole idea lads. Let’s destroy em!”

 

Wow. I, for once, am surprised that this mission is taking its ups and downs. When we actually just landed on a safe spot in Prague, then ran into the city trying to masquerade as doctors (both me and Lyra), while having the others acting like patients. did work—-just for once. Then shit when down as Riley tried to grab the sword, which culminated in us being chased by the suspicious locals who alerted the cops nearby. Thankfully we had a fake ambulance nearby to drive somewhere else. I'm not sure why we and how the sword was quite easy to find, but I guess it was Igarashi planting it there. The mystery deepens...somehow.

 

Wait. Keyword: plant. When I tried to call Avalon, it was up to my suspicions. Igarashi was trying to frame Connor....for everything? To take control of Tokyo?

 

I’m not sure if I’m going to say if it’s a half arsed plan, but once we’re going back....it’s literally a big battle.

Done