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  Helen looked at John for a moment before he answered.

  “It isn’t.” said John.

  “Excuse me?” said Helen.

  “CATT has been compromised internally. There are KO’s – kill orders on Mikaela and David – Director Soros. That was Trevor’s doing he needed access to the top. Somehow I feel we aren’t seeing all of it. It seems like CATT is just part of it, a piece in a larger puzzle.” said John.

  John sat back a moment as he thought.

  “Who stands to gain with those two out of the way?” said John.

  “Don’t know. I don’t know the internals of CATT. I was just assigned to Mikaela.” said Helen.

  “By David I’m guessing.” said John. Helen nodded.

  “You were meant to be a huge wrench in the machine, an unknown variable.” said John.

  “I let my partner get taken. David is probably dead. I don’t see me affecting much at the moment.” said Helen.

  “At the moment, Trevor thinks we are both out of the game. He’s a smug bastard with an ego the size of Manhattan. It makes him sloppy. I’m more concerned about who is pulling his strings.” said John.

  Chapter Forty Nine

  Trevor pulled up to an abandoned warehouse in Long Island City. Further in, from the hub of business and activity, there were still many old properties that were vacant. Trevor pulled the car into one of these and turned off the motor.

  “Out.” he said to Mikaela.

  As they stepped out of the vehicle, they were immediately surrounded by Shadow Blades.

  The Kage stood on a stairway and looked down at Trevor.

  “As you requested,” said Trevor pushing Mikaela forward.

  “I have gone through some expense and trouble to destroy your little organization Mrs. Petrovich. Would you like to know why, before you die?” said Kage.

  “You need the tech. The items that no one knows about or will admit exist. Starting with the nextgen surveillance system being put in place without anyone knowing.” said Mikaela.

  Kage smiled.

  “Your intellect is indeed formidable. The reports about you have not been exaggerated. I am pleased. Please put her somewhere safe while we wait for our guests.” said Kage.

  “What guests?” said Trevor.

  The Blades looked at Trevor, and began reaching for their swords. Kage raised a hand and they remained motionless.

  “John Kane, Helen Martine and a special guest just for you, Trevor.” said Kage.

  “Impossible. I shot them both. They’re both dead.”

  “Your ego will be your undoing.” said Kage. “They should be here soon, prepare.”

  The Blades vanished from sight.

  Chapter Fifty

  Rukio looked down at the warehouse from several blocks away. It looked deserted unless you knew what to look for. The locks were new. Every fifteen minutes a “vagrant” would walk around the property. He looked homeless but he was too attentive. His gait told her he wasn’t just a homeless person wandering the streets, he was well trained. This place was being watched and protected for a reason. She needed to know if that reason had to do with her purpose. She received the call earlier, confirming that her target, the one who caused her Sensei’s death would be inside, tonight.

  Tonight, the man she had been hunting would be within her grasp. Tonight was the last night of Trevor James.

  John stood outside of the dojo as an H3 pulled up to the curb. A not too pleased Iris stepped out of the driver side. Behind the Hummer, a black Mercedes SUV G40 idled. John could count at least three in the Mercedes.

  “Hello Iris.” said John.

  “John.” she said as she nodded at the Hummer. “Short of bringing you an M1 Abrams, this is the best on short notice.”

  “Thank you Iris. Would it be possible to track the Phaeton?”

  “We know where our vehicles are at all times, John.”

  She pulled out her phone and pressed the screen a few times.

  “As of thirty seconds ago, it is sitting at this location.” She showed the screen to John. “Do you know where this is?”

  “Yes, Queens LIC, a lot of industrial properties there.” said John.

  “Good then I won’t have to escort you there.”

  “Sorry about the Phaeton.” said John.

  “We’ll get it back, one way or another.” Iris shrugged.

  “In any case, thank you for the tank.”

  “Only for you, anyone else would have been cut off. Mole and I will work out the details.” she said as she walked to the Mercedes. She tossed the keys to John before she got in.

  “Try not to lose this one, ok?” said Iris.

  “No guarantees.’ said John as he walked over to the vehicle. The G40 reversed, swerved and sped away as it changed direction leaving the way it had come.

  John nodded as she drove away. Helen and Lea joined John on the sidewalk. Knowing the car’s location meant he could confirm its position with the tracker Mikaela placed on his computer. He turned to Lea about to convince her to stay behind when Masami joined them and gave him a slight shake of her head. He knew better than to argue but felt he had to say something.

  “This is going to get dicey. I know each of you have reasons for coming.” They all stared at him.

  “I won’t insult you by asking you to remain behind; I know you are all warriors in your own right. I just want you to go in with your eyes open. Are we all ready?” said John.

  They each entered the Hummer leaving John outside.

  “I’m going to guess that’s a yes.” he said to himself as he jumped into the passenger side.

  “Just tell me where we’re going so I can get my partner back.” said Helen.

  John told her the address and she pulled off.

  The drive to Queens from Brooklyn was quiet. John didn’t expect conversation. It was Helen who spoke first.

  “What kind of opposition are we facing here?”

  Masami answered before John could.

  “There will be Shadow Blades, many of them. Do not allow yourself to be cut. That would be lethal.”

  “Shadow Blades, I’m guessing are the guys in all black handling the short swords.” said Helen.

  “Yes they can be very dangerous, especially in great numbers. Death means nothing to them.” said Masami.

  “There are very few things a bullet can’t handle.” Helen said as she snuck a glance at John.

  Masami nodded then added, “Make sure it’s a head shot.”

  “Shit.” hissed Helen.

  “What?” said John.

  “We have a tail.” said Helen.

  “How close to the location are we?” said John.

  “About twenty minutes away. How did they even know it was us?” said Helen.

  “I will be asking that myself, but I have a few guesses.” said John.

  “Let him tail us. I think this is more to make sure we don’t deviate from a set course.” said John.

  “So what are we going to do? Just let them just follow us?” said Helen, anger creeping into her voice.

  “Of course not, we, meaning you three, will keep going. I am going to deviate.” said John.

  As they turned a corner, John opened the door and blurred into the street, and began running. After half a block he saw what he was looking for, a loading dock with a raised lip that would give him access to a low roof. From there he began to make his way to the warehouse on the rooftops.

  Rukio saw the truck being tailed and then she saw someone jump out and blur. Could it be possible? Could it be John? This complicated things. She made her way to the target warehouse by rooftops. It was direct and circumvented the ground security. As she made her way to a raised ledge on the building adjacent the warehouse, a figure appeared on the opposite side of the same roof. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who thought this approach worked.

  “Hello John,” she said without turning around.

  She was aware that several people were closing in on
their position.

  “Rukio, I saw you die.” The pain in his voice was evident.

  “That was the plan. Sensei said he wanted you out of the life before it was too late.”

  She turned to face him. Her face was covered in white makeup. It was a traditional death mask. He noticed she wore the death robes as well, a brocaded garment of red silk. Two swords were strapped to her back.

  “That was Sensei’s idea?” he said.

  She nodded mentally preparing herself.

  “Are you planning on dying here tonight?” he said pointing at her clothing.

  “I am always ready, are you? Why are you here, John?” she asked.

  He had wondered the same thing and it always came back to Trevor and betrayal.

  “I need to set things right. I need to deal with Trevor. Before this gets crazy and I don’t have the opportunity, where is Sensei?”

  Rukio debated lying for a moment.

  “He is dead.”

  “Sensei is alive, Rukio.” said John.

  She didn’t know that Nakamura Sensei was still alive the shock registered on her face briefly.

  “How do you know this? This is a lie Sensei is dead” said Rukio

  “If that’s true then who killed him? Did you see him die like I saw you die?” said John.

  “Who? Trevor or those he works for. Does it matter? The end result is the same. Sensei is gone. It is why I am here I will have my answers. I will kill Trevor and then I too will disappear. Do not stand against me John.” she said.

  “Rukio, no the Sensei-” began John. She cut him off with a look.

  “John, there is nothing to say. Anything that could have been said never was.” said Rukio.

  “You know my feelings for you.”

  The words escaped his lips and hung there, alone.

  “I can’t be a part of your life, of anyone’s life.” she said.

  She vaulted from the ledge onto the back of one of the Blades that had made it onto the roof, shattering his spine.

  It seemed the Blades were focusing on Rukio. John counted seven, well six. One lay on the ground either paralyzed for life or dead. For a Blade, the latter would follow the former in short order.

  John took a moment to watch her move. She had a dancer’s body, agile lines and hard. He could see her move, the efficiency of each strike – no wasted movement. It was beautiful and horrifying. John realized early the Blades stood no chance. So what was the point of this attack? he thought.

  He scanned the rooftops and standing on the roof of an adjacent warehouse stood an observer hidden in shadow. Someone wanted to gauge Rukio’s level of skill.

  Using precise nerve strikes, she effectively neutralized the remaining six Blades. With the exception of the first Blade, this could have been a training exercise. John knew that Rukio’s precision was enough of a message. The man on the roof stepped deeper into the shadows and disappeared from sight.

  In that moment John knew, he knew she was better than he was. Rukio walked over to him then. No words were necessary as he looked into her eyes. The death mask she wore created a barrier stronger than any wall.

  “If you get out of this in one piece,” she said as she reached into her robes and placed a small book in his hand, “Find him – he can and will help you.”

  John looked at the slim notepad. Inside the front cover in precise handwriting it had a name and an address. When he looked up again, she was gone.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  John was running for the stairs when he heard what sounded like an explosion of tearing metal. Helen had opted leading her tail in the most direct route to the warehouse and drove the Hummer through the loading dock door.

  Iris would not be pleased Several Blades approached the Hummer, only to discover it empty. Moments later the vehicle detonated rocking the building. It seemed Helen was resourceful. If he made it through the night he would have to buy Iris a Hummer.

  The Blades could not pinpoint the threat. Those not killed in the blast began to regroup. As John descended the stairs, he noticed how quickly they reoriented. It took a high level of skill and combat training to react with that precision, in a matter of seconds. Who the hell were these Shadow Blades? The smoke, dust and debris made navigating the space almost impossible. In the midst of the chaos, John heard a voice.

  “The assassin is to have her vengeance before she dies. The others are irrelevant. Kill them.”

  John jumped down to the balcony below.

  “Mr. Kane. Glad you could join us.” said Kage.

  “And you are?” said John.

  He recognized him as Takashi Fujita’s killer, Kage.

  “Going to kill you.” said Kage.

  Something about the self-assured manner, the quiet confidence in his answer set John on edge.

  This man is dangerous, thought John.

  John could see that it was just the two of them. Whoever he had been speaking to was no longer on the balcony with them. The man stood absolutely still. He gave John a slight bow and vanished.

  “You are slow old man.” The voice came from behind him. This was blurring on a level John had never seen.

  “Your sensei was weak. In the end he did the only honorable thing.” the disembodied voice said. “When faced with a superior opponent.” the voice continued.

  “Is that what you do, you go around killing old men?” said John.

  “I do what I must. They are honored to die by my hand.” said Kage’s voice.

  John could not locate a source, it seemed like it was coming from everywhere at once.

  “The weak must fall; it is the natural order of things.” said Kage.

  Kage appeared before John and drove a palm heel towards his chest. The impact of such a strike would cause fatal internal damage. John managed to shift at the last second taking the strike on the right shoulder. His arm exploded in pain. A sharp intake of breath and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth told John things were bad.

  John crashed into the door of an adjoining office, stumbling into an empty room, lined with windows but no other exits, a dead end.

  “There’s nowhere to go John, accept that and this will be easier.” said Kage.

  “Not dying here.” said John to himself between gasps.

  The pain was blinding as he shifted to meet the next attack.

  “I would say that’s being optimistic in the extreme.” Kage said as he stood at the doorway. As he launched himself at John, the left wall of windows shattered.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Trevor stood in the epicenter of the chaos and destruction. He was trained enough to know things were only going to get worse before they got better. The best course of action would be to put two in Mikaela and disappear. That is a good plan he thought as he drew his gun.

  “Now where would they have put her?” he said to himself.

  “Hello Trevor.”

  The voice was like a knife sliding into the bone. It froze Trevor in place. As he turned, he fired. He was fast. She was faster. She stood off to his left, in his blind spot. He knew she was there waiting for him to make a move.

  “Hello Rukio, it seems the reports of your death are greatly exaggerated.” he said without turning this time.

  “It seems someone wants you out of the equation, Trevor.” said Rukio.

  “Do tell.” said Trevor.

  He didn’t think he would meet death today. As he turned slowly to face her, he dropped the gun knowing how futile it was.

  “How do you think I found you?” she said.

  “That is an interesting question, one I’m afraid I don’t have the answer to.” said Trevor. “How is your Sensei by the way?”

  “Dead.” said Rukio. “Who ordered it?”

  “An order like that would be above me. Give me some time I can make some calls, check my sources.” said Trevor.

  “A name Trevor or I am going to kill you slowly.” said Rukio.

  “You don’t know what you’re asking, what
you are getting into!” said Trevor.

  “The name.” said Rukio as she blurred behind him holding a sword to his throat.

  “All right, all right an order like that would have to come from the family heads, Ikken, Ikken Hisatsu.” said Trevor

  “Impossible,” said Rukio.

  “What do I gain from lying? Go and check. I guarantee you won’t find him.” said Trevor.

  “Ikken Hisatsu is not a person, but it does explain much. Good bye Trevor.” said Rukio.

  Trevor was prepared for this contingency. It was an occupational hazard. He expected it sooner or later. He just didn’t expect Rukio here now. It could only have been Kage. This was his version of wrapping up loose ends.

  “Rukio, don’t be foolish. Killing me will accomplish –” he began.

  “Nothing, I know.” she whispered into his ear. She buried the second sword she carried in his chest, puncturing his lungs and heart.

  “This death is too good for you Trevor. And you are wrong. It serves one purpose: balance. Balance for the sensei, balance for me.” said Rukio.

  She removed the sword from his body in a way that would cause the most damage, slicing through his body. Trevor began to say something but his throat filled with blood and impeded any airflow. He was dead by the time he hit the floor.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Helen was glad she had talked Mikaela into the portable RFID device. It was a short range version given its size, but it worked perfectly within fifty yards. She found the room where Mikaela was held. It was lightly guarded by two Blades at the end of a corridor, on the other side of the warehouse.

  It would have to be a silent kill since she didn’t know if there were more Blades inside that would hurt or kill her partner at the slightest sound of a rescue.

  She guessed the distance to be about sixty feet. Pulling out two knives, she took a few quick breaths, looked quickly around the corner and prepared herself.

  “Fuck it.” she said as she rounded the corner at the dead run. She threw both knives at the Blades trying to unholster their weapons. One knife buried itself in the Blades eye, killing him instantly. The other found its target in the left hand Blades’ throat, he fell to the ground, clutching at his neck, futilely trying to stop the flow of blood. They were the last actions of a dead man. Helen looked down at the bodies as she withdrew her weapons.