The Complete Assassin Episode 14
written by kayemjay
Sensei stood fast, watching. He was in the middle of a thick forest with trees high up as far as could be seen. The forest covered a vast expanse of land, green all the way. Birds chirped in the distance. Some monkeys were having a family meeting. Sensei looked round, unmoving. His eyes scanned the whole area, waiting, watching and expectant. He had a very serious look on his face. His legs slightly spread and his hands in his pockets. He wore a singlet on top half tucked into a pair of Camouflage Trousers. He had black army boots on, his face painted with black ink. A gentle breeze was blowing making the trees sway. He had been waiting for ninety seconds.
“Come on, come on. I can feel you.” Sensei said to himself through gritted teeth.
He kept his concentration, gazing intently into the distance beyond him, his legs firmly rooted to the earth. Suddenly everywhere went quiet. The birds stopped chirping. The monkeys stopped their irritating noises. Everything seemed like it went into a pause. Sensei could hear his own heartbeat. This was the sign he had been waiting for. He cracked his knuckles together as he adjusted his position. He put his left feet forward and bent just a little. It was some sort of Martial Art stance.
Seconds later the birds flew from the trees in fear. The monkeys jumped the trees in quick, dashing moves. The once quiet and gentle forest trembled in fear.
It was coming.
Sensei heard the footsteps of the great Cyclops approaching. Then the footsteps came faster and closer. Sensei braced himself. The Cyclops was the king of the tropical forest. Every animal scampered when he was near. Nothing could kill it. He had four hands and four eyes and walked on two legs. The Cyclops was eight feet tall and had a skin that could not be pierced by any material known to man. The Cyclops surged through the forest, making deafening roars as it approached Sensei. It stopped twelve meters from where Sensei stood. They gauged themselves for seconds. Sensei’s heart was pounding. Adrenalin coursed through his system. He was not scared. He was just anxious to do battle with this thing that was about to crush him. The Cyclops sniffed the air, giving Sensei a long, cold stare. Sensei did not budge. Sensei looked like just another meal, just another human who wanted the 10 million dollar bounty on its head, just another human who would soon be another minus from the human population.
Without warning, The Cyclops lunged forward. It took three huge steps and it was in front of Sensei. Sensei saw the movement in time. Sensei jumped very high and was over the Cyclops’ head. But he was not fast enough. The Cyclops turned just in time, catching Sensei by the collar as he was about landing on the other side. Sensei felt himself pause in mid-air. Still holding Sensei by the scruff of the neck, Cyclops threw Sensei forwards. He crushed a few trees as the force was so great, finally landing his back on an oak tree. Blood dripped from Sensei’s nostrils and lips. His forehead had a cut that was beginning to drip slowly. Sensei was breathing hard. If the Cyclops hit him one more time he would be dead.
The Cyclops raged forwards, roaring again as usual as it moved to where it had flung Sensei. It had seen Sensei at this spot barely five seconds back. How come he was not there? Cyclops roared again angrily as he moved slowly trying to find its meal. It was getting angry. He turned backwards after walking a few steps, and then started circling the spot, looking for Sensei. Sensei crouched behind the huge oak tree, camouflaged by the long and thick branches of leaves that surrounded the area. He prayed silently that the Cyclops would just turn away from him. Two steps closer and he was toast. He was in a tight corner. His heart beat faster. This was a pure and unadulterated kind of fear. Cyclops roared again. It was getting impatient. Then Sensei’s wish was granted.
The Cyclops turned. It took one step away from the tree. It took another step, and then yet another. This gave Sensei all the time he needed.
Pulling a Titanium Sword from behind his back, he stood fast holding the sword firmly in both hands. He moved sideways very quickly to a vantage position and screamed at the Cyclops.
“Hey!”
The Cyclops froze in its step and turned. In a flash, it made at Sensei in just two huge strides. Sensei was faster. He jumped on the Oak tree, gave himself enough height, and then slashed the Cyclops’ face. It groaned loudly making deafening noise as it fell to its knees holding its face.
“This is where your journey ends.” Sensei said
Sensei lifted the sword, stretching it in front of him. In a fine expert move, he cut off the Cyclops’ head.
Immediately, a voice came over the horizon.
“FOREST DEMON DEFEATED. LEVEL COMPLETE. WELL DONE SENSEI.”
“Thank you Zeus.” Sensei said.
Sensei dropped the sword and raised his hands to his head. There were two bean shaped devices plugged into his head, one just above each ear. He pulled out the devices and the scenery changed. He was now standing in the Simulation Room of his lodge, facing the elevator.
“You have bruises Sensei. You want them treated?” Zeus asked.
“No Zeus. I am fine. Upgrade the gaming sequence and remove Cyclops from the simulation. Make it more challenging.” Sensei instructed as he walked tiredly towards the elevator.
“You have incoming call from The Guardians. What is your command sir?” Zeus asked.
“Answer it.” Sensei commanded.
Sensei sat on the mahogany floor of the Simulation Room. He crossed his legs in between each other as he sat in Yoga style. The Guardian’s hardly call and when they do, it was not a courtesy visit.
“Sensei Marcus.”
“Yes Magnum. To what do I owe this checkup?” Sensei asked sarcastically.
“You are becoming weak Marcus! This is not the way the Shadow Org is run! This is going to be your last warning. It seems like there is a new assassin in town.”
“I am well aware of that Magnus.” Sensei retorted.
“The Guardians want Steven to look into this and obliterate every trace of another sect working in your territory. I do not care whether they have the same agenda as we do, but there can only be one group of assassins. “
“Roger that Magnum. I will detail every avenue of resource I have into this new order.” Sensei replied.
“Good. I know you have a soft spot for this boy Marcus. He could be your undoing. We have looked at your ranks and there are able soldiers capable of taking up the role of Shadow Prime. You gave Steven his freedom. He is now pursuing his own vendetta. This is not how we operate. This has to be fixed.”
“So you want Steven to go after these assassins. You are hoping he gets killed, aren’t you?” Sensei asked
“Steven is Shadow Prime. It would take more than a bunch of mediocre assassins to eliminate him. The Guardians have taken a decision. If he comes out unscathed, you Sensei Marcus will finish him off. If he does not, then you will not have to worry about killing him yourself. This is the decision of the Guardians, Sensei Marcus. The force shall be with you.”
Then the line went dead.
Sensei just smiled. He had been here before. He had scaled through. If killing Steven was the only way for him to remain valuable in the League Of Guardians, then he would gladly do it. He got up and walked into the elevator.
The decision had been made.
*****
Steven led the way out of the Interrogation Console with Stella not too far behind. They took a right turn after walking thirty meters, none of them speaking to each other. On one hand, Stella was still in awe of seeing her brother again while on the other, she was curious as to what Steven wanted to show her. They were approaching a path that led into acres of land yet to be cleared. Steven did not stop. Using his hands to separate the high weeds and grasses from his path, he disappeared into the thick bush.
Stella paused.
“Steven?” She called out, not following him in.
She heard the shuffle of feet in grass and Steven poked his head out.
“You scared, lil’ sister?” Steven teased.
“Of course not! I just need to know where we are going.” Stella answered
“Trust me sis. It’s safe.” Steven reassured her.
Stella’s instincts told her to obey. She walked into the bush after her brother. She could barely see him but she could hear him, shuffling through the high grass, breaking branches and cursing. They had been walking for less than two minutes when all of a sudden there was a path. A clear foot path made with concrete. The grasses stood at either side as tall as Stella could see but the path in front of her was clear and devoid of any greenery. Twenty meters ahead, the grasses closed together and the path disappeared. She however noticed a small circular patch of low grass just before the concrete path disappeared into the bush.
Steven watched her face to see if there was any trace of recognition. There wasn’t any. She had never been to this place before. In the Shadow Organization lieutenants to Senseis received a special kind of training. They were continually trained in the art of masking and hiding facial expressions. They were put through rigorous tests to teach them how to conceal how they really felt and also how to betray real emotions with facial expressions. If you were feeling great physical pain, you learnt how to smile through it or at worst keep a straight face. If you were ecstatic, you learnt how to keep your face drawn and moody. The lieutenants were trained to mask their feelings. The Shadow Prime was trained to unmask it.
Steven had hoped that his sister would not use this skill. He needed to be certain that she had never been to this place before. If she had, and tried to hide it, it only meant that she could not be trusted and had another agenda in mind. He would have to incapacitate her, permanently. He was happy that she did not. She looked confused. Truthfully confused. But Steven continued to stare.
After scanning the whole area, she turned her head back to her brother.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Steven, you really need to tell me what is going on.” Stella said. It sounded like she was whining. Steven liked that.
“I am just looking at how beautiful you have become sister. Come.” He said, walking forward.
Stella tagged along as Steven walked to the small patch of grass at the end of the concrete path. He bent low and dipped his hand into the grass. He moved his hands for about five seconds. It seemed like he was searching for something. He found it. Leaving one hand in the grass at the spot, he dipped the other into the back pocket of his pants bringing out a tiny button-like device. Stella folded her arms across her chest and watched what her brother was trying to do.
He dipped the hand with the device back into the grass and rummaged for a while. Seven seconds later there was a ‘hiss’ gas-like sound, as if something with a lot of pressure was being released. The grass patched moved from where it was and rotated gradually into the bush, revealing a tunnel into the ground. There was no ladder, just a rectangular piece of metal that stood in the center of the tunnel’s circumference six feet from the entrance. The grass patch was actually a secret entrance.
“We need to go in immediately. You see that metal panel down there? It works like an escalator. It will take us into the tunnel once we are on it. The tunnel closes in ten seconds so we have to hurry.” Steven said and gently stepped onto the metal, looking up at his sister.
“How strong is that panel? Can it take an extra person?” Stella asked.
“Stella, it can take a hippo. Please hurry. There is no time!” Steven said raising his voice.
He had barely finished speaking when Stella jumped high in the air, and then landed on the metal pad on one knee. She got up slowly as the grass patch that had earlier gone into the bush, came back very quickly and covered the tunnel.
“What’s with the theatrics, sister?” Steven asked unimpressed by his sister’s stunt.
“Just felt like it.” Stella replied shrugging.
They were in pitch darkness and the oxygen was reducing. Nothing happened. The atmosphere was becoming suffocating.
“Errm… isn’t there supposed to be like a switch or button to take us down? It’s really getting uncomfortable.” Stella said.
Steven did not speak. He seemed to be thinking. He broke the silence after a while
“No there isn’t. I designed this place to allow only one person in. Me. The sensors are detecting different breath rates so it jammed the controls. It is supposed to be only mine. It’s one of my safety measures. How long can u hold your breath?” Steven asked
“Ninety seconds” Stella replied
“That should be enough. I hope.” Steven said.
“Enough for what?” Stella asked
“I need the sensors to believe I am the only one here. So I need you to go out of breath for a little while. It would scan the air being breathed out and when it analyzes it and finds it to be mine alone, the oxygen would come on and the pad would descend.” Steven explained.
“Get on with it.” Stella said.
She took a deep breath and held her nose.
Ten seconds passed. Twenty seconds. Thirty seconds. Nothing happened. One minute elapsed. Stella was beginning to lose control. She was threatening to explode if she did not release her hand from her nose. She was sweating furiously. One minute fifteen seconds. She needed to breathe. As she grabbed Steven’s arm ready to let go, lights came on all around the tunnel and then there was a surge of air from vents all around the tunnel.
A mechanical sound came from under the pad they stood on and slowly the apd began to descend. Stella tried to catch her breath. The pad got to the floor of the tunnel and they stepped off. In front of them was a huge space of room with nothing in it. It was all white and empty. Stella wanted to move forward but Steven stopped her.
“You’ll be dead before you lift your second leg.” Steven warned, telling her to back off. He waved at her to move away from him. She did.
Spreading his arms wide, Steven stepped into the room closing his eyes.
Immediately, the light in the room went off.
A female voice came on from nowhere.
“Commencing arm and finger recognition.”
An infra-red light scanned both arms from his shoulder to the tip of his nails.
“Arm and finger recognition complete. Commencing retinal scan”
Steven opened his eyes. Another infra-red light scanned both eyes.
“Retinal Scan confirmed. Commencing tissue and marrow scan.”
Steven opened the buttons of his shirt revealing a scar on the left part of his chest. The scar was huge covering almost his entire left breast region. Stella stood transfixed, surprised as she watched how far her brother had gone to fortify this place.
Several infra-red lights scanned his entire body looking for the scar until they found and scanned it.
“Tissue and Marrow Scam complete. The Fortress is yours. Welcome Prime.”
“Thank you Isis.” Steven said as he stepped out of the room, approaching his sister.
He had a funny grin on his face as the lights came back on inside the fortress.
The next thing Stella saw after the lights came on blew her out of her mind.
