Kazin

Several days pass before the Yamda are able to ready the bioEnhancement stations for the Seven Star Mob. The Mob chooses not to access them immediately, however. The strike on Tobashinta is to take place within the coming days, and the recovery period following the procedures may take weeks. Nothing is left to chance for the upcoming battle. When Mugen relays this news to Norbu, he is very well pleased at the mobster’s dedication and professional manner. Though the mobsters will have to do with their rudimentary bioEnhancements for the time being, their choosing to be patient in accessing their newfound benefits has gained them Norbu's respect, sure to be advantageous for the alliance in the long term.

What they do receive, however, are upgrades to their inhibitors, as the functionality of those are paramount during a pitched battle.

Ganzama and I are returned to the Yamda compound in the days before the battle, as promised. When we arrive, I encounter a very unexpected, but happy surprise.

It is Kala who greets me at the gate that afternoon.

“Hey, grunt,” she says. Her lips are curled into a half-satisfied smile.

“Kala!” I say as I stare at her arms. Her right arm has been outfitted with a long, steel blade. On her left is a metal rod with an energyShield core attached to the end. The white and silver disc shimmers in the sun as she twists her wrist this way and that.

“It’s a rudimentary solution,” she explains proudly. “But at least I can still fight.”

I nod in agreement. She will lack the strength she once had with twin cracklers in hand, but her new weapons will be a balm for the spirit and a call to death for many a Kargu.

We begin treading to Norbu’s mansion.

“Have you spoken to the Healers for robotic prosthetics?” I ask.

She nods. “The tech is not something readily available to the likes of us. Things like that are reserved for the upper echelons of society. Unfortunately, I’m left with these for now.”

“Do…” I hesitate. “Do you think they’ll be able to do anything for Ganzama?” We both turn back to watch as a number of Yamda members wheel his stasis tank towards the Healers' building, located deep within the compound.

“I don’t know,” Kala says quietly. “It may be a mercy to just…end his life.”

I swallow the sorrow and continue towards the mansion.

When we meet with Norbu, he has an interesting request for me.

“I would like to send you, Kazin, as the Yamda delegate to the Mob,” he says over a cup of tea beneath the very pavilion within which we had negotiated not one week prior.

I gape at him. “Me? That’s a…large responsibility. And I’m not even captain.”

Norbu nods. “This is how you begin. Climbing the ranks is not only about combat skill, which will develop naturally, in any case, as time passes. There are other skills related to command—negotiation and diplomacy—knowing when to concede and when to take. Think of your meeting with the Seven Star Mob as an initial taste. It is my desire that you continue to remain with our allies so that you might hone this ability.”

It is my desire to remain with the clan. It is my desire to remain with Norbu, Kala, Ganzama. But I also realize that I will never be able to meet Sangsum eye to eye if I am to forever remain a Joryoku grunt.

“I understand.”

“Good,” Norbu says.

Norbu accompanies me back to the gates, where my hovercar and bodyguard are waiting for me. The Yamda commander hands me a new cTab.

“It has been encrypted and set into our own systems and intranet. No one else can spy on our conversations.” He takes me by the arms. “Good luck, Kazin, and know that I trust you.”

“I won’t let you down,” I say. I feel the great weight of responsibility upon my shoulders, but far from weighing me down, I discover that it drives me in a way that I have never been pushed before.

I duck into the plain black hovercar. Soon, the vehicle is gliding through the hoverlanes, returning to Royang. Jin will sure delight in my continued companionship, I say to myself with a smile. But petty dislikes do not matter any longer. Because now begins the true battle, my first real test—the battle to retake Tobashinta.

***

Mugen greets me with open arms when I relay the news to him.

“Better you than someone we don’t know,” Mugen agrees. We have an established rapport, and I know he will be able to approach me concerning topics he would have normally kept hidden from a delegate he did not personally know. Gento gives me a little bow in acknowledgement of our familiarity, Ako smiles and waves, and Jin merely smirks.

Mugen leads me to the Garage, where we begin to discuss battle plans.

“First things first,” I begin. “For the goodwill of our future alliance, Norbu would like to establish a protective perimeter around the territories of Royang.”

“That’s good,” Mugen says. “The Kargu have, for the most part, consolidated Kyando and its surrounding areas, and they’ve begun raids from there, hitting other areas, taking out smaller gangs, in neighborhoods far too close to Royang for my liking.” He points at the hologram map of Tobashinta floating between us. “They’ve begun taking over the Underbelly, for instance.”

Ako shakes her head. Her usually rusty-colored hair has been dyed to a shade of bloody red. “Why they’re showing an interest in the Underbelly is beyond me.”

“We’ve also received intel that the Kargu have split their forces into half.” I point at the map. “Half are heading out to Andaka District—we think they’ve run into a fair amount of resistance there from the White Tiger Syndicate. The other half are massing on the edge of Kyando here, on the southwest.”

“Southwest,” Mugen remarks, his tone simmering with restrained fury. “To hit Royang.”

“Exactly,” I say. “So, the plan Norbu proposes is this: a strike force of Yamda will hit the northeast side of Kyando. Not an invasion force, but enough to draw attention. When the Kargu are forced to move their southwestern force to deal with the attack, a combined force of the Mob and the Yamda will begin a sweep of the less-defended areas of Tobashinta.” I press a button on my portable holoViewer, and a series of red lights begin blinking on the map. “These are where the Kargu energyTowers are. We’ll take out the ones not in Kyando.”

“And once the Kargu are in Kyando, surround them and place it under siege,” Mugen says. “I like it. But what about the Constabulary? They seem a bit friendly with the Kargu these days.”

“Not to worry," I assure him. "The day of our attack is the same day the mayors of the Tri-Cty area will be visiting Handata City. The Constabulary will have their hands full with providing security.”

“Good, good,” Mugen says, nodding.

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“Seeing the Joryoku use their brains is a funny thing,” Jin sneers.

I only shake my head and chuckle. Jin's brand of humor has begun to rub off on me, though I am not entirely sure if I like that pleases me or not.

Mugen stands. “Get some rest, Kazin. We have a long week ahead of us.”

***

The night of the attack finally pounces upon us. Prepare as we did, the day still seems to have ambushed us unawares, and we can all feel the fear in our bones. We know that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose, the Seven Star Mob and the Yamda both.

After much preparation and armament, the Mob and myself travel to a Kargu-controlled plaza to the east of Kyando, where one of the clan’s energyTowers is located. I kneel beside Mugen as we peer from a street corner to surveil the immense building confronting us on the horizon. The structure is a gargantuan trapezoid of steel and glass, rising to fifteen floors. It is filled to the brim with clubs and eateries, shopping centers and hotel rooms.

“When the Yamda begins the attack on Kyando, they signal for us to begin as well,” I whisper to Mugen.

The Mob commander nods. “Your bioEnhancements all charged, Kazin? As far as I know, there aren’t any Yamda energyTowers here.”

“Yeah,” I reply with a smile. “All juiced up.”

The minutes feel like hours as we wait for the call to signal our attack. My hands are trembling, and a cold sweat breaks out on the small of my back. Even from our hiding places beneath the shadows of the surrounding buildings, I feel as if I am exposed under broad daylight whenever I see a team of Kargu moving in and out of the building. Behind me, I can hear the heavy breathing of the gathered Mobsters. The air weighs on our shoulders, and each breath is a labor.

My cTab rings. The Yamda have given us the signal. The attack on Kyando has begun. It is our cue to start.

“Let’s hit ‘em!” Mugen yells, jumping to his feet. “Inhibitors maxed!”

The Seven Star Mob emerge from their hiding places, rising like shadows come to life out of the ground. We sprint towards the building; from the opposite side, Kala is leading her division of Yamda in a pincer attack. It is my hope, I think to myself, that the Kargu realize that they have erred in their arrogance in leaving Kala alive when she deals them death and fury.

The Seven Star Mob moves at great speed. We run towards the first floor of the loading bay of the building; overhead, I can hear the roar of the Mob’s hoverbikes as they charge into the upper floors of the Kargu stronghold’s loading bay.

The Kargu guards are oblivious as they are decimated. The Seven Star Mob’s rudimentary bioEnhancements blink only a yellowish light, devoid of the color that mine display. But Mugen and his Mobsters are adept in their usage, and they are killing machines.

I run as fast as I can towards the first Kargu clansmember I see. He is waving a lightstick, directing a containerCraft into the loading bay, unaware of the carnage that we have quickly wreaked. Just as he turns and notices me for the first time, I charge my legs and lunge at him. Before he can part his lips to utter a scream, I’ve gifted him a bioCharged punch to the jaw. I can feel the joints shatter and the bone give way, and he’s left without a bottom jaw. He crumples to the ground as the bone skitters across the floor.

Another Kargu fighter rushes at me while charging his crackler. I whip out my flameSword and switch it on, just as I duck beneath his strike. As I twist behind him, yellow wrath emerges from my hilt and sinks into his back. The Kargu stumbles forwards, but I am not yet finished with him. I leap into the air and sink my blade into his nape, pinning him against the ground.

The loading bay is a scatter of bodies—all Kargu. It is a refreshing sight after the tragedy at Namino. Mugen and his mobsters have made quick work of them with their weapons. Mugen roars in his bloodlust, beating his fist against his chest as his eyes glow red. The blood in my veins are like a roaring tempest as my rage is unleashed. I lead the way, and a thunderous wave of leather jackets crashes into the bottom floors of the building, roaring towards the Kargu who slouch unawares in their security rooms.

We move from room to room, eliminating any we see. It is a massacre—there is no better word for it. I enter a room, a Kargu gives me a look of surprise, and I relieve them of their head. Soon the noise draws out the other Kargu, and we are battling it out in the hallways.

A Kargu charges in my direction, brandishing an ionBlade. A rare and expensive weapon. I want it for myself. I duck beneath her swing—the ionBlade cuts through the steel walls like butter. I lunge back as she stabs at me quickly. I deflect her blow with my flameSword, but as I do so, shockwaves rattle through my arm. She notices my face and the effect of the clash of beam against ion—and yet she shows no emotion. Her eyes are glass, her face is calm, and she wears the slightest of smirks. It is inhuman. I grimace and watch as the turquoise and purple ions shimmer through the length of the ion-enforced steel. She lowers her blade and postures herself into position.

"Shit," I pant.

As quick as a lightning strike, she lunges at me with a bioCharged jump. Her movements are smooth and terrifying like liquid metal. She attacks me with a bioCharged downward swing. I bioCharge a sidestep, pushing my inhibitors to the limit, parrying her sideswipe as I do so. I bite down from the pain; charging my legs, I bowl into her knees. She gives a surprised grunt. Soon we are brawling on the floor, where the proximity deprives her of any advantage she had with the ionBlade’s length before. She is strong and skilled both—she may be a Kargu officer. I charge my limbs to attempt to regain the upper hand, but I am unable to best her. She swipes at my face with a charged elbow strike. I barely dodge it—my cheek still cracks from the force of the blow, but it gives me the time to be able to land a charged punch against her underarm beneath the armpit. The shoulder is dislocated at the joint, but she does not even utter a sound. I move my head to the side and barely dodge a charged hammerfist. I uppercut her chin with all my might, and my fist meets bone. I feel the cracking of strong joints as her head whips backwards; there is a metallic screech as I dislocate her neck from her spine. Perhaps I have shattered her nerveChip case. Maybe will collect it later, for Ganzama’s memory.

I stumble onto my feet. I am winded from the fight. I bend down and grab the ionBlade on the floor, my plunder from the battle.

Several Kargu crowd into a corridor. Mugen, his Mobsters, and I am facing them down. They are fighting well, hindering our advance. I eliminate the ones who charge at me, putting to good use my new ionBlade; but the smarter ones remain where they stand, holding their positions. Our advantage in numbers is lost in this place, and I wonder what we should do. Then a scream rips through the rear of the Kargu positions.

On the opposite end of the Kargu mob, I see a steel blade swing upwards, painting the air with an arc of wet red. Kala. Kala and her group have arrived, cornering the Kargu inside the corridor, between hammer and anvil. A corridor is where the Kargu defeated Kala, and a corridor is where she will have her revenge. If only Ganzama were here as well, I think to myself. With renewed vigor, Mugen, Ako, Jin, myself, and the rest of the Mobsters launch ourselves into the Kargu front line.

Mugen is a beast with his crackler, the weapon modded so that the lightning shaft is wider, as if it is a broadsword. Ako is a terrifying whirlwind with her plasmaKnife in one hand and her green flameSword in the other. Jin is a menace with his white flameSword.

Jin is battling with an enemy when I notice a Kargu creeping behind him. The enemy is about to make Jin a head shorter. I decide that will not do, so I charge my legs, and remove from the Kargu his own head.

Jin glances behind him in surprise, looks to me, and blesses me with a little curl of the lips that I believe might be a smile.

“Warming up to me, are you?” he yells over the fray.

I only laugh in reply, and we are soon standing back to back, daring the Kargu to come near.

After we have joined in full with Kala’s division, we begin traversing from floor to floor, exterminating the building of any remaining Kargu. The bottom floors were where the main forces were—the rest of the building is quickly cleared, without much distraction to the building’s patrons.

As the others make short work of the Kargu stragglerse, Mugen invites Kala and myself to the roof for a victory smoke. We gladly oblige him.

We look out into the purple sky of night and the lights of the urban jungle that tower into the air as if to challenge it. I hold the cigarette to Kala’s mouth as she takes a whiff.

“That was good,” Mugen says in satisfaction. His sweat mingles with his blood and trickles down his brow and temples. He glances back as Jin plods toward us, and tosses him a cigarette. “I haven’t had a good fight like that in a while.”

Jin shakes his left arm. The bioEnhancements there are smoking from overuse and overheating. The inhibitors have protected him from frying his nerves.

“You fought good, Jin,” I say. “Be careful now, though. You don’t want to damage your nerve endings.” I nod towards the trailing whisps of black and grey.

Jin curls his lip in that customary way of his and shrugs. “You too.”

My cTab rings. It is Kenji, another one of Norbu’s captains, who was leading the attack on Kyando. I answer, eager and ready to report our victory.

On the other line, Kenji’s voice is panicked.

“Kazin, we have a problem. We hit Kyando, but there aren’t nearly enough of the Kargu here—just a few Contractors. The moment we ambushed them, the main Kargu force began moving out, almost like they knew it was a diversion.”

“What?” I say in disbelief. I glance around me, considering how long this building might last in a protracted siege. “How long until they reach this place?”

“That’s the problem, Kazin,” Kenji replies. “They’re not headed your way. They’re headed to Royang.”

Royang. The bulk of the Mob is here, with me, leaving Royang nearly undefended.

I look up at Mugen and Jin. Their expectant gazes only serve to fill me with greater dread. I had not meant to make my dismay so plain; their faces are soon mirroring my own as they realize something terrible has unraveled.

"What is it, Kazin?" Mugen says darkly.

“We need to head back to Royang,” I whisper. “Now.”