The Assassin and the Killer ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Mazda Family Training Camp, Fuzhou, Neo-China Ming Lo ran her hands up and down her arms in response to the coldness. This lack of heat was not unique to Fuzhou itself, there were many places and town dotted along the west of Neo-China which suffered from snow and chill. Such a thing would have been unheard of years past. Before the landing of the Genesis Comet. Now the climate of the earth was changing. What were once warm countries grew cold as winter. Those that were once wintry countries had now became hotter. Such was the power of the Genesis Comet's wrath. And for a while, Ming Lo had forgotten just how cold it could get in these parts. But she stopped rubbing her arms when she focused on the task at hand. Her golden-brown eyes rolled from her attire (snow mountain clothing, mostly) to the gigantic complex ahead of her. The Mazda Training Camp. There was awe in Ming Lo's eyes as she looked upon the Training Camp for the first time in almost ten years. In all that time, it had not changed a bit. The whole location was hidden from straight view by a towering stone wall, which was now painted in points with settled snow. Along the wall were rows and rows of dagger-like blades, designed specifically to keep people from getting in. Or out. Though the shape of the outer walls were akin to design of a western prison, the walls was the only thing about it that took inspiration from that side of the world. Everything else around the Mazda Training Camp reflected its Chinese nature. From the writings that adorned the walls to the students whom had taken it upon themselves to train here. Ming Lo felt quite humbled to be here again. She was a member of the Mazda family herself, but due to its opinions on female assassins... her sway was limited here. But none the less, she was here again. After learning all she could abroad, Ming Lo was back to be re-absorbed into Mazda family. Snow fell from Ming Lo's coat began walking. A gust of visible cold air escaped her lips as she rushed forwards with a smile, towards her true home. The girl walked up to the gates of the Training Camp, and two spears lowered, blocking Ming Lo from entering the halls of it. Two burly guardsmen loomed over the younger girl, with questioning expressions on their chiselled faces. "You there!" One barked, "Turn away now. Someone such as yourself has no business here." Ming Lo sneered at them. "Do you believe that it is wise to speak at me with such disrespect? Obviously you know nothing of the woman that stands before you. All that you possess are fragile misconceptions of my person." The other guard was alarmed by the woman's method of speech. She was obviously an educated person. More than the majority of the people who lived inside of the Mazda Camp. But still... He pointed in the opposite direction. "I don't care who you are. Leave. Now." "Is that so...?" Ming Lo pulled the hood of her coat down, revealing her concealed identity. "You expect the granddaughter of Ahura Mazda to turn her back to the place of her birth?" Both guards gasped and looked on with wide eyes. Ming Lo. It was actually Ming Lo. The granddaughter of the current leader of the Mazda family, Ahura Mazda-- arguably the greatest assassin walking the face of the earth. Such disrespect could end in their heads on twin pikes. The two guards lowered their spears and their heads, bowing in apology. "I-I'm sorry, Miss Ming Lo," The right guard said. "But Lord Ahura has demanded that we keep security around the compound as tight as it can possibly be. Please forgive my mistake about your identity." Ming Lo nodded. She was in a forgiving mood today. Mostly because she was finally returning to the place she hadn't seen in so long. "You are forgiven. Just let me pass. I must meet with my grandfather." To that, the guards offered no resistance. They separated, then the portcullis restricting access to the Training Camp rose up. Ming Lo watched it rise and then walked into the Camp. But while she was expecting to be bombarded with pride at this flourishing establishment, her heart actually sank. Ming Lo walked through the courtyard with a glassy disbelief in her eyes. The training camp was almost barren. In her youth, Ming Lo remembered dozens of men training with an assortment of different weapons. But those numbers had dwindled to measly five. Five active students. The shock in Ming Lo's disposition. Even as some of the students practiced their skills in front of their teacher, she could not hide that confusion she felt. Why had this school become so vacant? And why was she not told of this? She could wait no longer to find out. Ming Lo's quick walk burst into the form of a run. She dashed through the stone courtyard of the training camp, then dashed towards one of the three major buildings that made up the camp. The building she was running towards was the main construction of site. A tall tower, large, splitting off in four pathways to the surrounding walls. Ming Lo ran up to the door and knocked upon it. She was allowed in by one of the guards that had been stationed there. The girl introduced herself to them and then ran up the spires of that tower. Ignoring all other rooms, halls and sections, she climbed up the tower in haste and made her way to the summit. Before long she was at the final level of the tower. Which was also the room of the Mazda family's leader, Ahura Mazda. She didn't bother to knock. She simply pushed both gold-lined doors open. They swung to either side of doorway, and presented the quarters of Ahura, in all their glory. This was by far the richest and most lavishly decorated room in the entire Mazda Training Camp. Where the other sections of the Camp were foreboding and cold, this room was beautiful and charming. Red and gold carpets with images of warring dragons sown into them, fine curtains made from the rarest Neo-Indian cotton, fire-lamps of Neo-English creation, silver statues of Buddha around the upper shelves and dozens of weapons strewn across the shaved stone walls. Those weapons were all spears, the signature battle tool of the Mazda family. The most significant of which; the spear that was hung horizontally over the far wall. A sacred treasure, that the Mazda family had bought from a Scottish ironmonger over a thousand years ago. A spear so powerful it was thought to be infused with the spirit of the Dark One himself. The weapon known and feared as Airget-Lam. Only the current leader of the Mazda family was ever allowed to wield it. It was code that if anyone other than the family leader were to touch it, they would be banished from the camp. Such a thing had never happen. At least not yet. Yet below Airget-Lam was a throne of polished gold and pine. And on that throne was the leader of the family, Ahura Mazda. Ming Lo went to her knees as she looked upon her grandfather for the first time in a decade. The aging assassin looked over at her with knowing eyes. For all his age and weakening, Ahura's mind had not slowed at all. He glared at his granddaughter with cold and still eyes. She could also see that fate overtaking the Mazda family. It completely overshadowed everything else there was to think about. Including Ming Lo's return. "Greetings, my Child." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hikoukuji Inn, District Nine, Nagoya, Neo-Japan "When do I get to see my Father, Miss Nakagawa?" The pensive Julia stood closely beside Ayame as she asked this. Though she had technically been living in Neo-Japan for over a year, she had no knowledge of the outside world or what its people were like. Those of pure Neo-Japanese birth. Right now she only had Ayame as support. And though they had only known each other for a brief few hours, Julia felt more reliant on her than she had done anyone else at this point. Three hours ago, the two women had made a successful escape from the Shougatsu Financial Group's Bio-Technological Research Department. As soon as the two were out in the open, Ayame hopped on her bike (Megumi) and Julia followed along sitting behind her. And the two drove straight back to inner city Nagoya. Unfortunately there were some problems in making contact with Simon. A prospect that wasn't appealing to either woman. Ayame just wanted the rest of her payment for doing what she had done. And after (seemingly) escaping unnoticed, Ayame felt that 8,500 was more than owed to her. Thusly she wanted to get this payment and end this entire mission by dropping Julia off with Simon. Julia's concerns were far more serious. She was literally alone in the world without Simon and her Grandfather, Harris. Until she met up with them again she would never feel safe. And she and Ayame weren't exactly getting along like the best of buddies, either. The two stood in a queue that was lined up against a desk. This queue just happened to be inside an Inn. Julia clung to Ayame's stronger arm tightly as she scanned the place over. This was the kind of place that travellers and financially-secure drifters came through every few days. Just a quick place to stay before moving to new sights and locations. It was full of weary vagrants and city-jumpers. Some looked crooked, others looked trustworthy. But to Julia, all of them were potentially dangerous. Mostly because a large number of men in those crowds had not spared her their eyes. Those carnivorous glances of attraction that she had grown to be so aware of. The Post-Comet world was not a nice place to live in. Ayame sighed as she felt Julia tighten up again against her arm. "Will you just relax?" Ayame seethed, fully annoyed by this Scottish girl, "I told you before that there is nothing to worry about. While I'm here you'll be safe. I'm being paid to protect you and bring you back to your Father safely. So just... cool it down a little." Julia's eyes hardened. "That's easy for you to say. This sort of thing isn't new to you. I've bet you've come across dozens of people like these. Well I haven't. I'm new to all this... and it frightens me... I just want to be with my Dad..." Again, Ayame simply sighed. Julia was a lot tougher than she looked. In spirit of course, not body. But it was an asset. Still, she did have this crippling fear of the unknown. Which was bound to be even stronger now since it was the first time in a year that she had been out of doors. "Look," It was at this time that Ayame realized she could be a little bit more supportive. She more than most knew what it was like to lose contact with your parents under circumstances beyond your control, "If I could, I'd take you to your Dad right now. But the problem is, they set up checkpoints all over Nagoya last year to keep the flow of travel and immigration down. Because of that, checkpoints are only opened every four days. And we've got another three days before the next checkpoint opens. So we have to crash at an Inn like this one until that happens. I know... it's kinda scary to be in this situation. Believe me... I know what it's like to feel as though you're alone in the world. But for now... just rely on me. I'll protect you and keep you safe from everything until you reach your Dad. Okay?" Julia's hard expression softened into a smile, and she loosened her grip around Ayame's arm. She didn't let go, just loosened the grip slightly. Which was enough for Ayame herself. Julia was far prettier when she was smiling. As the line they were in began to recede, Ayame marched up to the front desk and waited to be spoken to by the young woman behind it. The receptionist greeted her. "Welcome to Hikoukuji Inn. How can I help you?" "I need two rooms," Ayame asked, directly, "A single bed each. Preferably next to each other. Have you got anything like that free?" The receptionist took a look down at her bookings, then replied. "...I'm so sorry miss, but we have no individual rooms left. When the checkpoints close those are the first rooms to go. All we have left are three rooms, each containing an individual, double-sized bed. Would that be satisfactory?" "Double bed? One room? ...Double bed?" Ayame went wide-eyed. "...Uh..." Julia stepped ahead a little, still holding onto Ayame's arm. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor, Miss Nakagawa." "...I can't have that. Your Father would probably be angry if I didn't take proper care of you. And now that I think about it, would you please stop calling me Miss Nakagawa? My name is Ayame, alright? It's Ayame." "So are you two going to be taking one of the rooms?" Asked the receptionist. From that, Ayame's shoulders sagged. It wasn't like she had much choice. Although she didn't mind sleeping outdoors, that would never do for Julia. She didn't much look like the type to do something like that. Ayame sighed and nodded to the receptionist. "Fine," She said, "We'll take the room. The name we're under is Nakagawa. We'll be renting the room for the next three days." The receptionist nodded to that and began writing down the arrangements of their stay. She handed Ayame a key to their room, and she exchanged that key for three days worth of payment for the rooms. 560 credits in all. After stuffing the key into the back pocket of her jeans, Ayame walked out of the line with Julia behind her. They began walking towards the glass doors in the front of the Inn, past all those who were scrambling to get accommodation for the checkpoint issue. Julia stopped her before they left the Inn. And she couldn't help but inquire, "Where are we going now, Miss Naka- ...Ayame?" Ayame cast a glare up and down the Scottish girl's attire. "...To a shopping arcade. We need to get you some new clothes." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Blue River Road, Cairo, Neo-Egypt Cairo. It had been one of the last cities to be accepted into the Safe-Zone Project. And so it was one of the last cities to experience re-generation after the landing of the Genesis Comet. You could tell that be the looks of this place. The streets of Blue River were foul with the stink of suffering. Men ambled idly from road to road, passing rich-looking people by and begging them for some spare change. Only the gracious and most generous of those people gave money to them. But on the whole, few did. There was no excuse for the beggars. Work was not in short supply, many jobs had to be taken care of for the renewal of the world. Especially in ruined towns like Cairo. They were simply work-shy. They believed that since they had so little of their lives to enjoy, they might as well make them as easy and comfortable as possible. Of course, it never worked out that way. Along the dusty sand-stone streets, were alleyways. Alleyways that safely concealed any dirty dealings and backhand exchanges. They also acted as a blanket of secrecy for the women who chose to sell themselves for money. In this day and age, it was the easiest way for a girl to make money. It paid well, and demand was never short. But their prostitution was still looked on with the same stigma as it would have seen in the 20th Century. It had not escaped these women's notice that prostitution was illegal within the Safe-Zones, but as long as they did not get caught, they were willing to risk expelling from Neo-Cairo for it. One of those women happened to be standing in an alleyway just off the pavement of Blue River Road. Dressed in tight and revealing clothes, the woman cast an annoyed glare towards the outer street. It was getting close to morning and she had not gotten much work tonight. "Maybe I should go outside for a second, to be seen," The girl whispered to herself. But she was not the only one to hear that. The girl looked to her left, back into the darkness of the pitch black alleyway. The sound of footsteps could be heard. Slow walking, ever shifting forwards. There was an eerie 'feel' to those footsteps. And just like that, the girl knew that whoever was walking towards her was not a person to do 'business' with. Soon that person stepped from the shadows completely. The girl eyed him up and down. The man was not of the city life. He looked more like a villager. With his feet sandaled, her legs swathed in short black leggings, sheared at the ankles. His chest was completely exposed, revealing the cross shaped scar over his stomach. His arms were clothed with a long black trench coat that did not cover his chest; as stated. The back of which reached down to the floor in length. The man was definitely Neo-Egyptian, but not from Cairo. As he came to a stop, the man cast his blood red eyes over the girl; his teeth brandished brilliantly with a defiant grin. But the prostitute knew fell well that this man was no interested in her. From the simple fact that he paid more attention to her face rather than her body. "You're new," She said with a nervous smile, "What would you like?" He continued to grin. "...I want you to give your soul," The man reached behind his back. Though the prostitute did not realize it beforehand, there was something at his back. A weapon. She gasped as he removed a long rod from his trench coat. It was a quarterstaff. Made with tough brown wood and garnished at both opposite ends with a silver capping. Every once in a while, a green streak of energy would pass along the length of the staff, a sort of tremor in its power. "...To the Quetzacoatl...!" The girl would have screamed, but she did not have the opportunity. The Neo-Egyptian man thrust his staff straight for the girl. It moved like lightning, ramming into her neck and reappearing on the other side seconds later. He ripped his quarterstaff out of her neck that very instant and the girl dropped to the floor, dead. The man took the bloody end of the powerful staff known as Quetzacoatl, put it against his lips and then licked the blood from it. That was his norm. To him, it was as sweet as honey. This man was Ra El Khahid. As a wind passed through the alleyway, his bleach-white hair danced along with it. Neither his red eyes nor his white hair were natural. These were just differences in appearance all due to the enchanting power of the Quetzacoatl staff. Off-shoots of the tremendous power that was within him thanks to the staff. And that power was still growing. It seemed like every person he killed built up his power. But whether it did or it didn't, all Ra El Khahid was concerned with was satisfying his dark bloodlust. His need to ingest more suffering and misery. Hundreds of people had been killed at his hand. Even though he had only received the staff little over three months ago. That was the power of the Quetzacoatl rod. It seemed harmless, but it spoke to Ra El Khahid with fierce works of darkness and evil. KILL HATE DESTROY SUFFER Such words echoed in his fragile mind day and night. Even when he slept and the staff was out of his hand. This human being had established a connection with a weapon that would someday bring a threat to the world. But neither Ra El Khahid, nor the Quetzacoatl itself knew this. All memories of his former peaceful life were gone. The only thing on his mind now was the destruction of anyone that the Quetzacoatl so chose to kill. Three months ago, Ra was a normal villager who lived in the Safe-Zone but outside of the cities. Now he was a demon of death. Still, every now and again, he would find that his mind would be attacked with memories of his past... Throughout the 11th to 20th Century there was a tribe living in Egypt called the 'Souls of Amun-Re'. These people rejected evil and technology, remaining to themselves as a small and peaceful clan. When the Genesis Comet landed, the Souls of Amun-Re believed that it was a form of 'purification' for the rapidly evolving humanity. The leader of this group was Ra El Khahid himself. One day his village (called the Village of Creation) was attacked by a pack of roaming wolves, mutated by the radiation of the Genesis Comet. Ra El was powerless to stop them. So he left his village to seek help. He travelled south for days, until he reached a sacred temple called 'The Shrine of the Feather Snake'. Ra went inside it and read one of the many books in the abandoned tomb. It told him a story of a demon beast called 'Quetzacoatl' - the Ten-Headed Feather Snake. And how a legendary hero came and killed this beast before it slaughtered a village. The spirit of the Quetzacoatl was sealed inside the rod that the hero used. And the rod was entombed in that shrine. This all happened 3000 years ago. Ra believed this story, and so he stole the staff, and returned to his village. What he did not know was that the Quetzacoatl staff was not dormant. It was alive, and it polluted whoever used it with the evil bloodlust of Quetzacoatl spirit inside. Ra El Khahid returned to his village and killed all of the wolves with this new weapon. But in his rage he also killed half of the people in the village as well. Ra El Khahid fled the place of his birth, but not in shame. All he wanted was to expand his field for killing. Which he had been doing for the past three months. Ra El Khahid lowered Quetzacoatl from his mouth; the prostitute's blood staining his lips. Without a shred of remorse Ra sheathed the staff across his back, and then walked backwards into the darkness of the alleyway. That girl was just another tally on his long list. A list that was bound to keep growing.
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