The Bangkok Assault, Part II

The shrill wail of alarms ricocheted off the cold metal walls, a grim announcement that their presence was no longer a secret. Over the comms, Naoko’s voice carried a tense urgency.

“Seeker, their security grid is fighting back hard. They know you’re here, and reinforcements are on the move. I’ve temporarily rerouted their comms, but we don’t have much time. Move fast.”

“Understood,” Kaito replied, his tone sharp but steady. “Everyone, stay on task. We don’t leave until we get what we came for.”

From his position at the evidence room, Ryuji’s voice crackled through the comms. “Dawn, Dumbbell, Vision—this is your cue. Intercept the reinforcements and hold them off.”

Moka, leading the standby squad, responded immediately. “Copy that. We’re moving into position now. Don’t let us down in there.”

The Black Ledgers moved with precision. Ryuji fortified their position in the evidence room and called for Goro to assist him, while Kaito led Yuma and Sayuri deeper into the facility. The air was heavy with the tension of looming confrontation, and each step felt weighted with the gravity of their mission.

The team turned a corner, their boots crunching against the tile, and came face-to-face with the first wave of guards.

The guards wasted no time, raising their weapons and opening fire. The sound of bullets ricocheting off the walls filled the air as Kaito’s team ducked for cover.

Kaito didn’t wait for the guards to regroup. His dual blades flashed in the dim light as he charged forward, weaving between the gunfire with remarkable agility. His strikes were precise, each one disabling a guard before they could react.

Yuma followed closely, his shotgun roaring as he covered Kaito’s flanks. “Seeker, you’re insane!” he shouted, though there was admiration in his voice.

“Keep moving!” Kaito ordered, his focus never wavering. He vaulted over a fallen guard, slicing through another’s weapon before delivering a swift kick that sent the man sprawling.

Behind them, Sayuri and Junpei­—who had joined them, worked in perfect synchronization. Sayuri’s speed overwhelmed the enemy and making precise strikes with her polearm cleared a path, while Junpei laid down suppressive fire to keep the guards pinned.

“Seeker, reinforcements are converging on your location,” Naoko’s voice warned. “You need to keep moving.”

Kaito glanced at the map displayed on his visor. “The server room is just ahead,” he said. “Stay sharp. This isn’t over yet.”

In the operations van parked outside the facility, Naoko’s hands flew over her keyboard. Multiple screens displayed chaotic lines of code and camera feeds from inside the building.

“Naoko,” Hanae said, her voice calm but tinged with concern, “they’re trying to regain control of the system. Can you hold them off?”

“I can try,” Naoko muttered, her focus unbroken. “But they’ve got skilled techs on their side. Whoever set this up knew what they were doing.”

As the screens flickered, Naoko growled in frustration. “They’re good, but I’m better. Keep them moving, Hanae. I’ll buy as much time as I can.”

The server room’s reinforced door loomed ahead, but before the team could reach it, a massive figure stepped out of the shadows.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, his presence filling the corridor. A jagged scar ran down one side of his face, and his eyes glinted with cruel amusement.

“So, you’re the ones causing all this trouble,” he sneered, his voice low and menacing. “Name’s Anak, but people call me ‘The Annihilator.’ You won’t be leaving here alive.”

Kaito didn’t flinch. He stepped forward, blades raised, his voice cold. “Get out of our way.”

Anak’s laugh rumbled, deep and mocking. “Weaklings like you shouldn’t even be alive. Well I’ll be correcting that”

Before Kaito could react, Anak lunged, his fists crashing into the wall where Kaito had stood seconds before. The impact shook the floor, debris scattering around them.

“Split up and secure the server room,” Kaito ordered, his focus on Anak. “I’ll handle him.”

Yuma hesitated, but Kaito’s sharp command made him move. “Go!” he barked.

As the others moved, Kaito squared off against the giant. Anak grinned, wiping blood from his lip. “You’re faster than you look,” he growled, clearly impressed but angrier.

Kaito didn’t respond. He darted in, blades flashing, cutting across Anak’s exposed side. Anak howled in pain but didn’t back down. Instead, his swings became even wilder, the sheer force of his punches rattling the walls.

Kaito moved like a blur, dodging the heavy blows with practiced ease. Each strike from Anak sent vibrations through the air, but Kaito’s focus never wavered. He wasn’t just dodging; he was looking for an opening.

“You talk too much,” Kaito muttered under his breath as he slid past Anak’s massive frame, delivering another quick strike to the giant’s ribs.

Anak staggered back, blood trickling from his wounds, but his grin never faltered. “You think you can win, huh?”

Kaito’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around his blades. “I don’t think. I know.”

The fight was nearing its end. Anak’s swings were growing more erratic, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Kaito capitalized on the chaos, slipping in for a final, decisive strike. His blades slashed across Anak’s chest, knocking the giant off balance. With a sickening thud, Anak collapsed, his massive body hitting the ground hard.

Kaito stood over him, chest heaving, his focus never leaving Anak’s defeated form. The fight was over.

“We’re done here,” Kaito said quietly, turning to join the others, the weight of the battle already fading as the next challenge loomed.

Yuma, Sayuri and Junpei breached the server room, the hum of machinery filling the air. Hanae’s voice guided them through the extraction process.

“Plug into the main terminal and start the transfer,” she instructed. “Look for files on weapons specs and storage locations.”

As Junpei and Sayuri worked, Yuma kept watch at the door, his weapon ready. The tension was palpable as the minutes dragged on.

“Transfer’s at 70%,” Junpei reported.

An alarm suddenly blared, the sound deafening.

“They’ve triggered a full lockdown!” Naoko shouted. “You’re out of time!”

“Seeker,” Yuma said into the comms, “we’ve got the data, but we need an exit strategy.”

Deep within the facility, Amato Makino leaned casually against a pool table, a cigar smoldering between his fingers. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the room, and his subordinates stood nervously at attention.

“Sir,” one of them said hesitantly, “the infiltrators have taken down Anak and reached the server room.”

Amato’s grin widened. He exhaled a plume of smoke and dropped the cigar, crushing it under his boot.

“Activate the lockdown,” he ordered, his tone calm but menacing. “Make sure none of them leaves this building.”

As the Amato’s subordinate left Kaito and his team fought their way through the facility burst into the lavish room where Amato stood waiting, his expression one of amusement.

“Congratulations,” Amato said, spreading his arms mockingly. “You’ve made it farther than I expected. I must admit, I’m impressed.”

Kaito’s expression didn’t change. His twin blades gleamed as he crossed the room in an instant, pressing one to Amato’s neck with lethal precision.

“Are you Amato Makino,” Kaito demanded, his voice ice-cold, “or should I say Black Wing?”

Amato chuckled, ignoring his question. “I like the fierceness in your eyes. Reminds me of someone I met years ago.”

Kaito without hesitation. In a flash, he crossed the room and pressed a blade to Amato’s neck.

“Answer me,” Kaito snarled, pressing the blade harder. “You bastard—you’re the one responsible for Emi, aren’t you?”

Amato’s grin widened, his gaze never leaving Kaito’s. “Can’t say, I’ve killed a lot of people” he murmured.

“You monster” Kaito said, his eyes fierce.

Suddenly, he moved. With a burst of strength and speed, he grabbed Kaito’s arm, twisting it and throwing him off balance. The blade clattered to the ground as Amato pinned Kaito against the pool table, his weight bearing down.

“And you can’t protect anything from this monster, wanna know why” Amato whispered, leaning close to Kaito’s ear. “It’s because you’re weak.”

Kaito struggled against his iron grip, his teeth clenched, but Amato was immovable.

The door slammed open, and Ryuji strode in, his blaster aimed squarely at Amato. The weapon’s unique design glowed faintly, its power thrumming in the air.

“Step away from him before I disintegrate you,” Ryuji said, his voice steady and filled with menace.

Amato glanced at him, his smirk still intact. “You think that toy scares me?”

Ryuji’s finger tightened on the trigger, but before he could fire, Amato’s hand moved subtly toward his coat. His reflexes were lightning fast, clearly intending to draw a hidden weapon.

“Don’t even think about it,” came a cold voice from behind Amato.

Do Yoon had entered silently, his short saber already pressed to Amato’s neck. The faint hum of the blade sent a clear message: one wrong move and it would end badly.

“Let him go,” Do Yoon said flatly.

Amato hesitated, his eyes flicking between the two new threats. Then, with a low chuckle, he released Kaito and stepped back, raising his hands mockingly in surrender.

“Who would’ve thought,” Ryuji said, his grin filled with satisfaction, “that I’d finally get to capture you... and so easily.”

Amato’s eyes narrowed, recognition flickering across his face. “I know you,” he said, his tone laced with disdain. “You were with that overly eager woman, weren’t you? Ah, yes. It seems she’s finally kicked the bucket, hasn’t she?”

Ryuji’s expression shifted, his grin turning bitter. His knuckles whitened around the grip of his blaster.

“What’s he talking about?” Kaito demanded, stepping forward.

Ryuji didn’t look at him. His gaze remained fixed on Amato. “She’s still alive, you bastard,” he growled. Then, glancing at Kaito, he added grimly, “Sorry. He’s talking about your mother.”

Kaito froze, the words sinking in. His hands balled into fists as his mind raced. “What?”

Amato laughed, clearly enjoying the tension. “I see,” he said, his gaze locking on Kaito. “So you’re her son. It’s no wonder you seemed so familiar.”

Kaito lunged forward, grabbing Amato by the collar. “I know you were the one responsible, you twisted maggot,” he spat, his voice trembling with rage. “And I’m going to make you explain what you did to her!”

Amato didn’t flinch. Instead, his grin widened. “I see no harm in telling you. After all, you can’t change the outcome.”

Amato’s voice lowered, each word dripping with malice. “Eleven years ago, that secret lab wasn’t just for research. It was used for human experimentation—government-approved, of course.”

The room went silent as his words sank in.

“They were trying to create a serum. One that could permanently take away a person’s flight ability.”

Kaito’s grip on Amato’s collar tightened, but he said nothing.

Amato continued, his tone almost mocking. “The lab hadn’t finalized the serum when the government dogs came barking, so we had to abandon the project. But before we left...” He smirked. “I shot your dear mother with one of the prototypes.”

Kaito’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Amato leaned closer, his voice soft but deadly. “It’s designed to cause spontaneous cell decay. Rapidly. I’m surprised she’s still alive, honestly. But I’ll save you the trouble of hope—there’s no cure.”

Kaito’s fist collided with Amato’s face before he could finish. The impact sent Amato stumbling, blood trickling from his mouth.

“You bastard!” Kaito roared, his voice raw with pain and fury. “I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done!”

Amato staggered back but wiped the blood away with his thumb, chuckling. “That fire in your eyes... It’s just like hers. But it won’t save you, either.”

Kaito’s fist clenched tightly as he prepared to land another punch on Amato, his fury boiling over. But before his strike could connect, a series of metallic clangs echoed through the room. Doors along the walls slid open, and armed men poured in, blasters trained on the group from every corner.

“Damn it,” Ryuji muttered, his eyes darting to the exits. They were surrounded.

Amato, still grinning, stood and dusted himself off, the cocky nonchalance never leaving his expression. He glanced at the group with mock pity. “You know what? I like you,” he said casually, adjusting his coat. “So I’ll be sparing you today. Consider it a gift. I look forward to our future encounters”

He took a few steps toward his men before stopping and turning back to deliver one final, venomous barb. “Oh, and when that noisy woman of yours finally bites the dust... do me a favor. Send me an invite to her funeral.”

“You bastard!” Kaito roared, lunging forward, but three men stepped into his path, their blasters aimed directly at him.

“Don’t move,” one of them warned coldly.

Kaito froze, teeth clenched, helpless as Amato strolled leisurely out of the room, his men following like shadows. The room’s oppressive silence was broken only by the fading sound of their retreating footsteps.

Moments later, Sayuri, Yuma, Moka, Junpei, and Stan rushed into the room, weapons at the ready. Their eyes scanned the space, taking in the tense faces of Kaito, Ryuji, and Do Yoon.

Moka was the first to notice Kaito, now on his knees in the middle of the room. His head was bowed, his shoulders trembling as if crushed under the weight of something far heavier than exhaustion.

“Kaito?” Moka said softly, stepping closer, concern etched on her face.

Before she could ask what had happened, Ryuji raised a hand to stop her. “Don’t,” he said quietly, his voice heavy “Just let him be”.

Junpei, his expression grim, surveyed the room. “The enemy,” he asked, “where are they?”

Ryuji’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flicked toward the door where Amato had disappeared. “We’ll talk when we get back,” he said curtly, not wanting to relive the failure just yet.

The group began to move, Kaito lagging behind them. His steps were slow and heavy, his gaze fixed on the ground. His eyes, usually sharp and determined, were hollow—lifeless.

As they reached their vehicle parked just outside the facility, Naoko hurried to greet them, her face lit with relief. “You’re back!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with eagerness. “What happened in there? Did you—”

Her words trailed off as Kaito suddenly stumbled. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious before anyone could react.

“Kaito!” Moka cried, rushing to his side.

The rest of the team quickly surrounded him, their earlier silence giving way to alarm.

“We need to get him out of here,” Ryuji said firmly, taking charge as the others began to lift Kaito into the vehicle.

No one said a word as they drove away, but the weight of the encounter hung heavy in the air.