The Plan

//The gang boards the boathouse and with long poles the make their way out to the middle of the lake, where Mika drops the anchor.

//Aiya is on the front deck of the boat looking up at the sky, searching for answers.

//Mika comes up to her, it’s cool in the middle of the lake and there is a breeze, so he takes off his jacket and puts it around her. Aiya grabs hold of Mika’s hand, they both start to blush.

//Aiya closes her eyes and images a life with Mika and having a home together and a child…

//Just then Hana pokes her head out the window.

Hana (clears her throat): Um, I hate to break up the lovefest, but we have some plans to make.

//Aiya and Mika quickly let go of each other’s hand

Aiya: Right! We were just discussing our strategy.

Mika: Uh, yes of course. I’ll bring up the layout of the Royal Castle. I once did some research for a client who was looking for a way to get into the castle and steal the Royal treasure. He did try, but I never heard from him again and never questioned the outcome. But I’ve kept those files just in case another time would come.

Aiya: I’ve been to the Castle for award ceremonies in the past, and it sits on top a mountain overlooking the city with a nearly straight vertical drop all the way around, it’s has the ideal natural defenses built in.

Mika: Yeah, and the only way up the mountain is via two heavily guarded trams, the left side only bringing people up and the right only bringing people down. They both have state of the art security and have a failsafe self-destruct mechanism as a means of last resort.

Aiya: That’s correct, and there are two Simetra checkpoints before you pass through the castle gates, and a garrison of Simetra which constantly patrol the castle grounds.

Hana: So, If I understand correctly, if we manage to somehow make it aboard a tram we will probably be blown to pieces and die in a flaming ball falling 1000 feet down. But given by some miracle we aren’t blown to pieces and do make it atop, we are then meet with the impossible task of defeating the Simetra not only once, but twice. And if by the grace of the gods we survive that, we then have to make our way through another 50 or so Simetra patrolling the grounds.

Aiya (smiles): Correct! You catch on quickly…. It’s a piece of cake!

Hana: Have I told you I hate cake, and brownies, ice cream, candy bars….

Mika (genuinely surprised): Wait, you hate cake and ice cream….

//Aiya slaps Mika on the back of the head

Mika: owie, why did you hit me and not her.

Aiya: She hits back… and hard.

//The gang gets a much-needed laugh and move inside the houseboat.

//Mika brings out his lap top computer and insert the thumb drive with his research on the castle.

Mika: However...I did find an alternate entrance that may work to our advantage.

Aiya (excitedly): Go on!

Mika: The mountain was once rich with numerous gems such as emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, hence the name Mount Jewel. The Royal family amassed their fortune because they held all the mining rights to the mountain and mined it of all its treasures. Once they had taken everything from the mountain, they destroyed all the mine shafts… except for one.

Hana: So how does this help us get to the top…

Mika (smiles): This particular shaft is an air ventilation shaft that went straight up 1400 feet to the top of the mountain. It’s made of 2 ½ ft wide metal pipe with metal rungs, which now goes all the way to the lower basement of the castle. The explosive engineers were afraid of the damage that may be caused by imploding the pipe, so they kept it as one of the most closely guarded secrets in the Royal family’s history.

Aiya (excitedly exclaims): This could actually work!

Hana: Okay, we have a way in, but how do we find the child once we are there?

Aiya ponders for a second: I think I may know who can answer that question. We need to head back to the city.

//The gang row back to the shore and head back to the city.

//Along the way Aiya explains who they are going to see. They also make further plans on how to enter the castle.

Aiya: I have a feeling Matsu is hiding something. It seemed like he wanted to tell me more than he did when we previously spoke, but he has always been so dang protective of us. He would do anything to avoid putting us in harm’s way.

//The gang make their way through the back streets to the home of Matsu. There were careful to make sure they were not followed.

//They park the truck in the back-alley way about a block from the home and head toward the back door of the home.

//The door is unlocked so they cautiously enter.

Hana: Do you think he is here?

Aiya whispers: Shhh!….I don’t know, but stay close and be quite.

//They walk through the kitchen into the living area and just when they think he isn’t there….

//Matsu come out of the shadows and grabs Mika by the neck and holds a knife to his throat.

Aiya jumps up and shouts: Whoa! Whoa! ----, please don’t hurt him… It’s me!

Dad’s Friend: Aiya is that you? Mika? what are you guys doing here?

Aiya: We just need to talk; is there somewhere private we can go to.

Aiya whispers: We don’t know who may be listening?

Matsu: Of course, come this way.

Mika grumbles: Man, why is me that is always one step away from death’s door.

//Hana slaps him on the head.

Hana: Quit your whining!

//They all enter a safe room in the home where they can talk freely.

Matsu: In our line of work, we must take precautions, this room is soundproof.

Aiya: We’re in deep, I think, well know, the King’s Brother is looking for us. I’m pretty sure he intends to kill us for what we did.

Matsu: So, the rumors I’ve heard are true…. So are you the one who…

Aiya: Please don’t ask… (Aiya’s head sinks) I need to move on from their…

Dad’s Friend: I understand.

Aiya sadly says: I found out that the Royals were involved in both Mom and Dad’s deaths.

Matsu: I’ve always suspected as much. They are a dangerous bunch and I’ve always wanted to shield you from them as much as possible.

Aiya: That’s not possible anymore. But I do need your help, so please tell us what you know… please for Mom and Dad’s sake… you know he trusted you more than anyone.

Matsu sighs: I know…. (he exhales deeply) It’s time I unload the terrible burden I have kept secrets all these years.

//They gang sits at a table as Matsu goes and grabs a bottle of whiskey and some glasses.

Matsu: We’ll need this for what I’m about to tell you (as he pours them all a drink).

//He then proceeds to tell him of the Simetra project, how they stole their Mom’s serum to experiment in making their beast army. How the Mom found out about the plot and started research on an antidote to reverse the effects of the serum… and how that most likely lead to her terrible demise.

Matsu: It was said your Mom completed her research and was conducting a trial run of the antidote, but there was no trace that it really existed. If she did make an antidote, she hid it very well.

//He them explains how the Dad (Diachi) got to close to the truth and was also most likely “permanently silenced” for his efforts to uncover the truth.

//The girls listen in total shock to the horrible truth. They start to cry uncontrollably, and their anger soon turns to total rage.

Hana yells: We must put an end to these demonic creatures! (referring to the Royals).

Matsu slams his fist on the table: I should have helped your dad end this long ago.

Aiya: Help us now, tell us how we can find the child.

Matsu pauses for a moment: There is an experimentation room in the lower basement of the castle, the child will most likely be there. But the area is closely guarded by the Simetra.

Aiya stands up: Thank you ----, we will take it from here.

//Aiya hugs ---- and whispers in his ear

Aiya: We will put an end to all this torment and avenge Mom and Dad’s death.

// Aiya turns toward Hana and Mika and boldly states.

Aiya: Okay gang, I think we know what we need to do now.

Aiya then whispers to herself: I, no we, will not fail this time.

Aiya clinches her fist: This is for all who have suffered at the hands of the Royals, their reign of terror must end… and now!

//The gang all thank --- again and leave to prepare for their next “mission”.

// The gang makes their way back to the office. Aiya and Hana sneak into their own office through the ceiling and into a back office room where they stow their supplies and gear.

Aiya: Okay Hana, let’s pack up as much as we can and get out of here.

//The girls exit the same way with their gear and quietly meet up with Mika by the van. Mika has been sweeping the van for explosive devices and bugs.

Mika whispers to the girls: It’s clean so far, I think we are okay, but I’ll know better when we are inside.

//They’ve hid the van well… in a nearby neighbor’s garage.

//They enter the van and Mika starts up his computers equipment and does one more system check for any foreign devices.

Mika: We’re good to roll!

//Hana starts the engine and begins to drive out toward the castle. The gang discuss one more time the plans to enter the castle.