[FIC] A Night At The Opera (part 4 of 6) {Chapter 35}
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:10 pm
Tessa was frightened, but she was not hysterical. She was being dragged down a hallway by two men, a third not far away. They all wore usher's uniforms, and they all had guns. One had a pistol...one a shotgun...and one a machine pistol. The two others had met up with the man who had pulled her from the theatre. They were rough on her, but they were not purposefully cruel. She was a tool to them, and they needed to move quickly to join up with the reamainder of their gang.
She heard a series of shots up ahead, and knew she would soon be in the midst of some kind of conflict. The hallway opened into a vast open area, filled with various constructs and materials. It would be hard for Sousuke to follow her in there. She would have to leave clues when and where she was able. Reaching down with her mouth, she pulled something off of her dress: the pin that Joe had given her. She spat it on the floor.
The gang members talked as if she wasn't there. They would join in the attack on their rival gangsters. They were expecting assistance from the venue guards, the majority of whom were on their group's payroll. They would escape out the back of the facility when it was most advantageous...when they had killed as many opponents as possible.
Tessa would be a bargaining chip if needed, a shield by necessity. They did not have any desire to kill her unnecessarliry, but her safety was of no concern to them.
Sousuke...where are you?
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Sousuke advanced quickly but cautiously along the series of hallways, the sounds of gunfire growing louder in his ears. On a number of occasions, he had been forced to jump or roll out of the way of pistol and submachine gun fire. He could not shoot recklessly in return. Tessa was somewhere ahead.
The sight of the huge backstage facilities area filled Sousuke with mixed emotions. The scope was enormous. The obstacles were daunting. The opportunities for unconventional warfare appeared immense.
To the right, he caught sight of a massive collection of scenery pieces, set constructions, and sundry large items. Straight ahead, he saw an extensive painting area leading into what appeared to be a woodworking workshop. Using his opera glasses further, he scanned the left area, noting racks upon endless racks of costumes, general apparel, and loose fabrics.
He could hear gunfire all around him. As of yet, he had seen no adversaries. There was no sign of Tessa. Which direction should he choose?
A stroke of good fortune provided Sousuke with information that might prove useful later. Control boxes were present on the wall. The labling on some of the boxes indicated that they controlled facility lighting. Other designations earmarked various mechanical conveyances. Following powercables, he located the main breaker box.
Sousuke saw movement in the costume area. A man in an usher's outfit ran into view, dodging quickly to the side to avoid fire. He headed down the aisle to the woodworking area. Seconds later, two men in tuxedos, their exposed skin heavily tatooed, ran out of the costume area, looking for their quarry. Sighting him, they both fired, hitting him in the back and leg. Cheering their victory, they had little time to enjoy their success. Both were gunned down by Sousuke, two well-placed shots ventilating the backs of their heads.
It was not honorable combat, Sousuke reflected. But it was practical. Anyone who was not his friend here was likely an enemy. Anyone who would not aid him would likely be an impediment or a danger. He realized that there might be innocents back here besides Tessa, so he would not be indescriminate. But he would not allow himself to fall prey to hesitation and indecision.
Something lay in the middle of the floor, in one of the aisles heading into the painting shop. It was Tessa's pin.
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Kaname and Kyouko ran for their lives. Literally.
Their path took them into a large costume area, huge racks of clothing and fabric rising out of the floor like soft and colorful rows of corn. This would be an ideal place to hide...but it would be an easy place to get lost...an easy place to stumble upon an enemy unawares.
Gunshots could be heard in distant areas. Gunshots could be heard heading towards them. Gunshots rang out from behind them. The guards were frustrated, knowing that they would soon lose sight of their prey. They fired at the running girls, missing, just as they disappeared from view.
Kaname pulled Kyouko with her, through the stacks of clothing, travelling across anumber of aisles rather than running down the paths of least resistance. Maybe this would buy them some time.
"Kaname...what can we do?" Kyouko was frightened. Kaname had to make certain she would not panic.
"Kyouko, you are going to have to hang in there. You are going to have to trust me. I will give Sousuke a big kiss when we see him again, as payment for the things I have learned from him." That was all she had intended to say, but her subconscious had other plans. "You may then watch as I beat him into a bloody pulp. It's his fault we're in this mess." Kaname cleched a gown from Romeo & Juliet in her hands, looking as if she were ready to tear it apart with her teeth. "Damn you Sousuke!"
Peering out from their hedgework of costumes, Kaname and Kyouko watched as the guards ran by up ahead. They noticed the guards stopping to talk with men dressed as ushers and carrying guns. They saw a tatooed man in a tuxedo step into the open, and quickly return to cover, fired upon by both the ushers and the guards.
"Kyouko. You must stay quiet now. And no flashes! Give me your camera!" Kaname whsipered to her friend, reaching to grab her camera.
"NO!" Kyouko did not yell, but in that setting, the sound of her voice echoed largely in Kaname's ears. The guards looked in their direction, but soon jumped for cover, as the tuxedoed man returned with four of his comrades. A local firefight broke out.
"Kyouko...come...now!" Kaname pulled Kyouko with her, heading for another row of clothing. Taking note of what she passed through and passed by, Kyouko saw costumes from various operas and plays. Large signs marked the names of the productions. Carmen. The Three Musketeers. Sleeping Beauty. Le Nozze di Figaro. Cinderella. Too many to count. No time to pay closer attention.
Kaname also noticed the large number of productions represented by the vast sea of clothing. One sign caught her eye. 'Narukami.' She had read about that opera in the entertainment section. It was about a priest who could not resist the charms of a beautiful woman. She thought of Sousuke. Sousuke with Tessa. What would this adventure do for their relationship? Would it throw them together the way that her first frantic escape with Sousuke had done for the two of them? Were they safe? No time for this kind of stuff!!!
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Tessa, in passing, looked at the startling array of paints, brushes, ladders, rollers, and painter's mitts covering benches and filling shelves. She noted items in the middle of being decorated, scene panels in the middle of sketching. Her one hand free, she managed to grab a tall bottle of blue paint missing its top.
Her captors were too intent on ducking behind cover and looking for opponents. They were not paying close attention to Tessa, who left a trail of blue paint behind her. The trail started where she had kicked off one of her shoes.
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Carefully making his way along benches and tall shelving units, Sousuke noted a panoply of colorful panels, small set work, props, and sundry pieces. Some were labeled as belonging to one production or another. One grouping was earmarked for 'Helen of Troy.' The Trojan War. battle.
Sousuke thought briefly about a juxtaposition of words. He was looking at the Art of War, while caught in the middle of a War of Art.
As he looked for further signs of Tessa's passing, he reflected on the strategies of Sun Tzu (@@@), the author of a text coincedently entitled 'The Art of War.' That famous Chinese strategist, born five centuries prior to the birth of a Saviour in a manger, had been a clever tactician. Sousuke could certainly follow some of his principles today! And, some of his grandson, Sun Pin (%%%), a renound strategist in his own right.
@@@One who exceeds at warfare compels other men, and is not compelled by them@@@
Sousuke had no team mates to lead as of yet. If he found Tessa, he would make cetain she followed his lead, and not the reverse. Until then, he would be certain to dictate the course of battle as much as he could, rather than following the lead of others.
To his right, and ahead, the sound of running. Paint supplies fell to the ground, kicked ahead by a scrambling man in an usher's outfit. The man was clearing running from some danger following him. It could not have been as bad as the danger he soon came upon. Sousuke emptied his pistol into the man, leaving a large growing red splotch on the front of his white coat.
Two men in tuxedos rounded the corner.
His pistol empty, with no time to relaod of sling the Uzi around from his shoulder, Sousuke made use of the things readily available to him. Dropping his pistol, he picked up a large paint sprayer, sending its contents into the face and eyes of the gangsters. They fired wildly as Souske rolled at their feet, bringing both to ground. Kicking their guns away, he finished them off with a burst from the Uzi, now confidently in place within his grasp.
Sousuke retrieved his pistol, ejecting one clip and loading his last reaining ammunition for it.
@@@Protracted warfare may be doomed to defeat by third parties not directly involved in the conflict@@@
Sousuke was indeed thwarting both parties of gang members, but that was not his primary objective. He needed to rescue Tessa! Turning one corner, he saw a shoe. It looked like one of Tessa's. A trail of blue paint led away from it.
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Tessa's paint ran out as she was puuled down an aisle in the woodcraft area. Someone had left a radio playing loudly. Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' filled the air. A prone and bleeding man on the floor may have been a craftsman.
The shelves on one side were filled with various tools and accessries. Saw blades. Router bits. Rasps, files, lathes, and chisels. Small pieces of wood filled bins and bottles of glue and other adhesives filled bottles. The shelving on the other side held large containers of sawdust, pebbles, plastic shapes, and marbles. Various textural materials.
Tessa, and her captors, all heard the gunfire that broke out behind them. A group of men in tuxedos ran into view, some turning to fire in their direction Tessa and the gangsters ran, followed by the others, who continued their shooting.
Tessa, intent on slowing her pursuers, kicked over a huge container of marbles, sending them in a cresting wave towards the men running towards them. The front two men were caught unawares, coming around a corner. They slipped and tumbled into the nearby costumes area. Their comrades approached more cautiously.
She had done what she needed to survive, but Tessa was displeased. She had helped her group of miscreants, but that had been necessary for her survival. She had also lost her remaining shoe involuntarily. She would have to hope she found other means to leave a trail.
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Kaname was good in a crisis, no doubt about that. She was also a good planner, and a good tactician in her own right. She did, however, need some help in assigning her priorities.
Hiding in a rack of costumes, Kaname and Kyouko saw a number of ushers run into view. They were dragging a young woman with them. Tessa!!!
Suddenly, Kaname felt a need for a different kind of concealment. She could not help from feeling the urge to help Tessa. But, she also could not fight an even stronger urge to keep Tessa from seeing her! She quickly searched for a solution that satisfied both of her urges. She soon found it.
"Kyouko, it's time for dress-up! You've always said you wanted to be in the school play...well, here's your chance."
"Kaname?" Kyouko's confusion and curiosity helped wipe away some of her fear and desperation.
"Come with me. We need to be quick about his." She dragged Kyouko over to a rack labled 'Nutcracker Suite." "Here, put this on. Now!" She handed Kyouko one of two mouse costumes. She started putting the other costume on herself.
"But why Kaname, why are we doing this? It will make it harder to run and hide. And we might be safer as we are. Shouldn't we just head back the way we came...the guards ran off with those other men." Kyouko was thinking logically, but logic did not apply at that moment.
Kaname pointed towards Tessa's disappearing form. "There's something we need to do first."
Kyouko nodded, swallowing hard. She continued taking pictures with the flash turned off.
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@@@Assume a strong defence position when victory can not be forseen@@@
Sousuke was forced to take cover at the border of the painting workshop, as groups of opposing gangs were firing across the open expanse ahead.
He was content to watch for a moment. Let them take themselves out...it would save him effort and ammunition. But, Tessa could be in one of those groups, if they had doubled back from the trail of paint he saw leading away from the crossfire.
If she had been with them, he would have adopted a defensive strategy, and made his way out of the building, leaving the fight to those with their agendas of hate, power, and rivalry. But, he had to push on, when the action would allow.
His eyes caught sight of a sign. 'MacBeth' it read, situated over a series of unfinished props. MacBeth brought Scotland to mind, which in turn lead Sousuke to think of Ireland and Irish legends.
The Tuatha De Danaan. Children of the god Danaan. The high demigods of the early pagan irish peoples. The Tuatha De Danaan were decribed as having great skill in the arts, as well as greast wisdom and talent for magic. They represented technology, strength, courage, progress. They fought against the giants---or fomor---who stood for oppression, cruelty, ignorance, brutality, darkness, stagnation.
Sousuke also thought of the mythical hero Cuchulainn, a man whose great frenzy during battle led him to attack friends and foe alike. Sousuke would need to control his temper, so he didn't make any similar mistakes.
%%%Fighting is the natural result of anger%%%
Souske would make use of his anger then, shape it into a weapon of his command. Like Cuchulainn, Sousuke was the puppet of his own geasa. He needed to rescue Tessa. He needed to get her to safety. And, if the evening allowed for it after all that, he must continue trying to help her have a good time. He just hoped that his geas would not lead to his death, as Cuchlainn's had.
So far, he had managed to make good use of his surroundings, and hoped that wisdom and good fortune would fight on his side . His mind, of its own accord, thought back to the days earlier events. Breakfast. Fishing. Pleasant moments. That thought of fish made him think of Fin Mac Cumhail. Sousuke could certainly use a bite from the Salmon of Knowledge. He could certainly benefit from that hero's unparelleled skills in battle.
Too much time was passing. He might not be able to pick up Tessa's trail before something terrible happened. There was so much gunfire around that everyone here was at great risk from stray bullets.
His eyes wandered into the costume area. He could take cover there. It might help to alter the environment some, first.
Running back to the control panels, Sousuke threw a number of switches, large banks of lights going on and off as he decided which results best suited his needs. He also hit the 'start' buttons for conveyances that pushed and pulled large scenery around. He pulled switches that triggered the movement of racks of clothing and shelves of creative supplies.
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Tessa had bumped her head hard on the side of a clothing rack. Her vision swimming, she thought she saw the racks begin to move. Looking behind her, she questioned her own mental state. It looked as if two giant rodents were running after her.
Both wore fancy woman's shoes. One was carrying a shopping bag. The other a camera.
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It felt good to run, to stretch her legs. The men in usher outfits could not see her and Kyouko now. This was a golden opportunity to make up some ground. Hopefully they wouldn't run into trouble too soon.
Kaname had developed a taste for action, no doubt as a result of being around a certain disaster-prone young sergeant. And she had acquired his penchant for rescues, along with the talent for creating or stumbling upon the situations that offered chances for such noble acts.
She and Kyouko WOULD save Tessa, and the three of them WOULD make it to safety. Sousuke would be the one whose saftey was at risk. Before and after they all left this place.
Kaname saw Kyouko stumble over a moving clothing rack, watching her fall awkwardly, dropping her camera. Her thoughts wre brought back to a narrow and practical scope. She also had to look out for Kyouko! Waiting for Kyouko to pick herself up and retrieve her prized possession, Kaname felt a strong stab of guilt.
Kyouko was here, in great danger, because of things Kaname had done. She couldn't blame Sousuke for everything, at that moment. That would come later.
"Are you OK, Kyouko?"
"N-n-no..." Kyouko looked on the verge of crying. She had been so strong, so capable up to this point...but everybody has their limits. Not everybody had the opportunity Kaname did to become comfortable with crises and catstrophes. "But, I guess we have to keep going."
"We'll be alright, Kyouko. I promise. And when we're done here, you can go home. " Kaname felt tears coming to her own eyes. "I'm Soooo sorry, Ky...I...I never should have gotten you into this!"
Moving forward again, Kyouko said "That's Ok, Kaname...what's done is done...let's j-just ge-get out of here." For a moment, Kyouko regained some spunk. "AND...I will give YOU the bill for the fishing equipment!!!"
Running again, and turning a corner, they saw Tessa, held by a man in an usher's outfit. Tessa looked up and saw them. There were sounds of gunfire nearby.
The lights went out.
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@@@Deception is the essence of warfare@@@
Sousuke would use whatever methods were at hand.
@@@Attack when the enemy is unprepared@@@
Surprise would be used when available.
@@@The value of orthodox and unorthodox attacks@@@
Sousuke was adept at guerilla tactics.
%%%Performance in battle depends on the motivation and commitment of soldiers%%%
It was time to work on his enemy's morale.
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Sousuke counted seconds, waiting. He looked over into the costume area, seeing movenment where one group of gang members were moving, firing blindly towards their opponents. Sousuke also saw a group of guards briefly between the rows of clothes. They were crouching down with the men in usher's outfits. Collusion! It was good fortune that he had opportunity to mark that alliance.
'Orfeo." A sign said near the hiding men. That was the title of an opera about Orpheus and Eurydice's tragic fate. He remembered Tessa talking about it on their walk to the opera. That title resonated within him then. It held some relevance. He was battling the underground, trying to get Tessa back. He would make certain that HE made no mistake before returning with her to the land of the living.
His eye caught sight of another sign, one nearer to where he was. 'Beowulf.' One of his favorite heroic tales! He saw a large furry costume, long claws at the end of paws...and holes in the paws to allow the use of hands. Inspiration hit Sousuke. This would be more satisfying than Bonta-Kun.
"Ten more seconds" he whispered to himself. He had slaved the lighting arrangements to a series of timers.
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...the lights went out, everywhere.
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@@@Constantly analyze the battlefield and adapt one's attacks and defences accordingly@@@
Sousuke changed his strategy. He would not try to run blindly across the shooting alley when the lights went out and the firing hopeful ceased temporarily. Instead, he made his way in the direction of the frightful costume he had seen, measuring his steps accurately. He slipped into the costume, after having brief difficulty figuring out its orientation.
It was time for something unexpected.
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The lights suddenly went out. All of them. Everywhere.
Tessa did not need to be bitten in her shapely rump by opportunity to know that it was nearby.
She elbowed her captor, pulled away, and ran, falling a number of times, but rushing wildly ahead nonetheless. Who could tell when the lights might come back on. She must make it inside a rack of clothing. She could reconsider her options there. She had lost here purse, and the ability to phone the safehouse. She would have to make the most of the things at hand.
Tessa hit something, hard. It was furry, and yielding...and it cried out. "K-K-Kaname? What...?"
"Shhh---" She heard another voice, felt herself roughly touched, and heard russling inside of what sounded like a paper bag.
"You son of a bitch!!!" She heard a voice. Kaname's voice. She was then struck hard, repeatedly.
"S-stop-p-p-!!!" Tessa yelled. In the dark, Kaname lowered her halisen, surprised.
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Sousuke, putting on the Grendel costume, accidentally hit two buttons down by the hands. One caused the eyes to light up, glowing like two small red suns. The other caused a recording to play in a large mechanical backpack. A loud wailing screech echoed across the darkened room.
At first frightned, members of both gangs focused on the source of the light and noise, opening fire. Sousuke quickly rolled to the side, feeling a bullet rip through the cloth of the costume. He finished putting on the suit. Any time now....
The lights in the prop area turned back on, but the other lights remained off. The side of the room where Grendel prowled was poorly lit.
%%%When men have their minds set on victory, all they see is the enemy. When men have their mind set on fear, all they see is fear%%%
%%%Dispirited men perform poorly%%%
Sousuke kept the costume lights off, but triggered the noise at interval. He ran along crouching, a mysterious shape in a darkened environment. He felt a boiling urge to attack with his teeth and his claws, as if he was that fearful beast that terrorized Hrothgar's meadhall Hierot, as if he was the one who would tear apart the sleeping Danes and carry their bodies to the moors, to feast on at his leisure.
If Beowulf had met THAT Grendel, it would have been his death that was written of. The beast in the famous literary work did NOT carry an Uzi, did not have on its possession a Glock 17 or a pair of grenades.
Scanning the area, he saw flashes of light signalling the discharge of three and possibly four pistols. He had found his first victims. He ran to the point he had seen the flashes, crossing the area between the painting work shop and the woodworking area. Turning the glowing eyes back on, he again urged the suit to make its terrible noise.
Catching sight of movement, Sousuke yelled "Tessa!" Not hearing a reply, he held his breath and fired, sweeping the entire area with a rain of lead until the clip was empty. He prayed that Tessa had not been there.
Sousuke did not stand still in any place for long. Bullets hit racks and bins near him, sending a spray of sawdust and metal fragments his way.
It was time to deal with the other concentration of gang members. Lights off, and silent, he went back the way he came. He waited until he had a clue. Someone was foolish enough to fire randomly. Sousuke put his last clip in the Uzi and headed in the direction of the flash. Again the lights. Again the scream. Again "Tesssssa!!!"
He heard "SOUSUKE!" far off to his right. It was Tessa. He could fire with no hestitation. The men in front of him, shadowy shapes, were obvious demoralized, frightened. They ran screaming away from the glowing apparition, trying to hide in the darkened rows of clothing. Bullets followed after them all, shredding cloth and flesh alike. Sousuke did not know how many survived, and would not follow them into the darkness. That would be to their advantage.
He took off the suit. There wouldn't be much time before all of the lights came back on.
He knew Tessa's general direction now. He felt his hope growing.
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It was Tessa. Kaname realized she had been hitting Tessa. She cursed under her breath...if she was going to hit her, she wanted to know when she was doing it! She shook that thought away. She was supposed to be helping Tessa escape.
The lights came back on far away, giving the girls the gift of limited sight. Shapes were still darkened, still fuzzy, but there were better places to be, and they searched for them together. Terrible shreiks filled the room, and each girl found herself catching her breath, trembling. Brief glimpses of an eerie red light could be seen.
"Tessa!" That sounded like Sousuke's voice. Gunfire erupted from different areas.
The girls crept along, crawling towards the woodworking area. Bullets riccocheted nearby.
Another "Tesssa!"
"SOUSUKE!!!" Tessa yelled, before Kaname clamped a hand over her mouth. More screams. More gunfire.
Muffled noises souned behind the three dark and low-moving shapes. Pursuers. Probably the ones who had held Tessa. Who would be the first to reach their goal in the shadowly hall?
The lights came back on.
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Sousuke crouched, concealed within a tall rows of mens' robes. Wrapped in the robes of a Persian sheikh, he caught sight of a number of guards milling about down the aisle. He also saw a man in an usher's uniform heading his way. He smiled. A sudden strategy came to mind.
@@@Undermine alliances@@@
The man had no idea what happened to him as Sousuke slipped the garrotte afround his neck viciously, tightening it unmercifully, dragging his struggling victim in with him. Soon, the man's worries were ended permanently.
Sousuke took off his tuxedo coat, and put on the usher coat. He exchanged ties, pocketing his own. He leaned out of the rack, allowing his upper body to be seen. He waved towards poorly visible men in similar coats. "Hey!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Sousuke looked over at the guards. They had stopped, looking at him. "It's time to get rid of all witnesses. Kill...the...damn...guards!!!" He fired on the guards, hitting one in the arm before he ducked back into the wall of clothes, exchanging jackets and ties quickly. He left the area, running close to the ground.
It was time to find Tessa.
A series of continuous shots rang out across the area he had just left.
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Kaname, Kyouko, and Tessa ran quickly into the woodcutting area, hiding behind a number of large table saws. They took a moment to catch their breath and evaluate the lay of the land. Tessa decided it was a good time to bring something out in the open, so Kaname would not feel compelled to act in a reckless manner to maintain her supposed secret.
"That hurt...I can see why Sousuke lives in fear of your halisen, Kaname!"
Startled, Kaname jumped up, banging her head severely on an overhang of steel. "Ouuuu-wuh..."
Tessa tried not to smile, with little success. Kaname glared at her. Sousuke was not here...Tessa might do...
"Y-you k-now..." Kaname was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Yes, despite the cute ensemble. Whatever made you choose that outfit for the opera, Kaname? I must have missed the latest fashion journals..." There was no time for joking, but Tessa needed some way to ease the suffocating tension she had been feeling.
"Youuuuu...." Kaname still handn't found her full voice. Probably just as well.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke at a time like this, especially since you were likely coming to my rescue." Kyouko nodded her head, and was rewarded with a big smile from Tessa. "I noticed the shoes and the shopping bag. Your friend called out your name. I heard your voice."
"I see." Kaname said. "We should..." She stopped speaking when Kyouko pulled on her costume firmly, pointing in the direction they had come. The ushers were headed in their direction. And the three girls were trapped in a corner.
Kyouko thought she heard Sousuke's voice yelling out in the distance. Something about guards. "Sousuke?" she said to no one in particular. "Yes" Kaname answered the same moment Tessa said "I think so!" They looked at each other...stared a moment...then laughed.
The men in usher suits turned, saw their comrades exchanging gunfire with guards, and rushed to join the fray.
"OK" Kaname said, instinctively taking command. "It's time to move, troops! We should probably get out of here before Sousuke manages to blow everything up...or he calls in an airstike or something. If we want to be one of the few things left standing, lets go!" Halisen at the ready she ran off, grabbing useful items along the way.
Sawblades...router bits...a large mallet...various items made their way into Kaname's bag.
Tessa picked up a nailgun. It was heavy, and threw her stride off, but it might prove handy until she could recover siutable armament.
Kyouko held tightly onto her camera, running quickly behind the other two girls as they made their way towards the painting area.
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Sousuke was just a few moments too late to see the girls run into the paint workshop. He had been crouching, trying to keep out of the sight of three ushers running to the aid of their fellow gangsters.
He took his bearings. He had heard Tessa's voice over near the woodshop. Looking to both side frequently, he ran to that area unmolested. No sign of Tessa. No sign of anyone. He needed to get a view from up high. He located his salvation.
A large castle turret was nearing completion. Two large hairlike ropes hung down from it. The sign 'Rapunzel' lay nearby. It was an extremely tall structure, and would provide a bird's eye view of the entire enclosure.
Climbing the ropes, he thought back to a legend from his earliest remembered homeland. Zal had been a Persian warrior, hunting in the lands that would later become known as Afghanistan. He met and fell in love with the maiden Rudabah, daughter of Mehrab, king of Kabul. Zal scaled the maiden's tower to make her his own, climbing up his mistress' tresses.
If Kaname and Tessa were both standing in front of him now, alone in this room, who might he see first if he climbed that tower? He shook his head. There was no time for that nonsense now! He didn't want his next sight of Tessa to be that of her damaged and lifeless form laying in a pool of blood.
Sousuke scanned the area. He saw movement. What was that? It looked like a giant mouse or rat, climbing up onto one of the racks in the painting workshop. He considered taking a shot at it, thinking it could be an enemy following his lead, using his prior method of disguise. He held off...it could be an innocent. There was no reason to fire now, as he was not in danger...and Tessa was not in the vicinity.
He saw a reflection of light, a series of sparkles. Using his opera glasses, Sousuke spied another mouse...and Tessa! Her sequins! She did not seem to be captive...rather she appeared to be waving her arms, directing the climbing figure.
More movement! Men were approaching Tessa's position from both sides!
It was time to move.
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Running towards the painting area, the girls happened upon a man in a tuxedo holding a gun. The man looked dazed, but he started to bring his hand up.
Kaname reached for her halisen, but came up with the mallet. No time to try again. Use what's at hand! She swung as hard as she could, as if she were aiming for the bleachers. The hammer hit the man's temple, knocking him over.
"If all you have is a hammer..." Kaname said proudly "...treat everything like a nail!!!"
Tessa was down on all fours, looking for the dropped gun. There would be no time to continue that search. "Someone's coming through the props over there!" Kyouko had seen movement. It was time to run again.
They ran into the painting workshop area, a man now on their trail. Rounding a corner, Tessa saw a man from an opposing gang headed their way from that direction. "There's one this way too," she said. Tessa rejoined Kaname and Kyouko, nailgun heavy in her hands.
"I'll wait for the one around the corner" Kaname said. "You see what you can do with that one" she said to Tessa.
"Kyouko," Tessa said. "You look agile...can you climb well. can you climb that rack in your costume?"
"Y-yes...I..." Kyouko was uncertain what Tessa was getting at.
"Good. Go now. See if you can help Kaname from up top." Kyouko paused a moment, then began climbing.
Tessa concealed herself behind a cluttered bench, nailgun propped on its surface. The man was close now...and he saw Kyouko. He raised his gun to fire.
Tessa had been aiming for the man's chest. She fired too high. A number of nails shot out, hitting the man in the face. He screamed, no longer interested in Kyouko. His hands covered his face, but Tessa could see blood begin to drip out between them as he turned. She began to feel squeamish, sick to her stomach.
Kaname had heard footsteps...the footfalls were very close now...it was time! She jumped out from concealment, throwing two round saw blades in succession, Frisbee style. 'THAT ought to do it!' she thought triumphantly, until she saw her weapons bounce off the man's chest, pricking him slightly. This was not the movies or TV! The man raised a shotgun...Kaname wouldn't have time to move.
A large shower of red paint fell from above the man, followed by a huge plastic bucket and its separate top. The paint covered the man's head and face, effectively blinding him momentarily. Kaname hesitated, but she had the advantage of time. The man was rubbing at his eyes, trying to regain his vision. A large shower of yellow paint followed the red!!!
Kaname looked up. A waving mouse. "Way to go, Kyouko!!!" Kaname ran over to the disadvantaged foe and hit him with her hammer. Repeatedly. Savagely. The look on her face would have done Thor proud. The man was out cold.
Kaname remembered Sousuke's lessons, but could not bring herself to pick up the shotgun and shoot the man. Not even when the thought of Takuma quickly entered and left her mind unannounced.
Kyouko climbed down the other side of the rack, slipping and falling, catching her hand on a support structure. She rejoined Kaname.
Tessa came around the corner. Her look was bleak, ashen...almost as if she were nauseous. "Tessa, what...?" Kaname started, but stopped when Tessa shook her head and waved away the question.
"Let's go" was all that Tessa said.
*************************************************************
When Sousuke arrived at the paint area, he saw a man in a tuxedo, smeared blood covering the left side of his face, and hand covering the right. As the man reached for his fallen gun with his right hand, Sousuke saw what was left of his right eye.
Sousuke fired, before the man became a threat. The man was no longer of concern. His face had been rearranged further.
Rounding a corner, Sousuke saw a paint-covered man rubbing at his eyes, shotgun at his feet. Two shots to the chest rendered that man harmless as well as dead. The pooling of his blood was unnoticed in the expanse of read paint.
Tessa and her companions were doing well. If they could just hang on a little longer.
Which direction had they gone, back out towards the stage, or into the area containing the large props and scenary? He headed first towards the stage, running into a battle between two men from different gangs.
He turned around. He would head for unexplored area. The sounds of large machinery could be heard, and small cranes and conveyor belts were in motion.
*************************************************************
Large props were everywhere. Scenes from the ongoing production of Gotterdamerung. Old scenery from Sleeping Beauty and Romeo & Juliet. There were various large panels and constructs from operas and plays the girls had no knowledge of.
Gun shots sounded in the area they headed for, but they were fewer and further between. Hopefully, the battle was dying down. Knowing Sousuke, he had probably wiped out a few hundered men by now.
Kaname smiled. She wished Sousuke was there with her now. She wasn't certain whether she wanted to leap on him, hug him, and kiss him...or tackle him, smack him with the halisen, and step on him where he had once stepped on a man with Bonta-Kun! She felt safe with Sousuke near, regardless of the danger. No matter whose fault it was.
Tessa felt Sousuke's absence, too. A pleasant evening had turned into a deadly struggle, and she missed his calming demeanor, his certain actions. She would hold on though...she would perservere...she would do that for him! She was not finished with him yet!!! Maybe, if she was lucky, she could use this disaster to finagle for another date. She discarded the nailgun. It was too heavy to carry any longer.
Kyouko was feeling very troubled. She was nearing the end of available storage on her digital camera. If she were to find anything interesting, she would have to delete previous images. She needed to find the time to make level-headed decisions!
Running underneath a large cluster of wooden horses suspended on high steep wires, their noses pointed towards the stage area, the three young women headed into another area of maze-like shelving, located between moving trains of props and stage devices.
They had to move slower now, more cautiously. They didn't know what they might find around any corner.
Passing by the shelving area, they finally saw the back wall of the entire opera house. There were doors there! But there were also men crounching behind large appropriated steel cabinets, looking out through the door, and looking off towards the stage. Red and blue lights chased about just inside the partially opened door, suggesting that the police might be outside.
"Yes! Police. We should just find a place to lay low. With any luck, they should come to our aid, and we should be out of here!!!" Kaname sounded very enthusiastic. Kyouko and Tessa both nodded, their spirits lifted.
Their moment of respite was short-lived. A group of men in usher's uniforms stepped out from amongst an area of racks and shelves. They saw the girls. The idea of hostages came to mind. They stated running.
Kaname's exclamation would have done Melissa proud. She wished Melissa was there now...the four approaching men would soon be a pool of steaming excrement if they ran into a certain Sgt. Major!
"Guess it's time to run again" Tessa said to Kyouko, starting to follow after Kaname. Tessa was exhausted, but they had come so close! She couldn't quit now.
*************************************************************
Sousuke saw the men by the door. He saw the men running after Tessa's retreating form. He noticed the suspended horses. He saw that the men were running in the same line as the horse's wires. It didn't take much to remember the reference
%%%The use of cavalry%%%
Souske fired multiple times, his shots hitting small clamps that held the carven horses in place. A number of the clamps broke, releasing the restrained horses.
Three horses started their charge, riderless. They picked up speed rapidly, their weight pulling them quickly down the slanting wires. Three of the men had heard the noise, looked, and jumped out of the way in time. One man paid for his inattention. The front hooves of one horse slammed against the back of his neck with tremendous force, knocking him unconscious and paralyzed to the floor.
Two of the men spotted Sousuke, and moved to remove the recognized threat. One continued after the three potential hostages.
Souske shot the two men, using up the rest of his ammunition. He felt in his pockets. He had scooped up a number of marbles...they would be useful for the sling. He could handle anyone who got too close with taser, knife, or garrotte. What he needed was a weapon for long range attacks. He would retrieve the guns from his latest fallen foes.
Before he could move, he heard other running footsteps coming his way. Tatooed men in tuxedos, one with a shotgun and one with a MAC-10. The others held pistols. He had no time to reach the guns. He could not afford to leave concealment.
Looking around him, he searched for a viable solution. He needed to force the men into cover, gaining himself an opportunity to move. He happened to look at a large bin filled with large glass globes. Fake candles sat at the center of each. He grabbed one quickly. A large battery supplied power. A switch lit up the devices, making them glow and flicker like unearthly flame.
@@@Incindiary Attacks@@@
Yes. Thank you Sun Tzu. Sousuke could not use any of the five types of incindiary attacks used in ancient battles. He could not incinerate men, food, supply trains, weapons, or large formations. But, he could cause his foe to run for shelter!
Sousuke lit globe after globe, throwing them high in the air, causing a veritable rain of apparent fire to come smashing and crashing down amongst the surprised men. Glass flew everywhere. The noise was intense.
@@@Immediately exploit victory@@@
making use of the few moments provided by his opponnents' shock, Sousuke ran to pick up two Walther PPK pistols as he headed in the direction Tessa had gone.
It didn't take long before the men behind him followed suit.
*************************************************************
Kaname, Kyouko, and Tessa looked behind them and saw that the man was gaining on them. Kaname might get away. Probabably Kyouko too. Tessa, however, kept stumbling.
"This way" Kaname yelled, jumping onto the low mechanical train, running in front of, behind, and between props and scenery pieces. "Let's find cover!" She was soon followed by the other two girls. Kaname jumped inside of a large cauldron. Kyouko hid behind a prop door. Tessa fell again, but managed to crawl in between the tented logs of a large woodwork bonfire.
Tessa saw the man. The man had not spotted any of them. Yet. He was a clever one...and cautious. He was looking in things, under things, and behind things. It would just be a matter of time. Looking into a cauldron, he was hit square in the face by a halisen! He had not been prepared for THAT! He dropped his gun.
Kaname jumped out of the cauldron, ready to run. Seeing the gun on the floor, she bent to grab it. The man grabbed her by the arm, painfully. Wincing, Kaname thought quickly. With the forceful swing of a leg, she kicked the gun far away. Her action allowed the man to grab her by both arms...but that success earned him a hard knee to the groin.
"Help!" Kaname yelled. Tessa and Kyouko---worried more about the bird in hand than the two hiding in the bush---ran to their comrade's assistance.
The four people, now entwined, pushed this way and that like a scrum in rugby. Each step took them nearer to the gun.
*************************************************************
The assailant fought dirty, kicking, biting, and elbowing. Kaname was knocked to the ground. Tessa was flung a fair distance away. Kyouko was held firmly by the neck. The man was about to let her go and pick up his pistol.
"LET THE MOUSE GO!!!" A loud voice. A young man's voice. The gangster saw someone in a tuxedo approaching, pistol held up. He judged his age to be around sixteen or seventeen . He should be able to handle this threat, if he acted cautiously at the start, and quickly when the proper moment arrived. He held his hands up.
Let. The. Mouse. Go. Fours simple words. Four nonsense words. Before that day, those words wouldn't have offered comfort to anyone. At that very moment, those words meant the world to three tired and frightened young ladies. Sousuke! Finally....
*************************************************************
Sousuke had run through props from various plays and operas. His attention had been briefly drawn to a sign that read 'Kalevala.' He knew that. He enjoyed the excerpts from Finnish folklore. But he was not about to break into trochaic tetramere!
He saw a demon elk, and remembered Lemminkainen's killing it, and his subsequent slaughter and dismemberment by angry woodsmen. His mother had put him back together and brought him to life...Sousuke had no such option...he needed to get Tessa and himself out of here in one piece.
He saw a statue of gold, and remembered Ilmainen trying to make a woman. Sousuke had once viewed Tessa that way...cold...distant...unattainable. He wasn't certain what he felt about her now.
Sousuke saw a large painted moon and separate sun stashed partly inside a bin. He saw a painting of fire. Had the mistress of Pohjola been here? He shook his head, moving onward.
He heard a cry for help up ahead, the voice sounding somewhat similar to Kaname's, masked somewhat by the noisy machinery around him. He saw a man beat a mouse to the ground and catch hold of Tessa, flinging her towards the scenery train. He grabbed another mouse by the neck.
He needed a clear shot.
"LET THE MOUSE GO!" He shouted, and the man complied, raising his hands in surrender. Sousuke considered shooting him, but reached a hand inside his pocket for the taser.
The man called his hand by jumping, rolling, and grabbing the gun. Sousuke fired quickly and relatively accurately, placing a shot in the chest, a shot in the abdomen, and a shot in the upper left leg. The man dropped the gun and lay writhing on the floor, likely not much longer for this world.
"Sousuke!"
Sousuke looked around. He saw Tessa, smiling, sitting on a rainbow. For a moment, he froze. Froze deep down to his bones. He swallowed. Repeatedly.
Vainamoinen had come across the daughter of Louhi sitting on a rainbow. He had made love to her then. Sousuke blushed. THAT was just legend!
Tessa got to her feet, ran to him, and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his shoulder. She stayed that way silently, unmoving, until Sousuke removed her arms and spoke.
"We don't have time Tessa, and we are not safe yet! There are men behind me. They could be here soon. We should all go." He looked at the costumed individuals, but had no time to satisfy his curiosity.
"Let's move, now!"
*************************************************************
%%%The treasures of terrain%%%
Sousuke smiled, seeing the literal meaning of that phrase in this circmstance. He fervantly hoped that the men would approach cautiously, slowly, and close to one another, hoping to provide each other with support and safety.
Hatching a plan that could disable all four quickly if fortune allowed, Sousuke called his three companions over to a large collection of immobile props. There were four huge metal treasure chests, covered by wood. They sat amongst a pile of golden colored plastic goblets, coins, sceptres, shields, and crowns. Fake red, blue, green, and yellow gems partially filled knocked-over barrels, and spread out over the floor.
"Each of you in a chest. Now!!!" The three immediately complied. they should be safe in there.
The four men came running up to the area that Sousuke and friends had earlier vacated. They were foolishly clustered close together. Two were firing, making them an immediate threat. Sousuke lobbed a concussion grenade at them all.
The resultant explosion threw the four men to the ground. It also threw various props up into the air. Sousuke saw a meteor go flying by. A wooden bird was thrown up into the air by the blast, flying backward. A powdery substance ignited, forming black clouds in the air.
@@@One should not pay attention to omens@@@
Sousuke knew Sun Tzu's position...he did not think generals should make use of portents, should not place their faith or fear in spirits and supernatural entities. That never stopped the rank and file of ancient China's armies from doing just that, however. Sousuke himself looked at the flying constructs, thinking it was a very good sign!
While their pursuers were stunned, Sousuke called to his hidden comrades. Soon thereafter, Sousuke, Tessa, and the two large mice made their way towards the stage. Sousuke held up his hand, stopping everyone for a brief while, as he ran ahead to make certain the stage area was safe. The front curtain was still down.
If there were no gunmen in the theatre area, they would soon reach safety!
*************************************************************
The four gunmen had recovered much sooner than Sousuke would have expected. They were weak, and staggering, but they still followed.
Sousuke looked at the mice. They each wore woman's dress shoes. His command was all women.
Well, Sun Tzu had once formed a company out of three hundred women, concubines and others. They had laughed and refused at first, until he called the headsmen and pronounced the fate of anyone unwilling to fight. They formed an effective force not long thereafter.
'Tessa...mice women...I will need your assistance. I have few shots left. We will need to make use of our surroundings. Do not give up now. We are close to safety!"
%%%Warfare is inherent to mankind%%%
Sousuke hoped it was also inherent to womankind and mousekind.
*************************************************************
Sousuke thought about making a solo stand, holding off the men until the women had a chance to escape. But, he had no knowledge of the state of affairs in the theatre itself. And, he had not had enough time to scout this area...there was a chance he could be flanked, and the women could be killed or captured.
Playing it safe, he would keep the little group intact.
He set the two mice at ropes holding sandbags high above. He set Tessa by a large chain that would release a series of curtains overhead. He gave her a quick hug to lend her strength. She smiled and straightened her shoulders. "Hang in there Tessa, you are doing well."
He heard a growling noise coming from one of the mice. That one must be a warrior!
Sousuke moved closer to the advancing foe. They had learned...they were staggered now. He shot one man in the head, then retreated beyond his hidden female companions. They would get only one chance at this. He had three shots. He had three companions. He hoped the numbers added up to victory.
If the actions failed, he would throw his remaining grenade, even at the risk of injuring his comrades. He would then have to hope his sling and marbles would suffice, before he made a risky charge with the taser.
One of the men walked under the large curtains overhead. He hoped Tessa would follow the plan and stand her ground. Another man was stepping under the suspended sandbags.
Souske whistled. Ropes and chain were pulled. Objects fell heavily. Two men were incapacitated. It had worked.
Sousuke rushed forward, firing his final shots into the chest of his final standing foe. The man fell heavily to the ground, dead.
*************************************************************
Souske had given each survivor a taste of the taser. His three companions and he crawled under the curtain after Sousuke had deemed things to be safe. Most of the patrons were in the lobby or outside. A small number of police officers were wandering around the expanse of the theatre, looking for victims and culprits.
Tessa stood by Sousuke's side.
Sousuke took time to examine his two mysterious allies. They were obviously women...or men with strange fetishes. One held a camera. Similar to Kyouko's. the other held a shopping bag. A costume mouse tail, somehow detached, sat within the bag. So did a halisen. One that looked like Kaname's.
Tessa saw Sousuke's stare, and judged what thoughts might cross his mind.
"Sousuke" she said, pulling on his arm. "You should thank Aurora and Gretel...they helped save my life...they were valiant soldiers."
"Aurora? Gretel? Is that their name? They carry items that....Kaname and Kyuouko...uh..." Sousuke's look was very intent. Kaname and Kyouko stood very still, not making a single sound.
"Yes, Sousuke. Their mothers gave them those names. If you do not like those names, I am certain you can convince their mothers to change them!"
"Tessa, I meant..."
"And, sergeant Sagara, if you are going to make it a point to question what I tell you..." Tessa's hands were on her hips. She was not smiling.
"No...uh..." Sousuke was backpeddling.
"Besides, Sousuke, think!!! I know you're tired...but if three women still have use of all their senses after all that, surely a soldier should as well!"
"Uh...uh..."
"Sousuke! Have you heard one annoying laugh?" Tessa was moving in for the kill.
"Uh...no!"
"Have you heard anyone say something stupid like Kaname?" That was followed by a growling mouse noise again, but only briefly.
"Uh...Kaname is not..."
"Have you?!" Tessa stamped her foot.
"No!"
"Have you been assaulted by a violent, mentally disturbed, and inconsiderate mouse with a halisen even once during your fight today?"
"No, not once!"
"And do you possibly think we could have made it thrrough all that as easily as we did if Kaname had been here with us?"
"Uh...yes..." Sousuke waited for the other foot to stamp. Kaname smiled inside her mouse head.
"SOUSUKE!" Tessa stamped.
"I mean...no, Tessa!" Tessa smiled. Kaname seethed.
"So...you were saying?" Tessa winked at the two mice as Sousuke looked towards them.
"I will thank you mice. You were instrumental in assisting Tessa with your escape. You were not too much of an inconvenience to myself. Despite your costume fetish and strange behavior, I was glad to have you as comrades for a brief time. Thankfully, a brief time. I hope that you had opportunity to learn from Tessa, so that you will be more useful as civilians. Thank you." Sousuke thought nothing of his little speech.
Tessa fought back a laugh.
Kyouko fought the urge to take a photograph.
Kaname struggled with the innate desire to grab her halisen and show Sousuke just how useful she was.
*************************************************************
Shoeless, Tessa walked with Sousuke towards the lobby. They had passed from view before Kaname and Kyouko removed their mouse heads.
Kaname was about to say something colorful until she heard a noise behind her. Turning, she saw one of their earlier assailants crawl off the front of the stage, moving slowly in her direction, hand outstretched in a claw.
Her anger at Sousuke boiling over, Kaname walked up to the gangster, and started kicking him savagely. He would not harm her or Kyouko when they were this close to leaving this place!
A large contingent of police rushed in about that time, most of them going backstage now that the front areas were secured and the patrons were safe. One officer deviated from his original course, stepping over to Kaname and Kyouko. "I'll handle him, mam. It looks like you have been backstage. You must be very brave to have fought your way up here. I commend you both." The officer bowed.
Camera crews had followed the police in. One crew heard what the officer had said to the two young women. "Sounds like we have a couple of heroes, here" the anchorwoman said, holding her hand in a way that signalled her cameraman to start filming. "Or, I should say two heroines."
The growing crowd of media people blocked Kaname's and Kyouko's escape route. The two of them were safe, but they were trapped.
Their pictures and story would be on the evening news.
*************************************************************
End of part 4 of 5
She heard a series of shots up ahead, and knew she would soon be in the midst of some kind of conflict. The hallway opened into a vast open area, filled with various constructs and materials. It would be hard for Sousuke to follow her in there. She would have to leave clues when and where she was able. Reaching down with her mouth, she pulled something off of her dress: the pin that Joe had given her. She spat it on the floor.
The gang members talked as if she wasn't there. They would join in the attack on their rival gangsters. They were expecting assistance from the venue guards, the majority of whom were on their group's payroll. They would escape out the back of the facility when it was most advantageous...when they had killed as many opponents as possible.
Tessa would be a bargaining chip if needed, a shield by necessity. They did not have any desire to kill her unnecessarliry, but her safety was of no concern to them.
Sousuke...where are you?
*************************************************************
Sousuke advanced quickly but cautiously along the series of hallways, the sounds of gunfire growing louder in his ears. On a number of occasions, he had been forced to jump or roll out of the way of pistol and submachine gun fire. He could not shoot recklessly in return. Tessa was somewhere ahead.
The sight of the huge backstage facilities area filled Sousuke with mixed emotions. The scope was enormous. The obstacles were daunting. The opportunities for unconventional warfare appeared immense.
To the right, he caught sight of a massive collection of scenery pieces, set constructions, and sundry large items. Straight ahead, he saw an extensive painting area leading into what appeared to be a woodworking workshop. Using his opera glasses further, he scanned the left area, noting racks upon endless racks of costumes, general apparel, and loose fabrics.
He could hear gunfire all around him. As of yet, he had seen no adversaries. There was no sign of Tessa. Which direction should he choose?
A stroke of good fortune provided Sousuke with information that might prove useful later. Control boxes were present on the wall. The labling on some of the boxes indicated that they controlled facility lighting. Other designations earmarked various mechanical conveyances. Following powercables, he located the main breaker box.
Sousuke saw movement in the costume area. A man in an usher's outfit ran into view, dodging quickly to the side to avoid fire. He headed down the aisle to the woodworking area. Seconds later, two men in tuxedos, their exposed skin heavily tatooed, ran out of the costume area, looking for their quarry. Sighting him, they both fired, hitting him in the back and leg. Cheering their victory, they had little time to enjoy their success. Both were gunned down by Sousuke, two well-placed shots ventilating the backs of their heads.
It was not honorable combat, Sousuke reflected. But it was practical. Anyone who was not his friend here was likely an enemy. Anyone who would not aid him would likely be an impediment or a danger. He realized that there might be innocents back here besides Tessa, so he would not be indescriminate. But he would not allow himself to fall prey to hesitation and indecision.
Something lay in the middle of the floor, in one of the aisles heading into the painting shop. It was Tessa's pin.
*************************************************************
Kaname and Kyouko ran for their lives. Literally.
Their path took them into a large costume area, huge racks of clothing and fabric rising out of the floor like soft and colorful rows of corn. This would be an ideal place to hide...but it would be an easy place to get lost...an easy place to stumble upon an enemy unawares.
Gunshots could be heard in distant areas. Gunshots could be heard heading towards them. Gunshots rang out from behind them. The guards were frustrated, knowing that they would soon lose sight of their prey. They fired at the running girls, missing, just as they disappeared from view.
Kaname pulled Kyouko with her, through the stacks of clothing, travelling across anumber of aisles rather than running down the paths of least resistance. Maybe this would buy them some time.
"Kaname...what can we do?" Kyouko was frightened. Kaname had to make certain she would not panic.
"Kyouko, you are going to have to hang in there. You are going to have to trust me. I will give Sousuke a big kiss when we see him again, as payment for the things I have learned from him." That was all she had intended to say, but her subconscious had other plans. "You may then watch as I beat him into a bloody pulp. It's his fault we're in this mess." Kaname cleched a gown from Romeo & Juliet in her hands, looking as if she were ready to tear it apart with her teeth. "Damn you Sousuke!"
Peering out from their hedgework of costumes, Kaname and Kyouko watched as the guards ran by up ahead. They noticed the guards stopping to talk with men dressed as ushers and carrying guns. They saw a tatooed man in a tuxedo step into the open, and quickly return to cover, fired upon by both the ushers and the guards.
"Kyouko. You must stay quiet now. And no flashes! Give me your camera!" Kaname whsipered to her friend, reaching to grab her camera.
"NO!" Kyouko did not yell, but in that setting, the sound of her voice echoed largely in Kaname's ears. The guards looked in their direction, but soon jumped for cover, as the tuxedoed man returned with four of his comrades. A local firefight broke out.
"Kyouko...come...now!" Kaname pulled Kyouko with her, heading for another row of clothing. Taking note of what she passed through and passed by, Kyouko saw costumes from various operas and plays. Large signs marked the names of the productions. Carmen. The Three Musketeers. Sleeping Beauty. Le Nozze di Figaro. Cinderella. Too many to count. No time to pay closer attention.
Kaname also noticed the large number of productions represented by the vast sea of clothing. One sign caught her eye. 'Narukami.' She had read about that opera in the entertainment section. It was about a priest who could not resist the charms of a beautiful woman. She thought of Sousuke. Sousuke with Tessa. What would this adventure do for their relationship? Would it throw them together the way that her first frantic escape with Sousuke had done for the two of them? Were they safe? No time for this kind of stuff!!!
*************************************************************
Tessa, in passing, looked at the startling array of paints, brushes, ladders, rollers, and painter's mitts covering benches and filling shelves. She noted items in the middle of being decorated, scene panels in the middle of sketching. Her one hand free, she managed to grab a tall bottle of blue paint missing its top.
Her captors were too intent on ducking behind cover and looking for opponents. They were not paying close attention to Tessa, who left a trail of blue paint behind her. The trail started where she had kicked off one of her shoes.
*************************************************************
Carefully making his way along benches and tall shelving units, Sousuke noted a panoply of colorful panels, small set work, props, and sundry pieces. Some were labeled as belonging to one production or another. One grouping was earmarked for 'Helen of Troy.' The Trojan War. battle.
Sousuke thought briefly about a juxtaposition of words. He was looking at the Art of War, while caught in the middle of a War of Art.
As he looked for further signs of Tessa's passing, he reflected on the strategies of Sun Tzu (@@@), the author of a text coincedently entitled 'The Art of War.' That famous Chinese strategist, born five centuries prior to the birth of a Saviour in a manger, had been a clever tactician. Sousuke could certainly follow some of his principles today! And, some of his grandson, Sun Pin (%%%), a renound strategist in his own right.
@@@One who exceeds at warfare compels other men, and is not compelled by them@@@
Sousuke had no team mates to lead as of yet. If he found Tessa, he would make cetain she followed his lead, and not the reverse. Until then, he would be certain to dictate the course of battle as much as he could, rather than following the lead of others.
To his right, and ahead, the sound of running. Paint supplies fell to the ground, kicked ahead by a scrambling man in an usher's outfit. The man was clearing running from some danger following him. It could not have been as bad as the danger he soon came upon. Sousuke emptied his pistol into the man, leaving a large growing red splotch on the front of his white coat.
Two men in tuxedos rounded the corner.
His pistol empty, with no time to relaod of sling the Uzi around from his shoulder, Sousuke made use of the things readily available to him. Dropping his pistol, he picked up a large paint sprayer, sending its contents into the face and eyes of the gangsters. They fired wildly as Souske rolled at their feet, bringing both to ground. Kicking their guns away, he finished them off with a burst from the Uzi, now confidently in place within his grasp.
Sousuke retrieved his pistol, ejecting one clip and loading his last reaining ammunition for it.
@@@Protracted warfare may be doomed to defeat by third parties not directly involved in the conflict@@@
Sousuke was indeed thwarting both parties of gang members, but that was not his primary objective. He needed to rescue Tessa! Turning one corner, he saw a shoe. It looked like one of Tessa's. A trail of blue paint led away from it.
*************************************************************
Tessa's paint ran out as she was puuled down an aisle in the woodcraft area. Someone had left a radio playing loudly. Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' filled the air. A prone and bleeding man on the floor may have been a craftsman.
The shelves on one side were filled with various tools and accessries. Saw blades. Router bits. Rasps, files, lathes, and chisels. Small pieces of wood filled bins and bottles of glue and other adhesives filled bottles. The shelving on the other side held large containers of sawdust, pebbles, plastic shapes, and marbles. Various textural materials.
Tessa, and her captors, all heard the gunfire that broke out behind them. A group of men in tuxedos ran into view, some turning to fire in their direction Tessa and the gangsters ran, followed by the others, who continued their shooting.
Tessa, intent on slowing her pursuers, kicked over a huge container of marbles, sending them in a cresting wave towards the men running towards them. The front two men were caught unawares, coming around a corner. They slipped and tumbled into the nearby costumes area. Their comrades approached more cautiously.
She had done what she needed to survive, but Tessa was displeased. She had helped her group of miscreants, but that had been necessary for her survival. She had also lost her remaining shoe involuntarily. She would have to hope she found other means to leave a trail.
*************************************************************
Kaname was good in a crisis, no doubt about that. She was also a good planner, and a good tactician in her own right. She did, however, need some help in assigning her priorities.
Hiding in a rack of costumes, Kaname and Kyouko saw a number of ushers run into view. They were dragging a young woman with them. Tessa!!!
Suddenly, Kaname felt a need for a different kind of concealment. She could not help from feeling the urge to help Tessa. But, she also could not fight an even stronger urge to keep Tessa from seeing her! She quickly searched for a solution that satisfied both of her urges. She soon found it.
"Kyouko, it's time for dress-up! You've always said you wanted to be in the school play...well, here's your chance."
"Kaname?" Kyouko's confusion and curiosity helped wipe away some of her fear and desperation.
"Come with me. We need to be quick about his." She dragged Kyouko over to a rack labled 'Nutcracker Suite." "Here, put this on. Now!" She handed Kyouko one of two mouse costumes. She started putting the other costume on herself.
"But why Kaname, why are we doing this? It will make it harder to run and hide. And we might be safer as we are. Shouldn't we just head back the way we came...the guards ran off with those other men." Kyouko was thinking logically, but logic did not apply at that moment.
Kaname pointed towards Tessa's disappearing form. "There's something we need to do first."
Kyouko nodded, swallowing hard. She continued taking pictures with the flash turned off.
*************************************************************
@@@Assume a strong defence position when victory can not be forseen@@@
Sousuke was forced to take cover at the border of the painting workshop, as groups of opposing gangs were firing across the open expanse ahead.
He was content to watch for a moment. Let them take themselves out...it would save him effort and ammunition. But, Tessa could be in one of those groups, if they had doubled back from the trail of paint he saw leading away from the crossfire.
If she had been with them, he would have adopted a defensive strategy, and made his way out of the building, leaving the fight to those with their agendas of hate, power, and rivalry. But, he had to push on, when the action would allow.
His eyes caught sight of a sign. 'MacBeth' it read, situated over a series of unfinished props. MacBeth brought Scotland to mind, which in turn lead Sousuke to think of Ireland and Irish legends.
The Tuatha De Danaan. Children of the god Danaan. The high demigods of the early pagan irish peoples. The Tuatha De Danaan were decribed as having great skill in the arts, as well as greast wisdom and talent for magic. They represented technology, strength, courage, progress. They fought against the giants---or fomor---who stood for oppression, cruelty, ignorance, brutality, darkness, stagnation.
Sousuke also thought of the mythical hero Cuchulainn, a man whose great frenzy during battle led him to attack friends and foe alike. Sousuke would need to control his temper, so he didn't make any similar mistakes.
%%%Fighting is the natural result of anger%%%
Souske would make use of his anger then, shape it into a weapon of his command. Like Cuchulainn, Sousuke was the puppet of his own geasa. He needed to rescue Tessa. He needed to get her to safety. And, if the evening allowed for it after all that, he must continue trying to help her have a good time. He just hoped that his geas would not lead to his death, as Cuchlainn's had.
So far, he had managed to make good use of his surroundings, and hoped that wisdom and good fortune would fight on his side . His mind, of its own accord, thought back to the days earlier events. Breakfast. Fishing. Pleasant moments. That thought of fish made him think of Fin Mac Cumhail. Sousuke could certainly use a bite from the Salmon of Knowledge. He could certainly benefit from that hero's unparelleled skills in battle.
Too much time was passing. He might not be able to pick up Tessa's trail before something terrible happened. There was so much gunfire around that everyone here was at great risk from stray bullets.
His eyes wandered into the costume area. He could take cover there. It might help to alter the environment some, first.
Running back to the control panels, Sousuke threw a number of switches, large banks of lights going on and off as he decided which results best suited his needs. He also hit the 'start' buttons for conveyances that pushed and pulled large scenery around. He pulled switches that triggered the movement of racks of clothing and shelves of creative supplies.
*************************************************************
Tessa had bumped her head hard on the side of a clothing rack. Her vision swimming, she thought she saw the racks begin to move. Looking behind her, she questioned her own mental state. It looked as if two giant rodents were running after her.
Both wore fancy woman's shoes. One was carrying a shopping bag. The other a camera.
*************************************************************
It felt good to run, to stretch her legs. The men in usher outfits could not see her and Kyouko now. This was a golden opportunity to make up some ground. Hopefully they wouldn't run into trouble too soon.
Kaname had developed a taste for action, no doubt as a result of being around a certain disaster-prone young sergeant. And she had acquired his penchant for rescues, along with the talent for creating or stumbling upon the situations that offered chances for such noble acts.
She and Kyouko WOULD save Tessa, and the three of them WOULD make it to safety. Sousuke would be the one whose saftey was at risk. Before and after they all left this place.
Kaname saw Kyouko stumble over a moving clothing rack, watching her fall awkwardly, dropping her camera. Her thoughts wre brought back to a narrow and practical scope. She also had to look out for Kyouko! Waiting for Kyouko to pick herself up and retrieve her prized possession, Kaname felt a strong stab of guilt.
Kyouko was here, in great danger, because of things Kaname had done. She couldn't blame Sousuke for everything, at that moment. That would come later.
"Are you OK, Kyouko?"
"N-n-no..." Kyouko looked on the verge of crying. She had been so strong, so capable up to this point...but everybody has their limits. Not everybody had the opportunity Kaname did to become comfortable with crises and catstrophes. "But, I guess we have to keep going."
"We'll be alright, Kyouko. I promise. And when we're done here, you can go home. " Kaname felt tears coming to her own eyes. "I'm Soooo sorry, Ky...I...I never should have gotten you into this!"
Moving forward again, Kyouko said "That's Ok, Kaname...what's done is done...let's j-just ge-get out of here." For a moment, Kyouko regained some spunk. "AND...I will give YOU the bill for the fishing equipment!!!"
Running again, and turning a corner, they saw Tessa, held by a man in an usher's outfit. Tessa looked up and saw them. There were sounds of gunfire nearby.
The lights went out.
*************************************************************
@@@Deception is the essence of warfare@@@
Sousuke would use whatever methods were at hand.
@@@Attack when the enemy is unprepared@@@
Surprise would be used when available.
@@@The value of orthodox and unorthodox attacks@@@
Sousuke was adept at guerilla tactics.
%%%Performance in battle depends on the motivation and commitment of soldiers%%%
It was time to work on his enemy's morale.
*************************************************************
Sousuke counted seconds, waiting. He looked over into the costume area, seeing movenment where one group of gang members were moving, firing blindly towards their opponents. Sousuke also saw a group of guards briefly between the rows of clothes. They were crouching down with the men in usher's outfits. Collusion! It was good fortune that he had opportunity to mark that alliance.
'Orfeo." A sign said near the hiding men. That was the title of an opera about Orpheus and Eurydice's tragic fate. He remembered Tessa talking about it on their walk to the opera. That title resonated within him then. It held some relevance. He was battling the underground, trying to get Tessa back. He would make certain that HE made no mistake before returning with her to the land of the living.
His eye caught sight of another sign, one nearer to where he was. 'Beowulf.' One of his favorite heroic tales! He saw a large furry costume, long claws at the end of paws...and holes in the paws to allow the use of hands. Inspiration hit Sousuke. This would be more satisfying than Bonta-Kun.
"Ten more seconds" he whispered to himself. He had slaved the lighting arrangements to a series of timers.
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...the lights went out, everywhere.
*************************************************************
@@@Constantly analyze the battlefield and adapt one's attacks and defences accordingly@@@
Sousuke changed his strategy. He would not try to run blindly across the shooting alley when the lights went out and the firing hopeful ceased temporarily. Instead, he made his way in the direction of the frightful costume he had seen, measuring his steps accurately. He slipped into the costume, after having brief difficulty figuring out its orientation.
It was time for something unexpected.
*************************************************************
The lights suddenly went out. All of them. Everywhere.
Tessa did not need to be bitten in her shapely rump by opportunity to know that it was nearby.
She elbowed her captor, pulled away, and ran, falling a number of times, but rushing wildly ahead nonetheless. Who could tell when the lights might come back on. She must make it inside a rack of clothing. She could reconsider her options there. She had lost here purse, and the ability to phone the safehouse. She would have to make the most of the things at hand.
Tessa hit something, hard. It was furry, and yielding...and it cried out. "K-K-Kaname? What...?"
"Shhh---" She heard another voice, felt herself roughly touched, and heard russling inside of what sounded like a paper bag.
"You son of a bitch!!!" She heard a voice. Kaname's voice. She was then struck hard, repeatedly.
"S-stop-p-p-!!!" Tessa yelled. In the dark, Kaname lowered her halisen, surprised.
*************************************************************
Sousuke, putting on the Grendel costume, accidentally hit two buttons down by the hands. One caused the eyes to light up, glowing like two small red suns. The other caused a recording to play in a large mechanical backpack. A loud wailing screech echoed across the darkened room.
At first frightned, members of both gangs focused on the source of the light and noise, opening fire. Sousuke quickly rolled to the side, feeling a bullet rip through the cloth of the costume. He finished putting on the suit. Any time now....
The lights in the prop area turned back on, but the other lights remained off. The side of the room where Grendel prowled was poorly lit.
%%%When men have their minds set on victory, all they see is the enemy. When men have their mind set on fear, all they see is fear%%%
%%%Dispirited men perform poorly%%%
Sousuke kept the costume lights off, but triggered the noise at interval. He ran along crouching, a mysterious shape in a darkened environment. He felt a boiling urge to attack with his teeth and his claws, as if he was that fearful beast that terrorized Hrothgar's meadhall Hierot, as if he was the one who would tear apart the sleeping Danes and carry their bodies to the moors, to feast on at his leisure.
If Beowulf had met THAT Grendel, it would have been his death that was written of. The beast in the famous literary work did NOT carry an Uzi, did not have on its possession a Glock 17 or a pair of grenades.
Scanning the area, he saw flashes of light signalling the discharge of three and possibly four pistols. He had found his first victims. He ran to the point he had seen the flashes, crossing the area between the painting work shop and the woodworking area. Turning the glowing eyes back on, he again urged the suit to make its terrible noise.
Catching sight of movement, Sousuke yelled "Tessa!" Not hearing a reply, he held his breath and fired, sweeping the entire area with a rain of lead until the clip was empty. He prayed that Tessa had not been there.
Sousuke did not stand still in any place for long. Bullets hit racks and bins near him, sending a spray of sawdust and metal fragments his way.
It was time to deal with the other concentration of gang members. Lights off, and silent, he went back the way he came. He waited until he had a clue. Someone was foolish enough to fire randomly. Sousuke put his last clip in the Uzi and headed in the direction of the flash. Again the lights. Again the scream. Again "Tesssssa!!!"
He heard "SOUSUKE!" far off to his right. It was Tessa. He could fire with no hestitation. The men in front of him, shadowy shapes, were obvious demoralized, frightened. They ran screaming away from the glowing apparition, trying to hide in the darkened rows of clothing. Bullets followed after them all, shredding cloth and flesh alike. Sousuke did not know how many survived, and would not follow them into the darkness. That would be to their advantage.
He took off the suit. There wouldn't be much time before all of the lights came back on.
He knew Tessa's general direction now. He felt his hope growing.
*************************************************************
It was Tessa. Kaname realized she had been hitting Tessa. She cursed under her breath...if she was going to hit her, she wanted to know when she was doing it! She shook that thought away. She was supposed to be helping Tessa escape.
The lights came back on far away, giving the girls the gift of limited sight. Shapes were still darkened, still fuzzy, but there were better places to be, and they searched for them together. Terrible shreiks filled the room, and each girl found herself catching her breath, trembling. Brief glimpses of an eerie red light could be seen.
"Tessa!" That sounded like Sousuke's voice. Gunfire erupted from different areas.
The girls crept along, crawling towards the woodworking area. Bullets riccocheted nearby.
Another "Tesssa!"
"SOUSUKE!!!" Tessa yelled, before Kaname clamped a hand over her mouth. More screams. More gunfire.
Muffled noises souned behind the three dark and low-moving shapes. Pursuers. Probably the ones who had held Tessa. Who would be the first to reach their goal in the shadowly hall?
The lights came back on.
*************************************************************
Sousuke crouched, concealed within a tall rows of mens' robes. Wrapped in the robes of a Persian sheikh, he caught sight of a number of guards milling about down the aisle. He also saw a man in an usher's uniform heading his way. He smiled. A sudden strategy came to mind.
@@@Undermine alliances@@@
The man had no idea what happened to him as Sousuke slipped the garrotte afround his neck viciously, tightening it unmercifully, dragging his struggling victim in with him. Soon, the man's worries were ended permanently.
Sousuke took off his tuxedo coat, and put on the usher coat. He exchanged ties, pocketing his own. He leaned out of the rack, allowing his upper body to be seen. He waved towards poorly visible men in similar coats. "Hey!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Sousuke looked over at the guards. They had stopped, looking at him. "It's time to get rid of all witnesses. Kill...the...damn...guards!!!" He fired on the guards, hitting one in the arm before he ducked back into the wall of clothes, exchanging jackets and ties quickly. He left the area, running close to the ground.
It was time to find Tessa.
A series of continuous shots rang out across the area he had just left.
*************************************************************
Kaname, Kyouko, and Tessa ran quickly into the woodcutting area, hiding behind a number of large table saws. They took a moment to catch their breath and evaluate the lay of the land. Tessa decided it was a good time to bring something out in the open, so Kaname would not feel compelled to act in a reckless manner to maintain her supposed secret.
"That hurt...I can see why Sousuke lives in fear of your halisen, Kaname!"
Startled, Kaname jumped up, banging her head severely on an overhang of steel. "Ouuuu-wuh..."
Tessa tried not to smile, with little success. Kaname glared at her. Sousuke was not here...Tessa might do...
"Y-you k-now..." Kaname was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Yes, despite the cute ensemble. Whatever made you choose that outfit for the opera, Kaname? I must have missed the latest fashion journals..." There was no time for joking, but Tessa needed some way to ease the suffocating tension she had been feeling.
"Youuuuu...." Kaname still handn't found her full voice. Probably just as well.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke at a time like this, especially since you were likely coming to my rescue." Kyouko nodded her head, and was rewarded with a big smile from Tessa. "I noticed the shoes and the shopping bag. Your friend called out your name. I heard your voice."
"I see." Kaname said. "We should..." She stopped speaking when Kyouko pulled on her costume firmly, pointing in the direction they had come. The ushers were headed in their direction. And the three girls were trapped in a corner.
Kyouko thought she heard Sousuke's voice yelling out in the distance. Something about guards. "Sousuke?" she said to no one in particular. "Yes" Kaname answered the same moment Tessa said "I think so!" They looked at each other...stared a moment...then laughed.
The men in usher suits turned, saw their comrades exchanging gunfire with guards, and rushed to join the fray.
"OK" Kaname said, instinctively taking command. "It's time to move, troops! We should probably get out of here before Sousuke manages to blow everything up...or he calls in an airstike or something. If we want to be one of the few things left standing, lets go!" Halisen at the ready she ran off, grabbing useful items along the way.
Sawblades...router bits...a large mallet...various items made their way into Kaname's bag.
Tessa picked up a nailgun. It was heavy, and threw her stride off, but it might prove handy until she could recover siutable armament.
Kyouko held tightly onto her camera, running quickly behind the other two girls as they made their way towards the painting area.
*************************************************************
Sousuke was just a few moments too late to see the girls run into the paint workshop. He had been crouching, trying to keep out of the sight of three ushers running to the aid of their fellow gangsters.
He took his bearings. He had heard Tessa's voice over near the woodshop. Looking to both side frequently, he ran to that area unmolested. No sign of Tessa. No sign of anyone. He needed to get a view from up high. He located his salvation.
A large castle turret was nearing completion. Two large hairlike ropes hung down from it. The sign 'Rapunzel' lay nearby. It was an extremely tall structure, and would provide a bird's eye view of the entire enclosure.
Climbing the ropes, he thought back to a legend from his earliest remembered homeland. Zal had been a Persian warrior, hunting in the lands that would later become known as Afghanistan. He met and fell in love with the maiden Rudabah, daughter of Mehrab, king of Kabul. Zal scaled the maiden's tower to make her his own, climbing up his mistress' tresses.
If Kaname and Tessa were both standing in front of him now, alone in this room, who might he see first if he climbed that tower? He shook his head. There was no time for that nonsense now! He didn't want his next sight of Tessa to be that of her damaged and lifeless form laying in a pool of blood.
Sousuke scanned the area. He saw movement. What was that? It looked like a giant mouse or rat, climbing up onto one of the racks in the painting workshop. He considered taking a shot at it, thinking it could be an enemy following his lead, using his prior method of disguise. He held off...it could be an innocent. There was no reason to fire now, as he was not in danger...and Tessa was not in the vicinity.
He saw a reflection of light, a series of sparkles. Using his opera glasses, Sousuke spied another mouse...and Tessa! Her sequins! She did not seem to be captive...rather she appeared to be waving her arms, directing the climbing figure.
More movement! Men were approaching Tessa's position from both sides!
It was time to move.
*************************************************************
Running towards the painting area, the girls happened upon a man in a tuxedo holding a gun. The man looked dazed, but he started to bring his hand up.
Kaname reached for her halisen, but came up with the mallet. No time to try again. Use what's at hand! She swung as hard as she could, as if she were aiming for the bleachers. The hammer hit the man's temple, knocking him over.
"If all you have is a hammer..." Kaname said proudly "...treat everything like a nail!!!"
Tessa was down on all fours, looking for the dropped gun. There would be no time to continue that search. "Someone's coming through the props over there!" Kyouko had seen movement. It was time to run again.
They ran into the painting workshop area, a man now on their trail. Rounding a corner, Tessa saw a man from an opposing gang headed their way from that direction. "There's one this way too," she said. Tessa rejoined Kaname and Kyouko, nailgun heavy in her hands.
"I'll wait for the one around the corner" Kaname said. "You see what you can do with that one" she said to Tessa.
"Kyouko," Tessa said. "You look agile...can you climb well. can you climb that rack in your costume?"
"Y-yes...I..." Kyouko was uncertain what Tessa was getting at.
"Good. Go now. See if you can help Kaname from up top." Kyouko paused a moment, then began climbing.
Tessa concealed herself behind a cluttered bench, nailgun propped on its surface. The man was close now...and he saw Kyouko. He raised his gun to fire.
Tessa had been aiming for the man's chest. She fired too high. A number of nails shot out, hitting the man in the face. He screamed, no longer interested in Kyouko. His hands covered his face, but Tessa could see blood begin to drip out between them as he turned. She began to feel squeamish, sick to her stomach.
Kaname had heard footsteps...the footfalls were very close now...it was time! She jumped out from concealment, throwing two round saw blades in succession, Frisbee style. 'THAT ought to do it!' she thought triumphantly, until she saw her weapons bounce off the man's chest, pricking him slightly. This was not the movies or TV! The man raised a shotgun...Kaname wouldn't have time to move.
A large shower of red paint fell from above the man, followed by a huge plastic bucket and its separate top. The paint covered the man's head and face, effectively blinding him momentarily. Kaname hesitated, but she had the advantage of time. The man was rubbing at his eyes, trying to regain his vision. A large shower of yellow paint followed the red!!!
Kaname looked up. A waving mouse. "Way to go, Kyouko!!!" Kaname ran over to the disadvantaged foe and hit him with her hammer. Repeatedly. Savagely. The look on her face would have done Thor proud. The man was out cold.
Kaname remembered Sousuke's lessons, but could not bring herself to pick up the shotgun and shoot the man. Not even when the thought of Takuma quickly entered and left her mind unannounced.
Kyouko climbed down the other side of the rack, slipping and falling, catching her hand on a support structure. She rejoined Kaname.
Tessa came around the corner. Her look was bleak, ashen...almost as if she were nauseous. "Tessa, what...?" Kaname started, but stopped when Tessa shook her head and waved away the question.
"Let's go" was all that Tessa said.
*************************************************************
When Sousuke arrived at the paint area, he saw a man in a tuxedo, smeared blood covering the left side of his face, and hand covering the right. As the man reached for his fallen gun with his right hand, Sousuke saw what was left of his right eye.
Sousuke fired, before the man became a threat. The man was no longer of concern. His face had been rearranged further.
Rounding a corner, Sousuke saw a paint-covered man rubbing at his eyes, shotgun at his feet. Two shots to the chest rendered that man harmless as well as dead. The pooling of his blood was unnoticed in the expanse of read paint.
Tessa and her companions were doing well. If they could just hang on a little longer.
Which direction had they gone, back out towards the stage, or into the area containing the large props and scenary? He headed first towards the stage, running into a battle between two men from different gangs.
He turned around. He would head for unexplored area. The sounds of large machinery could be heard, and small cranes and conveyor belts were in motion.
*************************************************************
Large props were everywhere. Scenes from the ongoing production of Gotterdamerung. Old scenery from Sleeping Beauty and Romeo & Juliet. There were various large panels and constructs from operas and plays the girls had no knowledge of.
Gun shots sounded in the area they headed for, but they were fewer and further between. Hopefully, the battle was dying down. Knowing Sousuke, he had probably wiped out a few hundered men by now.
Kaname smiled. She wished Sousuke was there with her now. She wasn't certain whether she wanted to leap on him, hug him, and kiss him...or tackle him, smack him with the halisen, and step on him where he had once stepped on a man with Bonta-Kun! She felt safe with Sousuke near, regardless of the danger. No matter whose fault it was.
Tessa felt Sousuke's absence, too. A pleasant evening had turned into a deadly struggle, and she missed his calming demeanor, his certain actions. She would hold on though...she would perservere...she would do that for him! She was not finished with him yet!!! Maybe, if she was lucky, she could use this disaster to finagle for another date. She discarded the nailgun. It was too heavy to carry any longer.
Kyouko was feeling very troubled. She was nearing the end of available storage on her digital camera. If she were to find anything interesting, she would have to delete previous images. She needed to find the time to make level-headed decisions!
Running underneath a large cluster of wooden horses suspended on high steep wires, their noses pointed towards the stage area, the three young women headed into another area of maze-like shelving, located between moving trains of props and stage devices.
They had to move slower now, more cautiously. They didn't know what they might find around any corner.
Passing by the shelving area, they finally saw the back wall of the entire opera house. There were doors there! But there were also men crounching behind large appropriated steel cabinets, looking out through the door, and looking off towards the stage. Red and blue lights chased about just inside the partially opened door, suggesting that the police might be outside.
"Yes! Police. We should just find a place to lay low. With any luck, they should come to our aid, and we should be out of here!!!" Kaname sounded very enthusiastic. Kyouko and Tessa both nodded, their spirits lifted.
Their moment of respite was short-lived. A group of men in usher's uniforms stepped out from amongst an area of racks and shelves. They saw the girls. The idea of hostages came to mind. They stated running.
Kaname's exclamation would have done Melissa proud. She wished Melissa was there now...the four approaching men would soon be a pool of steaming excrement if they ran into a certain Sgt. Major!
"Guess it's time to run again" Tessa said to Kyouko, starting to follow after Kaname. Tessa was exhausted, but they had come so close! She couldn't quit now.
*************************************************************
Sousuke saw the men by the door. He saw the men running after Tessa's retreating form. He noticed the suspended horses. He saw that the men were running in the same line as the horse's wires. It didn't take much to remember the reference
%%%The use of cavalry%%%
Souske fired multiple times, his shots hitting small clamps that held the carven horses in place. A number of the clamps broke, releasing the restrained horses.
Three horses started their charge, riderless. They picked up speed rapidly, their weight pulling them quickly down the slanting wires. Three of the men had heard the noise, looked, and jumped out of the way in time. One man paid for his inattention. The front hooves of one horse slammed against the back of his neck with tremendous force, knocking him unconscious and paralyzed to the floor.
Two of the men spotted Sousuke, and moved to remove the recognized threat. One continued after the three potential hostages.
Souske shot the two men, using up the rest of his ammunition. He felt in his pockets. He had scooped up a number of marbles...they would be useful for the sling. He could handle anyone who got too close with taser, knife, or garrotte. What he needed was a weapon for long range attacks. He would retrieve the guns from his latest fallen foes.
Before he could move, he heard other running footsteps coming his way. Tatooed men in tuxedos, one with a shotgun and one with a MAC-10. The others held pistols. He had no time to reach the guns. He could not afford to leave concealment.
Looking around him, he searched for a viable solution. He needed to force the men into cover, gaining himself an opportunity to move. He happened to look at a large bin filled with large glass globes. Fake candles sat at the center of each. He grabbed one quickly. A large battery supplied power. A switch lit up the devices, making them glow and flicker like unearthly flame.
@@@Incindiary Attacks@@@
Yes. Thank you Sun Tzu. Sousuke could not use any of the five types of incindiary attacks used in ancient battles. He could not incinerate men, food, supply trains, weapons, or large formations. But, he could cause his foe to run for shelter!
Sousuke lit globe after globe, throwing them high in the air, causing a veritable rain of apparent fire to come smashing and crashing down amongst the surprised men. Glass flew everywhere. The noise was intense.
@@@Immediately exploit victory@@@
making use of the few moments provided by his opponnents' shock, Sousuke ran to pick up two Walther PPK pistols as he headed in the direction Tessa had gone.
It didn't take long before the men behind him followed suit.
*************************************************************
Kaname, Kyouko, and Tessa looked behind them and saw that the man was gaining on them. Kaname might get away. Probabably Kyouko too. Tessa, however, kept stumbling.
"This way" Kaname yelled, jumping onto the low mechanical train, running in front of, behind, and between props and scenery pieces. "Let's find cover!" She was soon followed by the other two girls. Kaname jumped inside of a large cauldron. Kyouko hid behind a prop door. Tessa fell again, but managed to crawl in between the tented logs of a large woodwork bonfire.
Tessa saw the man. The man had not spotted any of them. Yet. He was a clever one...and cautious. He was looking in things, under things, and behind things. It would just be a matter of time. Looking into a cauldron, he was hit square in the face by a halisen! He had not been prepared for THAT! He dropped his gun.
Kaname jumped out of the cauldron, ready to run. Seeing the gun on the floor, she bent to grab it. The man grabbed her by the arm, painfully. Wincing, Kaname thought quickly. With the forceful swing of a leg, she kicked the gun far away. Her action allowed the man to grab her by both arms...but that success earned him a hard knee to the groin.
"Help!" Kaname yelled. Tessa and Kyouko---worried more about the bird in hand than the two hiding in the bush---ran to their comrade's assistance.
The four people, now entwined, pushed this way and that like a scrum in rugby. Each step took them nearer to the gun.
*************************************************************
The assailant fought dirty, kicking, biting, and elbowing. Kaname was knocked to the ground. Tessa was flung a fair distance away. Kyouko was held firmly by the neck. The man was about to let her go and pick up his pistol.
"LET THE MOUSE GO!!!" A loud voice. A young man's voice. The gangster saw someone in a tuxedo approaching, pistol held up. He judged his age to be around sixteen or seventeen . He should be able to handle this threat, if he acted cautiously at the start, and quickly when the proper moment arrived. He held his hands up.
Let. The. Mouse. Go. Fours simple words. Four nonsense words. Before that day, those words wouldn't have offered comfort to anyone. At that very moment, those words meant the world to three tired and frightened young ladies. Sousuke! Finally....
*************************************************************
Sousuke had run through props from various plays and operas. His attention had been briefly drawn to a sign that read 'Kalevala.' He knew that. He enjoyed the excerpts from Finnish folklore. But he was not about to break into trochaic tetramere!
He saw a demon elk, and remembered Lemminkainen's killing it, and his subsequent slaughter and dismemberment by angry woodsmen. His mother had put him back together and brought him to life...Sousuke had no such option...he needed to get Tessa and himself out of here in one piece.
He saw a statue of gold, and remembered Ilmainen trying to make a woman. Sousuke had once viewed Tessa that way...cold...distant...unattainable. He wasn't certain what he felt about her now.
Sousuke saw a large painted moon and separate sun stashed partly inside a bin. He saw a painting of fire. Had the mistress of Pohjola been here? He shook his head, moving onward.
He heard a cry for help up ahead, the voice sounding somewhat similar to Kaname's, masked somewhat by the noisy machinery around him. He saw a man beat a mouse to the ground and catch hold of Tessa, flinging her towards the scenery train. He grabbed another mouse by the neck.
He needed a clear shot.
"LET THE MOUSE GO!" He shouted, and the man complied, raising his hands in surrender. Sousuke considered shooting him, but reached a hand inside his pocket for the taser.
The man called his hand by jumping, rolling, and grabbing the gun. Sousuke fired quickly and relatively accurately, placing a shot in the chest, a shot in the abdomen, and a shot in the upper left leg. The man dropped the gun and lay writhing on the floor, likely not much longer for this world.
"Sousuke!"
Sousuke looked around. He saw Tessa, smiling, sitting on a rainbow. For a moment, he froze. Froze deep down to his bones. He swallowed. Repeatedly.
Vainamoinen had come across the daughter of Louhi sitting on a rainbow. He had made love to her then. Sousuke blushed. THAT was just legend!
Tessa got to her feet, ran to him, and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his shoulder. She stayed that way silently, unmoving, until Sousuke removed her arms and spoke.
"We don't have time Tessa, and we are not safe yet! There are men behind me. They could be here soon. We should all go." He looked at the costumed individuals, but had no time to satisfy his curiosity.
"Let's move, now!"
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%%%The treasures of terrain%%%
Sousuke smiled, seeing the literal meaning of that phrase in this circmstance. He fervantly hoped that the men would approach cautiously, slowly, and close to one another, hoping to provide each other with support and safety.
Hatching a plan that could disable all four quickly if fortune allowed, Sousuke called his three companions over to a large collection of immobile props. There were four huge metal treasure chests, covered by wood. They sat amongst a pile of golden colored plastic goblets, coins, sceptres, shields, and crowns. Fake red, blue, green, and yellow gems partially filled knocked-over barrels, and spread out over the floor.
"Each of you in a chest. Now!!!" The three immediately complied. they should be safe in there.
The four men came running up to the area that Sousuke and friends had earlier vacated. They were foolishly clustered close together. Two were firing, making them an immediate threat. Sousuke lobbed a concussion grenade at them all.
The resultant explosion threw the four men to the ground. It also threw various props up into the air. Sousuke saw a meteor go flying by. A wooden bird was thrown up into the air by the blast, flying backward. A powdery substance ignited, forming black clouds in the air.
@@@One should not pay attention to omens@@@
Sousuke knew Sun Tzu's position...he did not think generals should make use of portents, should not place their faith or fear in spirits and supernatural entities. That never stopped the rank and file of ancient China's armies from doing just that, however. Sousuke himself looked at the flying constructs, thinking it was a very good sign!
While their pursuers were stunned, Sousuke called to his hidden comrades. Soon thereafter, Sousuke, Tessa, and the two large mice made their way towards the stage. Sousuke held up his hand, stopping everyone for a brief while, as he ran ahead to make certain the stage area was safe. The front curtain was still down.
If there were no gunmen in the theatre area, they would soon reach safety!
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The four gunmen had recovered much sooner than Sousuke would have expected. They were weak, and staggering, but they still followed.
Sousuke looked at the mice. They each wore woman's dress shoes. His command was all women.
Well, Sun Tzu had once formed a company out of three hundred women, concubines and others. They had laughed and refused at first, until he called the headsmen and pronounced the fate of anyone unwilling to fight. They formed an effective force not long thereafter.
'Tessa...mice women...I will need your assistance. I have few shots left. We will need to make use of our surroundings. Do not give up now. We are close to safety!"
%%%Warfare is inherent to mankind%%%
Sousuke hoped it was also inherent to womankind and mousekind.
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Sousuke thought about making a solo stand, holding off the men until the women had a chance to escape. But, he had no knowledge of the state of affairs in the theatre itself. And, he had not had enough time to scout this area...there was a chance he could be flanked, and the women could be killed or captured.
Playing it safe, he would keep the little group intact.
He set the two mice at ropes holding sandbags high above. He set Tessa by a large chain that would release a series of curtains overhead. He gave her a quick hug to lend her strength. She smiled and straightened her shoulders. "Hang in there Tessa, you are doing well."
He heard a growling noise coming from one of the mice. That one must be a warrior!
Sousuke moved closer to the advancing foe. They had learned...they were staggered now. He shot one man in the head, then retreated beyond his hidden female companions. They would get only one chance at this. He had three shots. He had three companions. He hoped the numbers added up to victory.
If the actions failed, he would throw his remaining grenade, even at the risk of injuring his comrades. He would then have to hope his sling and marbles would suffice, before he made a risky charge with the taser.
One of the men walked under the large curtains overhead. He hoped Tessa would follow the plan and stand her ground. Another man was stepping under the suspended sandbags.
Souske whistled. Ropes and chain were pulled. Objects fell heavily. Two men were incapacitated. It had worked.
Sousuke rushed forward, firing his final shots into the chest of his final standing foe. The man fell heavily to the ground, dead.
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Souske had given each survivor a taste of the taser. His three companions and he crawled under the curtain after Sousuke had deemed things to be safe. Most of the patrons were in the lobby or outside. A small number of police officers were wandering around the expanse of the theatre, looking for victims and culprits.
Tessa stood by Sousuke's side.
Sousuke took time to examine his two mysterious allies. They were obviously women...or men with strange fetishes. One held a camera. Similar to Kyouko's. the other held a shopping bag. A costume mouse tail, somehow detached, sat within the bag. So did a halisen. One that looked like Kaname's.
Tessa saw Sousuke's stare, and judged what thoughts might cross his mind.
"Sousuke" she said, pulling on his arm. "You should thank Aurora and Gretel...they helped save my life...they were valiant soldiers."
"Aurora? Gretel? Is that their name? They carry items that....Kaname and Kyuouko...uh..." Sousuke's look was very intent. Kaname and Kyouko stood very still, not making a single sound.
"Yes, Sousuke. Their mothers gave them those names. If you do not like those names, I am certain you can convince their mothers to change them!"
"Tessa, I meant..."
"And, sergeant Sagara, if you are going to make it a point to question what I tell you..." Tessa's hands were on her hips. She was not smiling.
"No...uh..." Sousuke was backpeddling.
"Besides, Sousuke, think!!! I know you're tired...but if three women still have use of all their senses after all that, surely a soldier should as well!"
"Uh...uh..."
"Sousuke! Have you heard one annoying laugh?" Tessa was moving in for the kill.
"Uh...no!"
"Have you heard anyone say something stupid like Kaname?" That was followed by a growling mouse noise again, but only briefly.
"Uh...Kaname is not..."
"Have you?!" Tessa stamped her foot.
"No!"
"Have you been assaulted by a violent, mentally disturbed, and inconsiderate mouse with a halisen even once during your fight today?"
"No, not once!"
"And do you possibly think we could have made it thrrough all that as easily as we did if Kaname had been here with us?"
"Uh...yes..." Sousuke waited for the other foot to stamp. Kaname smiled inside her mouse head.
"SOUSUKE!" Tessa stamped.
"I mean...no, Tessa!" Tessa smiled. Kaname seethed.
"So...you were saying?" Tessa winked at the two mice as Sousuke looked towards them.
"I will thank you mice. You were instrumental in assisting Tessa with your escape. You were not too much of an inconvenience to myself. Despite your costume fetish and strange behavior, I was glad to have you as comrades for a brief time. Thankfully, a brief time. I hope that you had opportunity to learn from Tessa, so that you will be more useful as civilians. Thank you." Sousuke thought nothing of his little speech.
Tessa fought back a laugh.
Kyouko fought the urge to take a photograph.
Kaname struggled with the innate desire to grab her halisen and show Sousuke just how useful she was.
*************************************************************
Shoeless, Tessa walked with Sousuke towards the lobby. They had passed from view before Kaname and Kyouko removed their mouse heads.
Kaname was about to say something colorful until she heard a noise behind her. Turning, she saw one of their earlier assailants crawl off the front of the stage, moving slowly in her direction, hand outstretched in a claw.
Her anger at Sousuke boiling over, Kaname walked up to the gangster, and started kicking him savagely. He would not harm her or Kyouko when they were this close to leaving this place!
A large contingent of police rushed in about that time, most of them going backstage now that the front areas were secured and the patrons were safe. One officer deviated from his original course, stepping over to Kaname and Kyouko. "I'll handle him, mam. It looks like you have been backstage. You must be very brave to have fought your way up here. I commend you both." The officer bowed.
Camera crews had followed the police in. One crew heard what the officer had said to the two young women. "Sounds like we have a couple of heroes, here" the anchorwoman said, holding her hand in a way that signalled her cameraman to start filming. "Or, I should say two heroines."
The growing crowd of media people blocked Kaname's and Kyouko's escape route. The two of them were safe, but they were trapped.
Their pictures and story would be on the evening news.
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End of part 4 of 5
poor sousuke... maybe he's better off with tessa, huh? just kidding
