Colton’s perspective
Davis’ Holiday Manor
Five Months ago
The manor was quiet, it was just past midnight. Colton Davis silently moved through the hall. Life had not been perfect. But he had been happy; he had Yoko and his family. Now his family were gone, his mother and brother cut down by an assassin.
Colton knew the name of the assassin; he knew why the assassin had killed his family, he even had him in his grasp. Manabu Mori. He would never admit it, but he hated the day he met Yoko Mori, so much would be different if he hadn’t met her. His mother would still be alive; his brother would still be there to offer patronising advice.
So much had happened since he first met Yoko. He, his brother and Yoko had start Aves Industries together and together they had made it soar. Aves quickly grew, faster than even BMM expected. With growth came more contracts, better, more lucrative contracts. Life was good, until Hisoka turned up. Hisoka, Colton spat at the thought of him. Wrong, that’s all Colton thought of him, not bad, not evil. He was just wrong.
Kidnapped, beaten, tortured. Colton’s life had turned upside down, the violence he thought he had left in the border worlds quickly re-entered his life. Yet despite it all, they’d pulled through it all. So Colton thought at least.
Here Colton stood, writing a note. To the woman he loved and yet couldn’t look at, speak to or even think about her without growing angry. The note was short;
Yoko, I really don’t know what to say. I need to leave; I need to go places I can’t take you with me.
I’m sorry for this, I wish I didn’t have to do this, but I do. You know why I have to do it.
I’ve left the manor in your name. This place is yours now; choose to do with it what you want.
Goodbye Yoko.
He wouldn’t tell her the truth. He couldn’t. Colton put the note on the table, shouldered his bag and left.
Manabu’s Perspective Trafalgar Base
Four months ago
Manabu glided the whetstone of his wakizashi as he did regularly, Nakajima once told him “Your blade is your soul and your mind, keep it sharp and it will not fail you.”
Manabu missed the old man, he had taught him how to fight and survive. His father had not; his father forced his ideals of honour and courage onto Manabu. Manabu never made the mistake of questioning his father directly. At the age of four his father had hired Nakajima to tutor Manabu.
Manabu still remembered the first day he met Nakajima; Manabu had been fighting imaginary demons with his bokken. Nakajima silently walked into the room and cackled at the sight. The sound made Manabu jump, he quickly turned and threw his bokken at the old man before running and hiding behind his bed.
“Now young master” Nakajima picked the bokken up from the floor “What would’ve you have done if I had been an evil spirit?”
“W... Who are you?” Manabu poked his head out from behind the bed.
“I am Nakajima, your new tutor.” He walked slowly towards the bed “I will teach you whatever it is you need to learn. At first I will teach you to read and write, add and subtract”
He crouched down “When you are older I will teach you to fight, fight and win.”
“I… Really?” Manabu slowly crawled out.
“Yes.” Nakajima eased himself up. Manabu stood as quickly as his young body would allow. He straightened himself and bowed. Nakajima returned the bow.
Manabu was dragged back to the present by a loud bang on the door. He hid the wakizashi and whetstone under the bed. He pulled a small knife out from his bedside cabinet and placed it in his belt.
The door banged twice more. He stood and walked towards the door. He unlocked the door and opened it slightly. Before he could stop it a foot was in the gap, stopping him from shutting the door. The next thing he knew, he was hurled through the air as the door was smashed off its hinges.
He quickly jumped up, onto his feet; the knife was already in his hands as three men ran into the room. He could tell by the smell that they were heavily drunk.
“Blemin’ Kus... Kusarian bastard.” The largest of the men stood forward. “You blemin’ killed ma’ besht mate” He lunged at Manabu, who quickly stepped out of the way and thrust his knife into the man’s throat.
The man’s hands clasped over his throat as his blood gurgled out, he fell to the floor squirming. His friends stared in disbelief before rushing at Manabu together, this time Manabu did not move quick enough, the youngest of the men had took him to the floor. A hail of punches rained down on Manabu, his knife had been knocked out of his hand.
Manabu jerked wildly, but it was not enough to break free. The other man had picked up the knife and was making his way towards him. The second man stopped punching for a brief second as he took the knife from the third man. It was all the time Manabu had, he jolted up as far as he could and grabbed the man’s, controlling the man now. He put his knee on the man’s chest and kicked him in the face with the other leg, releasing the man's head. The second man was pushed off, Manabu rolled out of the way as the third man tried to stomp on his head.
Manabu was beside his bed now; he grabbed the wakizashi from under the bed and slashed at the third man’s leg. He fell clutching what was left of his kneecap. Before the second man could regain his composure Manabu jumped to his feet and rammed his blade into the man’s chest. The third man pleaded for his life seconds before Manabu snuffed it out.
Colton bolted upright in a cold sweat; the nightmares were getting bad again, nightmares that had been with him for a while now. The Wilde, they gave him these nightmares, years previously one had infected a close friend of his, that close friend had tortured him for hour before Colton killed it. Trepidation, rage and hate a volatile mix of emotions than ran through him every time he dreamed of that day.
He sat up on the side of the bed, his head in his hands, rubbing his forehead. He gave a small, nervous laugh, Nothing can change the past he thought. He walked to his desk, took out a small glass and a bottle of whiskey and poured it into glass. He looked at the pieces of paper, data pads and maps that covered the desk. He had been following Manabu for quite a while, he nearly had him. Until those idiots he hired to keep an eye on Manabu decided to try and kill him.
They were ex-BAF, soldiers, they were meant to be reliable, and he paid them enough. Two days, that was all they had to do, keep an eye on him for two days while Colton set a trap. They didnt even last twelve hours. Colton had arrived on Trafalgar a little over a day later, it was then he discovered what had happened. After Manabu had killed the soldiers, he had stolen a Scimitar from the docking bay and made his escape.
Now Colton knew exactly where he was heading, Rheinland. He guessed that Manabu intended on moving through Rheinland into the Sigmas and then into Kusari space. Manabu had dumped the Scimitar on this very Freeport a few days ago and bordered a transport heading towards Stuttgart.
Colton had booked his place in a transport that left the tomorrow; he was just waiting for his forged documents. He had to pay ten thousand for them, but it was the only way to could move about without people knowing where he was.
He finished the whiskey. He had a shower and got himself dressed, it was barely past midnight, but he wouldnt be going back to sleep. He headed to the bar, it was nearly empty, odd for a bar normally filled with criminals and traders. He sat at the bar, the barman turned his attention away from the customer he had just handed a shot to.
What can I get you? The barman was about as tall as Colton at just over six foot.
Just a glass of water, tonight. Colton replied quietly.
The barman laughed. As you say, Mr Webb. Youve got one glass of water coming right up.
The barman poured a glass of water, and handed it to Mr Webb. Mr Webb was the name Colton had decided to use on board Freeport One; he chose the name from an action hero program he watched during his childhood. He sat there for hours, when it was 6AM he headed back to his room. He gathered his stuff, his pistol, his knife and his data.
By the time hed wiped the room down, it was time to board the transport to Rheinland.
Manabu ran as fast as his legs could carry him. The figure behind him was gaining distance. Manabu cursed the man silently. The man had chased him through two houses and several independent systems. He would not stop. With good reason, Manabu thought, he had after all killed the man’s brother and mother. Manabu had little choice in the matter; his father had given him a mission to prove he was a man. It was his halfwit cousin’s fault, Mori Yoko, if only she had done as she was told in the first place. But no, she would not and for that reason people died.
Manabu counted the turns he was making, he knew the market was only a few minutes away; all he had to do was keep going. Just keep going. He looked over his shoulder swiftly; the man was ten metres away; pulling his pistol out of its holster. Plasma projectiles whizzed past Manabu’s head scorching the wall five metres in front of him, too far to the market, he couldn't risk it. Manabu turned the corner into a back alley; a door stood at the end of the alley. He sprinted to it, throwing his body into it.
Colton dashed around the corner in time to see Manabu crashing through the door, he fired twice but missed. Manabu quickly regained composure and began running up the flight of stairs. Colton followed in quick pursuit, counting the floor he was on. Soon enough he had passed the tenth floor. Typical he thought, that the “little fether” would choose the tallest building on the block. He fired up the stairway, this time skimming Manabu’s arm making him grunt in pain.
“Got you, you little fether!” Colton laughed.
He reached the top of the stairs; the door to the roof was swinging in the wind. He slowed his pace to a cautious walk as he stepped through the door. He could see the towns clock tower in the distance, and the sun behind making its slow crawl to the top of the sky.
Colton scanned the roof quickly, he realised too late that Manabu was behind him. A kick to the head sent Colton to the ground, his gun tumbling over the roof edge. Colton rolled onto his feet, blocking another kick thrown at him; he quickly counted with a flurry of punches to Manabu’s face. He grabbed Manabu and kneed him repeatedly in the stomach.
A sharp pain shot through Colton’s thigh, forcing him to release Manabu. A small knife was sticking out of his thigh, before he could think; Manabu was throwing punches and kicks like a tornado, forcing Colton on the defensive. Colton took hit after hit and then he saw his chance. Manabu threw a sluggish roundhouse kick; giving Colton the time to grab it and kick his other leg out from underneath him.
Manabu hit the ground hard. Before he knew it, the man had drawn a combat knife and was bringing it down on Manabu. Manabu rolled out of the way, launching himself to his feet and drew his wakizashi. The man looked weary of the sword. Manabu smiled inwardly, confident of his advantage.
The man lunged unexpectedly, Manabu tried to dodge, but he reacted a fraction too late. The mans knife slashed across Manabus right arm. Blood poured profusely from the deep gash. Manabu quickly stepped to his left, swinging his sword towards the man. The sword made contact with the mans back, Manabu quickly slashed at the mans leg; drawing blood from both slashes.
The man fell to his knees, Manabu kicked him the back, forcing him onto his stomach. Manabu laughed in triumph. Raising his sword high, he thrust it into the mans back.
A bright light flooded the roof as a police patrol flier hovered above. Manabu cursed at their timely arrival. He ran, forgetting his wakizashi, down the flights of stairs again. Manabu was getting tired now, he couldnt continue running forever. As he exited the building he saw a sewage grating, he quickly opened it and jumped down into the sewers, hoping this would be his escape route.
Coltons perspective
Location unknown
One month ago
Colton awoke. White luminescent lights flooded his vision, pain racked his entire body. He strained to move his head to check his surroundings. He was on a bed, a medical bed. Beside him a life support machine beeped at a regular rhythm. Aside from the medical equipment, there was nothing else in the room. No windows, no paint, nothing.
Colton struggled to sit up, the pain in his body was intolerable, but he pushed through it. He laid his back against the headboard. The door slid open; a man in a white coat strode into the room. Colton knew the man.
The man was Doctor William Greenburg. He was a friend of sorts. Coltons father had worked with Greenburg for many years, before retirement. When Aves Industries was formed, Colton had contacted Greenburg. He had needed a scientist to help him with certain goals. Greenburg had allowed some of these goals to become a reality, other goals had crashed and burned, literally.
Ah, Mr Davis. I see youre awake.
Greenburg shook his head
And sitting up, you should be lying down.
Hah!
Colton winced in pain
Ow. I shouldnt fake laugh.
You shouldnt be moving. That Kusarian filth nearly killed you. He wouldve killed you if it wasnt for your genes youd be dead. Situs inversus, a rather odd genetic gift.
Greenburg stopped momentarily, checking the life support machine. Satisfied with it, he continued talking.
If your heart had have been on the correct side. Youd have bleed on that rooftop.
Colton realised how lucky he was. Situs Inversus was condition that ran genetically in the Davis family, most males suffered from a reversal of organs. The heart was on the right side of the body, the liver on the left and so on.
I see.
Colton looked around the room briefly
Where am I?
You are in my new lab.
New lab? What happened to the one I paid for?
Its empty. After you disappeared, that idiot I mean, Yoko let Aves fall apart. With no Aves Industries I had no funding. With no funding, I had no choice but to sell off the equipment I could and pay off the several scientists I had personally recruited for the project.
I heard that Aves had gone down. Wheres Yoko?
I dont know. She disappeared.
Disappeared?
Yes. After the court case for Aves Industries, she vanished. I had the troops that were still with us to look for her But they couldnt find her.
I
Colton looked down at the floor, downcast.
I have to find her.
I assumed as much. The next transport is due here in two weeks.
Two weeks? I have to start searching now.
Well unfortunately theres no way you can get away from here without that transport. You wont be of much use in your current state.
I guess.
Right. Ill let the transports captain know that hell be taking a guest onboard once he gets here. Until then you need rest.
Manabu watched the stars from his cockpit. The Scimitar glided through the asteroid field with ease, gently turning according to the wishes of the autopilot. Manabu flicked a switch on his dashboard deactivating the lights inside the cockpit and on the ship itself.
The hum of the engines and the distant twinkles of light soothed him. He smiled inwardly. It had been a long time since he had smiled sincerely. Manabu had received a message to return home a few days beforehand. Upon returned home, he found his eldest brother in his fathers stead.
Manabu’s father was dead. Killing by assassins. The satisfaction at hearing the words leave his brothers mouth almost overrode his ability to not laugh. He honestly did not wish for his father to be dead. But now that he was dead, Manabu felt a alive and free. Free from expectations. Free from being overburdened.
His brother had tried to belittle Manabu’s attempts to capture Yoko. His brother believing himself in control, had chosen to have Manabu continue his attempts to insure Yoko’s return to the family. In addition Manabu was to kill a man by the name of Larkin Mori, their cousin.
Manabu spoke softly to himself.
“I’ll do as you wish brother. For now, you suit my needs.”
He laid his head on the cockpits head rest and slept.
The buildings passed Colton quickly. It had been a little under a month since he had awoke from his coma. At first he had found any former of physical work to be agonising. Greenburg had used what would be called straight medicine to help him recover. Colton had insisted on Greenburg using whatever was at his disposal to help. On the sixth of his stay at Greenburgs complex, Greenburg had used specially designed Nanobots to repair the damage muscle. The medical treatment afforded by Greenburg had put him on the fast track to recovery, already he was running at a fast pace with nearly no hint of pain. Truth be told, Colton thought he was faster than he had been.
As usual he ran at a gentle pace for five minutes before beginning his proper exercise. One minute of a run followed by thirty seconds of sprinting, repeated several times until near exhaustion. At first a numb pain ran though his back but it quickly subsided. As he sprinted for the last time of the day, he muscles screamed in protest, his heart raced and his lungs howled. He reached his goal and curled over, vomiting. He was a drained and he was several blocks away from the place he was staying. He slowly made his way back.
He had rented a room from a young woman. Her name was Debbie White, a local university student who had trouble paying her bills. The price she wanted for the room was extortionate but this place was frequented a lot by off worlders. So Colton wouldnt stick out.
When he returned to the apartment it was empty. Debbie would be in a class at university. He had a long shower before getting dressed and having lunch. He sat at Debbies computer terminal, switching it on and inputting his login details. Debbie had been kind enough to let him use it.
Colton felt strong now, strong enough to take a job on. He searched the neural net for bounties for wanted criminals on Manhatten. It wasnt difficult, within the first few seconds of the search several thousand bounties had appeared. Drug dealers, weapon smugglers, all the usual suspects appeared on screen.
The air was buzzing with excitement. Shifting beams of light illuminated the crowd. The rave was in full swing. The rave was for the students who had just finished their final exams. Apparently exhausted by the workload leading up to the exams, new found energy allowed them to attend the rave.
Colton sat at the clubs bar, sipping down a glass of water. The last week had been profitable to an extent. But it was mere pocket change to what he could be making. Of course, hunting bounties on one planet was never going to be a money maker.
Looking to his left he saw a young girl staring. Young was relative, Colton was only 23 but his life touched far greater borders than what a university student would. He laughed realising that there was a possibility that she was his age.
He had grown up quite fast after hed left home at 18. His father had set him on a path that Colton had not wanted to follow. Colton had rebelled quite spectacularly. In his first year of university he had punched a Dukes son in the face. Coltons fathers contacts had not been able to save him from being thrown from the university.
The things he had been through since then had forced him to grow up. Realising now that his father had wanted the best for him, but it was too late. Guilt hung on Coltons mind. He had not spoken to his father once hed left, then the news came that he had died. Colton realised for the first time, he was alone. His family were dead, Yoko was missing. He had no one, but he was determined to find Yoko.
But first, he needed friends to defend him. Friends with contacts.
Shifting to his feet, he began walking to the exit. The music blared in his ears he already regretted his decision to take the quick route to the exit. The music systems technology made sure that very little noise made it to the bar. He waded through the crowd. Provocatively dressed women brushed against him, spinning his senses. Breathing hard as he escaped the crowd, tight spaces were not something he liked. Ironic considering his love of fighters.
The club was a five mile walk from the apartment but he was in the mode for a long walk. He wondered what to do. He knew his first step would have to be Coronado. Plenty of mercenary groups based themselves there. Most mercenary groups recruited fast, to make up for the rate of attrition amongst new mercenaries.
His next step would be to sign up with one of the mercenary groups. All of them had pros and cons. Hed have to stick with the lawful side of merc work, purely because he needed to move around house space without being hunted by every would-be hero.
After that hed have to make contacts within the group. One of the smaller groups would be ideal for that, but the smaller groups also lacked influence within the houses. Within the larger groups, he may have difficulty networking, but the larger groups obviously had a large amount of contracts and influence.
Soon enough hed have to make contacts outside of the groups. Hopefully contacts with power that owe him a favour, if everything went to plan hed be able to find Yoko. Yoko could be resourceful but she was no spy, she couldnt have hidden that well.