Dragon Path 
                 by Ben Kosse (bmk7411@cs.rit.edu)
                        part 7: End of a Man

                           End of a Man

        My eyes were still closed, but I knew something was
different. Mentally, I did a check of where I was and what I was
doing. Then, I realized what was different. Akisha was no longer
on my lap.
        That realization hit simultaneously with the
realization that I was inside Akisha's car, without my pants on,
and with the car door open. I hastily pulled on my jeans and
looked around for her. She was outside, pulling on her jacket. I
noticed both guns were in their proper holsters. Not that it
mattered by now, for I already was planning to help her.
        She walked around the front of the car and opened
the driver-side door, sliding gracefully into place behind the
steering column. Neither of us spoke until the car was well on
its way towards D'pil's residence.
        "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.
        "Yes, Robert. Though I suspect you don't think I
know what I'm going up against. I don't know everything, that
much is true. So, I suppose it's time you got talking. What will
we meet going into his place?"
        I sighed. There was something about her that made me
want to take her home and shelter her, keep her safe from D'pil
and the rest of the world. But, I also knew that was impossible.
The best I could do was follow her instructions and do what I
could to keep her from harm.
        "All right, Dragon. All right, I'll help you. What
we'll find when we enter Bronco is an underground entrance to a
car lock. We'll have to make sure that I'm driving when we go in,
and we will have to do something about your jacket.
        "Once inside, I should be able to get us to D'pil,
claiming you as a spoil of war, so to speak. Unfortunately, I'll
have to have both guns. You're also a little overdressed for the
part anyway, but we'll make do."
        She looked over at me, scanning me. Then, she pulled
over and got out of the car, engine running. "You drive." I slid
over to the driver's seat while she climbed into the passenger's
seat. She threw her jacket into the back of the car and sat down.
"Who said Dragon didn't like strong women? Now go."
        That was a possibility I hadn't thought about
before. I guess it would work. After all, Dragon was an enigma to
everyone, including D'pil. Then, I noticed the hip holster for
the magnum was on the floor of the front seat, gun included and
the laser pistol and holster were resting on the center panel.
She was serious about this. "Yes. This should work out after all.
OK. He will be hidden about thirty meters underground, inside his
private office. There will be guards posted outside, and they are
the people most loyal to D'pil. In fact, one of them will
probably accompany us into D'pil's room."
        She looked over at me; her eyes narrowed with
mistrust while I started driving towards D'pil.
        "No, Dragon, it shouldn't be a problem. You see, I
was offered the guard post, and held it for a time being. I was
pulled off just to find Dragon. So, both guards won't be entering
the room. I'll toss you the laser when we're inside. You just
make sure that you hit D'pil while I take out the guard."
Hopefully that negated some of her building distrust. I couldn't
tell because she focused back on the road again.
        One or two hours later, we arrived in Bronco, a
downbeat town of maybe one-hundred people. Well, there were
one-hundred topsiders. D'pil's men worked underground. I took the
car to the center of town and waited. Five minutes later, the
dirt road in front of us dipped underground, revealing a darkened
tunnel leading into dusty blackness.
        "Ready?" I asked. I was answered with a mute nod.
Green eyes flashed in hatred as we descended into the darkness.
        I inched the car forward, following proper protocol.
At the first turn, several armed guards were posted, hidden in
the shadows and waiting to destroy anyone who proceeded without
questioning. I stopped to await the appearance of the guards.
Sure enough, three of the uncounted number of guards moved
forward, placing themselves at the front and sides of the car.
"Open the door," the guard on my side ordered.
        I complied, the black door sliding open. "Well, you
gonna question me, or do I get to report a success to D'pil?"
        The guard wasn't paying any attention to me,
however. "Who the fuck is she?" He stammered.
        "Dragon's ex. So is this car. Quite a haul, don't
you think?"
        "Ya. Go on ya fucking lucky prick." he ushered me
onward. He turned then towards Akisha. "I'll be waitin for you
when D'pil's done with ya."
        Pulling the door closed, I looked over at my charge.
I couldn't believe the change that had come over her. Instead of
the defiant eyes and resolute face I was accustomed to, she
seemed terrified and meek, clutching the door in a confused fear.
I began to doubt if what I was doing was right.
        But, I had no choice. I continued down the tunnel.
Darkness again enveloped us, pushed back slightly by the car's
headlights. We eventually pulled into the lot and parked the car
in a close, but still fairly safe location to the entrance to the
main complex.
        I stood up, took the laser, and walked over to her
door. I opened it, and roughly pulled her from the car. I hope
she realized that there were video cameras here. She applied just
the right amount of resistance to make it look good. Damn, she is
good, I remember thinking.
        I forced her to the front and walked towards the
elevator. This first trip would take us to the lowest common
level. From there, we could take another elevator to D'pil's
office. Fortunately, no one was on this elevator, and we had an
uneventful trip.
        Once at the first stop, however, things got worse.
All sorts of derogatory comments were thrown her direction. I was
having a difficult time accepting it and could only imagine how
she must be feeling. Two or three guys tried to grope her, but
upon learning she was for D'pil, immediately backed off. Worst of
all, though, was that some vaguely familiar high-ranking ass
decided to follow us clear to the private elevator.
        We stepped up to the elevator to wait for my
security clearance to pass, when he approached us. "OK, Robert,
let me see the bitch."
        Ah, now I remembered him. After one unsuccessful
attempt to use a woman to poison D'pil, he was appointed to check
out the women. There was also, unfortunately, nothing I could do.
"All right," I replied. "But make it quick. I've got important
news."
        He laughed and stepped up to Akisha. She looked
visibly scared. She trembled when he touched her, and fought
against him when he tried to kiss her. Eventually, tired of her
struggles, he slapped her across the face. "Listen up, bitch! You
do what you're supposed to and quit fucking fighting it."
        I swear she nearly fainted there. Seemingly in
shock, she let him kiss her. And kiss her he did. Until the
elevator opened up some twenty seconds later, his mouth was
pressed against hers. When he finally let go, she scowled at him
as if she could kill him just with that look alone. Her now
ragged hair fell down her face while her chest heaved. If there
was any fire in her, I knew she was probably mutely cursing him
out while planning his death. I knew I would be.
        But, at least she passed. He waved us on, promising
to claim the rest of her after D'pil got a good look.
        I dragged her into the elevator, glad to be rid of
him.
        The trip down was quiet, though I thought I saw
another flash of the spirit that was Dragon in her eyes. I felt
no pity for anyone here, but I was glad I wasn't be on the
receiving end of her revenge.
        The glass doors opened, giving us admittance to the
hallway which led to where D'pil did his business. We walked down
the ceramic corridor, our footfalls echoing our presence.
        We were stopped at D'pil's door by two large men. I
gave the code word, and explained my purpose for bringing the
Akisha here. The two guards stood aside, the one on the right
following me into D'pil's office once the sliding door had
opened.
        The door shut with an audible hissing sound. A man
was at the far end of the enormous room, shrouded in the shadows,
his back to the door. "I presume you have news about this
Dragon?" He asked in a murky, gloomy voice.
        "Dragon is quite dead," I replied, striding towards
the desk and dragging Akisha behind me. She was doing a good job
of playing the scared girl. I just prayed it wasn't an act.
        "Good job, Robert. And who is that beside you?"
D'pil spun his chair around to face us. His scarred face the
reminder of what he had gone through to inherit this
organization. The guard had followed me, just as I had hoped.
        "This is Dragon's lover," I explained, and seeing
his head nod in desire, I continued. "She was quite feisty until
we got here. I think that reality is beginning to sink into her
brain. What would you like done with her?"
        He sighed. "Take her to get checked out thoroughly
by Samual, then bring her back here. I want to enjoy her as long
as I can."
        Then, Akisha spoke. "That won't be long." I took it
as a cue, and whipped the laser from my jacket before spinning
around to the guard.
        I'm not sure what happened, but two laser shots were
fired. I was having a time dealing with the guard; he was much
stronger than I expected. However, I was dogged in my attack, and
several punches later, I managed to drop him. Then, Akisha shot
him as well. "Let's go, Robert."
        I couldn't agree more.
        We walked quickly to the end of doorway. It slid
open, and Akisha moved. She spun to her left. The guard groaned
and fell to the ground. I hadn't even seen her move. Again, the
laser would ensure he stayed quiet about the death of D'pil.
        We hurried to the elevator which led to the parking
area, walking just slow enough to not draw attention to
ourselves. She was, again, playing the part of the terrified
girl, letting the act take us as far as it could. That was,
fortunately, enough to get to the car.
        "You drive," she commanded.
        "What? It's your car."
        "Now, Robert, I can't very well shoot those six
guards we're going to be approaching if I'm driving, now can I?"
        She had a point, but shoot all six of them? I voiced
my objections immediately.
        "No, Robert. There's nothing to worry about. Trust
me. They were armed with pulse rifles. Those are only good for
about ten meters against this car. That gives me about the same
distance to tag them all. Not very hard, as long as you drive
slowly."
        Stopping a pulse rifle at ten meters wasn't much,
considering they were designed for ultra-close use. They could
puncture a tank at three meters but lost power exponentially, and
she would have a good view of their hiding spots from this side.
Why the hell not!
        I took the car slowly up the ramp, to the turn
before the encampment of guards. She rolled down her window and
perched herself on the door. The car continued forward, the
dragon painting glowing in the orange light.
        One, two, three, four shots were fired, two each
from the laser and the magnum. Four guards fell from their post.
A fifth shot connected, but this time two bodies fell. Apparently
one of the guards was using the second for cover, as I heard his
pulse rifle charge up. We were easily in range of the gun by this
time, so I did the only thing I could think of: I switched on the
high beams.
        The guard hadn't expected this and was temporarily
blinded, just long enough for me to hear the rapport of the
magnum end his life. "Go," she said, and I hit the accelerator.
We went through some of the bodies, over others, and stopped long
enough for me to open the hatch to the street.
        There was a man standing at the entrance. It was
Samual. He had a pulse rifle pointed at the hood of the car.
"Thank you very much, Robert. I was hoping someone would take
care of that idiot. Unfortunately, I won't allow any traitors in
my camp. So, I must request that you let your whore out of the
car and you step out as well."
        I saw the fire in Dragon's eyes. It was almost a
stream of orange which threatened to burn Samual where he stood.
"He is dead," she said flatly. For the briefest instant, I almost
pitied him. Instead, I opened up my door, she opened hers, and we
both walked towards Samual.
        Samual started in again. "Nice. Walking around with
guns. That's a criminal offense, bitch. Do drop them, please."
Surprisingly, she complied. Both the laser pistol and the magnum
cluttered to the dusty ground. She didn't stop moving forward,
though, until finally she was standing next to Samual.
        I was three meters behind her when Samual reached
out and put his hand on her cheek. "OK, bitch, get on the ground
and beg."
        "No." One word. That single word was all the warning
Samual got. I saw Dragon's right leg move. Samual was lifted off
the ground and his eyes opened wide in shock. His mouth opened,
but nothing came of it. Instead, he collapsed on the ground.
Dragon turned to walk towards her car. "I'll drive now, Robert."
        I mutely nodded ascension.
        When we drove by Samual, she was driving no more
than three kilometers per hour. I could see that the ground was
red and wet with blood. "What did you do?"
        "What every girl should do to bastards like him. I
kneed him in the groin." I could only imagine what happened to
Samual, the pain in my groin from thinking thoughts like that
made me look away quickly.
        "Now, Robert, I am free. I'm ALAW as of now, and I
will offer you three choices. First, you can come with me. We
will say that you were a plant in D'pil's gang, a plant put there
by my father. Second, you can go your own way and leave me alone.
Third, you can try and stop me from picking up my ALAW license.
Which is it?"
        Did I have a choice? Maybe. But my choice was made
the moment I dropped her gun into the driver's seat.

****************************************************

        And so, Robert made his choice. It was a choice that
made some days hard, some days easy, and all days good.
        He leaned back against the seat and shut his eyes.
"My little Dragon," he muttered.
        She looked at him and smiled. "Go to sleep, Robert.
I'll wake you when its your turn to drive."

--
Ben Kosse bmk7411@cs.rit.edu                                    <#391>
BGC Otaku and worshipper of the Red-Eyed Goddess. Member of ShAS.
Anime, RPG's, computers, poetry (read/write), music (listen/compose).
Author of the Bubblegum Crisis theme pack (see the homepage below).
Homepage with anime and other interests. (http://www.rit.edu/~bmk7411)