J.o.a.T. Volume 6 (R)

[Youko Recca]

As the five of them take cover around the nearest building, they can hear and see every figure with clarity.

Max huffs low to himself, "Hmm, seems as though there is a good number of them though. And we'd be guaranteed to be hit by a shot. Mizu....Is it possible for you to focus on dismantling their weapons while we charge in?"

Mizu commands the water up the steps immediately, "Not at all a problem. However, when I do such, you MUST move forward. With my focus split, even these fools should be able to overpower me. Granted you have a gracious minute before they can do such."

Soda readies Mongoose, "I don't think I could have asked for anymore time."

Max smirks and licks his teeth, "Great, then let's be ready to proceed."




Inside the warehouse the leader puffing on his cigar suddenly stops his chit-chat and puts on a look of disgust. He turns every which way suddenly and sounds his discomfort.

"Did one of yeh brings yeh dog or somethin? Ugh, there must be a stray around here or something, one of you go kill it. Now."

"I got it.", one of the henchmen responds as he runs towards the exit which is right by the building the five JoaT members are hiding.

Max and the others hear this banter and are slightly perturbed.

"What the hell?", Max whispers. "Are they talking about ME? How the hell can they-"


Just then the lackey runs to the outside waving his gun.


"Change of plans...sorta. Mizu, you go ahead. I'll take this guy for a spin and join as soon as I can. Let's do it."

Max turns around and runs farther away from the group, immediately drawing the attention of the muscle sent to find him and he goes farther out aswell.

Mizu stares intently as the water slithers into the warehouse floor and splits into many different thin lines heading towards the various henchmen.

Noc looks to Trent and Soda, "You two ready? We're going to have to move twice as fast now. Knock one out every two seconds."





Max is running his fastest down the farther end of the street, as he feels as though he's ran far enough he leans against the wall of another building and eases to the edge to discover that his assigned tail is not as far back as he had predicted.


HUH!!!!? How is he still so close to me? I mean, he's far back.....but.....He should be atleast another mile away from me and here he comes! Something isn't right about this bozos.....



"Damn, this dog sure is running. Almost like he knows I'm coming...."

The lackey stops inbetween two buildings and looks up at the twin moons with a smirk.

"Beautiful ain't it?"

He turns in shock and tries to point his gun at Max, only for it to be knocked away. Max grabs him and punches him in his face and sends him skidding off the ground and into the wall.

Max shakes his hands and then his head, "Not bad for a grunt."

As he is about to leave, he notices the lackey starting to get back up. This alone moves him into a state of amazement, as he had given him one of his strongest punches for the short distance between them.

"So...You....You trying to jack the jackers huh?!", he gets up bloody in the face and begins stumbling towards Max in a rage.

Max sidesteps his attempts at punching him and then kicks him in the back of his left knee, catching him as he falls by his head, and then breaking his neck with a hectic jerk of his head. Max drops him with a bitter taste in his mouth and hurries to join the others.




"It's time. Move.", As Mizu calmly states this the water jumps up suddenly to grab for all the henchmens' weapons.

Noc, Soda, and Trent charge towards the inside in a rampage.

Majority of the henchmen lose their weapons in shock and the rest are in shock as three strange individuals bombard them.

"What the hell is this shit?!!! The feds?!!", the leader spouts in a frantic panic.

Soda shoots a majority of the men with fatal shots to their head, while Trent and Noc beat down on those they get closest to with the quickness.

However, some of the more experienced henchmen avoided Mizu's attempt last minute on impulse and now had begun firing towards the three of them.

Noc gets shot repeatedly in his body but moves onward to dismantle the shooters.

Soda picks up a corpse and uses it as a shield as he runs to take cover behind one of the trucks.

Trent leaps high into the sky and masks himself in the shadows of the ceiling.

All three on edge as to how this could have gone awry so fast.

Mizu ends her stance and jumps up, only to have to jumps immediately back down as a hail of bullets blast her way.


"Kill them!!! Kill them all damnit!!!", yells the leader as he picks up a tommy gun his own and joins his remaining men in shooting.




Noc joins Soda in a bloody state behind the truck as Soda is firing back and picking them off.

"I can't believe this. Our plan was solid, how did these goons react so well?"

"Don't know Noc, but this isn't good. I can pick them off at a good rate, but there is still about ten of them not counting that gaudy buffoon who seems to be calling the shots."



Mizu summons up a large mist and disperses it suddenly into the entire area.

"That's Mizu for you, of course now WE can't see either.", complains Trent as he looks on from up top.

She is heard cutting up some men and engaging in battle throughout the mist.

Soda looks back, "Eh, not exactly what I was hoping she'd do in this situation but whatever."

Noc agrees, "I'm guessing this sudden fall in our planning touched her the most. You know how she gets when she's bested."



Max runs up to the warehouse in worry, "Great!", he runs into the mist and immediately closelines one of the lackies and begins searching for signs of the others.

The mad ranting of the leader can be heard as he shouts "Kill!" throughout the mist. The mist which was slowly dissapearing.


"DO YOU CROOKS KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALIN WIT'?!!!!! HUH?!!!!!!"

the action has slowed and boths sides seem to be taking cover until the mist finally clears. All that echoes through the warehouse is the leader of this gang.


As he steps foward in clear day, he his breathing so heavy and fast that Trent can see it from above. His tongue suddenly grows long and hangs danlging and dripping with saliva.

"YOU PRICKS GOT BALLS MESSING WITH THE MARLOWE FAMILY!!!!!!!!"

[Youko Recca]

As the mist begins dissapearing, much of the warehouse becomes plainly visable. Not withholding the obvious carnage that has taken place.

Mizu is in the open. She looks on helpless and yet eager as one of the henchmen beat her the the punch and blasts her in the forehead with one shot from his pistol.

She gasps in fright and begins falling till her back thuds on the ground.

"Ha, stupid bitch!", the grunt yells as he pulls his gun out and empties the clips into her body.

He licks his lips as her body twitches and goes limp.

As he comes and stands over her, he becomes unsure.

"The hell? I can't smell her-"

The body of Mizu breaks into water and the grunt feels an immensely painful thrust in his back all of a sudden. Mizu is standing behind him with her blade deep within him from behind.

"Foolish man....", she retracts her blade harshly and lets him fall within a puddle of his own blood.


The leader of the gang is hunched over looking like a madman. However, slowly losing his humanity. The characteristics of him no longer were that of the average human. He was definitely something more, that much was apparent to them.

Trent watches down in disgust, "What the hell?"

His whispers are heard and he is immediatly fired upon. He increases his weight so that he is immediatly on the ground, then lunges for his attacker.

The shooter turns towards him faster than he thought and he ducks the shots of the tommy gun before tackling him. Trent is kicked off, but swipes the gun out of his hand before he flops over.

Standing face to face with a mere grunt, he is appalled.

Marlowe huh.....Damnit! This means we're fighting frickin' werewolves.....


Soda holds ground, still in shock as to the discovery that he was once again facing the Marlowe name. It was no doubt an act of fate to him. He knew how this would end, and immediately wanted the sensible way out.


"Noc!"

Within seconds Noc appears infront of him, despite injury.

"Yes Soda?"

"We have to retreat."

"Retreat? Madness. We are dealing a victorious damage to their forces. Lycan or not, we are killing them before they transform in sufficient degree. We have no reason to retreat Soda...."

"I--I just don't want anyone to die off of my mistakes. Certainly not past ones."

Bullets momentarily interrupt their conversation, and they turn their heads to avoid possible ricochet.

"Don't be such a fool! You really think you're the reason we're fighting the Marlowes tonight? Get over yourself. This was a coincidental mission and nothing more."

Soda takes a deep breath and looks over to see Mizu decapitating another grunt, "Maybe...But everything happens for a reason. If I had died that night maybe we wouldn't be in danger right now."

"You're a hypocrite then.", responds a gritting Noc.

He looks at Soda sternly, " If everything happens for a reason then how do you not know this was meant to happen in the first place? Don't be silly."


"URRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH!!!!!!"

The leader is nearly fully transformed into a large creature of the night, his claws begin extending, and his hair has formed in full all over his body.


Soda heads Noc then looks out, "Damn looks Like Mizu was not playing around, just about every one of them died before the could even look up to the moon. But more than lifely they sacraficed themselves to save HIM."

Noc looks to the large werewolf nearly formed before him and shivers, "These beasts....UGH! Never could stand them. There is no class with them at all Soda. And this one seems to be highly respected in the Marlowe family. He will be trouble."

"How do you kill them? Silver?"

"Hahaha! Are you joking? Silver? You try that and they will torture you for a decade for disrespecting their legacy. No, you have to kill them. Like how you kill a human. But....naturally much tougher. They are said to have weaknesses but anyone who could say were killed before they could be revealed."

Soda grips Mongoose and looks towards Noc, "I am going to kill him. You and he others cover me!"

With that, Soda dashes out quicker than Noc can stop and heads towards the fully transformed beast in the middle of the warehouse.

Mizu has just finished decapitating another lackey and catches a brief glimpse as Soda is immediately standing before the leader.

"How interesting...Soda really is not an average mortal anymore...."

Soda busts off one shot to get the ledaer's attention.

He turns to him and leans foward snarling into his face.

Max punches a grunt and breaks his neck in the process, watching as Soda steps to the biggest bad in the warehouse.

Damnit Soda.....I hope you have a plan.....

[Youko Recca]

Chapter One-Thirty-Five: Howl


















"So what is your name?", Soda calmly asks as the beast gazes at him with intense hatred. The smell of his putrid breath nauseating as he breathes, causing Soda's hair to flow back.

His ghastly eyes twitch, "You dare to stand toe to toe with me?!"

His movements are impressively quick, as he swings his right arm over and prepares to slash Soda.

"What?!", he remarks in surprise.

Soda stands unmoved, holding his arm in place with his left hand gripped on the huge and buldging arm of almost rubber esque hair. He had easily caught the swing and his pearl eyes look into the eyes of shock.

His large and long nose takes a deep sniff, "HUH?! Just what the hell scent is this?! You're not human?! Impossible! You are Soda 'The Pearl' are you not?! We were told you were a mere human! But then again.....you were said to have been killed by that assassin. So word doesn't exactly pass as reliable as it did a fifty years ago even."

Max smirks in the background, Well this is interesting. Seems there's no need to worry after all. Damn. I wonder what the hell he went through to improve this much? He caught that swing like it was nothing. I better be careful, ha, he'll pass me in no time.


Soda pushes his arm away and walks backwards, preparing himself for the next attack.

" 'Soda the Pearl'? What? How do you know my name? And what's with that nickname? Did the Marlowe family give me that? What role do you play?"

"Heh, of course. Word got around you were a gun-for-hire, known for your pearl eyes and lack of pupils. After you killed Tony, ooooh boy, we put a HUGE bounty on your head."

Soda shakes his head, "How ironic....."

"Heh. But as good as we are with finding people, you were damn near untraceable. We thought we had you the first time, but were fooled. Then we were sure we got you the second time. As for me? I'm a mere soldier in the family. My name is Paul Gino. Damn, you really messed up big time killing one of us. Honestly, Tony was the youngest and really a freakin' brat. But family nonetheless. You may not be human, but whatever you are....I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Paul crouches and immediately leaps towards Soda. His tail whips violently, and just as Soda draws Mongoose, the tail wraps around his right arm and he swings for Soda's face with his claws.

Bringing up his left arm he blocks the swipe but goes flying back. Paul then whips him right back towards him in a mighty yank that makes Soda feel as though his arm is gonna rip off, and he uses the tail that still hold the arm to throw him towards the ceiling.

Soda goes flipping through the air, quickly gaining composure and grabs upwards on a pipe, swinging up and landing his feet down along the pipeline.

Paul is all ready halfway through the air growling as he flies towards him.

As he crashes into the pipeline, water begins spraying out, Soda had dodged and was flipping backwards. Regaining a face forward direction, he notices Paul ferociously running along the wall on all fours coming around to the part of the wall where he is about to have his back land against.

"You're mine!"

Noticing he had dropped Mongoose on the ground, he has to choice but to brace for impact. He faces the wall and immediately pushes off just as Paul's claw barely misses his face and crashes into the wall, shattering a good amount of it.

Paul leaps out from the debris, grabbing a slab of rock on his way towards the falling Soda, hurling it at him in the process. Soda averts the majority of it by quickly leaning his head leftwards, but is grazed by an exerted point.

It was thrown as though it were a mere softball, and it what seems like a second is braking apart on the ground Soda was falling down towards.

Meeting him just as he lands, Paul goes for three punches at Soda. His huge fists being easily dodged, Soda sidestepping the last punch and returning the favor with a left hook to Paul's body.

The hit connects and the look on Paul's face says it all as he goes stumbling back, holding his side. A visible look of pain he tries hard to hide from those he considers inferior to him.

Soda cracks his knuckles and proceeds to ready himself for their next round.

"The hell?!! You definitely ain't human!", Paul shouts in a bloody rage.

Mizu is impressed amongst the others as they watch on.

"He has grown in strength tremendously. Death surely changed him for the better."

Noc is sitting down trying to gain comfort as his wounds heal, "Yes Mizu, well it seems whatever he went through in Sheol brought forth what he was long destined to have. What a special man, I knew there was something about him when we first met. Something subliminal and scary."

Max stands proud with his arms crossed, "Really. Making a were soldier of the Marlowe family look like a straight bitch is the coolest thing I've seen the guy do. Ha!"

Paul clearly hears the ramblings of Soda's comrades and becomes even more enraged, he lets out a monstrous howl and proceeds to beat his own chest.

He looks to Mizu and dashes towards where they stand, "You can die first little lady!!!"

Soda sees this and takes chase, "Damnit!"

Max gets ready, "What a dumbass. Who wants to take him?"

Mizu quickly steps forward, she points towards the water spraying down from the broken pipe and gathers it infront of them as Paul reaches their location.

"Damn, he's fast!", Soda exclaims in panic.

Paul tries to slash Mizu, but she reinforces the water into a large ice barrier to block. Although he smashes through it, it slows him down enough for Soda to jump into a front flip and end with both his heels driving hard into Paul's chin.

The force of the kick sends the tall creature into a somersault, then a roll along the ground.

Mizu and the others stand unscathed, which reassures Soda. He then looks over as Paul begins rising to his feet. The strangely colored blood dripping from around his immensely fierce teeth and black gums.

Soda decides to waste no time, "You have any other information for me before I kill you?"

Paul's face turns into a big beastly grin, "Fool. We know you're alive. Killing me is no accomplishment. I will be replaced within hours. Although I think you should know something you freakin' PRICK!"

"And what's that? You're gonna tell me where your don is or whatever?"

"Trust me meatbag, you do not want that. The don would have no trouble with you and your band of wonder friends. Sickening. You yourself are a freakin' mystery. But to have these disgusting creatures with you sickens me to no end. That one reeks of fish, and that one of dog. Then a human, how strange a child at that. ESPECIALLY......that undead zombie. Vampires. Ugh! I can't wait till we exterminate you fossils...."

Noc shrugs, "Thanks. You would have made a great pet! Nice to see you animals still use zombie as a derogatory term. "

Soda becomes annoyed with his rambling and runs towards him. Paul laughs as they meet, he punches and claws at Soda but can not land a single hit no matter how hard he tries.

"Damnit!", he growls.

Soda ducks underneath a punch and drives his elbow deep into Paul's large abdomen. He then follows through with a barrage of punches straight into his stomach. Soda puts his all into these attacks, and slowly begins to cause the beast to stumble back with each punch. He finishes it with a small leap and roundhouse kick to Paul's face that causes him to fall to the floor once again.

Paul spits up blood and turns over to look at Soda.

"We....We know everything about you."

"Is that so? I doubt it. Or maybe you would have killed me by now. I mean, damn, you don't even know where I live. Your Intel is faulty. But then, with soldiers like you, I'm not at all surprised."

"You're partly right. But.....Everything prior to the night you killed Tony. We know EVERYTHING. Hahahahahaha! Every--ONE!"

Soda's face shows his confusion, "What are you saying?"

"Sadly we haven't been able to find your sick wife or your almost dike-like whore of a mother.....BUT.......Everyone you have ever known. We put a hit out on them!"

With no hesitation, Soda runs over and picks up Mongoose, moving even faster than before and is directly in the bleeding face of Paul. He shoves his gun hard into his temple area.

"Heheheheheh! Guess you haven't kept up with much friends have you, you antisocial little ****!"

Soda pistol whips him and shoves the gun back into his temple.

"You.....YOU SON OF A *****!!!!"

"Yeah. That's right. Pretty much everyone and everything you left behind. I don't know wher eyou been hiding you idiot. But we made sure you have nothing to come home to! Every school teacher. Any co-worker from a ****** summer job as a teenager. Even your freakin' one-time mechanic! All of 'em are DEAD!"

Soda's face swells up violently with shock. He begins to tremble with such an unimaginable rage.

Paul snickers, "And if we coulda found ya wife and moms they'd be dead too! Hahahahahaha-"

The loud gunshot of Mongoose cuts Paul's laughter incredibly short.


Soda drops to his knees. He turns over and looks to his comrades who all share his pained expression.

He releases Mongoose out his hand and cradles his head in the strong grip on his shaking hands.

It had been so long since his comrades have seen him cry.

[Youko Recca]

Chapter One-Thirty-Six: Yield
















"Anthropomorphic wolf creatures. Although they are wildly thought to only be able to appear during a full moon, in actuality they can change at free will. It is just more convenient during a full moon due to an increase in strength and faster rate of change. In human form they are also of superb strength, but nothing too severe."

Noc is standing before everyone sans Soda in their quarters.

They had recently returned from the scene of their mission, and Soda had immediately retreated into his room. Bearing the weight of tons of innocent deaths. He wished to think those words were merely a ploy to get into his head, but deep down he knew it wasn't out of their nature to commit such a heinous act.

"Is it true werewolves and vampires have waged war on each other throughout their existence?", Trent asks in curiosity. He was shocked that last night was his first time witnessing one for himself.

"Well. While that is correct, and our two species do despise each other traditionally, the same could be said for a ton of other creatures. Humans somehow became more acutely aware to our existence and romanticized our characteristics. For instance, they are unaware of things such as etons or the wodahs clan. But to answer your question, yes...."

Max shrugs, "Well, whatever. They aren't tough or invisible. They are code named night stalkers, not easy to come by but often heard of. I mean, they move even sleeker than vampires."

Noc nods, "True. It is said the original bearer of the werewolf curse has long since died. While Dracula still remains at large till this day."

Mizu grows more interested at the mention of that name.

"Dracula exists?", she asks intently.

"Why, yes he does Mizu. I have never been anywhere near a vampire who even KNEW him. But it is a well known fact he exists. He is countless centuries old. Why do you take sudden interest in him?"

"Believe me. It is not sudden. While in my assassin days, I was once asked to find and kill him."

The three of them look at her intently.

Noc especially, "My dear....Please tell me you didn't-"

"I could not find him. I was only able to find lowly vampires, but they hadn't even heard of his name. My employer skipped town before I could give him news of my failure."

Trent tapped his chin, "Oh that's right. You WERE an assassin weren't you? Ha, you were kind of young weren't you? You joined this place when you were sixteen, right?"

"That is correct."

Max joins in, "Yeah. Majority of her life she was trained by her adoptive, and I use the term lightly, caretaker. He trained and raised her purely in the art of assassination. She only excelled and started working her way up the underworld ranks for two years before I found her."

Mizu looks to Max disapprovingly, not happy she was laying her life on the table so calmly.

Trent smirks, "Cool. What about you Noc? How do you compare to Dracula you think?"

Noc giggles at the thought, "Well, as I've said I've never met him in any way. But, if I were to guess.....He would kill me with rather ease. I'm am nowhere near the vampire he is. I am not even a century old. And we vampires get stronger with age. I am a baby in our years."

"And that's sayin' something cause Noc over here is a beast!", Max eggs on.

"Hah! Well thank you Max, but let's hope we never meet him or any of his personal bodyguards. That's one fight I would rather avoid. I just hope Jack doesn't get bold in that fashion."

Max leans forward in the couch and rubs his neck, "I think we could take him. Look at all we've done over the last couple years."

"Let's not get cocky Max."

"Eh, whatever. I have full confidence in us. Shit, I'm more dog than human now. But I never lost my belief in our ability."

"I agree.", Trent states. "No one is unbeatable."

Noc sighs, "Same goes for us....."

[Youko Recca]

Trent huffs and cracks his knucles, "Well who changed you Noc?"

Noc looks at Trent slightly disturbed by the question.

"Excuse me?"

"Who sired you? I recall you mentioning it or something but I must have forgot."

Noc rubs under the back of his long black hair and sets his crimson eyes amongst them all.

"Well....I am essentially twenty-two in vampire years. As a whole I am......Hmm. Fifty?"

"Fifty? So you were turned in your late twenties, early thirties?", Trent marvels.

"Correct. I am a mere baby in vampire years. It will be many a century before I change appearance. If I happen to live, or rather, remain undead that long."

Trent slaps his hands together, "Well now, see. That's probably the best attribute of being a vampire. You keep your youth longer. Damn, you're like the exact opposite of Max huh?"

Noc looks to Max, "I suppose...."

Max shrugs, "Well damn, what do you want me to do? I age quick. Big whoop. I am fused with a canine. I'm still in my prime now though, and over all my suicidal tendencies so I'm the wrong person to mess with."

"No objections here bug guy.", Trent says as he jokingly waves away towards Max.

Max stands, "Now. On a more serious subject. or better yet, sub-jectssss. What do we know about those creeps who jacked Gale for Lathatius?"

Noc shurgs, "Absolutely nothing. The underworld has no clue as to any use for a decayed mummy. I'm supposing there is a ritual to take place. But...."

"Yeah I know, it's like--Just what the hell are these guys doing?", Max begins pacing. "This has been bothering me since I first heard of it honestly."

Mizu plays with her blades infront if her, "Ominous feelings constantly take our lives for abode."

"If that ain't the truth.", Max agrees.

"You think it has anything to do with what Soda told us?", Noc questions.

Max shakes his head, "I hope not....."

[Youko Recca]

Above them they are alarmed by the blaring sound of the intercom.

"Mr. Lergnom, are you there sir?", questions the stern female voice.

"Yeah I'm here, what's happening?"

"I have astonishing news sir. Are you aware of those hit squads that have been roaming at will? I believe Mr. Phillips defected from the second squad."

Max looks to his team confused, "Uh, yeah. So? What about them?"

"Jack just sent in news he received from Unit 0007. It seems as though three of these squads have been killed in Madrid."

Trent's eyes grow wide, "Whoa! Are you serious?!"

"Yes, Mr. Philips. We received the Intel not too long ago."

Max wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this news. Same as the others. These squads have been pains in their asses for the longest, yet the randomness of this news was still confusing.

Trent looks on in bewilderment, "But....how? No two squads were ever in the same REGION, so how is it that three squads are all killed in one area like this? Better yet, how could they even possibly identify that they were on of the hit squads? You couldn't know unless they told you."

"Well it seems as though whoever killed them, left a sort of calling card. A knife was left at the scene with a note attatched claiming responsibility for, and I quote, '....The deaths of these barbaric squads'. Luckily Unit 0007 were able to retrieve all evidence before the public could take notice. It is their presumption that they were all manipulated into running into each other and then subsequently ambushed."

"Hahahaha, damn! Definitely the surprise of my week.", Max comments.

Trent exhales shaking his head, "I mean, I'm not mad, but this is strange. But that's only three squads though. And we've taken care of, what? Four? So there are still a good amount left. But maybe not for long...."

Max laughs, "Well now Trent, you seem sad about this!"

He looks at Max, "Not exactly. But.....Honestly, there was ONE squad I was hoping we'd run into honestly...."

"Say what?", asks Max.

"Yeah. I wanted to kill whichever squad responsible for the death of my vice while I was still leader of the second squad."

"You've been wanting revenge this whole time kid?! The hell Trent, why didn't you mention this before?", Max was none too pleased with this slight deceit.

Trent sighs, "It's not a big deal. Just one of those......Just kind of hoped I'd run into him. But forget it. Yo lady!"

"Yes sir?", the intercom bleeps back into sound.

"How did they die? I wanna see the bodies."

"Sorry sir. They were all beheaded."

Noc suddenly takes great interest once he hears this.

"Beheaded you say? Any other markings left around the bodies?"

"None that we know of yet sir."

Max looks to Noc, "What are you thinking fang boy?"

Stroking his chin, Noc's crimson eyes glisten as he looks to the cieling.

"You have any ideas of who could possible take three of these squads out at once? It took us just to defeat one. What vigilante group are capable of such a feat?"

"Hmm....a couple come to mind, but yeah these squads were pretty badass honestly. Who do you have in mind?"

"One comes to mind....You ever heard of the Forty Winks?"

"Forty Winks? Can't say I have....Enlighten the group."

"Well, honestly....no one knows much on them. But I hear they move in large number. And the act of beheading their enemies aswell as carving a blinking eye into the victim's chest, is also said to be their MO."

"Oh. Never heard of 'em. What about you Mizu? Anything on these cats from your assassin days?"

She shakes her head negatively.

Max shrugs, "Well, whatever. Whoever did it deserves a handshake. Those squads are so freakin' annoying."

Noc yawns, "But what if whoever did this is an even GREATER risk than the squads themselves......?"

"Good question.", answers Max.

[Youko Recca]

Chapter One-Thirty-Seven: Training Day
















"Well guys, I'm off.", Max straps a bag to his back as he looks on to all four of his teamates.

Soda is still in a slump but was atleast out his room now after a three day isolation period.

"Sure you don't want me to come Max?", insists Noc.

Max shakes his head, "Nah. I'm good. This summit is a boring, tedious thing anyway. Besides, they wouldn't let you in the actual meeting spot anyhow."

Mizu gets inquisitive, "Why exactly? You have never mentioned this summit before."

"It happens at random. Really whenever Jack feels like it. It's just a gathering of all the units' directors for a kind of indepth progress report. Really boring trust me. A mere comparison for other units to get a better understanding of where they stand."

Trent yawns, "Hmm, yeah so how do things run while every units' leade ris gone? Do we pause operations?"

"No, things run the same just without us there. It's just a day anyhow."

Noc stands from where he is sitting, "I'll be sure to take care of things while your gone."

"Please do. No missions of high rank have come in for a little while so I imagine you guys will be just as bored as me. Heh, anyhow let me get going now. Catch you guys later!", Max begins exiting their main chambers.

Soda looks on and watches as Max disappears from sight, "Funny how there are always still things we find out about last minute....."

Looking to Soda, Noc shrugs in unconventional jest.

Trent looks to Soda aswell, "Yo Soda man, sorry for how fast things screwed up for you."

"Trent, my life since my daughter's death has been screwed. The knife at this point has been twisted so much the gaping hole that is left no longer brings me any pain."

They just look at him with remorse.

He sighs and looks to them all, "Aside from Noc, I'm the only one who knows what it feels like to die. And to think that was the apex of my life. I'm not even human anymore. Thank God what I consider humanity is still intact though....."

Mizu walks to Soda and rubs his right shoulder with her left hand, "I find your aura much stronger than before. Clearly you are a much stronger person for the sorrows you have endured. We all are."

"Then why do I feel so weak."

Noc walks over to him aswell, "Soda. If you don't mind me asking. And I speak for all of us when I do, but just what did you experience while you were in Sheol?"

Soda looks to them all, "Why not. Sure, I'll give you some details. First month is fuzzy, but I do recall the second month. It actually took him a month to resurrect me if I'm not mistaken......."















It is a year ago.


In a baron wasteland with black and red sand for ground, the clouds in the grey sky move in a constant fast motion. Only to randomly stop and then progress again.

The portal opens and Death floats through and to the ground with Soda's lifeless body in hand.

"My now...this corner should do for now....."

Death drops the corpse to the ground.

"Getting to and from here is so bothersome. A month in living's time."

Looking down at Soda's corpse, he blows a gentle breath and then claps.


Soda bursts up as though awaking from a nightmare, a hellish look on his face. Gasping for air and immediately finding it difficult to breath.

With withered skin he looks to Death, this old man personification atleast, and is appalled by the mere sight of him.

"You! What--What the hell are you doing to me?!", Soda tries standing but finds it incredibly straining. The gravity of this plane was way more than what he was once upon.

Death smirks, "My young pupil. Have no fear, nor animosity. I assure you. This is where you belong."

"Belong?! You killed my friends!", he tries reaching over for his holster only to realize it is no longer where he left it.

"Samsons do you not understand, I am Death. Your feeble attempts to destroy me would be irony at it's finest. As for your friends Mr. Samsons....I did not take them yet. I was not allowed to as it was not their time. Even I must follow my own rules you see. I could personally drop them infront of a train and it would not kill them. Someone else must."

Knowing his friends were safe makes him slightly calmer.

Death clasps his hands together, "Now Mr. Samsons....Shall we begin?"






"My first task was merely to stand up. Trust me when I say, it felt as though Trent was constantly riding on my shoulders."

Trent chuckles, "Word? Ha, damn man that sucks."

"So you were still human? I don't understand.", Noc wonders.

"No once I died and woke back up I became a psychopomp. My year long training, which in actuality was more like three in human years, was like that of a puppy growing into a dog really. It was hell, and not just because I basically was in it."

"What was the hardest thing you had to do during that time. And what was the easiest?", asks Mizu.

Soda rubs his face and slumps even further in his seat, "Well, the hardest is hard to choose from. I did alot. Probably having to spar with Death himself towards the end as my final test. I had to lay one hit on him before he let me leave. And if I didn't make the deadline my soul would be trapped in Sheol forever."

"Damn.", remarks Trent.

"Thing is, it took me an entire month before I could do it. And I'm not talking human month here either, so you know it took me awhile."

Noc's eyes lit up, "Goodness Soda, a whole month?!"

"Or what felt like longer. The easiest was my first test. See, they got progressively harder. My first test he trapped me in a black cabin-like place and told me to catch a fly with my bare hands."

Even Mizu shakes her head to this news, "Your training sounded treacherous Samsons."

Soda leans back, "You're telling me...."

[Youko Recca]

Chapter One-Thirty-Eight: Exodus



















Glimmers of pale moonlight faintly illuminate a dark cavern, inside of which houses a flickering flame centered in between the four corners of stone buried halfway into the weak dirt of the ground.

Lathatius's withered corpse is lain out, four men heavily cloaked and hooded in black sit with legs crossed upright and hands in a praying position.

Sounds of their whispering voices cracking as the wind billows roughly.

Each of the cloaked figures soon begin trembling uncontrollably, they begin gasping deeply for breath, the sounds of their bones breaking becoming more frequent.

The mummy corpse rustles and soon bursts into flame,a flame of which begins growing and sizzling harder by the second.

"HA! No way........Sooner than I expected.......", an incredibly raspy and demonic voice tinged with a cajun accent is heard laughing all over the cavern without a direct location.

Drooling, the four cloaked figures suddenly all shout and their bodies slump forward as a bright black ray leaves each of them and enters the flame from which came Lathatius's body.

The flame of red and black swirls and the laughs of the voice reach it's peak just as the cavern is suddenly hit with an explosion as result of the monstrous flame.

Dust and stone are all that's left, echoes of the laugh grow more quiet.

In place of the cavern, a naked and muscular figure is seen standing.

With a body the color of a cardinal, a pointed tail swings back and forth as this figure takes a deep breath and rolls it's neck.

"This....This smell. It has grown even mustier. Ugh. Humans must have had another enlightened period....", the same voice that was laughing earlier now came from this creature. Although he has characteristics of common man, distinct features such as his tail and triangular teeth set it apart. His eyes are oval and golden, hair is blackened darker than coal and is full. The hair raising a good five inches from his head and in a V shape.





"Well now.....scriptures sure haven't done you any justice...."

The red beast turns towards the voice of someone walking in his direction from out of nowhere. Brown curly hair falling just before his tanned forehead, wearing a blue suit, and carrying a lax attitude which bears a direct contrast to not only the beast but himself aswell.

"You're not human. I can smell it. Those eyes.....", the beast comments as the man steps under the moonlight near him.

Jack's pearl eyes no longer blocked by the contacts meets with the beasts.

"My name is Jack. Jack Farnese. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

"Hmm, so you're not Soda Samsons? I recall him having the same eyes as you. I am supposed to kill him upon my arrival. Farnese huh? I do recall that name. Your family must have been around a great length of time I imagine."

"I know. And yes, I have been here a hot minute. You know to kill him upon the agreement with the one by which revives you from your entrapment in that hell dimension, correct? Well. Nice to meet you. I am the one who manipulated your revival."

The beast smirks in his nakedness, "Is that so? Heh.....Boy. Are you aware of who I am? How do you know I won't just kill you now and enjoy my freedom? Technically I'll still honor our arrangement when this world is mine."

Jack returns a smirk, "Now that wouldn't be very nice of you. Besides, Azazel, I need not be your enemy in such a plan. I went through a great deal to revive you, what makes you think I want us at each others throats. I merely ask for partnership."

Azazel crosses his arms, "Really now? So Jack, just what is your deal."

"This world is yours for the taking as far as I'm concerned, there are many 'Earths'. I honestly have no interest in world domination but my interest in the world is not exactly ignorant I assure you. Join my team is all I ask, and your goals are foolproof."

"Really? Join you? Boy, I don't NEED you....Hahahahahaha!"

"Maybe not, but the world you left is not the same as back then. Many prophecies for instance.....MAY be coming close to becoming reality. Do you really care to risk that Azazel?"

Azazel is visibly upset at this inclination by Jack, "Naturally you have something over me. Classic blackmailing. Story of my freakin' life."

Jack shakes his head, "No. Now, my friend I want you of your own free will to join myself and my comrades. Ha, kind of ironic given your powers of persuasion."

"Comrades? Run this by me, I suppose you aren't that bad of a guy if you went through all that red tape to save my red ass, HA!"

"I'm the head of an exclusive unit. I call it, Jack of all Trades."

"Fitting. Cliche as all hell.....But fitting."

Jack gives him a playful nod, "Anyhow, in this organization are forty-one units of up to six core members each, not including staff. Of the core members there is one director who speaks for the unit and responds to me directly. I built this organization up a long time ago and it has been quite successful. Now, they are aware of the forty-one units, but secretly I house a forty-second unit of which I personally head. The best of the best."

"Hence the reason you want me. I see where you're getting at now Jacky-boy...."

"Exactly Azazel. As a matter of fact, you're going to meet one of us soon. Your goals are pretty much the same, you'll recognize him."

"Hmm. Cool. I gotta get some clothes first but otherwise it sounds pretty straight so far. Sure. I'm in."

Jack and Azazel meet and shake hands, a small and quick gust forming below them as they do so.

"Of course my friend. I actually all ready know what is to be our first operation....."

Azazel looks on curious, "Really now......And just what is that......."