Page 7 - Unveiled
Location: Lawson Convenience store, Nihonbashi, Tokyo
Time: 10 pm, the next day
Nigel grabs some snacks from the freezer, and from the shelves. He also takes out a can of soda from the fridge. He pays at the cashier and then heads out to enter Rob's Evoque.
It turns out that the two are monitoring Stephen ever since they arrived in Japan, and they are parked at a good distance away from the hotel. Rob takes a piece of chocolate bar that Nigel bought.
Rob: "I can't believe this. Stephen has turned into our obligation."
Nigel: "He has exposed the serum technology, and of course, he is being targeted by Silverblade."
Rob: "If he's being abducted, then you'll send a signal to Takuma, am I right?"
Nigel: "Yes, and also Nobuhiko-san..."
Rob: "Those two should not really act as heroes. Do they even realize that I joined MI6 before I met you guys? These situations aren't new to me at all."
Nigel: "So during your hiatus in your racing career, you joined MI6? Why?"
Rob: "Personal reasons. And it has nothing to do with that lowlife Boris."
Then they see a black Audi A8 sedan, Nina comes out and gets inside the lobby.
Rob: "If only she isn't a robot, I could have moved on to the second base immediately."
Then the black sedan turned left at the intersection, just around the hotel, and goes behind the building.
Rob: "I'll move a bit. This is clear, they will take Stephen."
He moves the car and enters the same street, albeit just a hundred meters away from their target.
Suddenly, Nina carries an unconscious Stephen and enters the car. The car then rockets away.
Nigel: "Let's go!
SENDING SOS SIGNAL."
Rob floors it.
Rob: "Just how far can these robots go, just for that little chemical?"
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Location: Kanonji Mochi Shop, Aoyama
I helped out Mom close the store, and Little Nobu is actually the last customer to buy Mochi. He bought a box containing a dozen red bean mochi.
Suddenly both our phones ring. It's Nigel. What? Stephen is in trouble? But at least Nigel did a good job. He sent out the coordinates for the GPS.
Takuma: "Gotta go! Sorry mom, let the others help."
Nobuhiko: "I shall leave too."
Tomoko: "Wait! Where are you going?"
No time to explain, both of us entered in my FD. But first, I looked back at the boot, okay... check! My katana is here.
Nobuhiko: "You have a katana?"
Takuma: "I always bring my katana whenever I use any of my cars. Gotta be safe."
There is an excuse for me for speeding right now. We shall perform our moral duty!
Nobuhiko: "No mercy to all Silverblade robots. I'll crush every single one of them. They have been playing with my life for far too long."
You know, it is good to think like me. Just unleash hell!
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Location: Shinjuku
Rob and Nigel arrived, parked at a safe distance away from the Silverblade's hideout.
He goes at the boot, and opens the parcel shelf. He takes out a briefcase, and upon opening, it contains sniper rifle parts. His experience in the MI6 allows him to assemble the sniper rifle quickly and with little effort.
Rob: "Where the hell are those two?"
Shortly, Takuma's FD arrives. Takuma and Nobuhiko head out meet with them first.
Takuma: "Sniper rifle?"
Rob: "I'm in the MI6. Though this is no official mission, that doesn't stop me from using this lovely thing.
Accuracy International AS50 Rifle. .50 BMG, and has a firing range of 1.5 kilometers.
I'll head atop in a nearby building. They are currently located at the third floor, which is strange, since they usually operate underground, according to Sayuki's information."
Nobuhiko: "Let's go."
Takuma: "Nigel, come with us."
Nigel: "Understood."
With all set, Rob takes the emergency stairs behind the building he's climbing up to, so as to avoid suspicion from its inhabitants. When he gets to the top, he simply places the sniper and he drops down.
Rob: "Wish me luck."
All right, the three of us entered the building. We ran through the night club and then used the stairs until the 3rd floor. Then we are greeted with a surprise. It's empty, but it's filled with vials and large pods that can encase a human being!
Nigel: "Look at all those pods!"
Takuma: "Nigel, stay here as back up. Little Nobu and I will separate, to search for Stephen.
We entered further, Nobuhiko takes the right wing while I take the left. As I stroll along, I see a door, and when I entered...
...it's Stephen inside the pod! He's wearing a long white shirt, sleeping in the pod!
Nina: "Intruder spotted. Initiating Attack Mode."
What? Shoot! Nina almost got me with her kick! I had to block her moves. I got pinned to the wall.
However, I switched to a defensive Chinese martial art known as Wing Chun. I just parried whatever she's taking out on me.
She unleashed a punch, but I caught it using my left arm, and then I used my right arm to grab her other arm.
Then I made a twirling, circular motion, effectively twisting her in mid-air, but she landed effortlessly on her feet.
Whew... at least that gave me space to switch on the offensive!
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Meanwhile, Nobuhiko enters in an empty room, looking around. Then he hears footsteps.
Mysterious Cloaked Figure: "Toshiro Chouji. Or should I say, Nobuhiko Hiramoto. How impressive that you were granted another chance to live, albeit in a different body."
Nobuhiko: "You!"
Mysterious Cloaked Figure: "You must be honored in meeting me. I am the leader of Team Silverblade. But then no one who spilled secrets about me shall live.
But I don't want to end the fun too soon. The Dream Alliance has meddled too much. You already destroyed Nicholas Ho already, and following it is the arrest of Henry Lo and Stephen's exposure to this prompted me to use Stephen as a bait."
Nobuhiko: "You used Stephen as a bait to lure me and Takuma-san?"
Mysterious Cloaked Figure: "You always have a brilliant mind, Nobuhiko. You are correct, but Stephen is also our guinea pig."
Nobuhiko: "I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW THIS! I SHALL DESTROY YOU! For the sake of millions of racers and their dreams!"
Mysterious Cloaked Figure: "What are dreams, really? They are nothing more than illusions..."
Without a word, Nobuhiko runs and unleashes a flying kick. However, his opponent managed to block it, and tosses Nobuhiko away landing on his feet.
The two then charge, and exchange blows.
Mysterious Cloaked Figure: "You still got your moves despite living in a different body. Impressive..."
Nobuhiko: "Shut up!"
Nobuhiko gains the upper hand, by kicking the head. When his opponent landed down, its cloak was taken off. Nobuhiko then cannot believe his eyes...
Nobuhiko: "You are..."
NH3: "I am NH3. Do you remember your old body, looking at me right now? How does it feel seeing your previous face? Do you miss it? Well don't worry, your old body was given a proper burial.
I, on the other hand, am simply a duplicate of NH2 that tucked away in a secret laboratory in Finland. When I was finally complete, I set out, and headed to other laboratories, getting duplicate robot bodies and make them look like you...
I gathered clients, promising them to give them the ultimate solution for their desires. They all want to be racers as well, but don't want the back-breaking effort of being one.
Now, with both you and Takuma within my grasp, I can simply gather everything from both of you! You are the ultimate racers of this era! And all your abilities are worthy to be harvested!"
NH3's left eye glow red, switching to Attack Mode.
The robot's movements have gotten faster, making Nobuhiko barely blocking his moves.
Nobuhiko gets hit at the abdomen, and then NH3 grabs him by the neck and pins him on the wall.
NH3: "I can simply end your life... and your dreams. Why waste your second chance on life, when you can just continue on driving and not meddle with us?"
Nobuhiko: "Agh... agh.... YOU.... HAVE... NO..."
Nobuhiko thinks back of his experiences, his sufferings and victories in life, even his family life.
And then what gave him strength, is the fact that he will be a father soon, to Kasumi's 2nd child.
He readies his two legs, and then spring kicks NH3's abdomen, setting him free. He took some time catching his breath.
NH3: "Human beings are truly impressive creatures. Such strength can only be possible from a human."
Nobuhiko: "Yeah... and... that's something you robots will never have. DETERMINATION! The most important thing I learned from Takuma-san is that! I fought for my entire life, even through the shackles of death.
Human strength can never measured by any means. There are no figures that can be published for that.
Now come!"
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I am still fighting Nina. You are one hell of a good fighter, woman. But seriously, since you are a robot, I am not going to consider your gender and I won't pull my punches.
Takuma: "You ain't bad. But I'm afraid it's over."
I parried her left arm and broke it. Then I unleashed some palm strikes, and then finally a strong strike using my two palms on her belly, pushing her far back and slammed on the wall.
Nina: "Initiating Temporary Shut Down Sequence. Restoring Damaged Internal Parts."
Whew... at least she is not going to explode. Then Adrian comes in, rolling his own wheelchair and pointing a gun at me.
Before he can react, I disarmed him by kicking the gun away. Then I unsheathed my sword and pointed at Nina.
Takuma: "Pick that gun up, and I'll cut your precious sister to pieces. Next thing you'll know, she'll be at the junkyard."
Adrian: "What the hell is wrong with you?!? Is there something wrong with pursuing my dreams?! The dreams that have once shattered?!"
Takuma: "I admire your determination, BUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WRONG!"
Adrian: "ALL RIGHT! I'M A BAD GUY! What I'm doing will ruin others' lives! I'm miserable enough already! I'm tired! My sister is the only person I have, to continue my dream!"
Takuma: "You are just as crippled as your dreams. You have no right to talk about dreams. You have sunk yourself lower."
And he broke down in tears. Don't cry on me. I can be a jerk as much as I want to. I picked up his gun and removed all the bullets before I threw it out the window.
But be thankful I spared both of you. I punched the glass of the pod, and then an emergency alarm sounded, prompting it to open.
I disconnected the wires on Stephen, then I carried him while Adrian is still sobbing.
I returned to Nigel and left Stephen to him.
Takuma: "Take care of him. I'm going to look for Nobuhiko."
I ran through the right wing. Hang in there, Nobuhiko. For now, I'll set aside our rivalry...
...BECAUSE WE ARE COMRADES! WE ARE BEST FRIENDS!
End of Page 7