Chapter 16

(The drill is this: I do not own Tenchi Muyo, Excel Saga, Desert Punk or Trigun)

The morning sun was blocked out as an eerie fog blanketed the coastal and capital city of Tel Aviv, Israel. Although there was considerable damage given to many of the small buildings lined up on the blocks it only looked like a small earthquake hit. Whatever fires occurred had ebbed away and the citizens remained hidden inside their homes not knowing what they were up against. From a second-floor apartment window a young boy could be seen playing with a model plane holding it just outside the window make believing it was on final approach in foggy landing conditions. As he continued 4 figures broke through the thick fog capturing his full attention. As they walked closer he began to see could make out the images of Vash the Stampede, Desert Punk, Morien, and Nabeshin; each one with weapons drawn pointing to the ground and the sound of glass breaking could be heard as they walked over the remains of blown out windows. Overturned cars were strewn in the street and wide craters were made in the concrete. It was clear that there was an immense amount of force behind this attack.

Vash: "I came to Earth to get away from violence. Turmoil seems to follow me"

Morien: "What you see around us is the results of years of planning. Maybe even decades. Let's not place the blame on anyone including yourself"

Kanta: "What I would really like to know is why this is happening. Why only the Middle Eastern regions and Italy? I mean if these guys really are as tough as we're making them out to be they could have easily taken over this planet"

Morien: "I'm just as in-the-dark on that as you are. Nabeshin, how far until we reach the capital building?"

Nabeshin: "The GPS says several more miles. We'll be walking for a while. Might as well stop and take in the sights."
Kanta: "Sights? I can't see shit through this fog. I just hope this road stays straight so we can get to our destination faster."

Vash: "Someone's approaching"

With guns now aimed towards the direction of the approaching figure they looked down their gun sight or scopes keeping it trained on whatever was coming. When a young girl came through the fog a small sigh of relief came over the men pointing their weapons back towards the glass ridden concrete.

Vash: "Can we help you?"

Girl: "I was separated from my family during the attack. I've been lost for several hours and I haven't had anything to eat."

Morien: "Kanta give her some of our food."

Kanta: "Wait why am I doing this?"

Morien: "You're the one holding the food and water supply"

Kanta: "We barely have enough to keep us trucking to where we're going!"

Morien: "So we'll find more along the way. Will you please just give her some food and water?"

Kanta reluctantly gives the lost girl food and water. After a few minutes they pack up and proceed towards the Israeli capital building.

Girl: "Please let me go with you. I'm lost and terrified"

The 4 men look at each other.

Morien: "Fine. Stay sharp. If anything happens on our way run like hell away. Understood?"

The girl nodded as she kept a few feet behind the rest of the gang.

A few minutes into the walk they come upon a military truck crashed into a light post but still operational.

Kanta: "What a thing of beauty! Now we can cut our time in half."

Vash: "True but I have a feeling if we take this truck we may attract attention. The really bad kind. The kind that would almost guarantee a fight…"

Kanta: "Ok I get it! Shut the hell up! I can have this thing started in a few seconds"

The others stood back while Kanta pulled out the same device that started the stolen yacht a few weeks ago. The diesel engine let out some smoke but eventually turned on. The sound of the start up echoed through the streets which caused curious citizens to momentarily gaze out of their windows. Kanta looked out the windshield to see a long spear like object attached to a heavy-duty chain shoot through the radiator of the truck. He jumped out with shotgun in hand as the truck was thrown upwards landing on the roof of one of building a few blocks away. Just like she was instructed the lost girl ran for cover in a nearby laundry-mat as Morien, Vash, Kanta, and Nabeshin, prepared to face this new foe guns locked and loaded. The sound of heavy footsteps came closer towards the gang causing the debris on the road to shake with each step. With fingers on the trigger they tensed up waiting for something massive to appear. To their surprise it was man with long blonde dreadlocks tied back, a red vest torn at the sleeves, and black pants with a height equal to that of Vash. His right arm was entirely mechanical with gears moving and pistons running. In his left hand he held a pocket knife. From external appearance he seemed rather ill-prepared to take on 4 heavily armed gunmen.

Further out by the sea the smell of salt filled the air with the sound of the waves crashing as Tenchi, Ryoko, Washu, and Ayeka in their battle attire casually strolled along the sandy shores of the beach with the same destination as Kanta, Morien, Nabeshin, and Vash.

Ryoko: "What exactly are we looking for?"

Washu: "We need to reach the Prime Minister to, first off, make sure he's still alive and if so get him out of this country"

Tenchi: "But what about everyone else? And why Israel first?"

Washu: "Morien just chose it arbitrarily. Besides I don't think it matters where we start. Like he said if we don't take care of this now the world will find itself on the losing side of this so called war"

Ayeka: "Why would they attack here first?"

Washu: "Not sure. It's not like the Middle Eastern region has much to offer other than being the center of the 3 most common religions in the world…wait a second…religion…"

Tenchi: "What is it Washu?"

Washu: "Nothing. Just a thought."

Ryoko: "Why are we walking when we can easily fly to where we need to go?"

Washu: "Morien asked me to help any civilians on the way. So we stay grounded."

Ryoko: "This isn't even our figh…"

Ryoko then remembered what Morien said about not having any time to spend with Tenchi should the world fall into war.

Ryoko: "Fine. Then at least let me…wait you guys hears that?"

Out at sea a low rumble could be heard but the source was obscured by the fog. Then the sound resembling several jets came ever closer to the beach. A series of hydroplane watercraft came onto the beach carrying troops and vehicles. Washu rendered everyone invisible as the troops disembarked the massive watercrafts. Several hundred of them lined up in a rectangular formation awaiting orders. Soon a taller man came down wearing a beret and holding a clipboard in his hand.

Leader: "Listen up. Obviously we have a situation. Our objective is to take out any and all remaining super soldiers in the city. Don't worry about civilian casualties. They know too much anyways."

Washu revealed herself.

Washu: "You had it right up until the part about killing innocent civilians"

Everyone turned surprised to see the spiky-haired yet adorable emerald-eyed Washu.

Leader: "And you are?"

Washu: "That's for me to know. Like you we came to fight the INSF but unlike you we also came to save any civilians affected"

Leader: "As far as the world knows China has invaded these parts. We intend to keep it that way"

Washu: "Well I tried. I guess we'll just to stop you right here"

Leader: "I see. You seem to be lacking any assistance."

Washu: (With evil grin) "Honey, watch this…Ryoko give them a show"

Ryoko appears and opens fire with her energy blasts turning all vehicles on the beach into fireballs. The troops dove into the sand with hands above their heads. The leader stood in complete shock.

Washu: "Let's try this again. You will not harm anyone. Leave the INSF to us. Go to the Prime Minister's office and get him out of here. And if you even lay a finger on any civilian your fate will be the same fate as your vehicles. Now move!"

Without any questions asked the troops made their way into Tel Aviv leaving Washu, Ryoko, Tenchi, and Ayeka behind.

Ryoko: "You should have just let me take them all out"
Washu: "No Ryoko. You should never kill unless you are defending yourself or defending someone else. Now I'm not one to promote violence often but since the rescuing process has been sped up the rest of us should go find some INSF troops and show them the power of Jurai"

With all in agreement they ran in a random direction seeking out any remaining super beings in Tel Aviv.

The fog slowly began to lift revealing more of the city. Kanta, Morien, Nabeshin, and Vash never took the time to notice as the newcomer was the center of attention. No time was wasted as the conversation started.

Newcomer: "Only 4 of you? Such a shame. I was eagerly anticipating there to be more of you to slaughter in the most painful fashion. Oh forgive my rudeness, I am Aldar"

Kanta: "We don't really have time for bullshit. We're looking for INSF soldiers."

Aldar: "Well what do you think I am? Just because I don't look like the failed experiments you fought earlier doesn't make me inferior. Quite the contrary"

Vash: "Why are you here?"

Aldar: "The tone in your voice suggests that I've done something wrong. Hehe. As you probably know the Middle East and Italy are the centers of the 3 major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We are here to rid the world of all of it. Looking at history religion is always the cause of major wars that could have easily never have been. You can't coexist in a world with any creed that tells you to worship a Deity that no one has ever seen."

Morien: "You must not be a big picture individual. This plan of yours will cause the world to go to war! It's counterproductive!"

Aldar: "I never said there wouldn't be casualties. Sure millions, maybe even billions of people will perish but it's a small price to pay. And speaking of perish why don't we start with you, the astronaut."

Aldar's mechanical arm became the same chain and spear combination used to throw the truck and he fired it upon Desert Punk. In less than a second Desert Punk fired his shotgun at the incoming projectile deflecting the chain and spear as it broke through a pillar in a nearby building.

Kanta: "Astronaut? It's a desert survival suit jack-ass!"

Aldar: "Your ability to dodge that attack was rather impressive for a human. But I'm only getting started"

Aldar's arm became a rocket pod firing missiles towards the 4 men. Each one scattered as the multiple impacts struck the ground and buildings sending debris in all directions. Kanta bounced off a fire hydrant then crashed through an unbroken window of a grocery store then slid into a shelf causing various cans to fall on top of him. Vash had been blown to the top of the same grocery store Kanta was inside while Nabeshin dodged the incoming missiles.

Aldar: "Odd. I fired 8 rockets. Only 7 went off. Where did…"

Up in the air above Aldar, Morien with the 8th missile in hand came down fast upon Aldar detonating the explosive device at his feet. The resulting explosion caused the grocery store to cave in completely. When the smoke cleared Morien and Aldar stood in the crater standing only a few feet from each other.

Aldar: "You must be Morien."

Morien: (With surprised expression) "Yes?"

Aldar: "So you're the sole survivor of ICE #493."

Morien: "What are you talking about? All bodies survived I thought."

Aldar: "So ill-informed you are. The gas experiment was a complete failure. You are the only exception as well as myself and 4 others. At first the passengers of ICE 493 did survive. But when the gas took full effect they became highly uncontrollable. They weren't even human. Before the effects became any worse they were disposed of. I was exposed to it my hometown in Estonia. After coming to I found myself in a lab in Vladivostok, Russia along with many others. When all was said and done only 5 of us were successful experiments. We were told all about you but we never thought you would be fighting against us like this."

Morien: "This doesn't have to continue. The ISNF has made you believe in their ideologies concerning a religion-free world. Do you really think that world war will accomplish your ultimate goal?"

Aldar: "Yes"

Pulling out a hidden knife Aldar stabs Morien in the abdomen, leaves it there, then with a huge kick sends him jetting out into an overturned car two blocks away. Climbing out of the crater he turns his attention towards Nabeshin. Turning his mechanical arm into a disk he takes aim at Nabeshin. A needle like that of a vinyl record player pops out and makes contact with the disk. Lighting bolts shoot out at Nabeshin from the disk causing him to dodge intensely. Not being able to keep his speed up Nabeshin took a hit from a bolt sending him back a few yards but still standing. Now taking his turn to go on the offensive Nabeshin runs full speed at Aldar, not with a gun, not with a knife, not with an explosive, but with a wedding cake on a cart. Aldar looked at his attacker with a confused look.

Aldar: "This is new."

Nabeshin slowed down as he got closer. Then stopped when he reached Aldar.

Nabeshin: "Rather than fighting why don't you enjoy this cake?"

Aldar: "Riiiight….what did you put in the cake?"

Nabeshin: "I just found it. Didn't have time to do anything to it."

Aldar: "I've eliminated your friends and you give me cake? What is this, a distraction?'

Nabeshin: "Hey you said it. You've eliminated everyone here. What could go wrong?"

Aldar: "This may be so but you can keep the cake. Now make a move."

Nabeshin: "As you wish!"

Nabeshin clicks a detonator and the cake explodes like a bomb. Nails and shards of glass from the bomb impact Aldar and burst through his skin.

Aldar: "What!? How…did…!?

Nabeshin: "Morien is one of you. When I saw him being stabbed I knew that you could also be hurt by this. Now here's a little going away present."

Kanta returns and shoots his incinerating rounds from his shotgun severing Aldar's mechanical arm. Electricity shortages shoot out from the stub. Still in pain but not out Aldar attempts to run towards Nabeshin and Kanta to attack but is stopped by Morien as he stabs him back with the same knife he used to try to kill Morien.

Aldar: "How…are…you alive? I know we can't heal rapidly…(coughs blood)"

Morien: "Next time stab a little further than half an inch. But there won't be a next time for you"

Aldar didn't say anything else. He just kept his eyes locked with Morien's until he faded away. Vash appeared with a disappointed look knowing another life was taken.

Kanta: "Vash, no offense but you're becoming more and more of a liability. You need to shoot something"

Vash said nothing in reply.

Morien: "A cake? Seriously?"

Nabeshin: "I do distinctly remember someone saying unorthodox fighting was a tactic paramount to winning fights. Now we have proof."

Morien: "Fair enough dude. So only 4 soldiers left. I couldn't sense Aldar's energy so I have no idea how we're going to find the rest."

Kanta: "Dmitri is working on that as we speak. We should find the girls and Tenchi and return to the airport. The sooner we get moving the sooner we can end this fight then I can go back to where I came from."

Morien: "How do you plan on that?"

Kanta: "Washu. She'll come up with something. I'll admit this planet during this time period is a decent place to live but I belong in the desert. I have a legacy to maintain and not to mention Junko's massive bosoms await!"

Morien: "So you'd give up earth for a legacy and a pair of breasts? There's no reasoning with you is there?"

Kanta: "Nope! The demon of the desert has priorities. Let's go."