Dark Waters

Chapter Twenty Three: Departure

Chapter Twenty Three: Departure 

  

Rainier swore silently to himself as he watched the Dark Flame Grandmaster step out of the cloud of smoke, followed by Hank and several of the Dark Flame Ninjas and the Elites.

A quick glance at their enemies and Rainier noted that Leo wasn't with them. He frowned, remembering what C'tan told him about his twin.

At that moment, Kuraihi Natsu faced C'tan. "You and your people will not leave this building alive." He coldly stated. "Ninjas, Elites, leave no one alive!" He ordered and the Dark Flame Ninjas begun attacking.

"Everyone, begin for emergency evacuation!" C'tan ordered his fellow Guardians. "Take them to the Transmat and begin emergency teleport sequence!" He added and faced Natsu. "You will not win, Natsu! I will not allow it!"

The Dark Flame Grandmaster coldly laughed as he ducked a punch from the Guardian. "But I already have, C'tan! You just don't know it." He eyes narrowed, countering with a swipe that sent the Guardian flying to the wall. "You have interfered with my plans for the last time."

C'tan sucked in air as he and his exosuit crashed against the metal wall. He tried to move, but found most of his systems have been damaged by the attack. "How?" He managed, glaring at his enemy. "How did you manage to get past by our detectors so easily?"

"You should thank my obedient 'son' for that." Natsu smirked. "With his skills, it was an easy matter for him to infiltrate your base and disable all your defenses. Now die!" He added as he move to deliver a killing blow with his clawed gauntlet.

"I don't think so!" Rainier deflected the blow with one of the twin blue ninjakins on his back. "C'tan, get your people to safety! I'll try to hold this guy up!"

"Thank you, Rainier. And good luck." C'tan whispered at the red clad ninja as he and the other Xeelees rush towards the Transmat room.

Rainier said nothing, a quick glance around the room revealed his grandfather and brothers fighting Hank and the enemy ninjas, then he faced the Dark Flame Grandmaster, with a taunting grin. "It just you and me now, dirt bag!"

"Fool! You can't hope to defeat me!" Natsu snarled.

"I beg to differ," Rainier replied. "I have killed you before and I'll kill you again if I have to."

The Dark Flame Grandmaster smirked. "You will not get the chance." He began and suddenly pulled a device out of his  belt and threw it at a nearby control panel. "I have more important fish to fry." He said as he leapt away from the console, just at that moment there was an explosion and the room shook.

"Rain! Look out!" Dan shouted as he pushed his older brother down to the floor and away from the smoking debris that had been a very sophisticated computer.

Kuraihi Natsu smirked in triumph and was now picking up a strange calculator looking device. "To me, my loyal Dark Flame ninjas!" He called out when the black dimensional portal opened in front of him. "We shall finally hunt down our accursed enemies!" He added as he stepped into the portal, followed by the rest of his cronies leaving the Mizu clan behind.

Rainier groaned in frustration as he watched the portal close before him. He couldn't believe it! He allowed Natsu to escape!

"You okay?" A concerned voice spoke above him. Rainier looked up and saw his younger brother looking at him curiously.

"Yeah, I'm... fine." the red clad ninja told Daniel and managed a faint grin. "Thanks for having my back a while ago."

Daniel smiled and gave Rainier a thumbs up sign. "No problem."