“Where was I buried?” Michael asked, amused to be talking about his own death and burial.

  “The sun,” Akio replied.

  Michael blinked a couple times. “The sun.” Akio nodded. Michael opened and shut his mouth a couple times. “The goddamn sun?”

  “She consigned your empty coffin, plus those of the others who perished, into the sun,” Akio repeated.

  Michael looked at the ceiling as if he could find answers there. “Remind me never to sleep in a coffin as a joke. I’d hate to be accidentally sent into the sun.”

  “It would hurt,” Akio agreed, and Michael chuckled.

  “Ok.” Michael moved the papers off his lap to the table and pulled his feet down to set them on the floor. They both could track Sabine by the continued sounds of destruction throughout the chalet.

  “I believe she is working out some anger.” Michael paused and thought for about ten seconds before he asked Akio, “Do you think she will lose her edge?”

  “For shooting?” Akio asked, and Michael nodded again. “No. I believe this is the worst we have to deal with. Sabine is not going back, no matter how much anger she gets off her chest.”

  The guys could hear female grunting as she struggled with something heavy. Both heads turned to look toward the other end of the room when they heard a grating of something heavy rubbing against the stair railing from the third floor. A moment later something slid off the rail. There was a humongous crash when a three-quarter-sized statue crashed to the marble floor outside the room. Some white dust blew in and Akio turned to look at Michael. “Donatello?”

  “I think so,” Michael concurred. “She is setting a new world record for ‘Most Priceless Objects Destroyed in a Single Afternoon.’”

  “I’m so proud,” Akio admitted and pantomimed wiping a tear from under his eye.

  Michael started chuckling. “You are getting the hang of humor.”

  Akio winked. “It is liberating.”

  “It can get you in trouble,” Michael told him. “And speaking of trouble, we have five pieces of an alien ship to find, then put together.”

  “Archangelsk.” Akio turned back to Michael. “Boris can help.”

  “Boris?” Michael flicked his eyes to the end of the room when he heard Sabine yell in frustration, then returned them to Akio. “He has the knowledge to put the ship together?

  “No, Lilith does,” Akio answered.

  “I’m fuzzy here.”

  “Lilith is a Kurtherian brain inside a computer.”

  “Another one?” Michael searched his mind. “I seem to remember…”

  Akio shook his head. “No, that was ADAM using a Kurtherian brain. So, not a Kurtherian brain inside a computer, but rather the opposite.”

  “True.”

  Michael held up a finger. “So if we find the major ship components, we know someone who can help put them together and probably help figure out how to fly it.”

  “Assuming the parts exist and they work.” Akio agreed.

  “Well, yes.” Michael shrugged. “If they don’t, we will create a company to R&D the technology.” He looked at Akio, his eyes granite-hard. “I will get back to Bethany Anne. I made a promise on my honor.”

  Akio bowed his head in understanding. “Hai.”

  “That leaves us needing people, resources, and know-how to build the spaceship. Do we go to Japan for them?

  “They are the most advanced for the job, but I have issues with them.”

  “Such as?” Michael leaned forward and started moving the papers into an organized pile.

  “They are the most advanced and skilled people for the job. The issue is security.”

  Michael’s eyes went flint-black.

  Akio held up a hand. “The problem is that Japan is the most advanced, which was Bethany Anne’s point. She wanted a country that was mostly intact.”

  “So, the problem?”

  “They are the most advanced in stealing secrets as well,” Akio admitted, looking sheepish.

  “They are human, what do you expect?” Michael asked, knowing full well that Akio was asking the whole country to step up to his romantically remembered version of his people. “Never mind, I see it in your eyes.” Akio just shrugged. “You have been through the end of the world, Akio,” Michael pointed out, “so you have endured the worst that humanity has ever dealt with, excluding perhaps the last Ice Age.”

  “My people didn’t change for centuries.”

  “Yes, but for as long as I have known them, a sense of self-importance was always a temptation just below the surface.” Michael chuckled. “The Japanese have always been the elves in my version of European myths.”

  Akio’s eyes narrowed.

  “No, really.” Michael leaned forward. “Think about it. You have the body build, the long hair, and if we bleached your skin…”

  Akio made a face, but Michael spoke right over it. “If you had blond hair and pointed ears, with your personalities, you would fit right in with elves.”

  “I have no idea if you are being serious or playing.” Akio grumbled.

  Michael leaned back. “I guess you will have to figure it out.” He turned and grabbed the top few pages from the pile on the table. “So you are saying we need to use Japanese labor, but not be on Japanese land?”

  Akio pursed his lips and nodded. “Hai.”

  “Ok.” Michael looked in the direction Sabine had departed. “I don’t hear much in the way of destruction.”

  Akio stood up. “I’ll see if she has worked it out of her system.”

  Michael stood and pushed his chair in before grabbing the papers. “I’ll find some energy.” He started walking toward another door out of the room. “Chalet on fire in five.”

  “Meet you in front,” Akio called over his shoulder.

  Twenty minutes later the three figures watched as the roof of the chalet, engulfed in flames, crumbled down into the center of the outer stone walls. Sabine rubbed her nose. “I don’t suppose I had to be so effective with that large picture of,” she looked at Michael, “who was it?”

  “A short man with a large ego,” Michael replied. “His name was Napoleon.”

  “Where was it from again?”

  Michael smiled. “The last time I saw it was hanging in Versailles.”

  A minute later a black Pod drifted down out of the sky. The three walked toward it.

  “Where are we heading?” Sabine asked.

  “Back to Frankfurt,” Michael replied. “The Duke has a residence there we need to check out.”

  “Shotgun!” Sabine called and raced toward the Pod. She screamed in frustration when the Pod lifted out of her reach. She stomped a foot, turned around, and pointed at the retreating Pod. She stared daggers at Akio, whose eyes glinted in humor. “You dick!” she shouted. “That’s not fair!”

  “How does she even know what ‘shotgun’ means?” Michael asked.

  “Some phrases,” Akio answered, “resist change by time and circumstance.”

  “Yes,” Michael agreed as the approached the red-faced woman, “but we are talking about a century and a half and the end of the world as we knew it.”

  Akio just shrugged. Some things even he still couldn’t figure out, and he had lived them.

  Chapter Twelve

  Yokohama, Japan, Kashikoi’s Dojo

  Yuko and Eve arrived at the door to the dojo and this time made their way straight upstairs.

  Kashikoi was in his usual spot, but this time was instructing a small group of new disciples in their training. They continued, despite the presence of the strangers.

  He called for someone, who came in through the far door, listened to an instruction the old man gave him, and then disappeared through the door again.

  Yuko waited patiently and Eve stood almost motionless, but for her small efforts to maintain an appearance of being human.

  As they waited, Yuko observed the techniques the young fit students were using. She noticed that their applications deviated a little from when she had trained here, and she judged that they were a little more effective.

  She smiled, wondering if perhaps Kashikoi had perhaps bowed to her influence in effectiveness over style after all.

  The young boy appeared again and bowed to Kashikoi, receiving a nod in return before he disappeared. Kashikoi pulled himself to his feet and issued his final instructions to the group training.

  “Yame,” he instructed.

  The fighting stopped immediately. “Rei.” They bowed to their respective opponents. “Kurasu shuryo,” he finished. The group gathered the pieces of gear and training equipment they had left strewn along the side of the hall and jogged out of the training room.

  Kashikoi beckoned Yuko and Eve over. They bowed and walked around the mats to meet him.

  Just as they approached, four slightly older students arrived at the far door dressed in outdoor clothes. Yuko turned to acknowledge them with a bow.

  “Konnichiwa,” she said politely.

  They lined up and bowed to their master and then to the visitors.

  Kashikoi was on his feet already, aided by his stick. “Yuko, Eve, may I present my best students?” He waved his hand at them, taking a few steps onto the training floor. “Haruto, and Riku.” The two Japanese males stepped forward and bowed before returning to their place in line.

  Kashikoi continued, “And Akari and Ichika.” A small, proud smile reaching his lips. “Ichika is, in fact, my granddaughter. And, even though she causes me much trouble, she is nevertheless one of the most courageous warriors I have ever met.” He paused before continuing, “All four of these disciples I offer to you as the most dedicated to the cause of all of my students. They will assist you on your mission and represent our interests in maintaining the vallitseva tila no matter what.

  His voice took on a warning tone. “While our interests are aligned, we are faithful allies. If the integrity of these relics were to become compromised, rest assured that these warriors you see before you would do whatever it took to ensure that the packages were kept from falling into evil hands.”

  Yuko bowed her head. “I understand entirely. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” she added optimistically. She turned back to the four new team members. “I am Yuko. This is Eve. We welcome your assistance and hope that we remain allies on this task.”

  She looked at Kashikoi. “Thank you, old friend.”

  Kashikoi smiled and said something in Japanese. The four bowed to him and jogged the length of the training room and out toward the front entrance that Yuko and Eve had used.

  Eve watched them leave.

  “Go ahead.” Yuko nodded to Eve. “I’ll catch up.”

  Eve narrowed her eyes, deliberately conveying her mistrust about automatically being excluded from the conversation that was about to happen. Regardless, she turned and headed out the door after their new teammates.

  Yuko turned her attention back to Kashikoi.

  He smiled, the essence of a young boy returning to his field. “You’re ready for your next clue?” he asked her almost teasingly.

  Yuko smiled. “Hai.”

  Kashikoi lowered his eyes before he spoke. “We know the Chinese government has some of the salvaged boxes. I gleaned that much from their early interrogations of me. The person you want is someone deep within the remaining organization.”

  Yuko sighed. “Looks like we’re heading to China then,” she said, resigned to the prospect.

  “Īe,” Kashikoi insisted. “You must stay on the island. During the time you’ve been gone, anyone with any power or money has migrated to the place which can offer the most comfort and security. Consequently, most of the remaining governments and tech powers have relocated to Tokyo.”

  “China, as you know,” he continued, “is mostly destroyed. Their citizens don’t live as we do. They have villages interspersed over large areas of land. You will find the individuals who govern the country in Tokyo. The man you are looking for, if he is still alive, is Qin Shi.”

  Yuko frowned. “The emperor himself?”

  “Hai,” Kashikoi confirmed. “He wasn’t always the emperor, though.”

  Yuko understood. “And where in Tokyo will I find him?”

  Kashikoi’s face took on a seriousness. “Shouldn’t be hard. I’d start at the Chinese Embassy.”

  Yuko couldn’t believe it might be that easy. “You mean we’ll just be able to walk into the Chinese Embassy and make these demands?”

  Kashikoi smiled, bemused. “No one said it was going to be easy, though the Diplomat gaining access to an embassy should be what your American friends call ‘child’s play,’ no?”

  Yuko smiled. “This is true. I will proceed. Qin Shi,” she said, repeating the name of the man she needed to locate.

  “Good. Very good,” Kashikoi concluded. “You always were an excellent warrior, Yuko. And from what I’ve heard over the years, an excellent diplomat. I look forward to hearing of your success.”

  The old man bowed to Yuko.

  Yuko returned the bow. “And I look forward to reporting our success to you, old friend.” She smiled at him before heading out of the dojo to join the others on the street.

  She pounded down the stairs in her boots and out the front door, finding their four escorts and Eve huddled in a group on the sidewalk. She pulled the front door closed behind her and headed over, interrupting their somewhat awkward “getting to know you” conversation.

  Yuko smiled faintly as Eve turned to her. “You have the information?”

  “I do. Tokyo is our next stop,” Yuko divulged, setting off down the street. The warriors exchanged puzzled glances and followed her, Eve bringing up the rear.

  Yokohama, Japan, Yokohamakeon (Park)

  Yuko and Eve strode across the lawn of the park where they had left Jacqueline and Mark to make preparations.

  Ichika jogged up to Yuko to speak with her. “Excuse me, Yuko-san? Shouldn’t we be going to a train station if we’re to go to Tokyo?”

  Yuko instantly understood Kashikoi’s warning when he had introduced his granddaughter. Hiding her smile behind her practiced blank expression, she glanced at the young woman as they walked. “Īe. We’re going to Tokyo directly. The fast way. But first, let me introduce you to our friends. Our other allies on this mission.”

  Ichika glanced back at the others nervously. They had heard about the incident the day before when Yuko’s friends had laid waste to nearly thirty attackers in a demonstration. The atmosphere around the trained warriors turned from mission orientation to one verging on dread.

  Eve noticed they had slightly slowed their pace.

  They approached the container and Eve led the way up the steps into it. Yuko and the others followed.

  Eve was vaguely aware of scrambling and the shuffling of a chair being repositioned. As she entered the doorway she saw Jacqueline zipping up her jumpsuit and Mark tucking his shirt into his pants. Mark’s hair was somewhat disheveled.

  She ignored what they had walked in on and headed straight for her computer to get the box underway.

  Yuko ushered the Japanese contingent into the office and lined them up to meet their new team. “Jacqueline and Mark, may I present to you Ichika, Kashikoi’s granddaughter.”

  Ichika bowed, and Mark and Jacqueline awkwardly tried to mimic the strange bobbing custom.

  Yuko continued, “This is Akari. And those are Riku and Haruto at the back,” indicating each in turn.

  “Gakusei-no Kashikoi,” she said, addressing the group of their new allies, “this is Jacqueline and Mark. I must warn you that they are enhanced; you’ll have heard the stories.”

  It was Haruto who spoke this time. “You mean like Weres?”

  Jacqueline, still a little flushed and embarrassed, tried to cover up being caught off-guard by venturing into the conversation. “I’m a Were, but he’s not.” She jerked her thumb at Mark, who was now standing a complete arm’s length from her.

  “Vampire,” Mark said, grinning and baring his teeth. He allowed his eyes to glow red.

  Akari, Haruto, and Riku all shuffled back in response, their hearts frozen in their mouths. Only Ichika remained relaxed. “Ahhh, that explains how you could overcome our troop in combat!” she exclaimed excitedly. Then she frowned. “How come you left them alive?”

  Jacqueline frowned too, stepping forward as her skin color normalized. “Why would we want to kill them?”

  Ichika chuffed. “It’s what your kind do, no? You can’t help it, I thought?” She glanced at Yuko for clarification.

  Yuko frowned. “You know that I’m a vampire?”

  Ichika nodded. “Of course, but you are the Diplomat. You enforce the strictures in the absence of the Patriarch. But other vampires and Weres…” She looked puzzled.

  Yuko laughed, waving her hand at Mark and Jacqueline. “No, these are also good Weres and vamps. They have both trained with the ArchAngel. You can trust them. They have honor as well.” Her eyes took them all in. “There are additional good vampires and Weres around the world, not just myself and Akio. Not many, but certainly more than the two of us.”

  Ichika seemed to understand, and the others relaxed a little too.

  With the introductions out of the way, Jacqueline and Mark pulled up separate seats in the far end of the container. The others found places to sit or perch and Eve gave her chair to Akari, explaining she wasn’t human and didn’t need to sit. Akari thanked her cautiously before sitting down.

  Yuko felt herself stepping into a leadership role, something she had barely had cause to do in all the time she had been stationed here with Akio. “Kashikoi told me where we might find at least some of the other boxes,” she began, bringing Jacqueline and Mark in on the information she had to share. “He suggested that we talk with someone in the Chinese government.

  Mark glanced at Jacqueline. “China, here we come!” he exclaimed, the excitement of the unfolding adventure piquing his curiosity.

  Yuko shook her head. “The government is here in Japan. Tokyo, to be exact.”

  Mark’s brow furrowed and then quickly smoothed as his eyebrows jumped up. “Because Japan is the place to be? With all the tech and stuff?”