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Join Date: Jan 2008
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The following takes place just after the events of Defenders of Justice # 13 & before #14
In the heart of Shadow Dragon isle Alicia Martin, the Ghost Ninja, makes her way among her enemies unseen. The compound has been locked down pretty tightly by the shade ninja. She begins to shake as her nervousness threatens to overtake her. She’s never gone up against the enemy solo before. Her first encounter with the Shadow Dragon Clan was alongside her master Shadou who died so that she might live. Since then her entire experience has been as a member of the Superhuman Defense League.
Finding a locker room she quickly changes into one of their uniforms. Satisfied that she may now walk among them without immediate detection she releases her chi and becomes visible. Finding her way to the armory she grabs a chain-whip from the rack on the northern wall and straps it to her leg.
A loud voice penetrates the air from speakers mounted high above “all ninja are to report to the great chamber immediately!”
Alicia manages to blend in with the gathering crowd as they face center stage awaiting their leader to address them. Three warriors stood on the stage, in the middle was Ichiko Shi the necromancer and leader of the clan. To Ichiko’s right stood the giant form of the reincarnated monkey king, Sun Wukong and to the left was Kokushibyou Shakou, the shade ninja who had killed Ghost Ninja’s mentor.
“Warriors our plan draws near, I have just been offered the aid of the Gorgon Cult. Queen Medusa wishes to join forces. They have agreed to go to the United States first and clear the path for our arrival” Ichiko announced to her minions “once they have a foothold we will follow to aid them in conquest of the western world!”
“Oh no” Alicia gasped in horror “I have to stop them.”
She slipped quietly out of place and made her way toward the stage determined right then and there to end Ichiko’s reign. As she drew within a few feet of the stage however it dawned on her how foolish that would be in the midst of all these ninja. So she waited for Ichiko to leave the stage.
The clan leader was followed by her two most loyal servants as she slipped into a corridor that went straight to her quarters and which was forbidden for any other ninja to enter. Alicia became invisible once more and followed them as closely as she could without being detected.
Ichiko and Sun Wukong stepped off into a chamber while Kokushibyou stood guard at the door. Alicia materialized just before his eyes and jabbed her fingers into his throat choking him. Kokushibyou rolled away from her in order to recover and came to his feet drawing his hook bladed swords.
“You again, this time your master isn’t here to protect you” with these words he lunged at her swinging his swords.
Alicia dodged his first strike and kicked him hard in the ribs sending him sprawling backwards. He recovered quickly however and drew on his own power and unleashed a blast of shadow flame as he leapt into the air.
Ghost Ninja phased causing the flame to go through her and then she too jumped to meet him in the air. Drawing the chain-whip she swung, watching the whip like links strike out as if it were a serpent. The barbed tip slashed Kokushibyou across the face causing him to howl with rage.
Then the shade ninja engulfed his fists in the shadow flame and punched her. Her uniform caught fire as pain shot through her shoulder. The fire burned hot and could not be put out. The uniform went up in smoke leaving her bare.
She turned invisible on reflex to hide her exposed body. The phasing caused the flames to go out before it burnt too much of her flesh. She struck out with the chain-whip again, this time it wrapped around the blade of one of the hook swords and she yanked it out of his hands.
Grasping the other sword with both hands he came forward like a madman meaning to finish her then and there. She managed to slip behind him unseen and swung the chain-whip a third time. This time the barbed tip struck him in the back and went all the way through his heart killing him.
The commotion carried through the thick concrete walls and Ichiko Shi heard Kokushibyou’s dying scream “Wukong, go check it out” she ordered the fabled monkey king.
As he entered the hall he saw his comrade lying in a pool of his own blood. Clutching his iron staff in hand he went down the corridor searching for the killer.
Meanwhile Alicia phased herself through the concrete wall and into Ichiko Shi’s chamber. There she became visible again in order to allow the necromancer the chance to see her killer before meeting her maker.
“Why I’ve never entertained the pleasures of another woman before” she said with a smile noting how Alicia was still unclothed “or, do you plan to assassinate me in the buff?”
The Ghost Ninja had forgotten her nakedness during the confrontation with Kokushibyou but was now painfully aware of the situation “don’t be fooled by my lack of clothing. You will die where you stand!”
With that she lashed out with the chain-whip but Ichiko Shi’s necromantic staff deflected the blow. The necromancer struck out with the staff swatting Alicia aside like a pesky fly. Ghost Ninja fell to the ground in pain but rolled back onto her feet before delivering a roundhouse kick to Ichiko’s midsection.
The fight went on back and forth for a good ten minutes before Alicia managed to gain the upper hand. Using her chain-whip she snatched the staff from Ichiko’s hand and flung it aside. The necromancer screamed as if she had just lost an arm and she delivered a flurry of punches to Alicia’s face.
Nose and mouth bleeding from the onslaught, Ghost Ninja phases her fist and strikes through Ichiko’s body forcing the necromancer’s heart out of her body “that’s payback for my master” she says in a murderous tone.
Looking over in the corner where Ichiko Shi’s staff had fallen, Alicia now sees a glittering sword “this looks a lot like the sword Harbinger carries” with that assessment she picks it up and straps it to her back determined to turn it over to the winged hero the next time they meet.
Epilogue…
The death of Ichiko Shi released Sun Wukong and the shade ninja from her power. The monkey king declared it was his time to rule and that the ninja would now be his warriors. With this new freedom he seeks to conquer China and take his rightful place as emperor.
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