Chapter 37: Supernatural
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Japan, Ozunu Orphanage
The courtyard below was a scene of chaos. The helicopter gunships, their searchlights illuminating the burning orphanage, fired on the ninjas who had fled into the darkness.
Not every ninja in the Ozunu clan was willing to die in this battle. They risked everything, their movements swift and elusive to escape the blinding lights of the helicopters.
The soldiers their determination fueled by a mixture of fear and anger, fired their guns relentlessly but the ninjas are skilled in the arts of stealth and combat as they vanished and reappeared.
Dodging bullets, or deflecting them with a flick of their wrist as they wave their katanas.
They moved with a speed and grace that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
When they got to the shadows they started escape blending into the night, escaping the relentless barrage of gunfire.
Maslow and Mika along with the other soldiers on the ground kept firing at the fleeing ninjas.
Then a Howl erupted from the orphanage, a guttural primal sound that reverberated through the night the sound was so powerful that it rattled the windows of the cars, sending a shiver of fear down their spines.
"What the fuck was that?!"
Mika yelled her eyes wide with fear and shock. She aimed her gun at the burning orphanage, her fingers tightening around the weapon. 'Raizo didn't say anything about the orphanage having monsters,' she thought, her mind racing her gaze fixed on the building.
waiting for the source of the howl to emerge.
Maslow, startled by the howl, pulled out his radio flicked it on, and looked towards the orphanage. He needed answers.
"Sir, do you have a werewolf on your team?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and confusion.
He knew he should order his men to kill any wolf that appeared, but he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"Werewolf? Are you serious, Maslow?" Mika asked disbelief evident in her voice. She fired a shot at a ninja who had emerged from the shadows running for cover. She ducked behind the car, reloading her pistol her gaze fixed on Maslow, waiting for his answer.
Maslow held up his hand, signaling for her to wait.
He needed confirmation He turned his attention to the radio his gaze fixed on the burning orphanage.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
General Hawk, his eyebrows raised in surprise as he heard the howl.
He turned to Sen with curiosity was written allover his face.
"You got wolves in your clan, Lady Sen?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of astonishment.
He was impressed he had heard rumors of the Arashikage clan's power and skill, but he hadn't imagined them having supernatural beings in their ranks.
'Looks like the Arashikage clan is even stronger than I thought' he mused.
Sen, her eyes focused on the burning orphanage wasn't surprised by the howl. She knew exactly who it was.
"Like I said, General, they're guests of our clan." Sen said, her voice cool and calm.
"After all, many people hated the Ozunu clan for their killings"
While she thought to herself 'Looks like she got her revenge' knowing Talia's history, her motivations, her fierce desire for justice.
General Hawk nodded his eyes still fixed on the flames. He paused then asked.
"Then you don't mind me inviting them into my team?" He was testing the waters seeing if Sen would allow him to recruit them.
He knew that having supernatural creatures in G.I. Joe would be a tremendous advantage.
Sen shook her head, her smile a subtle, knowing smile.
"I think you'll be disappointed, General."
"I already invited them but they don't like working in groups. They have their pack to take care of." she said.
General Hawk sighed his hopes dashed. 'Who am I kidding? It'll be hard to invite any supernatural creatures into G.I. Joe,' he thought. G.I. Joe was composed of agents and soldiers from all over the world.
They were skilled dedicated and highly trained but they were all human.
Then the radio crackled Maslow's voice filling the helicopter.
"Sir, do you have werewolves on your team?"
General Hawk looked at Sen, then answered.
"They are friendlies. Do not shoot. I repeat, do not shoot." General Hawk's voice, filled with authority, echoed through the radio.
He watched the unfolding battle a mix of concern and curiosity flitting through his eyes.
He was intrigued by the Arashikage clan's unconventional allies as although he can't invite them he can still make connections their hidden depths.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
"Affirmative, sir."
Maslow turned to his soldiers, his expression a mixture of seriousness and a touch of amusement.
"Do you hear that, boys? No one is shooting if someone with claws jumps out. You understand?" He surveyed their faces their expressions a mix of bewilderment and a glimmer of excitement.
The soldiers, though confused by the sudden change in orders, responded with a unison,
"Yes, sir." They followed their orders, their focus shifting back to the ninjas, their guns trained on the darkness.
Just then, Maslow felt a tug on his sleeve.
He looked down and saw Mika, her eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.
"Mika, do you really want to know?" He asked, his voice serious.
He knew this wasn't a topic you could just casually drop into conversation.
"Of course, who doesn't want to know if wolves and vampires are real? That's a girl's dream." she said, her smile a touch nervous, her eyes reflecting a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
She aimed her gun towards the orphanage, ready to defend herself should anything, or anyone unexpected emerge.
"Then you better wait. If we survive this night, you might change your mind." Maslow said, his voice teasing, a playful glint in his eyes.
He wasn't sure if she was joking but he was enjoying the playful banter the small spark of humor in the face of danger.
"And the vampires you're thinking of are real but they glow like disco balls in sunlight." Maslow added his laughter echoing in the night.
"Fuck off." Mika said a mixture of annoyance and amusement in her tone she thought he was joking but the uncertainty was still there.
She turned towards Maslow, his laughter filling the air the sound a strange comfort in the face of the unknown.
"Seriously?" she asked, her eyes searching for the truth in his gaze.
She knew that if he were to confirm her suspicions the world she knew the world she believed in would be irrevocably changed.
---
"Supernatural even monsters exist. But you better prepare yourself, as the world you might know is about to change."
Maslow said his voice serious as his gaze fixed on Mika He couldn't deny the truth anymore the world they knew was full of secrets, secrets he'd only just been privy to.
He turned to address the soldiers, his voice laced with a playful, almost mischievous tone.
"You guys too, if you want to know, prepare yourselves." He knew they were eavesdropping he shook his head with a hint of amusement enjoying their discomfort.
"Ahem, ahem," one of the soldiers coughed, his face turning a shade of crimson.
The others their faces a mix embarrassment and curiosity as they looked at each other, their gaze darting between Maslow and Mika before they refocused on their task, their eyes scanning the darkness, their guns trained on the burning orphanage.
Mika, her eyes wide with disbelief, looked at Maslow, her expression a mixture of hurt and anger.
"I can't believe you just told me about this. We're close friends but you kept this whole thing a secret from me?"
"Hey, don't blame me. I was just briefed when General Hawk invited me on a secret op." Maslow said, his voice laced with a defensive tone as while not turning his head towards Mika he didn't want to be held responsible for their ignorance.
"Maybe you'll be invited too, and get briefed." he said his eyes meeting Mika's, a hint of hope glimmering in his gaze.
He knew she was close to Raizo that she had a special connection to him.
Maybe they would invite him in through her.
"Since you guys heard what I said, probably you guys as well." he said turning back to the soldiers his voice laced with a playful challenge.
The soldiers caught in the crossfire of their conversation looked at each other they shared a silent unspoken understanding.
"Yeah, I'm fine not joining. My life is already crazy enough as it is." one of the soldiers said, his voice laced with a mix of resignation and a hint of humor.
His teammates burst in laughter as they exchanged knowing glances.
Maslow and Mika shook their heads,
their expressions a mix of amusement and empathy. They knew the soldiers were right, that their lives were already full of danger and unpredictability.
The chaos of the battle raged on the sounds of gunfire echoing through the night.
The helicopter gunships their searchlights blinding kept firing on the ninjas who were attempting to escape.
But the world was changing secrets hidden for years were now being revealed.
The supernatural the unimaginable was now part of their reality.
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Next Chapter: Escape
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