Part Eighteen: No. 9062

Two lizard men trudged down the dimly lit streets, their heavy armor clinking with each step. The lizard on the right groaned loudly, his voice filled with frustration. "I'm tired!" he complained, his words echoing in the quiet night. "This armor is killing me, I can't even walk properly!" He shifted uncomfortably, trying to adjust the weight of the metal plates on his shoulders.

The lizard beside him sighed, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Ah, can you just shut up?" he snapped. "We're in the middle of patrol, and if we're caught slacking off, we'll be smashed into bits by our leader. You know that."

The complaining lizard scratched his forehead, his irritation growing. "I know, you shit-head!" he shouted, his voice rising in anger. "I'm just saying what everyone else is too scared to say, alright?!" He stopped abruptly and turned to face his companion, his eyes narrowing. "I know you hate this as much as I do, but you won't say anything because you're just a little puppy."

The other lizard's face flushed with anger, his veins bulging slightly as he clenched his fists. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"I SAID THAT Y—" the first lizard began, but before he could finish his sentence, a hole suddenly appeared in the center of his forehead. The bullet passed clean through his skull, and blood began to drip from the wound. His eyes widened in shock, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The second lizard stared in disbelief, his mouth hanging open as his companion fell. He barely had time to react before a shadow flashed past him. He turned, his heart pounding, but it was too late. A clean, precise slash severed his head from his body. His head hit the ground with a dull thud, followed shortly by his body.

On a nearby rooftop, Ruya grinned as he adjusted his grip on the sniper rifle, its barrel still warm from the shot. "Got 'em!" he muttered, his voice filled with satisfaction. Cracknut sat on his head, happily munching on a nut, his tiny cheeks puffed out.

Liam leaned casually against the wall of the rooftop, one foot propped up against the bricks. His cape-like coat fluttered in the breeze, and the lenses of his glasses caught the faint light, reflecting it in a way that made his smile seem almost mischievous. "So far, so good," he thought, his gaze scanning the city below. "With Hano and Ruya handling most of the work, it's been easy to keep any patrols from getting too close to the others."

Hano, meanwhile, moved silently through the shadows below. She knelt beside the fallen lizards, ripping a piece of cloth from their uniforms to clean the blood from one of her katanas. Her movements were swift and efficient, her expression calm and focused. Once the blade was clean, she gathered the corpses and disappeared into the darkness as quickly as she had arrived.

"Hey, Ruya!" Liam called out, his voice breaking the quiet. "Do you like your new buddy?"

Ruya turned to look at him, his grin widening. "Hell yeah!" he replied enthusiastically before returning his attention to the sniper's scope, his eyes scanning for the next target.

Liam chuckled softly. "Happy you like it!" he said, his tone light and cheerful. He crossed his arms, his gaze drifting back to the city. "I'll join in the fun when things get a little more serious," he thought, a faint smile playing on his lips.

~~~

James slid open a window and slipped inside the villa, his movements silent and precise. Kajin and Klara followed closely behind, their footsteps barely making a sound as they entered the dimly lit corridor. James glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the area to ensure they were alone. Satisfied, he turned to the other two, his voice low but firm. "Now that we're inside the lizard's house, we need to be extra careful," he warned. "This place is rigged with traps designed to catch intruders. If we're not vigilant, this mission ends here."

Kajin nodded, his expression thoughtful. *Hmm... Interesting,* he thought, his eyes roaming the corridor. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, and the air smelled faintly of chemicals and dust. "Moving through here is going to be a challenge."

James stepped to the right side of the corridor, his posture tense but controlled. "Now that we've made it this far, it's time to split up," he said, his voice steady as he looked back at Kajin and Klara.

Klara's eyes narrowed, her expression a mix of anger and concern. "Why?" she asked, her voice sharp but quiet.

"I need to make sure you two can focus on rescuing that girl and the others being held captive," James explained, his hands slipping into his coat pockets. His tone was calm, but there was a hint of urgency in his words.

Klara's eyebrows furrowed, her frustration evident. "This wasn't part of the plan, James!" she hissed, her voice low but intense. "You can't just wander off alone in a place like this!"

James remained silent for a moment, his gaze steady. "Plans change," he said simply.

"James!" Klara called, her voice trembling slightly. "You can't just risk your life because of your need for vengeance!"

"I have my reasons," James replied, his voice firm. "And this is the best chance I've got."

With that, he turned and sprinted down the corridor, his movements swift and silent. Within moments, he disappeared around a corner, leaving Kajin and Klara behind.

Kajin watched him go, his expression unreadable but his mind racing. "James... you're a brave man. I'd like to have a spar with you someday."

Klara sighed, her shoulders slumping as she shook her head. "Sorry about James," she said, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness. "He's... in his own world sometimes."

Kajin nodded, his gaze shifting back to her. "What's important now is finding our way to the lab," he said, his tone calm but resolute.

Klara took a deep breath, composing herself. "The lab is underground, and we're currently on the fourth floor," she explained, her voice steady once more. She turned and began walking down the left side of the corridor, her steps careful and deliberate. "Follow me, and be careful," she added, glancing back at Kajin.

Kajin fell into step behind her, his mind focused on the task ahead. "I'm coming, Vanessa," he thought, his determination burning brighter than ever. "Just hold on a little longer."