File: Deletion Block Number: 5 Block Name: Ronin Around ........................................................................... Rem returned to the living world with an ache in his neck and a low pitched screaming sound in his ears. "Mr Buttingdon" began a voice unseen. Remington straightened his neck painfully and slowly opened his eyes. Red light peeked into his consciousness. A man wearing a flight suit and a heavy looking helmet crouched above him. "We're nearing our destination Mr Buttingdon" began the pilot, as Rem was suddenly jostled in his seat. The pilot grabbed a handhold and waited for the pitching to subside. "Best get yourselves ready" finished the pilot, as he turned and made his way slowly back towards the cockpit. Remington pushed himself into a better position, his joints strained and creaked as he sat upright. Gaining a degree of comfort Remington began to scan the other members of his team. The red light of the plane's interior highlighted the sleeping forms of a number of team members, Remington gave a start as his probing eyes eventually looked into the wide open stare of Mr Zee. The solo looked more demonic under the strange red light. His face a macabre criss-cross of scars. He didn't smile or even acknowledge the fact that Rem looked at him. He just stared. Rem looked away as he rose to his feet. "Ok, you apes" bellowed Remington, swaying with the motion of the plane, "rise and shine, we're about to land". Several team members stirred from their slumber with groans and curses. The others were jostled & shakened awake with further harsh words & uncaring prods. Pairs of sleepy eyes were rubbed vigorously and the cabin echoed to the sound of several loud yawns. The plane landed heavily, the tyres screaming from the sudden impact. The unrelenting forward motion slowed, and then eventually stopped. The constant whine from the engines ended and was replaced by a battery of others sounds informing all aboard that the flight was truely over... All the while, Remington could feel the unblinking stare of Mr Zee on him. Maybe the threat had been a mistake thought Remington, as he unbuckled himself and turned to stare once more into those hard unblinking demon red eyes... ....maybe. ........................................................................... Remington swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He moved a damp hand thru the damp matte of his hair and breathed deeply. He turned his head slightly to look at the bedside clock. 5.00am. A stir from behind him and then a gentle click. The early morning gloom quickly retreats from the soft golden light of a night light. "Having trouble sleeping?" come the sultry tones of Cleopatra's voice. "yeah" he replied quietly, scratching an area below his eye. Tender fingers brush his shoulders and then the sweet touch of her lips on the nape of this neck. "Would you like something to drink, baby" the goddess utters between caresses. Rem nodded, uninterested, and thought again of his current predicatment and the cause of this sleeplessness. He lay down, a hand on his forehead as he watched the curvauous, naked form of his house keeper disappear into the dark recesses of the flat. A click of a switch and light erupts from the kitchen. "Is it the situation at work honey? comes the now distant voice of Cleo. "Yeah", Rem replies again, "did I tell you me & my team were called in for full diagonistic tests at the EBM Cyberlab yesterday?" "No" comes back the sweet voice of his housekeeper. The sound of a fridge door opening. The tinkling of a spoon. "They only call in people when there's something big about to happen, continues Rem as he watches the smooth, black legs of Cleopatra make their way gracefully, back towards the bedroom "only nobody's talking...not even Bob Morton...he says he just doesn't know" finishes Rem, accepting the warm mug offered by Cleo. Rem takes a sip of something sweet & creamy, his eyes follow the naked form of his housekeeper as she glides around the perimeter of the bed. What a tantalizing creature you are my favourite "housekeeper", thinks Buttingdon. The smooth dark thighs, crowned by the exquiste, triangular pubic mound enter the bed sheets and he looks up into a concerned face. The moist luscious lips speak. "Why don't you stay at home today, Rem?" she whispers invitingly. Rem looks into those light brown eyes, the dark shock of hair, the warm light reflecting from the arc of her long neck. He closes his eyes to calm his emotions but her heady scent invades his senses. Smiling, he puts the cup on a side drawer and kisses her gently. "No Ms Fagina, I think today I will be an EBM employee whether I want to or not." ........................................................................... "Ok, he's waking up" says a female voice, the medics' his brain informs him. He has the horrible medicinal taste in his mouth again, as Remington opens his watery eyes to look up into Ms Knight immaculate face. She looks up and Rem's eyes follow to look into the unreadable & grim faces of Nagasaki and Zee. Memory returns to Remington. He sits up with a effort, his hand examines the side of this face. The cotton texture of fresh bandages register on the tips of his probing fingers. "You cut off my ear" he begins with a snarl. Mr Zee & Nagasaki remain silent as Buttingdon slowly rises in front of them. Remington looks at the soaked and bleeding forms of Zee & Nagasaki. The cybernetic arm on the Japanese Techncian hangs at a odd angle. A angry black soldering line crosses the upper part of the arm. "What happened to you guys?" questions Rem, as he looks at the dejected & mud splattered forms of the other party members. "Twis was a swamp demon man!" begins Neville, the newly acquired netrunner from beneath a mound of black dreadlocks. Remington views the Jamacian netrunner and notes the blood oozing from numerous cuts on his body. "Whatever it wuz, it dang well nearly killed us all" continues Stone, as he sits bandageing an arm. After concluding his visual scanning Rem begins to question again... "but I remember explosions........and gunfire?" "Those wez the Cuban Army man," replies Neville again , "tis nuthing compared to the demon of the swamp". Remington face takes on a look of confusion, "Swamp demon?.." he askes. "A Schlaghund, Mr Buttingdon" answers the strangely sombre Fauteuil, "we're luckly to be alive" he finishes. Remington takes in the situation and his mind begins to computate their next move and options. A Schlaghund? Bryant's didn't mention anything about strike dogs operating in the drop zone..... ....Suddenly a thought struck him. The coporate examines his pockets futively and then moves to one side to rummage thru his backpack. He eventually puts the pack down and rises slowly. "Who's got the device?" he asks quietly. "..and what device would that be Mr BUTT-ing-don?" spits back Mr Zee as he stands holding a rifle against one shoulder. "You know what I'm talking about" continues Rem angry rising. "Do we" adds Nagasaki, a smirk crossing his lips. The rest of the party have become silent and listen to the exchange. Remington gives Zee and Nagsaka a hard stare and in a hushed tone utters... "Look, give me back the device or suffer the consequences.." "Is that a...threat Mr Buttingdon?" askes Zee lowering the rifle. "No just a statement of fact Mr Zee", answers Remington unmoved, "...give me back the device or ...die" he finishes coolly. Zee looks at Nagasaki and then scans the faces of the other members of the team. A barrage of different expressions greet him. Some angry, others indifferent while the netrunners look back with faces twisted in dread. "I would if I could Mr Buttingdon, replies the black solo turning back to stare at Rem, "..but I threw your device into the swamp", he finishes with a cold hard stare. Remington looks at the solo for a heartbeat before whispering a short reply. "Then your all dead" ...........................................................................