Two roads diverge (Kusanagi #2)

March 3rd, 2006

'1 hour, Lake Travis North side.'

Kary jumps out of her window and heads to meet Blaine. When she arrives at the lake, she's greeted by a fearsome mask.

"Well, that's ugly."

Blaine turns around and gives her a quiet gesture. "Quiet, we're on a mission now. Keep you're voice down, code names only. I'm not sure how your team does it, but right now, you're following my rules. If you call me anything other than Impact, we will have a problem. What's yours on your team?"

"Uh, uh.." 'Crap, I've never thought about a code name before.' Kary thinks for a few seconds before getting an idea. "Resonance."

Blaine nods. "Good choice. I like it. Let's move out."

The duo makes their way toward a large house near the mouth where the river meets the lake. Blaine stops.

"They have the 143rd sword in there. The detection blade. They will know we are coming, just not were from. So we have the element of surprise, but could be walking into an ambush. Luckily we'll both know. We'll enter together, and stay together. Do not split up if we can avoid it. I'm not in top shape, so I actually need your help."

Blaine unsheathes a blue blade from his side and it crackles to life. Kary stares at it as they advance on the house.

"What's that?"

"Sword 5. The Electro Blade A sword that absorbs and releases electrical energy. I fought some asshole named Jackson a few months back. He would have killed me if not for this thing. I've never seen an electrical meta of his caliber before. But that's another story. Get ready, the house is just up there."

Kary gets her spear ready and follows close behind Blaine. As they approached the house, Blaine flies up to the worth, and Kary floats up behind. "Nice trick kid. I'm looking forward to what else you got up you're sleeve."

Blaine ribs the roof apart with TK and jumps in. "Knock knock."

4 men are in the room, but they do not last 3 seconds. Blaine sliced two into tiny pieces and crushed another man's throat with a glance. Kary disarms hers and knocks him out. She turns around in shock.

"What....What are you doing?" Her voice weak.

"Finishing what they started."

"No. No I can't do this." Kary jumps back out the hole and takes off across the lake.

"Damn it girl." Blaine starts to press on into the house but his ribs give him a problem and he senses something powerful below. "I guess I won't be finding any leads in this house."

Blaine flies out and begins to concentrate. The house soon begins to crumble under shear telekinetic force. The crushed ball of wood, concrete and bodies is thrown into the lake and left to sink. Blaine turns to find Kary, but she's already out of his range. "Damn that girl is fast."

Blaine starts to head back to the house to explain.

---

By the time he gets back it's nearly 6 am. He walks up to Kary's room and prepares to knock.

"Come on in." Sounds out before he knocks. Blaine walks in and takes a seat.

"You were expecting me?

"No, I just couldn't get to sleep and sensed you coming." The girl looks up at him, her eyes red from crying.

"Why did you kill those men?"

Blaine sighs and stands up. He picks up Kary's new mask and eyes it. "Namazu huh? Japanese God of earthquakes. You always had a flair for the dramatic Kary."

Kary stares at him, eyes not wavering. "Don't change the subject."

Blaine laughs and sits back down. "Fine fine. When I first gave you that spear and mask. I told you I'd support you in which ever path you took. And I will. However I want to warn you. I've walked your path before. It is a long path, riddled with hardships. The bad guys don't play by the same rules as you. They won't spare you. They don't turn you over to the cops. They. Will. Kill. You. I want to make that perfectly clear."

Kary starts to speak up but Blaine quiets her.

"Let me finish. You put the enemy down and they get up. I put them down and they stay down. If wish to take the path of a hero, I will support you all the way. But you need to think long and hard if it's worth it. I'll give you some time to make your choice."

Blaine stands up and walks out before Kary can respond. The girl has no words for what just just transpired. She throws her blankets over herself and goes to bed, lamenting making the choice to go out in the first place.