EPISODE SIXTEEN: The Rescue

Back in Futsuka, our party has suited up and are about to leave out on their way up the mountain after the princess. Shinamori has given each of them two temporary camouflage spells so they can make their way undetected by Liiche. Now invisible, the lizard-like animals move quickly up the hill toward the snowy peak. They were well into the snow when the spells wore off, and those kind of animals run wild in the area, so with their white clothing our party is able to continue undetected.

Once they were within a few meters of the castle, they dismount and begin to scope out the situation. TRITHAL used his GPS device to use the orbiting satellites to scan the interior of the complex. He is able to locate the princess inside, and plot out a path through the castle to get to her location.

TRITHAL: "We need to move quickly but carefully. We each have one camouflage scroll left, so we should be able to sneak past those huge guards undetected. Once inside we'll split up. I'll go here and disable Liiche's surveillance system. Axem will drop down from above and distract Liiche while CHRIS goes in through here and frees the princess. Do we understand?"

AXEM and CHRIS nod in acknowledgment.

TRITHAL: "Now, by that time our camouflage will have worn off and we'll have to fight our way back out. Shinamori did boost our defenses, but we still need to pace ourselves and be ready for whatever comes our way. This will be the biggest fight we've been in so far. Everyone needs to be on their toes. Now are we ready for this?"

CHRIS: "Why do we have to do this your way?"

AXEM: "Do you have a better plan?"

CHRIS: "Well, no...."

AXEM: "Then shut up and get ready!"

The team activates their scrolls, then quickly scale the walls and move into the keep.

Back in the surveillance room, Liiche is totally unaware of what's happening outside. Ali asks, "How did you find out where we were going to be so you could kidnap me? Did that macha tell you?"

Liiche: "What macha?"

Ali: "The one that calls himself 'Divine Wind'. I recon he was out to sabotage my whole operation from the beginning. That would explain why he damaged the catwalk."

Liiche: "I heard about the catwalk collapsing, but didn't know who did it. Actually a guy from Tsuitachi called me earlier today and told me where you would be. He offered me his allegiance in exchange for a position of power when I finally take over this prefecture again. Apparently he doesn't like Midus either."

Ali: "Shingetsu! I'll see to it he hangs for treason!"

Liiche: "So the blue-eyed dude is a macha? That explains some things. Oh yeah! Wasn't your father assimilated by the macha when you were a kid?"

Ali shoots a defensive/pissed off look at Liiche and asks "How did you know that?"

Liiche: "Oh I hear about lots of things. I have informants in almost every village in this prefecture. I'm abreast on just about every juicy piece of gossip there is. But why were you traveling with the blue-eyed macha?"

Ali: "He was charged with the responsibility of escorting me back to the palace via the overland route since he was responsible for the catwalk accident. I kinda didn't have a choice."

Liiche: "So if he's your sworn enemy, then I guess we shouldn't have to worry about him coming for you!"

Just as he said that, his monitors went dark... and in a flash, AXEM drops down from the ceiling taking a ninja fighting posture in front of Liiche, CHRIS quickly unties the princess and TRITHAL kicks out a panel underneath the control console and jumps out. He then runs over to Ali and hands her her dueling sword and said, "You dropped this earlier."

Ali, not sure what to make of what just happened, takes the sword from TRITHAL and assumes her battle position.