The elevator lurched to a stop, and with a soft ding, the doors slid open to reveal two figures standing at the threshold. It was them, Hera and Valkyrie, my comrades, my sisters in Queen.
Their eyes widened in shock and astonishment, and based on their outfits, they blended well and their stealth training proved to be fruitful for them.
Hera, ever the leader and tactician, was the first to speak.
"Ray? What the hell are you doing here?" She asked, her voice held a mix of curiosity, shock and concern, a reflection of her leadership qualities.
Valkyrie, however, was silent. Her face was wincing and she was clutching on her side.
My expression cold and emotionless, a facade I had perfected when I was still s young lad.
"I could ask the same question to you?" I retorted, my voice flat and unyielding.
"We have our mission to complete, fully sanctioned by the Queen." Hera answered, her voice firm.
"I asked you a question, Shigeyoshi, why aren't you answering me?" She added, her eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance and control igniting within them.
I did not answer. Instead, I lifted a finger to my lips in a gesture of quiet, then beckoned them to follow with a subtle wave of my hand.
There was no time for explanations. If I want to ask them such questions, I had to help them escape first this hotel, swarming with police, SWAT, reporters, witnesses.
Valkyrie stood up and fell into step behind me as soon as she saw the urgency in my eyes, but Hera hesitated, her stubbornness flaring.
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why are you here." Hera asserted, her voice firmer and unyielding.
My response was a hard, unblinking stare. I did not speak, instead, my eyes conveyed an icy determination that brooked no argument. I motioned again, more insistently this time, for them to follow.
Hera's jaw tightened, her defiance was still simmering.
"For the last time, you Devil! Why are you here!?" Hera exploded, losing her calm composure.
I remained impassive, my gaze shifting momentarily to Valkyrie. She kept on wincing, but it wasn't just from my gaze, it was from the pain of her wound. Without a word, I stepped closer, inspecting the wound with clinical detachment.
Valkyrie, gritting her teeth against the pain, nodded subtly, acknowledging my silent concern.
Hera, catching the exchange, softened just a fraction. She saw the urgency in my eyes not just as a command, but as a necessity born out of concern for their safety, and Valkyrie's well-being.
Hera then took a deep sigh.
"Goddammit, Shigeyoshi." She muttered. Seeing her, there was no more stubbornness and defiance etched on her face. She probably used her common sense now.
Turning away, I led them through the bustling building with the fluid grace of a shadow. Hera and Valkyrie, seasoned Queenswomen themselves, matched my pace effortlessly, their movements synchronized in a silent dance of evasion.
Navigating through the crowded corridors was no small feat. The hotel was teeming with police officers, SWAT teams, and a horde of reporters, hotel staffs, and witnesses, all looking for answers to the chaos that these Queenswomens had brought. Yet, I moved with calculated precision, my every step avoiding detection. Despite her earlier defiance, Hera couldn't help but to impressed by my skill.
As we slipped past a particularly crowded hallway, we've found ourselves momentarily concealed behind a large column. I glanced back at Hera and Valkyrie, my eyes cold but conveying a silent message of trust and urgency. Continuing forward, I led these badass and deadly women towards a less populated area of the hotel.
Minutes felt like damn hours as we weaved through the maze suites, rooms and corridors. The sounds of the chatters and conversations we left behind gradually faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of our own footsteps. Finally, we emerged into a quiet, dimly lit storage room, a stark contrast to the frenzy outside.
Turning to face them, my expression remained hard, cold, and expressionless. Hera crossed her arms, her gaze still filled with questions.
"How did you know that it was us, Ray?" Valkyrie, ever the pragmatist and was quite all the time, asked. Her voice soft and shaking due to the pain on her wound.
"The receptionist in tv wasn't vague when she described two Queenswomen." I responded, there was a slight coldness on my voice.
My gaze then shifted to Hera, still curious and yearning for answers.
"Especially you, Hera-"
Suddenly, my enhanced hearing picked up a subtle sound of footsteps approaching from multiple directions.
I raised one finger to signal Hera and Valkyrie to be quiet.
Before we could react, the corridor was flooded with unknown military men, their weapons trained on us with deadly precision. They spotted us, as if they were looking for suspects. Their movements indicating they were kind of special forces and prepared for any resistance.
"It's them! The Queenswomen!" One of the men barked, his voice harsh and heavy.
"Move your asses and follow us, now!" Another man shouted, his voice also harsh but commanding.
My Dawning Devil instincts kicked in. I charged at them without hesitation, my body moving with the practiced fluidity of countless encounters.
The first special forces man raised his weapon at me.
"Die!" He shouted.
But as he was about to shoot me, I sidestepped, grabbing his arm and twisting it with a swift motion, disarming and breaking his arm effortlessly. I laid a quick jab to his throat followed by a knee to his solar plexus sent him sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath.
The second assailant was on me in an instant, but Hera wanted to be in the action. She fired a precise shot, the bullet grazing his shoulder and causing him to stumble.
I took advantage of his momentarily distraction, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick that knocked him out cold.
"Two down." Hera called out, her voice steady.
I didn't respond, my focus locked on the remaining three. They fanned out, trying to flank us. My enhanced hearing picked up the faint rustle of their movements, allowing me to anticipate their attacks. I ducked under a high kick from the third man, grabbing his leg and using his momentum to flip him onto his back. A swift devil stomp to his chest ensured he wouldn't get up again.
"Stop them!" The fifth man yelled, his voice tinged with desperation.
The fourth man hesitated, seeing his comrades taken down so swiftly. He raised his weapon, but before he could fire, Hera was on. She tackled him to the ground, her combat skills rendering him powerless within seconds.
"Stay down." Hera commanded.
I turned to face the last one. He was more cautious, his eyes darting between me and the fallen men. He fired a desperate rounds of shot, but unfortunately for him, I'm fast enough to dodge those bullets. I sidestepped to evade his fire, delivering a series of precise strikes to his rib and jaw. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"Clear." Hera announced, scanning the corridor for any more threats.
Valkyrie, leaning againts the wall, managed a weak smile.
"Damn, Ray, I honestly thought you won't spare them." She said, wincing from the pain on her side.
I walked over to her, my expression still cold and detached.
"I only kill scums." I muttered to her, my voice cold as ever.
"We need to move. Can you walk? I asked her, a bit of concerned for her well-being.
She nodded with a weak smile, though her movements were slow and strained.