"The Combine must survive," Michi agreed. "Allow me a day to discharge an obligation and I will aid you in your business."
Theodore nodded once. "I would be honored, Noketsuna -san."
Dechan scratched his head, bewildered at the sudden turn of events.
40
Deber's Strike Mountains, Benjamin
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
8 October 3030
Dechan Fraser glanced over to the campfire near the DropShip where the crew and the Techs were finishing their evening meal. From the bursts of laughter and occasional snatches of speech, he knew they would soon fall into their habitual dice game. He turned back to stare at his own barely touched food.
The four BattleMechs that made up the Bounty Hunter's strike force stood silent sentry, arranged in a rough triangle. One apex was Vic Travers' tiger-striped Orion.At the second, the two smallest 'Mechs of the lance stood side by side, Jenette Rand's Dervishand Dechan's own Shadow Hawk,their dark-blue paint schemes blending into the night sky. The tallest of the four machines, the Bounty Hunter's bright green Marauder,made the last point. Between its deep, birdlike legs, the campfire burned, throwing its ruddy light onto their faces. Across the fire, Michi Noketsuna sat eating his supper, the Bounty Hunter's helmet resting upright at his feet.
"You were late getting back to camp. You been laying plans for what we do next?" Dechan asked.
Michi carefully set his plate on the fallen tree that served as his seat. "Wedo nothing. Igo on alone."
"What?" Seated beside Dechan, Jenette was incredulous.
"My friends, you have no common cause with the Draconis Combine. In fact, your own friends and families war with the Dragon. I, however, am still loyal to my homeland. In this matter, my feud with the Coordinator is unimportant. Though Takashi has forfeited my loyalty to his person by dishonorable behavior, I cannot let his faults and failures turn me from the Combine.
"Early this evening, I met and spoke again with Prince Theodore. What he told me of the dangers facing the Combine was chilling. He does not believe his father guilty in the matter of Minobu -sama's death, but he can offer no proof at this time. He is sincere, an honorable man who seeks to save the Dragon from desperate straits. When the Combine is safe, he will see that justice is done.
"Right now, there is a great danger to the Combine, and all true samurai must come to his aid." Michi paused briefly, looking up at the stars. "I may be ronin,in the sense that I have no master, but I am still a loyal servant of the Dragon. When the Dragon is in need, I will stand to its defense. I must put aside my quest for vengeance until the realm is safe. When that day comes, I will kill Takashi Kurita with my own hand."
Dechan sat quietly through Michi's speech, trying to understand the complicated hierarchy of loyalties that ruled his friend. Though Dechan never wished to be tangled in as intricate a web of allegiances as bound a Kuritan, he had his own strong feelings about loyalties. In Wolf's Dragoons, it was much simpler. A man stood by his friends. "After all we've been through, you expect us to let you walk into the Dragon's den alone? Who's gonna watch your back?"
"I cannot ask it of you. The matter has become more complicated. Prince Theodore had informed me that the Coordinator was never scheduled to visit this planet. Therefore, the papers allegedly detailing his itinerary never existed. I believe that whoever was behind our now-deceased informant deliberately directed us at the Prince. Perhaps that person knew my true identity and expected me to kill any Kurita on sight. Perhaps not. Either way, the villain knew my target was the Coordinator.
"This is not your cause."
"It wasn't my cause on Milligan's World either," Dechan insisted. "I told you I'd see this through. You're not rid of me so easily."
"Or me, either," Jenette affirmed. Dechan showed his lady the pride he felt with a smile. She slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. "We can look after ourselves."
"You honor me beyond my due, my friends," Michi replied as he bowed.
Dechan felt awkward; formality never sat well with him. To cover himself, he turned to Travers. "What about you, Vic?"
Michi and Jenette turned expectant faces to their fourth companion. Travers swallowed, rubbing his hands nervously along the tops of his thighs. The bristly black hair on his arms stood out starkly against his pallid skin as he added to the accumulated grease on his coveralls. "It's not what I signed on for."
"I understand," Michi said, face expressionless. Dechan, however, frowned, and Jenette's look of disappointment seemed a mirror to his own. Awkward silence fell over the group, and they returned to their supper.
When Michi tossed his empty plate into the cook-pot and rose, Travers stood as well. He seemed troubled, embarrassed.
"Ah ... before you leave," Travers said, fishing a crumpled paper from his pocket. A small, enameled lapel pin speared the folded sheets together. "I have a name and a letter. It'll help."
"Yakuza?"
Travers nodded.
Michi held up his hand in refusal. "I have my own connections."
"Not with this gang. You'll need these," Travers insisted, thrusting the gift forward.
Dechan didn't believe that. Travers' contacts with the criminal underworld had been useful in the past, but now Michi was dealing with politics. Besides, Dechan had never liked dealing with that kind of people. He always came away feeling soiled.
Michi gave a sharp nod of sudden agreement and accepted the offered letter. "Domo arigato."
Unity! Dechan thought. What's gotten into this boy?
"I have a gift for you as well," Michi told Travers, pointing to the bright green Marauder."Please take it. I will not be able to use it where I am going."
"I couldn't," Travers protested, shaking his head. His stubble-bearded face was awash in confusion. "That's the Bounty Hunter's 'Mech, and you're the Bounty Hunter."
"No longer. I have worn the armor while it served me. It allowed me to safely reenter the Combine. Where I am going, the identity will be more of a hindrance," Michi said. He picked up the helmet and held it out to Travers. "You are the Bounty Hunter now."
"Take the 'Mech. Cellini can handle the Orion.I leave you the DropShip, the armor, and half of the war chest. I will need some of the money we have collected." Michi popped open a compartment on the side of the breastplate he wore. From its darkness, he removed a battered book. The solidograph on the volume's cover was scratched and scuffed. Papers, many stained and yellowed with age, and plastisheets of various colors jutted from the open sides, held in by a cord the color of dried blood. He tossed the packet to Travers. "The tradition is yours as well."
Travers caught the book and held it to his head as he bowed deeply to Michi, surprising Dechan with this show of etiquette.
Michi turned to Dechan and Jenette. "If you still wish to accompany me, we must leave within the hour."
41
Kanrei's Residence, Deber City, Benjamin
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
15 January 3031