Retaliation

by Charles Tillman

  Asai hugged her back, tears running freely down her face.

  “My hope is,” Yuko continued, “that once construction starts, some of the workers will see the potential of Kume and want to relocate. The island needs a bigger population to thrive.”

  Asai wiped her eyes and pulled back. “Yuko, would it be possible for Akio to interview potential settlers like he did our employees before they’re allowed to immigrate? The local population would not be able to defend themselves if people like the ones who kidnapped Koda go there.” She shuddered. “Or beasts like you found in China.”

  Yuko smiled. “I’m sure Akio would be willing to help with that. Another idea I have is to seek out honest people with military or police experience who would be willing to relocate. Until the island can import and export goods it is not a feasible plan, but I’m sure there are some who would welcome a more rural lifestyle. Provided they had the basic comforts like electricity and running water, that is.”

  “Hot running water is a definite plus.” Asai laughed. “I would probably be willing to stay more than one day if I could take a bath without having to haul water from the fire to the tub.”

  Koda snickered. “Oh, yes. Asai can’t be away from her bathtub longer than one day. Seki for a few days, no problem, but the bathtub only a short time.”

  “Koda!” Asai grinned. “You have no room to talk. I’ve seen how you watch Horst when he happens to stop in. He hasn’t even tried the simulations yet since he hasn’t made it past the Coke counter.”

  Koda’s face turned red as she shot daggers out of her eyes at Asai. “He’s just waiting until the lines go down. He’s polite and doesn’t want to cut in front of anyone.”

  Asai guffawed. “Doesn’t want to miss a chance to spend time with you is more like it.”

  Koda looked at her through the hair she had let fall over her face in an unsuccessful attempt to hide her blush. “Well, what can I say? He’s polite and has good taste.”

  “Where is the blond hunk, by the way?” Asai asked.

  “He’s gone to Germany with Akio, ” Koda answered. “They’re trying to locate survivors from his old pack.”

  “I still have a hard time believing he’s a wolf,” Asai mused. “After the attacks in the rural areas by those tiger men, I have a hard time thinking that Horst, as kind as he has been, is a—what is it again Yuko—a Wetzelbag?”

  “’Wechselbalg’ is the proper term,” Yuko answered. “But they’re no different from any other people. There are good and bad.”

  “I hope Horst can find some of his people. He’s really depressed about the loss of his brother. He doesn’t blame anyone,” she added quickly, “but he really misses him.”

  “Akio has the location of several groups of Wechselbalg in the area Horst is from,” Eve offered. “Though it’s been many years, hopefully, one of those groups will be his.”

  Koda was silent during this exchange, her face showing concern. She would never say anything, but she had become very fond of Horst in the short time she had known him. He had spent many hours talking to her after her kidnapping and was a big part of the reason she didn’t run back to Kume after her rescue by Eve. The thought that he might want to leave if he found his pack worried her.

  Yuko noticed Koda’s discomfort at the conversation and walked over to where she was sitting, then leaned down and whispered, “Just because he might find some of the members of his old pack, it doesn’t mean he will want to stay there. He was a child when he left and has been away for many years.”

  Koda lowered her head, ashamed that she was secretly hoping he would not find a reason to remain in Germany. “I know, Yuko. I really want what’s best for him. He helped me a lot after my ordeal. He helped me understand that there is more good here than bad, and that there is just as much bad outside of the cities as in them. I admit that when Eve saved me, I was seriously considering running back to my father’s house on Kume and never leaving. Now I feel I can do much more good by remaining here, as long as I have my communicator.” She pulled on a chain tucked inside of her shirt, showing the device, which was firmly attached. “I don’t have to be afraid of a repeat of that.”

  Yuko nodded and smiled. “Akio plans to start training you and Asai to protect yourselves as soon as we get the staff up to speed here. Plus, I don’t think you will have to worry about being caught out alone again. Horst seems quite taken with you, and I think there is little danger of him leaving even if he does find others in Germany. With him around, I fear more for anyone who bothers you. Weres are extremely vicious when protecting someone they care about.”

  “After the damage the Yakuza has suffered from Akio’s little suggestion to Sero, the most you will have to fear is a random mugger. As long as that man-mountain is with you, there is little danger of that.” Eve laughed.

  “I still plan to learn all Akio is willing to teach me.” Koda’s face paled as she thought about her treatment at the hands of Sero’s henchmen. “I might even want to learn to use some form of weapon. I don’t plan on ever being a victim again,” she finished with cold certainty.

  Chapter Three

  Rasov, Czechia

  “I don’t think we’re going to find anything but trouble here,” Horst mumbled as he walked into the village.

  They were on their fifth location of the day and had not found any members of Horst’s old pack. The current group of Weres they were on their way to see had set up in a small mountain village, and judging by the downtrodden appearance of the villagers, the Weres were keeping the entire population as their personal slaves.

  Akio had stayed out of sight as Horst approached each group, a method he assured Horst would at least give him a chance to talk to the Weres instead of them automatically attacking or running away at the sight of a vampire. The first four groups had been unable to give him any answers, and they moved on without Akio making his presence known.

  This group would be a different matter, it seemed.

  A scarred and muscular Were growled as he came out the door of the largest house in the village. “What business do you have here?”

  “I’m seeking information about my pack,” Horst replied.

  The Were sneered. “What pack is that, pup?”

  Horst stiffened at the insult but held his temper as five other Weres, a female and four males, came out into the street. The males all glared at him with open hostility while the female moved next to the scarred man and leaned her hip against his.

  “The Rohr,” Horst told them. “I have been gone for many years and am trying to find where they went.”

  “Never heard of them,” the man growled. “Move along now. You have your answer.”

  The woman put a hand on his arm and licked her lips as she looked Horst up and down, a predatory gleam in her eyes.

  “Hold on a minute, Dahl.” She smiled at Horst. “I remember them. It’s been many years since I’ve heard that name.”

  “Do you know where they went?” Horst asked.

  “It was shortly before the war ended,” she told him. “I was with the Dorfen pack before it was absorbed by another when Allied bombs destroyed our town. A Were came to us with a story that the Rohr had been decimated by Anton for some perceived transgression. He claimed he was the last survivor. I don’t remember his name, but he died shortly after when he challenged the Alpha.”

  Horst's stomach dropped when he heard that. His one dream since he was taken as a young child had been to reunite with his father’s old pack. “Anton? Did he say what had happened?”

  She squeezed the big man’s arm when he started to speak. “Only that Anton came in the night and killed all he found. That one, I wish I could remember his name: Jan, Johann, Jaeger…”

  “Jakob?” Horst offered.

  She paused for a moment, her head cocked to the side. “Ja, Ja, that was the name he gave. He told us he had been away on business in Stuttgart. When he returned the next day, everyone was dead.”

  Horst remembered
Jakob. He was a supporter of his father and had resisted Anton and Heinz running the pack. He was a strong older wolf but not an Alpha, so he doubted that he was killed in a challenge. “You say he died in an Alpha challenge?”

  “Ja. We took him in, but he chafed against the Alpha’s rules. He challenged within a few days.”

  Horst nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.

  “You have your answer, so you can be on your way now,” the gruff male snapped. “We don’t need any more mouths to feed here.”

  The woman cut her eyes up and glared at the man.

  Horst stared at him appraisingly, debating whether to let the rudeness go or accept the unvoiced challenge. Before he decided, Akio materialized beside him, causing all the Weres to take a wary step back.

  “You.” Akio pointed at the Alpha, his eyes glowing red. “You are responsible for the state of these humans.”

  “What the hell? You bring a vampire into our town! Kill them!” the woman screamed as she shifted. The big male at her side and another shifted seconds behind her.

  As they changed form, one of the other Weres grabbed the remaining two by their arms before they shifted and murmured, “Nein.” He stepped back, pulling the others with him.

  Horst started to shift but froze in place when the dark brown head of the Alpha dropped to the ground at his feet. The body, mid-leap, continued a short distance before it collapsed in front of him, spewing blood.

  Horst watched in amazement as Akio expressed his displeasure at their treatment of the villagers. When he was done, there were three dead wolves and three standing slack-jawed in human form.

  “Mein Gott!” the sensible Were who’d stepped back exclaimed. “You moved so fast, all I saw was body parts flying and blood. No discussion, no hesitation.”

  Akio stared at the three surviving Weres, and they all took another involuntary step back from him. “They were the ones responsible for the wrong here: the Alpha, Beta, and the Alpha’s mate. As long as the others don’t revert to bad practices, I will not return for them. If they do, it will be a death sentence. Am I clear?”

  The Weres nodded enthusiastically.

  Horst had no doubt that Akio would do exactly as he said. “I think we are done here. If that bitch wasn’t lying about everything, there are no more of my old pack left.”

  The Were who stopped the others from shifting, an older man with streaks of gray starting to show in his hair spoke up. “She was telling the truth about Jakob being dead, but he didn’t die in a challenge. She didn’t like him and had Dahl,” he nodded at the dead alpha, “kill him. Dahl was the Alpha, but Marlana called the shots.”

  Akio watched the exchange without comment, reading the minds of the Weres as they spoke. “You three didn’t agree with what they did here. Why didn’t you leave?”

  “Things are very different here now.” The older Were shrugged. “Few of the packs welcome strangers and survival without a pack is precarious at best.”

  Akio continued to look at him for a few seconds. He delved deeper into each one's mind and determined that none of them had harmed any of the humans. “You are free now to go as you like, but I will only warn you once. Try to subjugate or cause harm to humans in any way, and I will come for you.”

  The old Were lifted his hands in submission and nodded his agreement. “I promise you won’t have to worry about that from me. I would rather take my chances alone than face certain death.”

  The other two quickly voiced their agreement, and all three walked toward the edge of the village. When they were past the last house, they shifted and bounded into the forest without looking back.

  Akio looked at Horst with sympathy. “I’m sorry we couldn’t find your pack, but know that you are welcome in Japan as long as you abide by the rules Bethany Anne set forth. Besides,” he smiled, “I think a certain young woman would hunt you down if you didn’t return.”

  Horst lost some of the sorrow from his eyes and raised his slumped shoulders. “I hadn’t decided if I would stay if I did find them. I just wanted to know they still existed. A foolish wish after so many years, I know.”

  Akio patted Horst’s shoulder. “There is no shame in wishing for good, there is too much bad in the world as it is.”

  “Ja, that is true. I thank you for accepting me, but I will need some purpose as well, some way to provide for myself. I refuse to live on the largesse of others.”

  “I’m certain we can find something that fits your skills. Let’s go home, and we will face that tomorrow,” Akio advised as he called Abel on his implant to bring the Pod down.

  Horst was lost in his thoughts, as they boarded the Pod and shot into the sky, headed back to Japan. After a few minutes, he nodded to himself and spoke.

  “Koda told me that Yuko and Eve built the Palace to make money to rebuild the docks and make other improvements on her home island. I have degrees in civil engineering and architecture, as well as experience as an overseer on several projects. Do you think the people there would allow me to help with the rebuilding? I know they suffered a great loss because of Isamu and that bastard Ogawa, and I would understand if they didn’t want my help.”

  Akio reflected for a moment before he spoke. “I can’t speak for the islanders, but I know that Mayor Yagi is a wise and reasonable man. Perhaps you should discuss it with Koda and Asai. I’m sure if they supported you, the people there would at least listen to what you have to offer.”

  Horst started to answer but was stopped by Abel’s voice coming through the speakers in the Pod.

  “Akio, I have received information you need to see from the drones Eve left at the lab in China.”

  “I’m on my way back to base now. I’ll come by as soon as I get cleaned up.”

  “I’ll have it waiting for you when you arrive.”

  Chapter Four

  O’Donnell Station, Stanley, Australia

  Kelly O’Donnell wiped the sweat off her forehead.

  A giggle from the next shearing station reached her ears and she turned her head toward the source.

  As she already knew, it was Jenni Davies, the thin blonde nineteen-year-old who had been there with her since daylight. Kelly glared at her until a small smile cracked her scowl and she burst out laughing.

  “No matter how many times I tell myself I’m not going to do it, I still manage to forget every time,” she grumbled.

  Jenni snickered. “Isn’t forgetfulness a sign of old age?”

  Kelly picked up a handful of coarse wool and threw it at the girl’s face. She shrieked and tried to move away, but the ball hit her shoulder and puffed out in a cloud that enveloped her. When the fluff cleared, she looked like she was auditioning for the part of the bearded woman in a circus.

  “Dammit, Kel! This shit’s impossible to get out of my hair,” she complained.

  Kelly grinned. “Well, you just remember that the next time you call me old, Jenni Davies, and you better watch your fucking mouth. Proper young ladies don’t say ‘shit.’”

  Jenni gave her the best eye roll she could muster and stuck out her tongue. She spent the next minute trying to get the wool out of her mouth while Kelly was bent over, holding her sides in laughter.

  “You know, you can be a real bitch sometimes, Kel,” Jenni muttered. “That was the last of them. Let’s go wash up and get something to eat. We can get this stuff ready to go tomorrow. It’s been a long day.”

  Kelly waved her on. “You go ahead, Jen. I want to talk to the men before I leave.”

  “Okay, but don’t be too long. You know Marge has dinner about ready, and you won’t hear the end of it if you get there once it’s cold—again.”

  Kelly waved her hand, acknowledging her. “I won’t be long. You’d better not use all the hot water this time.”

  “No promises,” Jenni yelled over her shoulder as she took off toward the house at a run.

  “I mean it, Jenni,” Kelly called after her. “I’ll put a goanna in your bed if you do.”

  Kel
ly smiled as she watched her friend run to the house, laughing as she went. It was good to see her coming out of the funk she had been in for the past year.

  Kelly had known Jenni all her life. At five years younger, Jenni had been shadowing her since she could walk. The past year had been extremely hard on the girl. First, her father had disappeared on a scavenger trip to a small settlement eighty kilometers north of O’Donnell Station. A short time after that… Kelly’s face flushed with rage at the thought of what that arse Hawthorne had done in the very building she was in.

  Matt Hawthorne, the forty-seven-year-old owner of Hawthorne Station, which adjoined O’Donnell Station to the south, was a coarse man with hygiene habits that would make a pig blush. When Kelly’s father had died in a bandit raid six years earlier, he was one of the first ones to show up seeking her hand—and her farm—in marriage. He’d refused to take no for an answer and became more demanding each time he came around until Kelly finally told him she would shoot his prick off and feed it to the hogs if he ever looked her way again.

  He never forgot that and took the threat to heart. Kelly did have a reputation for being quick-tempered and a crack shot. It had been bandied about for years in the local tavern that at seventeen, she had gone alone into the bush and hunted down the surviving bandits who’d killed her father. The talk was that she had killed each of them slowly, the gruesome details growing with each telling. She had actually only found two of them, and there had been nothing slow about the way she’d coldly put a single bullet into each one.

  Hawthorne had stopped trying after that, but when Jenni’s dad didn’t return, he decided to try her instead. Jenni was a gentle soul and tried to see the good in everyone. She was polite to the man, against Kelly’s advice, and he took it as a sign that she wanted him, even though she had turned him down on multiple occasions.