by Jessie Wolf
“School Time for Death” - Tendrils of Control
Book 4 of the Death Dealer Saga.
By Jessie Wolf
Kindle Edition © 2015 Jessie Wolf
First Edition: November 2015
For Maiha Nakatoma going back to school is not all it’s cracked up to be. Will she ever know what a normal day is?
Edited by djkauf, HoneysuckleP, and my loving husband Paul
Dedication
To all those who have helped me with this work of fiction. First my editors whose hard work this story would be nothing more than a dream. Donald J. Kaufman SR, and Professor Virginia Whipple. If not for the two of you I know that my writing would be nothing more than the ramblings of a desperate writer. For Paul my loving and very forgiving husband, without whose encouragement I would never have had the courage to even try writing this story or his putting up with stacks and stacks of notes covering his dinner table.
Author’s Notes
Censorship Rating (18+).
About the author
Jessie Wolf lives in a small seaside town in South Carolina with her husband of 19 years and two very inquisitive cats. In her day to day life Jessie works as a Network Manager and IT guru for the resorts and hotels of her home town. In her spare time she is an avid reader of all forms of the written word - science fiction, fiction, fantasy, crime novels, detective stories, and just about anything else she can get her hands on. She is also a former member of her countries military and is a proud US Army veteran.
Publisher’s Note
Jessie Wolf is an exciting new author of the Twenty-Teens era. Jesse’s work has an established fan base who regularly comment on her work with great enthusiasm. They eagerly await each chapter as it comes. Jesse’s stories have a descriptive edge that keeps you wanting to read what happens next. The fans are already clamoring for a film of the Death Dealer’s Saga.
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Chapter 1
Headmistress Office Joan Eunice Smith School for Young Ladies, 1530
The young girl was dressed like all the others that walked the hallway. Some would say she was actually underdressed for the school in wearing only what was approved by the school dress code. Her only nod toward individualism is the combs holding her hair back out of her face.
“I don’t believe this shit; can this day get any more screwed up?”
Sure it can, honey. (De Dee)
“And just how is that, you tin plated pain in my ass?”
You could kick the Headmistress’ cat in front of her. (De Dee)
You could also shoot her secretary in the butt with an antipersonnel laser. (Charlie)
“I do not need any advice from you two on how to screw up. Jeez you ask one simple question and you get all the unwanted advice a person would want or handle.”
Oh come on Charlie, you have to admit that spit-ball to the rump was good. (De Dee)
“Yah, I never should have lost my temper like that.” I can’t believe that this day that started out so well could turn out so bad.
Earlier that day 0700 Nakatoma Estate compound…
“Hurry up, sissy!” I hear Nanase yell out from the front of the house. I can tell that my little sisters are all excited about going to school. I smile as I hear a groan from my wife, Alice. She is definitely not excited about today. For her it is returning to a place that for her was less than enjoyable. I look over her in her school uniform and give her a ‘come hither’ look. I can’t help myself she is just too sexy in that little schoolgirl outfit.
“Oh, no you don’t, missy. If we do what’s on your mind right now, we won’t make it to Joan Eunice Smith on time. I don’t know about you but I have no desire to face the Headmistress on the first day. As it is I don’t want to be going in the first place, but it is the only way I can get what I need to be an officer so I’m doing it. Now let’s get going before the twins come drag us out the door.”
Laughing I head out the door to our rooms and towards the front of the house. “Hey, they have been kind of wound up lately. You don’t think they’re ready to go to school do you?”
“My Goddess, those three have been on pins and needles for the past week waiting. I don’t see how anyone could be so excited over going to school?” when Alice says this I realize that she doesn’t know about my little sisters never going to a real school before.
“Um…Alice before we get outside there is something you need to know about Fuyuko and the twins.” I wait for her to look over at me. “All three of them have never been to a school outside of here at the Temple school.” At her blank look I explain in more detail. “Before they came here the three of them have never been to a real school, pussycat. For them it’s a great big adventure. Until now, their whole world of learning has been inside of the compound and what the nuns at the Temple saw fit to teach them.”
“Oh wow, no wonder they’re so excited. I didn’t realize just how sheltered they were.” I can tell she understands now. “I’ll keep my bias to myself.”
“Thank you, honey. I know you don’t really want to go, but remember we have two objectives here. First protect the Emperor’s daughter, and second get you your advanced degree so you can be an officer in the House Military.”
“Have I told you how much I love you today?” she asks of me.
“Not in the last two hours.”
“Too long.” And with that she pulls me into a deep hug and kiss. When we separate, “I know that your first priority is the protection of the Princess, but do me a favor and try and have some fun? I know you’ll try and put everyone else first, but you can’t have a life of your own if you do that.”
I just smile up at her and shake my head. “Love, you know me all too well. Alright I’ll try and have some fun. Please remember though the only reason I’m going is to learn how to behave like a teenage girl. You all forget sometimes that behind this cute and adorable exterior is a ninety-seven year old crusty, mean, and cantankerous soldier.”
“Oh, no, we don’t. Believe me that is the one thing we don’t forget. If we do, all we have to do is take one look at you and we see that man with just the way you stand, move, or look at something. No one can fake that commanding presence of yours no matter how hard they try.”
Her statement brings me up short. “Am I really that bad, love?” I am really worried about what she just said. Because if I can’t pull off looking and acting like a teenager then my whole ability to blend in as a schoolgirl is out the window. Along with my ability to protect the Princess.
“No, love, you’re not that bad. Only those of us who know can truly tell. To the rest of the world you’re just a very well-grounded and aware of your surroundings young lady. You have that air of authority of one who has seen too much, but you can handle it.” As she explained her statement I begin to see what she meant. “Love, as much as I hate to say this, but you have that faraway look in your eyes that lets people know what you did here just one month ago. Your name is all over the planet as the girl who took down the corrupt government of this system. Everyone knows you were the one to lead four divisions of Death Dealers, nine mercenary companies, and a full House regiment in battle against the traitors to a victory of unbelievable proportions. They know you and your family keep the Emperor on his throne. Also a lot of them know you’re the first ever First High Lady of the Death Dealers. They kind of expect you to have that air of authority about you.”
As Alice explained all this to me I worried less and less about passing as a normal teenager. I just needed to pass as me. The Head of House for the Nakatoma Family, and all
the other bullshit I have been saddled with. Man what I wouldn’t give to just be a simple G.R.U.N.T. (Ground Recon Unit Non Trainable) again. Oh well, standing around here wishing for what I can’t have ain’t going to get the job done.
Maiha, if you just let the behavioral program do its job and quit fighting it you won’t have this problem. (De Dee)
“De Dee, half the problems I have are because of that pain in my ass program. No way am I just going to let it have free reign.”
Ok already, it was only a suggestion. (De Dee)
“A bad one, and drop it.”
Yes, ma’am! (De Dee)
There are times when having one of the most powerful AIs in the known universe is a real pain in the ass. Thankfully Charlie didn’t put in his two cents. I know he would only look at this as an exercise in infiltration and evasion. That’s one good thing about Charlie; he knows his strengths and weaknesses. If he doesn’t understand something, he keeps his mouth shut. However if it involves combat he is the man. He can figure out a tactical situation faster than De Dee and give me a far better control over my secondary configuration weapons than her. He is the perfect combat AI. De Dee is better at figuring out the political lie of the situation and how to exploit it to its full advantage. Between the two of them plus all my years of experience, I am a very formidable person. My one drawback along with theirs, I have no social graces what so ever. I couldn’t tell you what frock to use at a State Dinner, or any of that shit. I have absolutely no fashion skills, no back ground in how to behave like a girl, let alone a High Families Lady.
In short I am at best a total ‘tomboy’; at worse a total klutz socially. I mean I have over ninety years as a man of action and science. As a man I could sit down and dine with royalty, heads of state, military commanders, you name it and have no problems. Now, I’m expected to be able to do so much more as a Lady, which I have no, clue what. Yup, in a social setting I am totally screwed now. That’s why I’m going to this school, so I can learn everything I should have learned if I had grown up as a ‘normal’ girl.
“Come on, love, let’s get this show on the road. Before I say to hell with it and run screaming back into our rooms and lock the door.” I start heading for the door again. I know that I need to get moving or I won’t ever set foot in that school. Me, the man, now girl, who is called Death, was afraid of a bunch of teenage girls. The girl, who led men and women into one of the most brutal battles since the American Civil War of the nineteenth century, was scared of a bunch of unarmed female teenagers. Talk about the ultimate joke.
“Kitten, are you feeling alright?” Alice asks me as we step outside. “You haven’t been acting like yourself today.”
“Yes, love, I’m fine. I just feel a little off today for some reason. It’s nothing major, just a little cramping is all.” At the time I had no idea what was bugging me. If I had used my head I would have known what was going on with me. I mean first there was my sister’s from eighty years ago, then there was my wife Matsu, and finally there was my daughter Ohmei. However I ignored all that experience, and I would pay the price later.
“Um… Maiha do you have any tampons or sanitary napkins with you?” Alice asked me all of a sudden.
“No, why would I need them?” now I can hear you all out there. So I don’t want to hear it, I screwed up and didn’t listen.
She reached in to her purse and pulled out two tampons and handed them to me. “Here, just in case.” I put them into my purse and thought nothing about it. I just figured it was one of those girl things I would need to learn.
That thought would come back to haunt me, just like one I had had just a week ago. That this is going to be a very interesting year. If I had any common sense I would have just headed back inside and forgot about going to school.
Mama and our new dad met us outside by the hover car that would take us into town and our new school. I smile at my younger sisters as we near them. I can tell they are all excited about this chance to go to school like the High Families girls they have always looked up to. That’s when I remember something I had learned from Matsu. I didn’t want them looking up at these young girls in awe. If anything I wanted them to set the example of how a High Family Lady should act.
“Fuyuko, Nanase, Nanami, I know you’re excited about going to school outside of the compound, but I need you all to remember that you’re members of a very special group of women. You’re all three, Onna bugeisha, the Powerful Female Samurai Warrior. In the earlier periods such as the Heian and Kamakura, there were female members of the samurai class who became prominent or even present on the battlefield. They were the exception and not the rule, but this doesn’t mean that most women were powerless. When you get to school remember that. If anyone challenges your right to be there, inform them that you earned it on the battlefield at your older sisters side. Then send them to see ether me or Alice. Now hold your heads up high and let’s go to school.” I look over at mama and dad as they both smile at me.
Fuyuko looked up at me then smiled. “Hai, ane. I will not forget.” My baby sisters quickly followed with their own promises, before all three bowed to me and got into the hover car.
“I had not thought of telling them that, Maiha. To be truthful I had forgotten all about the Onna bugeisha.” I can see mama had truly forgotten part of her own family history. The Nakatoma clan traced its heritage clear back to ancient Japan to the time of the Sengoku period the mid. 15th century to the beginning of 17th century. It was during this time that the Nakatoma Family came to power in the military. More than one of the women of our family was found to be just as respected as warriors among the male dominated society of the military. “I was a little worried that your younger sisters would be… influenced by the children of the other High Families. Thank you for pointing out a way for them to not be bullied”
“I have to agree with your mama, Maiha. I was also worried about how the other High Families children might try and exercise undue influence on your sisters. I doubt they will be cowed by the other girls who have been there longer now. Telling them they are samurai was a stroke of genius.” Dad whispered in to my ear as he hugged me.
“But daddy, they are samurai. In the longest and greatest traditions of our family. Just ask mama to take you over to the family archive. You’ll find a ton of examples, but wait until we’re gone. I don’t want the rest to get too big a head.” I broke my hug and waited for Alice to give him hers before we climbed into the car. I looked out and saw that once again we were surrounded by the recon platoon. I had to smile at this then I began to giggle. Here we are five of the deadliest people on the planet, and we have a full bodyguard unit to escort us to school. Talk about over kill.
“What are you giggling about, sissy?” leave it to Nanase to ask.
I point out the window and wait for them to look at where I’m pointing before I answer. “Inside this car are five of the most powerful people on this planet, and we have a bodyguard escort.” When they realize what I just pointed out they all began to laugh as well. Hearing my statement the driver looks up into the rear view mirror.
“That may be true, Lady Maiha, but we still have a job to do.” The young man was right. De Dee gives me his name so I know who is driving us around.
“You’re right, Private Hartman. I just find the amount of security to be just a little over the over-kill side. I mean we have four Infantry Support class APS’ and a full Jump Infantry platoon providing cover for this detail.”
The young man chuckles before he answers me. “My Lady, you forget that her Royal Highness is in the car behind us. We all know that you, Lady Allison, and your sisters could tear apart just about anyone stupid enough to attack this convoy. However, our job is to make sure that Her Highness and her friends get out of the area if it should come to that.”
I sit back and think about that fact. I had forgotten about the fact that Princess Daniela was accompanying us to her new school as well. As a matter of fact she is my primary concern while a
t Joan Eunice Smith School for Young Ladies. “Thank you for reminding me, Hartman. I had forgotten that fact. Do you know if they had their ankle monitors removed before we left the house?” this was a real security issue as the three of them could be tracked if they were still wearing them.
“Yes, ma’am, Lieutenant Silver Leaf had them taken off before they even left their rooms this morning. She said something about those things being target locators or something like that.”
“That is exactly what those things are. If you have their monitoring frequency it will make like a homing beacon for a signal homing missile, that will lock on to that signal and then home in and destroy whoever is wearing it.”
“Holy hell, ma’am. You mean those girls would have been sitting ducks for anyone with the right equipment?”
“In the words of a friend of mine, ‘you got it in one, honey.’” I watch as the color drains out of his face at this realization. “I take it you might have tried to put the moves on one of the young ladies in the second car, Private?”
“Umm… if I say yes will it get me in trouble?”
Giggling I shake my head and I am joined by my sisters and Alice. “No, private, you won’t get in trouble, at least not with anyone in the House. Now their fathers might be another matter entirely.” When he hears this he gets this really nervous look about him. I decide to find out who he was putting the moves on. “Which one of the ladies caught your fancy Hartman?”
“Umm… Miss Lisa, ma’am.”
At least he isn’t going after the princess or Lady Susan. One of those two could cause me more problems than it was worth. “You do know that she has a record for forgery right, Hartman?”
“Oh… yes ma’am, she told me that up front. We haven’t done anything other than talk to each other my Lady.” he may be talking to me and my family but I can tell he has his eyes and head on his job. I can respect this young man for his professionalism. This man is a true driver.