Princess Rescue Inc (79 page)

Zara
hugged her mother, both stared into the fire as it roared, consuming her
father.

Perry
nodded to the old Asian man watching the men working out in the courtyard
below. The visitor had a long gray beard. His hair was done up in a top knot.
His white robe had a lotus painted on it. His arms were clasped behind his
back. He was the picture of an Asian master.

“Can
I help you with something old timer?” Perry asked amused. He wasn't comfortable
about having a civilian watching their training. Right now a group of Silent
Knights, the native equivalent of army Rangers were in hand to hand training.

The
old man turned and gave him a look then went back to watching the men below. A
girl dressed in what looked like a traditional Chinese outfit came over and
tugged on the old man's arm. He turned and she said something in an Asian
language that the translator didn't quite catch fast enough.

The
old man gave her a look and then patted her arm politely before he looked at
Perry. He cocked his head as the girl stood behind the man and touched her
black braided hair. “Something you want to let me in on?” he asked.

“You
are commander of gaijin?” the elder asked.

“The
military commander,” Perry nodded.

“How
you know...” He pointed to the Gunny doing katas.

“The
Gunny?” Perry asked. The elder frowned. “Oh you mean the martial arts?” he
asked making the connection.

“Indeed,”
the man said nodding, returning his hands to the folds of his robe.

“Well,
this is American military grade martial art they are teaching. Gunny Paris is
our resident expert on martial arts. He's studied Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Taijutsu,
Karate, and a few others,” Perry explained. He shrugged as the Asians looked at
each other.

“Problem
Lieutenant?” the Gunny asked coming over as his assistant took charge of the
class. Perry tossed him a towel. The noncom caught it and tucked it under one
arm. The Gunny nodded politely to the girl and then came to attention and gave
a deep bow to the elder.

“Konnichi
wa sensei.”

“Konnichi
wa,” the elder replied, bowing. “But I believe you are a sensei as well?” his
eyes twinkled.

“I
still have a lot to learn,” the Gunny said nodding to the student. “I learned a
bit of karate under Sensei Oshido in Japan when I was on tour there,” he said.
He gave the floundering Lieutenant a look.

“Ah,”
the elder said nodding.

“They
teach... the forbidden arts to gaijin now?” the student asked, clearly
nonplussed. Her hands went to her sides and balled into fists.

Gunny
Paris took in her outrage and his welcoming smile cooled slightly. “Things
change over time miss. Martial arts were exported to other countries for many
years after the last world war. There are hundreds of styles now,” the Gunny
replied.

“Indeed,”
the elder said nodding. He stroked his beard with a wrinkled hand. “Such things
do happen. Like the weather, time changes all,” he bowed slightly to the Gunny.

“And
we must change with it or be overwhelmed,” the Gunny replied. “Supple as a
willow yet as strong as iron Sensei always told us.”

“Ah.
Indeed, You had a wise teacher,” the elder nodded.

“You
are the capital's grand master?” the Lieutenant asked. The elder smiled
briefly, his eyes twinkled.

“I'd
be honored with a bout sensei,” the Gunny said and bowed again.

“Indeed,”
the elder murmured. The elder stopped stroking his beard then went over to one
end of the mat. The students moved away. The assistant looked to the Gunny. The
Gunny waved him away.

“Three
falls out of four Sensei?” the Gunny asked as he strode over to the other side
of the mat.

“As
you wish,” the master said. His hands went to his sides. His body went into a
horse stance. The Gunny looked him over then bowed politely.

“Let's
keep this clean without too much breakage okay?” the Lieutenant said wearily.
He held up a hand then dropped it.

<==={}------------>

“Age
and treachery versus youth and strength,” the Gunny said smiling. He had a
spectacular set of bruises on his throat and arm. He knew that the elder had
pulled a few of his punches but they still hurt like hell.

“Not
bad,” the elder said, panting as well. “I have not had such a bout in many
years. You are worthy,” he said. He nodded. The Gunny bowed again.

“Indeed,”
he said then smiled. “We'll have to do it again sometime.” The elder chuckled
then rubbed the small of his back.

“Sometime
yes, but old bones do feel aches in time,” the elder replied dryly. His student
was both awed and concerned for her master's welfare. Perry chuckled softly at
that.

“Perhaps
you and your student could aide in the martial arts training grand ah...
Sensei?” Perry asked. The grand master gave him a look.

The
Asian master looked old, old and torn for a moment as he stroked his beard,
looking away in deep thought. “For generations this has been a secret of our
people. Guarded and only used in defense.” The elder looked around. His student
was stiff. “But times have changed. We must defend our home or be overrun by
the barbarians. I will help you,” he said. He nodded.

“But
master...” the girl protested, hand up. He gave her a quelling look. She froze
then her hand and head dropped. “Yes sensei.”

“We
can make arrangements for what you need and where you would like to train. I've
put in for a dojo, but it's not a priority now. Perhaps we can change that?”
Perry asked glancing to the Gunny and then to the master. The grand master
nodded.

“Indeed
and perhaps in participating in this we shall reduce the number of thugs on the
streets?” the elder said smiling slightly. His student twitched. The Gunny
nodded.

“It
would be helpful. Not everyone has the ability to learn as well as your student
sensei. Teaching a few moves to... police and others would aide in that problem
as well.” He shrugged at Perry's much put upon look. “What? It's on the to-do
list you know.”

“I
know,” Perry sighed. “Awfully long list,” he grimaced.

“Gets
even longer every day sir,” the Gunny smiled as the elder and his student retreated.
The elder moved with stately grace, hands tucked behind him in his robe. The
student followed at the appropriate spacing.

“Think
he'll be an asset?” Perry asked softly.

“Oh
hell yes sir, I know so,” the Gunny replied checking an elbow. “He's good, very
good. A little shy on a few of the newer moves, but he's got the techniques
down to beyond art level.” He shrugged. “Besides, I heard his dojo was in the
Asian temple that got burned down in a fire a year ago. He's been stuck in a
flat in the slums. Getting a master of his caliber out and back where he can
make a difference is important.”

“Indeed
it is,” Perry nodded. “Just as long as we don't take in too many charity
cases,” he replied and then frowned.

“Think
of him as a civilian consultant sir,” the Gunny shrugged. “Besides, this way I
can spend a bit more time with the Silent Knights on other tasks.”

“There
is that,” Perry nodded grudgingly. “All right, set it up. I'll see what I can
do about a dojo.”

“And
training mats,” the Gunny sighed, rubbing the small of his back. Hitting the
flagstones had been painful. “Definitely training mats, maybe a hot tub too.”

“Well,
you're the fool who went up against him. I wasn't about to,” Perry chuckled.
The Gunny grinned.

“Pleasures
worth the pain sir,” he said and then groaned. “I can't wait to tell my
grandkids someday.”

“Let's
hope so Gunny,” Perry said, slapping the Gunny on a bruised shoulder. The
noncom winced and then shrugged it off.

<==={}------------>

Art’ur's
eyes lit as he read the latest spy report. “So, the King is dead. Long live the
King,” he said tapping his own chest as he grinned savagely.

Uuôden
glanced at the other lords. Some were new to this ambition, others were wary.
Some were eager for the conquest but aware that their opponents were almost
done marshaling their forces. The fight to come would be vicious and they were
low on supplies. Also none had been able to pry out the men holding the pass
closed, though several cohorts had tried. None had been successful in the
effort and few of the men tasked with the mission had returned.

They
were beginning to question his leadership, Uuôden realized. He was loyal to his
King, he had to be, and it was all he had left. But he could see madness in
Art’ur, there was too much there now, he had too much invested to back down and
retreat. All he could hope for was that the Imperium would be somehow crushed.

“The
spies say they are waiting for the rains to dry out before they set fires,”
Art’ur said, scanning the document as he read out loud. He scowled. “They
should have set them before!” he snarled.

“If
they had the rains would have put them out my liege,” Uuôden replied.

“Perhaps,”
Art’ur said. He caught the look between Wedst and Fargut. Both were concerned
about the dealings and events. “Perhaps not. Order them to double their
efforts. And tell them not to attempt to kill the gaijin. We want them. They
will be useful.”

“Aye
my lord,” Uuôden said, feeling relief. There were only a handful of spies in
the capital and none were ready to try something so foolish. Not after the
reports of the attempt on the gaijin leader's life and how it had ended. A
mighty warrior indeed to have killed five out of seven alone.

“Leave
me. We must find a way to break this cursed siege. Emroy will pay dearly for
thwarting us. I'll make him eat his own child's entrails as I watch,” Art’ur
snarled as the lords filed out. Fargut stiffened and shot a concerned look over
his shoulder at Art’ur. Fortunately for him Art’ur was looking away. Fargut
recovered himself and quickly exited.

<==={}------------>

“We
could have used the Colonel right about now,” Perry said eying the map.

“I
was wondering about that, what was a bird colonel doing in this one way
mission? Sounds like something from Stargate,” Ryans replied smiling politely.

“He
volunteered actually. Right after he got a long lost promotion,” Waters said
shrugging.

“Ah,
so the bird of paradise squatted on his shoulder and he decided to play
adventurer in payment?” Ryans asked. He wrinkled his nose at the thought as
Waters snorted. “That doesn't fit with what granddad said about brass. Usually
you get that high up you're less likely to stick your neck out. Shining a seat
with their asses and trying to kill the grunts with mounds of paper cuts.”

Waters
snorted again. “Cute. That shining a seat thing... He get that from Rambo?”

Ryans
grinned. “Granddad had a thing for movies with CMH vets in it. Walker Texas
ranger too,” he replied and then shrugged. “I'm not sure if it was because he
identified with them since he was one, or just liked the attention others were
giving to them.”

Water's
eyes narrowed. “Hmmm. Didn't know your granddad was a CMH winner.”

“Korea,”
Ryans answered. “His favorite movie was Heartbreak Ridge. He said they did a
pretty good job with it. Even got the dumb ass officers...” He nodded to Perry.
“Present company excepted,” he teased. Perry snorted a reply. “And the whole
party atmosphere of the seventies and eighties just right. He said the military
was royally screwed up back then. A lot of druggies and crap, it's why he got
his thirty in and got out.”

Waters
nodded, and then paused. “Forest Gump?” he asked with a suspicious up curved
lip.

Ryans
chuckled softly. “Gram's favorite, or so she said.” Perry eyed him and he
shrugged. “She said that's the real deal, dumb luck for a grunt,” he said,
grinning in memory of his grandfather's pained look. Perry chuckled softly. “Me
I think she liked it just to yank gramp's chain.”

“Typical
female,” Waters snorted.

“What
about you LT? How come you're a butter bar and not a captain?”

Perry
grimaced. “I had a bad OER.”

“Officers..?
“

“Evaluation
Report,” Waters filled in nodding to Perry. He'd used the noncom grapevine to
get a handle on all his people of course so he knew something about it.
Unfortunately the scuttlebutt had been bereft of details.

“Yeah,
I kinda, ah, decked my superior officer,” Perry admitted. He grimaced as the
other two men hooted in surprise and appreciation.

“Surprised
you weren't court martialed sir!” Waters said laughing.

“Ah,
well, there were extenuating circumstances. The bastard was sleeping with my
wife,” he replied and grimaced. That sobered Ryans and Waters. “She told me in
a dear John letter while I was in Iraq. He was back at base shuffling papers. I
got a temporary leave and decked the SOB in the officers' club,” he said and
then grimaced once more. “She was right there with him at the time.”