It’s a dark room and only a deep and imposing voice is heard. Although he is not visible it is Monsoon, a vicious looking Iarlan Veguhl that’s eight feet of muscle.

Monsoon: Our old master was a fool. He put too much stock into the humans and their wicked witches. Not to mention he always fought using only a third of his strength. Only a fool holds back in battle, no matter how seemingly weak their opponent is. In the end what did all that mercy reward him?

Veguhl Henchman: So what do you plan to do now boss?

Monsoon: I intend to avenge Master of course. But in the meantime we will continue with our plans.

Veguhl henchman: Very well, boss.

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Chelsea, an Avalian Veguhl, Evona, a young Iarlan Veguhl, and Araceli, a young Vyrkian Veguhl, giddily walk Kenjiro down a maze of dingy halls in the back of a pub.

Chelsea: This is it girls.

Evona: Our ticket to a new life.

Araceli: We’re going to have a wonderful time.

Kenjiro: You girls sure get excited for this sort of thing.

Chelsea rolls her eyes as she leads them to a tall iron door. She bangs on it loudly. A slit opens and ominous eyes peer through.

Doorman: What’s the password?

Chelsea: It’s us Kabil, let us in.

Doorman: No password, no entrance.

Chelsea: Damn it Kabil you know it’s us.

Araceli: The password changes everyday now, nobody can keep up with it anymore.

Doorman: Who’s the human?

Chelsea: He’s our special guest. Hurry up and open the door.

Evona: Come on Kabil, you’re holding us up.

Doorman: Boss said no password, no entrance. No matter what.

Kenjiro slowly fumbles for his katana and begins to unsheathe it.

Kenjiro: Having trouble ladies? Don’t worry, let me grab my sword and I’ll slice it open.

Araceli stops him.

Araceli: Not yet baby, you can show us your sword techniques once we’re inside.

Chelsea: If you don’t let us in you’re gonna need a password for my entrance! Now open the damn door, Kabil!

There is a long pause. The door cracks open, and Chelsea kicks it wide open as she storms through.

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On the other side of the door is Kabil, an obese Iarlan Veguhl, and a long dimly lit narrow stairway going down.

With perturbed faces the girls walk by.

Kabil: You didn’t mean it did you, Chelsea?

Chelsea: Oh shut up!

Evona sticks her tongue out at Kabil.

Kabil: But I was just following orders.

Araceli: So are we bird brain!

Kenjiro examines the narrow rocky walls in wonder.

Kenjiro: We really are gonna have some fun down here.

Chelsea rolls her eyes again as she continues to lead the group.

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The large iron door closes. Tina and Dean have been spying in on the action from the corner of the hall. Tina tiptoes to the iron door and examines it.

Dean: Where are you going Tina?

Dean looks around before catching up to her.

Dean: Don’t tell me you’re trying to join in on the fun.

Tina gives him an incredulous look.

Tina: Dean, you dunce! Does this look like the entrance to a bedroom?

Dean stretches his neck to examine the tall door.

Dean: Now that you mention it, it does seem a little odd.

Tina: Exactly. There’s something fishy going on around here.

Tina begins to examine the floors along the hall and taps several different spots with her foot.

Dean: Look Tina we didn’t come all this way to study the criminal underbelly of a no-name mining town. And what are you doing anyway?

Tiny: This floor is hollow here. And I got a glimpse of a stairway leading deep underground from the other side of that door.

Dean: So?

Tina: So, we find a vent and hope it leads us to some answers.

Dean: I want answers! Like how this is all relevant to finding King Loc.

Tina: Dean, don’t you realize what’s going on? I thought you were an ace reporter.

Dean: I am, but enlighten me anyway.

Tina sighs.

Tina: We’re following a powerful bounty hunter in the criminal infested part of Tep-Tep City.

Dean: Yeah?

Tina: Don’t you know who owns this part of town? It’s Monsoon.

Dean: Monsoon?

Dean pauses upon realizing something.

Dean: Wait, you mean the Monsoon?! As in Iarlec’s Demon of the Storm?!

Tina: Exactly! Rumors are spreading that Captain Armolos of the Storm Bryx has recently fallen at the hands of King Loc. So naturally what’s the next best bounty to find around here?

Dean: The damn Demon of the Storm. But that buffoon doesn’t mean to take on that bounty all by himself does he? Monsoon’s bounty was over fifty million shekyl last I checked. It would take nearly the might of a queen to rein in that monster.

Tina: Exactly! And it just so happens we’re tailing the man who assisted in taking down a queen as of late. Just think of it; in addition to digging up all the juicy details we can on Loc, we’re also the first to release an issue on the capture of the great Demon of the Storm. Wouldn’t Mister Bail be proud?

Dean begins to urgently tap around on the floor.

Tina: What are you doing?

Dean: What do you think I’m doing? There’s gotta be a vent around here somewhere.

Tina smiles.

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Kenjiro and the Veguhl women approach a large room full of boxed goods and crates. It’s an underground warehouse. Chelsea pulls out a pair of handcuffs from within her large cleavage and shackles Kenjiro’s hands. Evona takes away the sheathed Ogre Blade from him.

Kenjiro: Oh I see. You ladies wanna play some games first. I like that.

Chelsea: You can play and frolic all you want, in the realm beyond time--

Chelsea kicks him forward into the room. Monsoon and several Veguhl henchmen are playing pool. They pause to witness Kenjiro roll in.

Kenjiro: Ow! Not so rough ladies.

Chelsea: Here he is boss. The one-eyed bounty hunter.

Evona: And his sacred sword, the Ogre Blade.

Monsoon: Ah, very nicely done girls.

Kenjiro: Wait. Who’s this guy? I’ll have you know ladies that I’m a one man show. I don’t need any assistants.

Chelsea kicks Kenjiro.

Chelsea: Would you shut up you fool! As if I would ever devalue myself with a human.

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Tina and Dean watch on from a ceiling vent. Tina has a good view of the scene, Dean not so much.

Dean: What’s going on? I can barely see anything.

Tina: Shhh! You’re gonna give us away. Innokians have supernatural senses, remember?

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Monsoon: Easy on the merchandise Chelsea. We still need him to talk.

Evona: I don’t think you’re going to get much out of him right now. He’s quite inebriated.

Monsoon: Well I don’t have the tolerance to stomach the presence of a human for long, so he better cough up what I want to know before I lose my patience.

Chelsea clears her throat.

Chelsea: I believe we made a deal, Monsoon.

Monsoon: A deal? What deal?

Chelsea looks pensive. The other girls look distraught.

Araceli: The deal about letting us go--

Chelsea holds up her hand, signaling for her to stop.

Chelsea: It’s been five years Monsoon! Five! You promised us this would be the end of it!

Monsoon: Is that so?

Chelsea: Don’t act like you don’t remember! You said our debts would be paid in full once we bring this human to you. We’ve honored our part of the deal. It’s only right you honor yours!

Monsoon chuckles.

Monsoon: Now that you mention it. I do recall saying something along those lines.

Monsoon approaches Chelsea.

Monsoon: Come now Chelsea, you didn’t really think I meant it, do you?

The other girls begin to cry. The henchmen chuckle.

Monsoon: Let me tell you something Chelsea. You will never, ever, leave my side.

He caresses her face to her chagrin.

Monsoon: You’re too profitable Chelsea, and too… Soon I’m going to be opening up my businesses to the humans.

Chelsea: What?! I’ll never spread my wings for a filthy hu--

Monsoon quickly grabs her jaw, preventing her from speaking.

Monsoon: You are mine and will do whatever I bid you for the rest of your days.

Chelsea spits in his face. Monsoon chuckles as he licks it off with a smile.

Monsoon: Oh it’s a little early for foreplay, honey.

He pushes her to the ground.

Evona: Chelsea!

Araceli: Chelsea!

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Tina: That animal! He’s making Innokians everywhere look bad!

Dean: Shhh!

Tina guiltily covers her mouth.

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Chelsea gets on her knees and begs.

Chelsea: Then please… just let Evona and Araceli go!

The girls look moved by her sudden gesture.

Chelsea: I will humbly serve you without a fuss for the rest of my days, so long as you at least let them go. You can easily replace them.

Monsoon pauses before picking Chelsea up by her hair. She grunts in pain.

Monsoon: All three of you will humbly serve me without a fuss for the rest of your days. However, because I’m in a generous mood, I will allow them to go, on one condition. That they leave with plucked wings.

The room laughs as Chelsea and the girls look surprised and helpless.

Monsoon: Don’t worry, I’ll honor this deal!

Furious, Chelsea slaps Monsoon in the face, causing the whole room to halt with a collective gasp. Monsoon looks irate. He slaps her back and she falls back to the ground.

Monsoon: You feathered bitch! Don’t you ever raise your hand against me again!

He kneels down to her and grabs her by the neck, ready to continue. Before he unleashes, a Torqued Katana is swiftly but gently nudged against his neck. Monsoon halts.

Veguhl Henchman: Look out boss!

Holding the blade behind him is a very sober Kenjiro.

Kenjiro: I think it’s about time we hand you over to the authorities, Demon of the Storm.

Chapter End