Chapter Seven

Warriors' Gathering

Achkhoy - Martanovsky District

Chechnya

Vakhyita Ridge Forest

August 9, 2001

21:49 hour

Two figures are browsing between foliages carefully ascending a grassy slope under darkness. Sounds of popping gunshots and smokes are seen and heard from far. 

" Come on, we must hurry." Says Nate in whisper. " We must make sure the ridge is clear from hostiles."

" Why must we go the ridge?" Asks Shiori.

" Okay. I haven't told you. That's our way out. An aircraft from Georgia will land there and get us out of here." Answers Nate.

" Is it waiting us there?" Asks Shiori.

" No. I have to call it through my radio. And we can't do it now. It has to be tomorrow morning, where the landing zone is illuminated by sun ray." Answers Nate again. " Once we arrive there, we still have to set a defense perimeter."

Nate and Shiori arrives at bushes where they stop to rest. Nate immediately reaches his radio and reports to the headquarter and requests for airlift the next morning at 06:30 am.

Achkhoy - Martanovsky District

Chechnya

Vakhyita Ridge Forest

August 10, 2001

00:34 hour

" Shiori.. come here.. Silently.." Says Nate in whisper. " Look." Says Nate again while handing his nightvision binocular.  When Shiori looks through the binocular, he sees figures of men wielding weapons browse through trees  on slope on their down right. " They are not Russians." Says Shiori.

" We've been followed." Says Nate. " That's why everywhere we went there was battle."

" They are not attacking Russians. They are after you. What did you take from them?" Asks Nate to Shiori.

" Only datas and oh.. a map.." answers her.

" It means you have seen all of their hideout networks. And where they store their equipments all over Chechnya." Replies Nate.

" Come on, we have to leave before they overrun this place." Tells Nate.

The two continues their escape by slipping silently through trees and bushes. On their run, they ambush and kill several rebels using blades, shuriken, a crossbow and deadly martial art moves. Sometimes they do them in combined attack. Nate and Shiori rush through trees and brushes. They stop to take a breath when they arrive at a more opened former camping site.

" Shh.." Says Nate to Shiori. " I think we've been being watched. Careful."

" Could it be the rebels? This place is too quiet. Where're the sounds of animals?" Replies Shiori.

" No. They could be more. Stay quiet." Orders Nate.

Both of them proceed the neglected camping site carefully with blades and guns wielded. They are being watched by nightvision devices. Suddenly, figures of six men come out from bushes and trees then encircle the ninjas. Nate and Shiori  point their guns at them. A man in maroon berret walks forward and start to speak in English with thick Russian accent.

" Amerikanski, I am impressed that you have gone so far. I am Lieutenant Dimitry Petrovich of Spetsnaz." Says the man in berret. 

Nate replies nothing.

" We have followed you since Dasha village. Remember the fighting? Remember the bus incident? Two of the passengers are my men. Knowing you were the one who would lead us to that wanted woman." Continues him.

" What do you want, Poruchik?" fizzles Nate.

" Come with us. But I don't think you would surrender peacefully, right?" Says Lieutenant Petrovich.

Petrovich's men bring out wooden staffs, ninja swords, knives and a double sticks. Nate and Shiori drop their AK rifles and sling their uzi and pistol. Soon both of them fight against four of Petrovich's masked men. A clash between Ninja Taijutsu and Kenjutsu against Cossack Systema occurs. Both are martial arts from centuries ago. It's a fighting between Ninjas versus Petrovich's Cossack Warriors. The fighting is depicted like a dance, a deadly one. Nate utilizes charge combined with repeated direct slashes and stabs to give the enemy no chance to breath while Shiori utilizes speed and high jumps followed by strikes from her sharp tanto dagger. Both of them also uses unarmed hand to hand combat techniques in the fighting. After a hard fighting, the ninjas incapacitate Petrovich's men.

Seeing that, Lieutenant Petrovich  claps his hand and praises the ninjas, " Impressive. You two incapacitate my men. The best among my forces." 

" What are you doing, Alexey?" Asks Petrovich to his aide when he notices him about to wield his AK74SU.

Corporal Chernenko immediately lowers his gun.

" Now I want to feel myself the power of ninjas." Says Petrovich. He unsheates a large long curved Russian saber.

The ninjas and the lieutenant are involved in fighting. This opponent is stronger than they have encountered before including his men. His sword is longer than Nate's but is able to be wield agilely as Shiori's tanto. It is seen as the saber dances at Petrovich's right hand. He is able to block and disperse Nate and Shiori's combined attacks. He even manages to scratch Nate several times on hands and chest as well delivers unarmed combat attacks. The critical moment comes when he delivers a horizontal at Nate from right. Nate evades by falling to his rear then kick Petrovich's right knee fold from behind which prompts him to kneel. Nate rises with his lef hand holds Petrovich's right hand and with Shiori deliver blow the Lieutenant's neck with Nate's sword's blunt side and Shiori's right punch then kick Lieutenant Petrovich's feet. The lieutenant falls to the rear, incapacitated. Nate and Shiori moves their attention at Petrovich's aide. He shudders and freezes with his AK74SU pointed at the ninjas.

Nate calls the corporal in Russian, " Guard your commander and your friends." He then leaves the camp site with Shiori. The ninjas run into a group of Chechen rebels and fight them with their AK rifles. " Run!! Hurry!! I'll follow!!" Shouts Nate to Shiori. Nate shoots at several incoming Rebels then retreats. Nate and Shiori run and shoot all Chechen fire and they meet. The Chechen rebels led by Movkar have overrun the area. A Chechen rebel ambushes Nate. He fights the rebel in bare hands and winds after takes the rebel's knife and thrust it to his necks. Shiori is found slashing and stabbing two Chechen rebels. Meanwhile, Petrovich comes to his consciousness assisted by his aide. The Corporal called Alexey reports to the lieutenant, " Poruchik, they have run away. Our men are all still alive.", " And there's an urgent call from headquarter." Reports him again. 

The two ninjas keep running and fighting their way up to the ridge. " Run, Shiori! Don't Stop!" Cries Nate.     

To be continued 

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Disclaimer: All contents are fiction.