Salvation
Chapter eleven
One More for the World

Shadow and his group burst from the crowd of people in the camp. By now word had gotten out about them and the resent escape. Something tugged ruthlessly at Shadow: if he was there being picked apart ‘in the name of science‘, then there must be others there as well having the same done to them. He shook this thought away. Of course there were others, but first things first. Getting this camp’s leader. If he did go back for them, there could be a chance the leader would get away, then there would be more to torture, more to be poked and prodded.

This thought passed through the others’ minds as well, but they all knew the risks and sacrifices they all had to take in order to save what little was salvageable in this world. Shadow ran right through the men, his sword matching up with the cold steel of the warriors' weapons. He swung around, and with as much force as he could muster--far more than he needed--his blade sliced through the arms, heads and flesh of the men. For a second, slight as the pale moon’s glow, he almost relished in his kill.

Setzer didn’t bother to hesitate battling as soon as Shadow jumped right on in. In fact, he didn’t say much of anything as he drew his cards and aimed towards the feet of the soldiers. Something came to the gambler’s mind though, and as he heard the words leave his own mouth, he wondered what even possessed him to say it: “They gave you magical powers, can you use them?”

Locke would have stopped to stare if he wasn’t busy dodging blows from the guards. Gogo released his grip from Interceptor's collar, allowing the dog the freedom he needed to attack at will--snatching the men in his powerful jaws then tearing at their skin for what they did to Shadow. Gogo wasn't equipped with any weapon, but that didn’t stop his from using his hands and whatever item he could find; miming his friends’ movements.

Noticing this, Shadow took from one of the dead men a dagger and threw it to his companion with one word: “Catch!”

“Thank you sir.” Gogo gave a slight bow, but did not use the dagger to do much damage. Shadow scoffed. It suited Gogo. He didn’t remind the ninja of the type to kill if he could just knock them out instead. No men were really attacking him because of Shadow’s command for Interceptor to guard him. Maybe I’m actually starting to figure him out... The ninja thought, with a little smile edging his lips.

Locke thrust his sword into the last guard coming at them. The man fell, lifeless unto the dirt floor. The thief wiped away the beads of sweat on his brow and gave a wide grin of victory...until Setzer’s question popped back into his head. “Uh...magic?” Were the only words he could utter.

Shadow nodded and then turned to the now embarrassed gambler. The ninja back then probably would have picked him apart for asking that, but here, right now, he felt no need to be angry. They had a right to ask questions, to be curious in concern for their friend. After all, they did save him. He smiled weakly. “I don’t know if I have the power...and maybe it would be better if I don’t try to use it now. I might blow something up that I rather not.”

Setzer shook his head, mostly from disbelieve still in the question he asked. “But, what if we tried to help you with it....I mean, you could practice--”

“There’s no time...” Shadow’s brows crossed almost as if he wasn’t sure of his response. “I can’t go back and practice with a power I’m not sure is even there. If we do, he could get away...and do this again...” The ninja swayed, then tilted over.

Gogo grasped him, pulling an arm around Shadow’s shoulder to brace him. “Sir, you are not well. You have been drained of what little power you have left. You will not go far without proper rest.”

Shadow closed his eyes and leaned against the robed man and in a hushed voice said, “Is my life worth the destruction of thousands more?”

“No...” The gambler helped him up, catching his free arm, “Your life is worth much more.” Setzer didn’t care if at that moment it sounded unkind and even offensive to speak as if others, the very others they were trying to save, didn’t value anything compared to Shadow, but in reality his words made perfect sense. If Shadow was too weak and failed, then this leader would get away and all that was lost in this battle would be meaningless and, worse, the slaughters would double.

Shadow laughed at this. He knew perfectly what he was trying to say, to convince Shadow to do. But the ninja would not take that chance. No matter how foolish it was or that now he would be going against every warrior’s, and even his own, way of fighting. Shadow knew it was the only way to get him. This leader doesn't stand a chance against me... He doesn't have magic now does he? And even if I don’t have this power, I can still beat him... For a moment Shadow slipped away into a dream world.

Rally, I wish you would have been alive to see the new world I will make for everyone... Shadow shook his head. The others stared at him as if awaiting his command. With a nod of approval, the ninja rose to his feet without the aid of his companions. “We’re going to do this now.”

Setzer could only voice agreement. There was no way to change his mind on this. After Locke and Gogo agreed, they made way to the tent the leader had been in, in hopes he was still there. Interceptor trotted along side of his master, wagging his tail with delight that now he could walk by his side again into battle. But Setzer was the one now who was unsure.

He ran to catch up with Shadow, in the front of the group. He did not speak yet, only marched with the ninja. He couldn’t help to feel a sense of pride and admiration for this man who changed so much from that first time they all met. After all that had been taken from each and every one of them, it felt like they were about the get justice; their loved ones’ deaths were not out of vain but out of righteousness for the new world.

They walked up to the headmaster’s tent. The dry wind picked up the dirt from off the campsite and carried it in swirls around them. The early morning sky, tinted with the coming of the sun, shown on them; casting their shadow’s along the floors of the earth. Setzer rested a hand on Shadow’s shoulder. “I know how much Rally meant to you.”

“I wanted him to be here to fight with us in a way. I wanted him to be right next to me when we went in there so he could see us fight...” Shadow sighed looking up into the sky spread out large before them, still strewn with tiny diamonds. “But now he as a front row seat.”

Setzer squeezed his shoulder before he let go. “Ready?”

Shadow merely nodded. “I’m more sure about this than I have ever been about anything. And if I don’t make it back, at least we would have saved the world, right? That means something in the end...” The ninja smiled at the heavens. “To someone.”

He looked over at Gogo who then bowed towards him with contentment and respect. “You have learned a great deal sir. We all have. Now it is time to put that knowledge to the test.”

The robed man patted Locke’s back. The thief smiled and nodded. “Let’s win one more battle, one more for the world.”

One more... Shadow began to walk again, slowly with his group to the tent. It was quiet. Strangely still for a camp that was set a flame. Now those distant crackles of fire were lowered, almost silenced, by the howling winds flowing through the abandoned tents. And for a fleeting moment, it was like a ghost town. No one was around. No voice but that of the breeze carrying the cries of once living soldiers. That’s when it came to mind that any men that didn’t flee from this camp and even the ones in the underground bases being tested were simply no more. Too far gone for anyone’s help now.

The once abundant fire had finished off whoever was left here. In fact, for a moment, it looked as if Shadow, Setzer, Locke, Gogo and Interceptor were the only ones there. But as brief the moment, so was the silence. There came a hollow, echoing sound, like those of boots pacing on the ground. A noise all to familiar to the ninja. Shadow raised his head to this deaden sound. “He’s here.”

He came towards the tent, his companions following behind. Shadow lifted the dusty flap of cloth, peering within. There was a figure covered by the shadows of the new morning. He paced the little area in front the throne-like chair. Then stopped as he noticed Shadow and his group standing before him. As he stepped into the faint light--steaming in through the holes in the charred cloth roof--his face almost began to glow.

“I stayed behind...” The leader began. “You see? I waited for you Shadow. I knew you would come back. Little pets always come home to their masters.” The man looked visibly disturbed; shaken by what had just happened. It was apparent that he could dish out the abuse, but when it came to taking it...

Shadow looked him up and down before bothering to answer him. “And if I was your good little groupie, I would have came to you. But I‘m here for a much different purpose.”

The leader smiled. “And I suppose it is to kill me?” He scoffed and he folded his hands behind his back. “I have seen much destruction as well as power in my time, but nothing hurts more than watching your life’s work, all you have worked for, destroyed in an instant by someone you were trying to help.”

Shadow’s face remained impassive. “Your work was neither to help me or anyone else. It was to give you power.”

“It was to aid in furthering my research.” The man corrected. “True, power is what any human wants, but I was trying to bring back something I knew would help this world. And even though my work as come crashing down in a blaze of fire and carnage, it looks like it paid off. I found what I have been searching for for two years now. You.”

“Me...” Shadow repeated his words idly. “What I am is neither harmful to this world or helpful for you. Me is what is going to destroy the last of this shit you call research.”

“Then are you planning to kill yourself as well as me?” The man smiled as Shadow’s face creased in bewilderment. He pointed to the ninja. “You are my work. And as long as you live, so does my labor and therefore me. All in you.”

Setzer shook his head and spoke more to Shadow than anyone present. “Shadow, you are who you are. It doesn’t matter what he did to you. He only lives in you if you pursue what he wanted you to do in the first place. It ends here.”

“Yes, you’re right about that Setzer. It all ends here.” Shadow unsheathed his sword and faced the leader. “Care to fight like a man or cower like the creature you are?”

“In life you carry out my work.” The leader drew out his dagger from the heel of his boot. He smashed it’s cold steal against Shadow‘s sword. “In death you end this all.”

Shadow kicked the man’s gut hard enough the force him to drop his weapon. “In life I carry on all that I have fought for...” The leader reached for his fallen dagger, but the ninja kicked it away. It went sliding across the floor, kicking up dirt as it went, till it could no longer be seen. “If I were to die, I would give up. And I never give up.”

“Well then this will be a first!” The man sliced Shadow across the face with three sharp blades of copper hidden between his fist. The ninja reeled backwards, clasping his cheek with his free hand.

Locke and Setzer started to move in order to aid the ninja, but Gogo stopped them. “Sirs, we have done our part in this war. It is his battle to win. Let him win it.”

Shadow wiped the blood from his face in time to react the man’s newly found sword descending down on him. The ninja met his blade with his own and swung around, slashing the man from shoulder to waist. The leader stopped in mid action, allowing his dagger to fall from his hand. He fell to his knees, clasping his stomach.

Unlike his friends, the ninja did not show any signs of pleasure at his enemy's defeat. It was too fast... He allowed me to do that. Why? Shadow turned to his allies with a look that stopped them from cheering.

“What’s the matter?” Locke asked. “You got him--”

His sentence was cut short by the blade of the leader’s dagger slicing through Shadow side. “No!” Locke managed to yelp before Shadow spun around. The ninja clutched the crimson soaked dagger in his body, twisting it in order to release it from his side. He threw it to the ground before he collapsed on all fours.

“Shadow!” Setzer ran into the tent, grabbing Shadow’s sword as he went. But the leader’s own weapon over Shadow’s neck caused him to halt.

The ninja looked up at the man, his own blood creating a small pool beneath him. The leader’s boots became plastered in it as he walked around Shadow. “It’s the damndist thing...killing off my work.” As he stood over Shadow’s crippled body, he pressed the knife to the back of his neck. “But I will get over you.”

‘The world still needs salvation...the world still needs a hero....’ Shadow closed his eyes. But how can it be...if the hero doesn't win? He shook his head as his friends’ cries became more faint with each passing moment. At that time, Shadow was no longer in the tent, he was in the dark little room again where everything was warm, understanding. No... I promised this for you Rally...and for her... Shadow strained to glare up at the leader, through the hair fallen in his face. “This is for you.” He whispered as he grabbed a shuriken from under his belt and lodged it into the man’s stomach, where his previous wound lied.

The man cried out as Shadow then stood and kicked the sharp object in further, watching as his blood seeped from the leader’s body and fell onto the floor, wetting the thirsty ground. The ninja placed a hand on the man’s forehead and said in a soft quiet tone, “Now...” He gripped the leader’s head by his hair. “This....this is for you. Would you like to see the magic you gave me?” Under his gloved hand, the man’s head began to swell. In much shock, his friends watched as Shadow concentrated over the man’s body until it burst into flames, which Shadow kept together in one area as not to damage anything else.

When the blaze came to it's brightest, the ninja opened his eyes. He swayed a little, but kept his ground. Interceptor came, barking, by his master’s side. The weak Shadow rested a hand on the dog’s fur. “Good boy.” He said, in a tired, shaky voice. He wanted to cheer, to laugh at his enemy’s downfall. But he had seen too much, lost too much to do nothing by stare.

“Shit...” Setzer ran up to the ninja with Locke and Gogo.

“Holy crap man.” Locke began to laugh slightly. “You did it!” He patted Shadow’s back, causing him to lean more so.

Setzer and Gogo caught him on either side. “Sir, you have done the impossible and lived to tell.” Gogo pulled his arm over his own shoulder.

Setzer kept quiet as they watched the leader’s corpse turn into charred dust. “Dust to dust...” Locke remarked as he turned his gaze away.

The gambler breathed in the new morning as they stepped outside. The sun peeked out above the horizon showering the victors in it’s orange light. The scent of burnt wood and skin was washed away by the fresh breeze of morning. Shadow’s weak smile caught Setzer’s. The gambler laughed slightly. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

***

The Falcon soared above the skies once more, the clouds streaking by in a gust of brilliant white. The air carried hope and newness as Setzer went to land it in the middle of nowhere. Shadow came out first with a bag of supplies thrown lazily over one shoulder. Interceptor trail close behind. Then Gogo and Locke came out followed by Setzer. The ninja breathed in deep before turning around to face all three of them.

Gogo smiled. “I’m afraid this is where my journey ends sir. I have decided to stay with these men on their journey.” Gogo embraced Shadow. “As I wish you would.”

There was a time the ninja would not allow anyone to get close to him. There was also a time where he would run when they did. But now, Shadow relished the thought that he had friends out there whenever he needed them. “I opened my eyes Gogo, and my heart. But I still must finished my own journey; to find myself.” He let go of his old ally. “So, until then.”

Locke slapped his hand into Shadow’s. “I’m going to miss you. I never really thought I’d see the guardian of this world. But it looks like he’s been here, fighting by my side this whole time. You are salvation Shadow.” He placed both hands on his waist. “Looks like we have one hell of a story for Edgar.”

The ninja sighed, a bit touched by his words. “Ah, you still annoy me you know...” Then with a smile, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Then he turned to Setzer, leaning on his ship. The gambler looked up at Shadow, a weird look to his light eyes. “You know I think you should stay.” Shadow grinned at him. “But you won’t and there’s no arguing with you about anything.” He pushed himself off the ship. “But you can change your destiny just as much as you can fight the impossible and still come out standing strong. You taught me that.” Setzer hugged the ninja, then looked at him with his hands on Shadow’s shoulders.

“One day they are going to tell a story about you my friend. Of how a man who lost everything rose out of the dark to save this dying world and bring it back to the life it once had.”

Shadow laughed. “I’d like to see that.” Then his grin faded and he nodded slightly, “There will always be an evil in this world to defeat and as long as that remains a certain, so will I. I have this power now. And I like to think with the proper training, I can make something of it for future wars when I will be again fighting by all of your sides...”

“But until then right?”

Shadow nodded.

Setzer reached into his shirt and pulled out the symbol of hope Edgar had given him some time ago. He handed it to the ninja. "Take this with you." And before he could question his actions, "It'll give you faith when you need it most.” Shadow took it from his hand with a grin, placing it around his own neck. “Where will you go now?”

The ninja turned to face the west sky. The breeze blew softly through his hair and the sleek fur of his pet. “I’ll be around.” He whistled for Interceptor to follow along. The road was long before him and the sky told of more journeys and adventures to come.

But he’d make it, he always did. Something inside told him he’d go on no matter what the odds. Shadow lifted his head to the heavens as he made his way towards the horizon.