Cold wind swept across the rooftop like a blade. The temperature had dropped down to one degree Celsius, far below the New York average. This biting cold didn't stop Madame Gao and her associates from setting up a corporate style meeting on the rooftop of a twenty-story office tower.
Madame Gao sat still on a simple wooden chair, with her aged hands folded in her lap. Behind her stood six Hand operatives, each wearing black-colored suits.
Sharing the table with Gao were high-ranking associates of the Hand.
On the left was the intimidating Japanese Nobu Yoshioka in a simple black suit. His face seemed untouched by unnecessary emotion.
To Gao's right, Alexandra Reid with the elegance of old European nobility. Bob-cut auburn hair neatly framed a face, which was faintly marred by age. She looked to be in her fifties, quite different from her real age which was over thousands.
"Hasty."
The single word from Gao's mouth dropped like a guillotine. One of the masked ninjas shifted slightly. Gao's gaze snapped to him, and the man froze as if her attention alone could stop his heart.
"Our attack was amateur." Her dark eyes swept over the masked operatives before returning to Nobu. "Unacceptable attempt to siege the island."
"It was a test, Madame Gao. Those who died were from newly trained units. We can easily fill their ranks in Japan." Nobu leaned forward. "Thanks to their sacrifice, we now understand the limits of Silver Sable's misfits."
"The daughter of Ernst Sablinova is not to be underestimated," Madame Gao said. "She was hunting Nazi and killing war criminals for her training when other girls her age were attending high school. "
"I will not," Nobu said with conviction. "I will personally lead the assault and kill everyone who stands between the Hand and our objective."
Gao raised a single finger, a gesture that commanded more authority than a loud order. "Claiming the Island is just the start. The dangers within the facility are even greater than the forces outside."
Alexandra shifted in her seat, her interest piqued. She had helped plan this operation based on intelligence suggesting Norman Osborn had discovered ancient technology with life-extending properties. It seemed her intelligence was wrong.
Gao's eyes reflected the distant city lights as she remembered her meeting with Norman Osborn. The CEO of Oscorp had shut her out, despite her attempts to trade.
"Norman Osborn didn't reveal it, but I sensed it clinging to him. The living entity bonded to him. It was like a demon spirit, as our legends might describe it." She closed her eyes. "He is a monster in human skin, and you'll have to slay him to claim the facility."
Nobu's expression shifted to something approaching fanaticism. "I'll slay him with my sword. I'll become a demon slayer."
Gao tilted her head in acknowledgment while considering how to explain what she had witnessed. "It's not as powerful as the bones of Shou-Lao the Undying. The dragon's essence is pure life energy. This creature is something foreign, but it should serve our purposes."
Alexandra narrowed her eyes. "You're saying it'll replace the substance?"
The dragon bones had lasted centuries, but its supply would end in less than two decades. They would have to find a substitute for their immortality elixir if they wanted to keep on living.
"We can't know unless we try."
Alexandra's eyes gleamed with desire. "Then we'll acquire it at any cost."
She had survived this long, and she'd keep living even if the dragon bones stopped supplying them with immortality.
"Indeed." Gao nodded, appreciating Alexandra's obsession with life. "If there are many of these demon spirits, we'll raise an army of undead warriors."
Nobu's eyes shone at the mention of the undead army. "The Hand will become invincible."
The Hand never lacked expendable humans to experiment with these demonic spirits. With an invincible army at disposal, their goal of influencing the whole world from shadows would become even easier.
"I believe Osborn created those free medical facilities to test these demonic spirits," Nobu said, his voice carrying contempt. "A pathetic man."
"Don't look down on a man drunk on ambition. He believes he can control the entity, bend it to his will through science. You'll go there with full preparations."
"Understood. I will—"
Gao raised her hand again, silencing him from speaking further. "You have one day to prepare. Tomorrow night, you will storm that island with your elite forces."
"We will not tolerate failure," Alexandra added. "The Hand's future depends on acquiring this entity. Do you understand?"
Nobu stood and bowed deeply. When he rose, his face was filled with the determination of someone who didn't fear death. In fact, he didn't. The Hand's ancient ritual could bring him back.
"I will succeed, Madame Gao."
Nobu departed, followed by the six men behind Madame Gao. Within seconds, the rooftop held only the two women.
Gao remained seated, her posture unchanged, while Alexandra moved to stand beside her chair. The business of tomorrow's assault had been settled. Now they could turn their attention to longer-term concerns.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The wind continued its lonely song across the empty rooftop, carrying with it distant sirens, the rumble traffic, and hubbub of urban life. All those people, going about their small lives, completely unaware of the war brewing in the shadows.
"Kwannon."
Gao broke the silence with a name. Kwannon's betrayal still stung, not because of the personal slight, but because it represented a failure in the Hand's conditioning process. They had trained her mind for years, molded her body into the perfect weapon, and somehow she had retained enough independent will to rebel.
Alexandra's expression soured slightly, remembering the incident that had started this entire mess. Kwannon had a mission to kill a family. She had nearly accomplished the objective, but faltered, unable to raise her blade against a young girl. "She rarely steps away from Emma Frost's shadow. It's impossible to retrieve Kwannon without offending the White Queen."
Gao stood from her chair and walked to the rooftop's edge. "Once tomorrow's operation concludes, I will personally retrieve Kwannon from the White Queen."
Alexandra's eyebrows rose slightly. "Personal intervention? That's... unusual for you."
Gao allowed herself a small smile at the implied question. She typically operated through intermediaries, avoiding any action that might draw unwanted attention. Personal involvement meant the situation was either critically important or required her expertise.
"We will reclaim our Executioner, even if we must kill Kwannon and resurrect her through the ritual."
Alexandra moved to stand directly beside Gao. Two women from a far gone era looked down on the populace. "The ritual requires substantial quantities of the substance. We could simply buy her from Emma Frost. The White Queen is a businesswoman at the end of the day. We certainly don't lack money in any capacity."
Gao was silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nodded. "That is precisely what I'll do."
The confirmation surprised Alexandra. "Then why mention killing and resurrecting her?"
"We must always prepare an alternative plan." She clasped her hands behind her back, her back straight. "Loyalty is life. Betrayal is Death."
"And sometimes not even Death ends your service," Alexandra finished Gao's words. "Tomorrow, they will see what happens when you oppose the Hand."
One day of preparation.
Then blood would flow like rivers.
And the Hand would come out victorious, no matter how many lives it cost. No matter who stood in their way.
And tomorrow night, everyone will remember again why the Hand had endured the collapse of dynasties. Why the Hand was eternal.
Random art
***
You can read 20 more chapters on - Patreon.com/ImPerfect1