“The Sword of Tengu,” Tyler read from the computer screen. “Is an ancient sword of unknown origin. It is said to hold unlimited power and potential to the one who wields it.” Tyler scrolled down on the computer screen. He was surrounded by the rest of the Guardian’s, except Danielle.
After the conflict with Jace, Zach and Nate drove and picked Ryan and Tyler back up, and headed back to the base. If the information Jace gave them was accurate, they had to stop The Shredder from stealing the Blade of Tengu.
“What else does it say?” Zach asked.
“It says that the sword’s hilt has long been lost, and now the sword requires a special containment unit to be held in.” Tyler continued to read. “Apparently without the hilt, no one can wield it properly, and has been out of commission for century’s.”
“I have never heard of a Sword of Tengu, but there is an old legend about a weapon that normal humans made to battle the Bloodlines.” Vin explained.
“What did it say about it?” Ryan asked.
“Unfortunately not much, most books or scrolls from that time were destroyed when the Snake Bloodlines attempted to take over.” Vin explained.
“According to this, the Blade of Tengu owned by a private collector of ancient weapons. His name is Richard Lerenzo.”
“That name seems familiar.” Zach said.
“Well we need to contact this guy and see if he will give to us for safe keeping.” Vin said.
“Not sure that will work.” Tyler said. “According to this Lerenzo is very private with his collection, and rarely let’s people see his collection.” Vin turned to Zach and Nate.
“Jace said that Shredder was going to strike tonight?” Vin asked.
“Yeah, but not sure how valuable the information could be, but he seemed to be trying to help us.” Nate said.
“Oh yeah, great help, denting my car!” Zach said. Ryan leaned over and looked closer at the computer screen.
“Does it say where this guy has the Blade of Tengu?” Ryan asked.
“Well from what I can find, he only has one home, and it’s on the East Coast. New York City.” Tyler said looking back at the others.
“Looks like were heading to New York City then.” Vin said.
“I will contact Bishop.” Ryan said as he pulled out his phone.
“I’m going to let Danielle know where we are going.” Zach said.
“Where is she anyways?” Nate asked.
Danielle stepped out of her car as a cold burst of air flew through the air. She looked on at the array of gravestones in the cemetery. She walked through them, not looking at any of them, just walking towards the back of the cemetery. Often she would look up into the sky, the sun was already starting to go down, and the cemetery was empty. Danielle finally found her way to the end of the cemetery, all the way in the back. She looked down at a headstone and began to cry.
“You boys need to take a break now and again.” Bishop said as the small charter planes door opened with Bishop in it. The boys began to run of the stairs into the plane.
“Yeah well blame Zach for this one.” Ryan said as he found his way to a chair.
“What? Me?” Zach questioned.
“We need to blame someone.” Ryan said as he platypus jumped into his lap. Vin bowed towards Bishop.
“Thank you for the rush on this. We need to prevent The Shredder from obtaining the Blade of Tengu.” Vin said as Tyler walked in and found a place to sit.
“Even though we don’t have a plan on how to obtain it.” Tyler said.
“Were you able to find anything about Lerenzo?” Ryan asked as Nate was the last to enter the plane. Bishop pulled the stairs up and locked the hatch. Almost immediately the plane began to move and Bishop found his own seat.
“Lerenzo, if you remember, is half owner of Weyland-Lerenzo, the company that we believe caused the Xenomorph’s.”
“That’s right!” Tyler said. “That night we first met, you sent us all out, and Ryan and Dustin’s missions were about that company.”
“Actually most of your mission were in one way or another.” Bishop added.
“Even mine? To Cosi?” Nate questioned.
“The night before ancient sword hilts that were stolen from Cosi, we believed it to be the Weyland-Lerenzo company.” Bishop said. “There is a lot that you still don’t know, and as you have seen with the Shredder, there are more threats then just Bloodlines, but,” Bishop trailed off a bit in his thoughts.
“But what?” Vin asked.
“Never mind,” Bishop said. “What is your plan on getting the blade?”
“Well knocking on his door and asking real nice will probably fail.” Zach said.
“We could sneak in, but he would probably catch us.” Ryan said.
“But were ninjas.” Nate added.
“Were clumsy ninjas, and other then Vin, none of us has been trained in stealth.” Ryan added.
“My intelligence say Lerenzo is out of the country right now, on a business trip. His home should be empty.” Bishop added.
“Alright! We might have a chance.” Tyler said.
“We still have to deal with the Shredder.” Nate added. Everyone sighed.
“Well, we are ready to fight him.” Vin said. “And if we do, we need to end this conflict, once and for all.
“I will have no part of this mission. I won’t back you up if you are caught.”
Those were the words Bishop said to the Guardians as they exited the plane. Bishop did state he would have the plane wait for them though, as he went back to Washington for other reasons. Those words echoed in their ears as the clay bird landed on top of a tall building in the heart of New York City. Everyone jumped off and looked off the edge.
“Wow, this place is amazing.” Tyler said as they looked at the lights from everything. The night sky was bright because of it.
“Alright team,” Vin said, calling their attention from the side of the building. “We need to get the blade and get out of here before The Shredder appears. If he does, then we have to be ready.”
“An epic battle in New York City at night?” Zach said. “This will be awesome.”
“Only you would find our potential deaths awesome.” Ryan said as he sighed. They followed Vin as they approached a door. He tried to open it normally. It was locked.
“I got this one.” Zach said as a small strand of sand flowed form his Sand Sheaths and entered the key hole. After a few moments they heard a click and the door opened.
“Nice.” Tyler said as they walked into the door, and began to walk down the stairs.
In a dark room, two giant wooden doors opened as The Guardians walked in. They walked slowly, being careful of every step, taking short quit breaths. They were in a unfamiliar place, and had to be quick.
“Where do you think the blade is?” Ryan asked.
“It could be anywhere in this place.” Zach added. They looked around; they were in a giant room, with couches tables and a large television. To the right was one path way, and to the left was another.
“Oh crap,” Tyler muttered.
“Zach and I will go right, your three go left.” Vin said as they all shook their heads.
“This went so perfect last time.” Tyler said again as they split up, taking different paths in the dark house.
Tyler, Ryan and Nate walked quietly through the long hallway they went. At the end, they saw a feint light coming from an open door as they continued.
They came to the door and turn into a huge kitchen. They all sighed.
“Well I highly doubt he stores his blade here in the kitchen.” Nate commented as they looked around a bit.
“I’m curious of why the light is on.” Ryan said.
“Maybe he keeps lights on when he is out of town like some people do to defer people from breaking in.” Tyler said. Nate and Ryan looked at him. “What?”
“We only got through because we short circuited his security system.” Nate said. “I don’t think he would leave a light on like this on purpose.”
“Maybe he just forgot?” Ryan said as they heard a loud explosion coming from the opposite direction.
Zach and Vin were searching in what looked like a Study Room to them. The room’s walls were filled with hundreds, if not thousands of books. The room was large, and they took their time searching in silence, until Vin finally spoke.
“You are not thrilled with me being the leader are you?” Vin asked abruptly. This through Zach for a loop as he didn’t expect him to ask.
“It’s not that I have a problem with it, it’s just,” Zach trailed off and sighed. “You’re a great fighter, but I don’t think you know enough of the world outside the Tribunal to be an effective leader.” Zach looked towards Vin who till now was still looking around. Vin looked back slowly, his face emotionless, impossible to read.
“I understand your feelings. Even though we are of the same age, we both have strengths that the other does not. The difference, and the reason why I believed I should be the leader was my maturity. Even though saving the world is important, you need to continue your normal life. You can’t forget and ignore your schooling. What will you do once this is all over?” Vin asked. Zach was confused.
“What do you mean when all this is over?” Zach asked.
“When the Guardian’s are no longer needed? When we are able to finally defeat Landon, and bring peace?” Vin asked. Zach took a long moment to think over that question. Vin didn’t change his stance.
“Even when we beat Landon, the Guardians will be needed. Bishop even said that there are threats that are not of Bloodline decent, like the Shredder. The world needs the Guardians now that Bloodlines are main stream knowledge, and even if you quit, and go back to the Tribunal, I know I will still fight along side my friend.” Zach answered proudly, and to his surprise, Vin smirked.
“You’re a lot more mature when you want to be Zach.” Vin said. Zach responded back with a smile.
“Well sometimes it’s needed.” Zach said as he began to walk, and tripped over a stool in the middle of the room. Zach yelled in surprise as he flipped over and smacked into a wall of books. The impact caused a bunch of books to fall over Zach. Vin shook his head.
“I think I spoke to soon.” Vin joked and chuckled.
“Thanks.” Zach said sarcastically as another book feel into his lamp, much harder then the others. “Ok that one really hurt.” Zach said as he picked the book off of him and it opened. Zach and Vin stared at it.
“What the?” Vin asked as they saw the book was hollowed out but as a red button in it. Zach pushed himself off the ground and they looked at each other. “Who hollows out a book and puts a button in it?”
“Not sure, but let’s find out why he kept the button a secret.” Zach said as he pressed the button. Suddenly the book case Zach fell into began to part creating an opening. They both took a step back as the room inside was instantly lit up and the both looked in awe.
The room was filled with hundreds of weapons. All ancient swords, cross bows, axes, and much more. They took a few steps into the giant secret room and looked around more.
“Well they weren’t kidding when it said he was a collector.” Zach said as in front of them, a pedestal came out from the floor. In what looked like a thick glass case, a sword without a hilt was displayed.
“The Blade of Tengu.” Vin whispered. The walked up to the pedestal and looked at it more.
“Well Tyler said we would need to find a away to transport it without touch it.” Ach said. “Let’s try and move it in the glass case.” They both put there hands over th glass case and attempted to move it, but the case would not budge.
“This thing is attached to the pedestal.” Vin said as they struggled.
“On the back there are some buckles the keep the glass case in place, I would try those.” Another voice said from the entrance. Vin and Zach snapped their heads to see a older man, in a nice robe, standing before them, looking angry.
“Who are you?” Zach asked.
“Aren’t I the one suppose to ask that, being your in my home, and causing damage, and it looks like your about to steal something.” The man asked.
“Mr. Lerenzo I assume?” Vin asked.
“Yes and who might you two be?” Lerenzo asked annoyed.
“Well,” Zach began to answer as he was interrupted by a explosion on the side of the house, making a hole in the room where Vin and Zach were. The explosion caused them to be thrown against the far wall. Lerenzo covered his face as he jumped back. Through the thinning dust they saw a helicopter right out the hole made form the explosion.
“What is going on?” Zach asked. As he finished his question he saw the dark familiar eyes coming from the helicopter’s open door.
“Well well, look what we have here.” The Shredder’s voice echoed through the noise of the helicopter. They saw him now completely, with a bazooka in on his shoulder. “I was hoping to just grab the Blade of Tengu and leave, but killing you all will be a nice added bonus.” The Shredder laughed as he pointed his bazooka again towards Zach and Vin.
