Canto 132 – Comeuppance
Phoenix dissipated his fire-sword and turned towards the Black Spider leaders and their fire-fighting crew. There was an ironic smile on his face.
“You may have noticed that this entire place is now on fire. We, the three of us have decimated your ranks already. And we did not come alone. We brought Jai Chang and the army of Shen Ming. Jai-sensei needed a chance to prove himself faithful to the White Spider.”
Instantly Jai Chaing swooped down from the rafters, shooting his arrows as he leapt. Fangwoman, still wearing the helmet, took the first one through the heart. Three more fell to his arrows before the other warriors took their first shots.
Reacting as quickly as he could, the Green Phantom dropped himself through a trap door in the stage floor.
“Now you must kill me. I was your sensei, and I deserve an honorable death at your hands. Let the student now become the master.” Bone Daddy lowered his head, ready for the final blow.
“What is that? Some kind of old movie reference? You may not like it, but I choose to honor you with love and forgiveness. We will take you as our guest in a lead-lined cell. We will heal you, and give you the chance to redeem yourself among the White Spiders.”
“Phoenix, no. You dishonor me.”
“I do not. You just don’t understand… yet.”
Bone Daddy slumped unconscious to the floor. Fortunately, a wraith cannot phase while unconscious.
“I have the boy Freddy,” said Jai Chang, holding the unconscious child in his arms. Of the three White Spider commandoes, he was the only one that needed attention from a healer.
Rocket, Jackie, and Alec were all roused and led safely out of the burning building. Two soldiers carried the limp form of Bone Daddy out too.
Shen Ming himself retrieved the Avenger Helmet.
“Ah, I must be careful with this thing now.”
“Am I right in thinking you are the reason the Avenger helmet turned up on Jai Chang’s head, Shen Ming-sensei?” Phoenix asked.
“What? Me, guilty? Although I am admitting that it all worked out rather nicely for our worst enemies. Fangwoman is discovering new dimensions. Bone Daddy is now our permanent guest. And Green Phantom is now in hiding, needing to recruit many new evil ninjas to his stupid way of thinking.
“And, ah, so… we have cleaned out the Black Spider Organization in Kiro pretty well.” Shen Ming’s crooked smirk told Phoenix it was all true, but he was not unhappy about it.
Catch a Falling Star 