Failing Torch

Kaze shouts at Ito: "Hitomi is crazed. Too many kanjii have driven him mad! There is a reason all the powers are not given to one person."

She would very much like to stay and watch/be a second at this duel, but Sky is in a lot of trouble--and it's not a duel.

Says quietly to Christine, "It is -your- power he wants. Do not use it obviously. And stay close to me."

"You can take on the Torch?" to Nick. Nick nods.

"We will get Richter out and then come back."

Kaze and her two friends rush to the hangar while Ito and Saburo bow to each other. Behind them, a slashing cacaphony of fighting sounds erupts.


Sky Masterson is separated from Richter by a burning slick of waste oil, spreading from a punctured oil barrel. The shadow of the Gee Bee airship, piloted by Belle, falls across the hangar. It is directly above the hole in the wall where Kaze's team is entering.

Kaze also spies Hitomi, back in the shadows near the south end of the hangar. Hitomi, as soon as Kaze's group enters, Travels away.

The Torch turns and washes Kaze's group with flame! But it doesn't reach all the way. A few feet from Kaze, the fire flickers into harmless smoke and heavy mist.

Kaze feels a heavy chill from behind her, where Nick is.

"I have him," Nick says. "Ignore him, or shoot him."

Christine touches Nick on the shoulder, and the flames from the Torch's arms shorten, the invisible junction of Torch and Icebox pushing closer and closer to the Torch as though he were losing a thermal arm-wrestling match.

Hitomi shimmers into solidity right behind Christine.

Sky and Kaze have seen all this, but have but a moment to react.