by Bob Gansler
#5 - JUNE 00	ONCE AGAIN IN HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE

Deep beneath the main offices of Britain's international espionage agency, the expansive training area was the scene of some very atypical activity. Two large, muscular Oriental men were bearing down upon a solitary Westerner. The Occidental was clothed in a white kimono and was standing in a rather unorthodox martial arts pose as his opponents approached.

Above the 'training pit', Fah Lo Suee was watching the impending conflict. At her side stood her right-hand aide, Mia Lessing, the former KGB agent called 'Dark Angel'. Standing farther off to her left was the armoured agent, Shockwave. The reformed agent had the dark faceplate of his suit snapped open, displaying his marred features. It had taken a great deal of hypnotic effort on the part of Fah Lo Suee to convince Lancaster Sneed to show his slightly disfigured countenance thus.

Mia turned to Fah. Her face was marked by a frown. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Miss? He was getting past his prime when I encountered him when I was still working for the Soviets."

Fah smiled. "That would have been in the mission that Mr. J.B. Reston recounted as From the USSR With Love, would it not?" She pointed down into the pit. "Mr. Reston was very successful in that escapade, as he was in my encounters with him." She found it rather humorous that he titled the mission involving her father and herself as Dr. Fu. "I wish to see how if his physical prowess had changed over the years."

Mia shot Fah a coy smile. "Is that so?"

"His combat skills," Fah sighed. "I am well-aware of his skills in … that other arena." She indicated the two large Orientals attacking J.B. Reston now. "If he can acquit himself well against Jho and Zhe, two Si-Fan who pledged their loyalty to me, I will be convinced that he is appropriate for the role I want him to play."

"I don't know about this." Shockwave was pounding one fist into the other palm, generating sparks as he did. "Reston the Younger told you not to bring in anybody from the outside in dealing with your father."

Fah began to saunter around the edge of the pit. Below, J.B. was avoiding the quick and powerful attacks of the Oriental duo. "I am well aware of the admonitions that Clive Reston laid upon MI-6 in this enterprise." She shook her finger at Shockwave. "However, I am not disobeying those rules in the slightest. Though retired to his home in Eastbourne, J.B. Reston is officially listed as being of 'inactive status'. There is nothing inappropriate of activating an inactive agent for my purposes."

"The fact that J.B. Reston is Clive's father has nothing to do with it, I take it," Mia noted.

"I could say that the point it irrelevant," Fah remarked. "However, I do derive a bit of pleasure from the irony of it all. Nonetheless, J.B. Reston is a capable agent with previous experience against my father. His personal finances will allow him to function as a funder for the activities of Freelance Restorations. In that way, I can guide the activities of my brother towards my own objectives."

"Rather clever of you, Miss Director," Shockwave said somewhat derisively. "However, I think J.B. Reston is an overrated commodity. I heard stories about him when I was first in MI-6. They made him out to be a greater agent than my uncle. Much as I despised Uncle Denis, he still was the best agent MI-6 ever had, present company included."

"Sir Denis Nayland Smith certainly was a credit to this agency," Fah replied. She thought to herself how much time has been lost between them while he rose to the top of MI-6 and she worked for either her father's or her own schemes. It had created a chasm between them that their personal feelings could not overcome. Time, too, became an obstacle as the years aged him while she ignored them by the power of the Elixir Vitae. "However, J.B. Reston's exploits gained greater notoriety, increased by his own semi-fictional accounts that were translated to the motion picture screens."

"Ah, a bunch of bloody rot," Shockwave said dismissively. "He certainly exaggerated his own greatness."

Fah looked down to see that the battle was over. J.B. Reston was still standing while the two hulking Orientals were down on the ground. "Perhaps you would like to put Mr. Reston's words to the test?"

Shockwave flipped down his faceplate. "You're bloody right I do."

J.B. hovered over his downed opponents, his face marked with a wide smile. He checked his pulse and was pleased to find that it was not racing too rapidly. "Still have the fire in you, old man." He looked up to Fah. "Well, I guess that should show you that I'm ready for the task."

Looking down into the pit, Fah nodded. "Indeed. You have disposed of two of my most skilled assistants with incredible speed. I congratulate you. Now I have a further test for you."

"Come now, dear lady," J.B. implored. "I've just gotten a very good workout from your big boys. I'd like a nice steam bath and a cup of tea."

Shockwave came stomping down the stairs to the bottom of the training pit. "And I say that you're not half as good as you say you are, old man." He put a decided emphasis on the word "old".

"Ah, the impudence of youth," J.B. sighed. He struck up a new fighting stance as Shockwave approached him. "Headstrong, to be sure. Reminds me a bit of young Clive."

Shockwave powered up his armor, and electricity crackled about his hands and feet. "I heard stories about you all my life," Shockwave sneered. "I don't think you could be half as good as your reputation."

The ease in which J.B. dodged away from Shockwave's first attack was much to the surprise of the golden-armoured agent. "Well, perhaps I have taken some poetic license with my escapades, but I only did it for the enjoyment of the public."

"Hah!" Shockwave sneered. "It's all vanity." He connected with a chop to J.B. left shoulder. The electrical surge that flowed into the legendary agent deadened the arm. "So there."

J.B. frowned as he tried to shake his arm back to usefulness. "Aren't you going to make some glib statement like 'What a shocker!' or something like that?" He adjusted his stance to compensate for his disabled arm.

"No," Shockwave replied gruffly. "I'm just going to put you down to show Fah Lo Suee that you're way past your prime." He lashed out with his right hand, but J.B. turned the blow aside. Shockwave was put off-balance and before he could recover, J.B. had leapt into the air, dealing Shockwave a smashing kick underneath the faceplate. Shockwave's head snapped back, and he slumped to the ground.

J.B. rubbed his shoulder, trying to bring back feeling to it. He smirked at Shockwave's unconscious form. "Well, I hope that taught you a lesson, old boy." He began to climb the steps up to Fah Lo Suee and Mia Lessing.

"No more tests today, dear lady," J.B. said. "I really must have a cup of tea now."

"You disposed of Shockwave very quickly, perhaps quicker than anyone else," Fah noted. "I don't think even my brother had ever dealt with him in such a swift fashion."

J.B. chuckled and continued to rub his left shoulder. "He is skilled. I have no doubt about that, but he considered me to be no threat. These old bones still have life left in them."

Fah nodded. "I'm sure they do. When you've refreshed yourself, please report to my aide, Miss Greville. She'll provide you with the necessary paperwork and information. Good day, Mr. Reston."

After taking a shower and a steam bath, J.B. had his cup of tea before he strolled up to Melissa Greville's desk. The bespectacled blonde was dutifully punching away at her computer when J.B. arrived. The elder Reston waited for her to acknowledge his presence, but she was too focused on her work.

"Ahem," J.B. coughed.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Melissa took her hands away from the keyboards and looked up. She recognized the man before her instantly. "Oh, it's you. Are you really, I mean, are those films really true, I mean," Melissa stammered. The aura of the man standing before her had a distinct effect upon her.

J.B. smiled and put his palms down upon Melissa's desk. "Yes, I am the man you are thinking of. The motion picture industry tends to take … certain liberties with the depiction of my adventures."

"Clive told me so little about you," she replied. Clive had been somewhat quiet about his father when he and Melissa had been involved.

"Ah, yes," J.B. sighed. "Clive and I are not always on the best of terms. Sometimes I think that he feels he has to live up to his family's reputation, both sides of it, in fact."

"You mean he wasn't kidding about his great-uncle on his mother's side?" Melissa asked.

"Certainly not. The same blood that ran through the Great Detective's veins runs through Clive's." J.B. put his hands forward. "I believe Fah wanted you to give me some files?"

"Of course." Melissa cursed herself slightly for acting like a schoolgirl. She opened the drawer and handed J.B. the files.

J.B. began to page through the files. "Interesting. Very interesting. An assassination. This should prove quite enticing."

Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu were going through their morning exercises. It had become a part of their regular routine, now that they had been reunited. Shang-Chi had been impressed at how much Leiko had progressed in the time that they were apart. Before she had been wont to rash and impulsive actions. Now that aspect of her personality had begun to be harmonized with the rest of her. She still had some of that same fire that had attracted him, but she had matured as well. That was ably demonstrated by the way in which she performed the yoga. Perhaps only a keen eye could perceive his change. Shang-Chi possessed had such an eye, he could tell, and it pleased him.

Upon finishing the last series, Shang-Chi rose and headed to the kitchen. While Leiko still preferred traditional English breakfasts, Shang-Chi was more than satisfied with nutrient drinks. For him, the morning was not a time to squander by eating. Bright morns seemed to be a thing of the past. He wanted to enjoy every bit of the daylight that he could.

He pouted a nutrient drink for himself and one of Leiko. They had planned to run through St. James Park while they considered what direction in which they wanted to take Freelance Restorations. The mission that Leiko had performed for Clive Reston ensured their financial security, at least for the near term. There was no real rush to taking up any new business. Still, a sense of restlessness was beginning to form in each of them. While they were thrilled to enjoy each other's company, they knew that there were tasks for them to do out in the world. The fact that Fu Manchu had risen again weighed on their minds.

"Drink up," Shang-Chi said before he drained his glass. "It looks like a great day for a run."

Leiko took the drink to her lips with some hesitation. What did Shang-Chi find some appetizing about this sludge? "I think this stuff is going to make me sick?"

"It's perfectly healthy," Shang-Chi replied. "In fact, it's about as perfect of a food as you could find."

"That doesn't mean it tastes good," Leiko shrugged and finished the drink, a frown coming over her face as she finished the last few drops. "What say if I outrun you today, you give me one of your famous backrubs?"

"Agreed." Shang-Chi whipped on his light jacket and sprang to the door. As he opened it, he was momentarily startled to see J.B. Reston standing on the doorstep.

J.B. pulled his hand back with which he was about to knock. "It seems you anticipated my arrival." He put his hand out again. "Good to see you again, Shang-Chi."

Shang-Chi shook the legendary agent's hand. "As it is to see you, Mr. Reston."

Emerging from the bedroom where she had gone looking for her jacket, Leiko was surprised to see J.B. Reston. In all her time with Clive, she had never seen him outside of one of his own places, either here in London or at his estate in London. "Mr. Reston," she finally said. "This certainly is a surprise."

"You're as lovely as ever, Leiko," J.B. proclaimed. "What my son was thinking when he let you get away, I'll never know." He grinned broadly. "Why, if I were a few years younger … even if I weren't, I'd …"

"You're a married man, Mr. Reston," Leiko admonished.

"And happily at that," J.B. replied as he opened his arms. "Still, give an old man a hug."

Leiko did so and added a peck on the cheek. She had always liked Clive's father. The famous agent had always displayed an enchanting style of debonair. As she drew away, she said, "So what brings you on this surprise visit?"

"Right," J.B. stated. "Sorry about not ringing you up ahead of time and coming unannounced, but it couldn't be helped."

"Is there some kind of trouble, Mr. Reston," Shang-Chi asked.

"Yes, there is," J.B. answered with some agitation. "And please stop calling me Mr. Reston. It's making me feel even older than I am. J.B., if you please."

"All right, J.B.," Leiko said. She looked around, wondering if she had the ingredients to make a martini for him. He seemed to be able to drink his 'shaken-not-stirred martini' at any time of day. "Can we get you something?"

"Yes, you can give me a job with Freelance Restorations. I can pay my own way, as well as you two for your troubles," J.B. answered.

Shang-Chi and Leiko looked at each other with surprise. "You want to join Freelance, but why?" Leiko finally said.

"I can't stand the country living any more," J.B. responded. He crossed his arms and continued. "Besides, I have some information, from sources into which even MI-6 cannot tap. As such, they won't believe what I've found. I need the help of you two youngsters."

"What sort of mission are you envisioning," Shang-Chi said suspiciously. He knew enough about J.B.'s exploits to not trust the man implicitly.

"I have reason to believe that there will be an attempt on the Queen's life today!" J.B. declared.

In the courtyard of the nefarious monastery, a teacher was entertaining questions from his students. The students in question were the new initiates to the monastery of fear. The teacher was the most insidious man on earth, Fu Manchu.

The queries had ranged over a number of topics, but finally one of the monks summoned up the courage to ask what was on the minds of all of them.

"Why do you send outsiders to attack Britain's Monarch, O Celestial One?" one of the monks asked. "Should not that honor be bestowed upon one of us or on one of the Order of the Golden Dawn? Does it not dishonor your own son by not giving him the task?"

Fu Manchu's face showed no outward sign of emotion but the power of his thoughts seemed to radiate from his eyes. "Nothing that I do is without honor. Honor is one of the foundations of Old China, one of the foundations for the new world order I should install."

"Then enlighten us, Celestial One." The monks cried.

"We play games with the enemy. My false son took to calling these games of deceit and death. Despite his disloyalty, he could perceive more than most," Fu Manchu explained. "Xan-Chi is already completing a task of considerably more importance to me. The fomenting of bad blood between the British and the Communists who rule China. This is the true move upon the board. The attack upon Her Royal Majesty is only a feint. I harbor no illusions that the agents of Snakeroot succeeding in the attempt. If they do success, it is unexpected bounty for us." Fu Manchu glided across the room, his attention no longer focus upon the monks but rather as if he were talking to himself. "Ghostmaker has failed in regicide before. Though he has been given what the Westerners call 'a second chance' by my skills, the power of the fates weigh against him. Still, the effort will show if the Snakeroot truly deserve to be counted among the Order of the Golden Dawn."

"We understand, Your Greatness," a monk said reverently. "But what is the true purpose of enacting the feint?"

"You have much to learn. Thugben Sung has much to teach you before you can truly become one of the brethren of Rache Churan," Fu Manchu remarked. "The feint will serve to focus the attention of my daughter and my false son, should he decide to intervene against me, upon the British Isles. Meanwhile, my activities here at the monastery and those of Xan-Chi in Hong Kong can continue unimpeded."

The gates of fabled Buckingham Palace were lined with thousands of Londoners as well as British subjects and tourists from far and wide. They were all here to see the monarch, Queen Elizabeth the Second, give an address to the people. The spectators had already thrilled to the spectacle of the changing of the guard. Now they waited in eager anticipation of the Queen's appearance. The actual content of her address had not been revealed. Speculation ran rampant on what she would speak. The tabloids were filled with all sorts of predictions about the speech. Most people came to the conclusion that it was going to be about the succession. Oddsmakers were taking millions of pounds in bets regarding whether Elizabeth would designate her grandson Prince William her successor and bypass her own son Prince Charles.

The waiting was almost over. The palace guard were busily setting up a podium and rolling out a red carpet from the Palace's doors to it. In addition to the many members of the palace guard within the gates, there were countless other constables outside the gates among the crowds. Two of these were members of Scotland Yard's most secret unit - Vampire Squad. Inspector William Chelm and Inspector Kate Fraser were studying the crowd carefully.

"Anything yet, Kate?" Chelm asked. His hand twiddled nervously at his mustache. He almost felt out of his element out here in the daylight. His duties were more suited to the night time. This was true even before he was assigned to lead up Vampire Squad.

Kate's eyes were squinted as she concentrated. She had gotten an intense psychic flash that there was going to be trouble here today at the Palace, but her psychometric skills had been unable to pinpoint the menace any more closely. She had hoped that mingling with the crowd could help in that respect. "Sorry, Chelm. But I can't seem to get anything."

"Keep trying," Chelm said encouragingly. He wondered what the threat could be. With the sun up, he knew it could not be vampires, at least not directly. The undead were known to utilize human thralls. Perhaps it could be part of Deacon Frost's scheme to get at Blade. "Lord knows he's caused enough trouble for Blade here," he thought.

{For the Blade/Deacon Frost situation, see recent issues of Vampire Tales}

Inside of the Palace from a secret vantage point, other eyes were keeping close watch on the crowd. J.B. had used his wiles to get them into the Palace. He had taken them to this secret chamber built within the walls of Palace from which they could watch the events before them.

"It's a little cramped in here," Leiko complained in a whisper.

"Hush, now," J.B. replied. "Concentrate on the task at hand. The Snakeroot agents are out there somewhere."

Shang-Chi pondered J.B.'s words. On the way to the Palace, J.B. had explained to them that his sources had indicated the depraved brotherhood called the Snakeroot were plotting the death of Britain's monarch. J.B. had scant other details regarding the effort. Shang-Chi had encountered the Snakeroot before, when he allied with the American Daredevil and Elektra to stop the minion whom they had resurrected, Ghostmaker. The former KGB assassin worked for them, until Shang-Chi was able to defeat him and bring about his destruction again. He wondered if it truly was permanent destruction, or could the Snakeroot revive him again?

{Shang-Chi battled alongside Daredevil and Elektra against Ghostmaker in Daredevil Annual #10}

To the sound of thunderous applause, the Queen had emerged from the Palace and walked towards the podium. She stood there for a few moments as she waited for the crowd to quiet down. When the noise level had sufficiently softened, she tapped on the microphone and then began her address.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she stated. "Today is a historic day for the nation of Great Britain. We stand at the beginning of a new century. One hundred years ago, this nation was a much different place. Britain's Empire stood across the globe, and the reign of her ruler, Queen Victoria, continued in its 63rd year. Her death signaled the end of era for Britain. With all due modesty, the day of my death will also signal a change …"

"And that day has come!" a voice rang out.

Before the Queen could continue, three robed figures leapt from the crowd over the wrought-iron fence. Chelm and Fraser drew their pistols but they could not get a clear shot. As the trio descended inside of the fence, they dropped capsules that blanketed the area in smoke. One of them raced through the man-made clouds and attached a mechanical device to the fence. Instantly, the fence was enveloped by a deadly electric field.

In addition its blurring effect, the smoke also served to render the monarch and her protectors unconscious. The trio then attached a device to the main palace door, locking solidly shut. Shang-Chi, Leiko, and J.B. waited anxiously from their vantage point for the smoke to clear. It was pointless to wander out there at this point.

Slowly, the courtyard became visible, and the trio of assassins had doffed their raincoats and revealed their true colors. Those colors were the green of the Snakeroot. While two of them wore identical garb, the third was different. His mailed helmet and arms made him clearly recognizable to Shang-Chi. The third Snakeroot agent was Ghostmaker!

"Right then," J.B. whispered. "Out we go." He pushed the hidden lever and that opened their secret chamber to the outside. The trio came rushing outside as Ghostmaker stood poised over the unconscious Queen. The former Soviet assassin had his scimitar in hand, ready to join Queen Elizabeth II to Charles I in the select company of beheaded British monarchs.

"So dies the head of Britain," Ghostmaker declared. "Can the body stand long?"

"Hold, Ghostmaker!" Shang-Chi shouted. "Your true battle is with me, is it not?"

"Shang-Chi!" Ghostmaker said gleefully as he turned. "Truly the fates have shined upon me today. First I can avenge my defeats to you, and then I can complete the only assassination in which I had ever failed." He turned to his comrades and pointed with his sword at Leiko and J.B. "Destroy them, but leave Shang-Chi to me."

Ghostmaker stepped over the prone body of the Queen and began twirling his scimitar as he approached Shang-Chi. "You don't know how long I've waited for this moment, Shang-Chi."

Assuming a defensive posture, Shang-Chi replied, "Perhaps not. However, desire does not necessarily equate to realization." He waited for Ghostmaker to strike, and the assassin certainly did. The attack was crude to Shang-Chi's eyes, and he easily sidestepped the blade.

Meanwhile Leiko and J.B. were mixing it up with the two Snakeroot agents. Leiko's eagerness overtook her and she pressed her attack upon her green-robed opponent. J.B. was a bit more cautious, both due to his experience and his fatigue from besting Fah Lo Suee's fighters as well as Shockwave. The Snakeroot took his age to be a sign of weakness and began to attack him recklessly.

"You miss the mark, deathbringer," Shang-Chi remarked as he dodged yet another strike by Ghostmaker. He caught the edge of the scimitar with his bracelets on the next attack, opposing the momentum of the sword only so much to ensure that it did not reach his body. His foot lashed out and buffeted Ghostmaker's chest.

The blow sent Ghostmaker reeling. His left hand went to his abdomen as he tried to rub away the pain. "That hurt!" he bellowed. "It will be a pleasure to turn you into a ghost."

Shang-Chi avoided Ghostmaker's next lunge and caught the assassin's sword-arm between his palms. With the slightest exertion of pressure, Shang-Chi forced Ghostmaker to drop the scimitar. "Though I am a rising spirit," Shang-Chi explained, "I have no desire to rise to the next level of existence yet. My spirit stays with me."

Ghostmaker drove his knee into Shang-Chi's thigh, freeing himself from the Kung Fu Master's hold. He then began lashing out at Shang-Chi with his spiked metal knuckles. Shang-Chi ignored the weapons at the end of Ghostmaker's fist, he concentrated on the hands themselves. The spikes could only go where the hands did. If the hands could not strike, neither could the spikes. Ghostmaker struck, and Shang-Chi parried. Ghostmaker struck and Shang-Chi turned the attack aside. Ghostmaker struck, and Shang-Chi was not there. Ghostmaker struck, and Shang-Chi counter-attacked.

Leiko was momentarily at the mercy of the Snakeroot agent. Her zeal for a quick victory had left her on the verge of defeat. She sought to regain the calm in battle that Shang-Chi had taught her. It seemed like an eternity for her to regain that center, but it really only spanned the time between two blows by the Snakeroot. Now that she had the center, his defeat was certain. His hands and feet moved with fluid motion. Every punch and kick found its way through the Snakeroot's defenses. As he staggered to remain standing, Leiko finished him off with a flying kick.

J.B. was seemingly at the mercy of the Snakeroot. The killer was pummeling away at the aged agent. The blows did hurt, but J.B. had suffered under much more skillful masters of pain in his day. He ignored the pain as best he could, but the fatigue was keeping him from mounting a successful counterattack. Then an idea struck him.

"I don't have this bloody license for nothing," he thought. He pulled out the small revolver strapped to his ankle and fired. His marksmanship put the bullet through the Snakeroot's heart.

Ghostmaker could not fend off Shang-Chi any longer. The Master of Kung Fu was now on the offensive, and the assassin's leather armor was scant protection against Shang-Chi's assaults. Even when he parried, Ghostmaker was hurt. He thought about making a desperate try to kill the Queen, but he did not feel confident that he could do so before Shang-Chi would stop him. Amidst all of the blows raining down on him, he decided to escape. He would vault back over the fence, and he would lose himself in the crowd.

His feint brought momentary pause on the part of Shang-Chi. Then Ghostmaker turned and took a running leap, intent on clearing the fence. However, weariness had set in during the battle, and muscles that had easily bounded the fence earlier could no longer do so. His body slammed against the electrified fence, and he sparked with flames as he slid down.

J.B. made sure that his Snakeroot was dead before he went over to rouse the Queen. He cradled the monarch's head in his lap. "How many times does that make it now, Your Highness?"

Leiko found the device that the Snakeroot had attached to the fence. Though powerful, it was a relatively simple device. She deactivated the device, and the electric field surrounding the fence dissipated.

Ghostmaker's blackened body fell away from the fence. He began to liquefy, leaving only the remnants of his costume behind.

"It would appear that Ghostmaker has given up his ghost again," Shang-Chi noted.

NEXT ISSUE : "Catfight in Hong Kong" – Xan-Chi is fomenting trouble in Hong Kong. That's not good for business, so Cat gets curious!

KUNG FU WRITING

This issue's cover was modified from Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #12, which featured a certain agent with a 007 license to kill.

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