The Hunt Begins

Cassie left Hiro still sipping on the vile blue liquid. She got in her Mercedes and headed for home.

Hiro, sitting at his kitchen table, glared at the blue drink, got up and tossed it down the drain. He then got a large glass of water and gratefully drank it. That blue stuff really was horrible.

How would he go about trapping the serial killer? He didn't know where the man lived and wasn't sure when he lived. Hiro knew that there were guns, some of them that fired many bullets in succession. They were not proper armaments for a Samurai, however. No matter how good he was with a sword, the weapon demanded proximity. A man with a gun could kill from far away.

Hiro decided that he needed help with this task. He needed to visit Kisho, his friend who was Ninja.

Hiro showered, another wonderful invention of the future, dressed and armed himself. He walked some distance to the north to find his friend.

"Hiro, konnichiwa, it has been a while since I've seen you. Are you well?" Kisho bowed to Hiro.

"Konnichiwa. Yes, I'm well," Hiro replied, bowing with equal formality. "I have a small problem. I met a woman in the courtyard a few days ago."

Kisho's eyebrows raised and a tight smile found it's way to his lips, but not quite as far as his eyes. "There is something new and different."

Hiro brushed that aside. "She is American, 21st century. New to The Station and not very comfortable here, yet." Hiro paused gathered his thoughts. "She was walking home from Frau's house. Do you remember him?"

Kisho nodded.

"She was attacked by that man who was an escaped mental patient and a serial rapist-murderer. The guy with the scar across his forehead. You know who I mean?" asked Hiro.

"Ralph Stevens. Isn't that his name? I think that's his name. Caucasian, light hair. Tall?"

"Yeah, that's his name. I kept thinking it was Steven something and it just didn't sound right. Anyway, Ralph attacked Cassie, that's the woman I met, but she was saved before he did more than rough her up some. She wants him stopped."

"Okay. What do you need me for?"

"What do you know about him? I'm not sure what type of weapons he carries. Do you know when he is from? Does he have guns? I've only seen a knife. I'm fine against a stupid little knife. Guns would be a problem."

"Hiro, I'm sorry. I don't have that information. I'm not even sure where to find it. I'm sure that we could silently track him and have him dead before he even had a chance to reach for a gun. Stealth is key." Kisho knew how silently he could move and was able to sneak up on any man. Ralph's neck could be snapped before he was even aware of another person's presence.

"Cassie doesn't want me to kill him."

"What?" Kisho stood blinking. "What does she want you to do?"

"I'm supposed to jail him, I think. First I have to learn more about him. If he is a serial killer, he must have some skills in stalking and taking victims. I don't even know where to begin looking for him. Do you?" Hiro needed some help or at least some information.

Kisho shook his head. "But we will find out."