Ronin: Arles

A Story by Abishai100

Two ex-'heroes' are now 'Ronin' (displaced samurai-mercs) in Arles (France) for further forays into modern governance dreads.

A Euro-trip of modern antiterrorism 'scales' inspired very loosely by the offbeat but exquisitely crafted modern intelligence-intrigue film Ronin (Robert De Niro). Hope you like (and thanks for reading!),

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Two ex-Cobra agents, once working with Interpol-relations office(s) in Brussels/Vancouver with blood-diamond infiltrations, were now traveling to Arles (France) but didn't know to each other that they both existed, formerly as the underground interceptors known as 'Storm-Shadow' and 'Baroness' in this new era of net-driven customs.

Storm-Shadow was functioning under the new name Amlan Satan, and Baroness was working with the name Ezzy. These two were originally from parts of the Mediterranean and Algeria and were now departing (together) for Arles (France) for an investigation of a specious chocolatier-shop and gift-area for tourists doubling as a chemical-weapons blueprints exchange station for ISIS and a rogue Russian group. Arles had become a relay-station for intrigue for these two ex-Cobra super-agents who'd consider themselves world-traveling 'Ronin' of the intelligent underworld.

AMLAN: Cobra better not send me any 'dismissed' former agent 'allies' or pals for this Arles extract.
EZZY: The last thing I need is 'slick' news-covered underground infiltrator assisting me because of trained confidence(s).

No folks, Amlan/Ezzy were after a notorious crimelord in Arles (France) who'd been transmitting chemical-weapons developments blueprints at a chocolatier-gift stop for tourists in the quaint Euro-area of rather quiet but stable/regular transit/traffic.

AMLAN: I didn't think you'd be a 'Cobra' agent with this Arles agenda, as a Ronin of sorts.

EZZY: The 'Ronin' are 'famed' Japanese swordsmen dishonored by displacement and wandering as mercenaries; like us.

AMLAN: Let's stick to this mission miss Ezzy and think about what Pablo wants with the chemistry-blueprints.

EZZY: I think a major 'guest' will arrive for a pick-up on Easter Sunday.

Amlan/Ezzy (Storm-Shadow/Baroness) were currently 'independently-employed' as freelance-mercs after being departed from the Cobra organization and considered themselves Ronin of the intelligence veil. They'd staked-out the chocolatier-shop in Arles (France) and waited for a troupe to arrive to pick up a chemical-blueprint camouflaged by the manager who'd been 'employed' by the nasty individuals earlier mentioned. Ezzy was inside gawking at the chocolate and gifts while playing with her jacks-toys when the 'party' walked in on Easter-Sunday (about 5 minutes before Amlan walked into in a Coronavirus mask and sunglasses).

AMLAN: Hey store-man, I'm hip American citizen-traveler looking to trade this antique circus dart-gun for candy-gifts from fine-store and wondering what this little 'party' here is on Easter-Sunday and if I may try to sell the gun to them, eh?

When the store manager drew out the chemical weapons blueprint for the 'party' in the chocolatier-gift shop, Amlan was already chatting away with one of the goons about trading his 'antique circus dart-gun' for a fair exchange when Ezzy grabbed the blueprint from the manager's hands and ran out the store and into her getaway stolen repainted taxicab while Amlan shot his dart-gun at two of the 4 members of the 'party' before hopping into Ezzy's getaway car. What ensued was a 'saga' car-drive/chase between Amlan/Ezzy and the two remaining 'party' members driving in their own white van which was revved with nitro-boosters. Fortunately, the chase ended when Amlan used his bazooka to create a 'deformity' worth its weight in Euro-accident/escape/journalism!

AMLAN: We're off to Dublin on Aer Lingus, miss Baroness.

EZZY: I'm wondering if you're part of an American 'club' now, Satan!

Amlan was working secretly for the CIA to arrest Ezzy but fell in love, and when he decided to confide in her, she escaped from his arms and disappeared into Dublin streets but left him a love-letter along with the dart-gun she stole from his jacket-pocket which read, "Maybe we'll always remain Ronin of time."

AMLAN: Well, I'm at the French embassy now, so what do you want me to do now, good geeks?

CIA: You've done enough, Mister Satan; put the flag(s) behind you.

EZZY: I'd have been an excellent French-chef in a past-life (in Arles!).

AMLAN: I've found a new-love in ice-staking design in Prague now (remembering Ezzy!).

Would Storm-Shadow/Baroness have become a legend-Cobra pair had their 'Ronin' lives not diverged in this Arles adventure about new age underground-intelligence deformities? This is a tale of modern governance...and DNA. What will the next chapter involve for Amlan/Ezzy?