floating

One magnificently warm sunny day, with the sky a beautiful hue of blue and devoid of clouds, a group of balloonists gathered in the local park. Interested in watching the colorful big hot air and helium balloons rise into the clear afternoon sky, two female friends and I walked to the park. We took some blankets to lay out on while we watched the event. It was such a wonderful warm day that we wore our swim suits and shorts figuring all three of us could catch some sun.

A man sat in a booth at the dark end of the bar, a clutch of balloons drifting back and forth above his head as air currents from the heating toyed with the pretty rubber globes. His posture and alert response every time the door opened denoted he was waiting for someone with great eagerness. The perfect victim.

Exadyne Fuel Systems had selected the most inhospitable patch of desert available for its test facility. This served two purposes. First, they had to be sure that the new automobiles would be able to operate under extreme conditions. Second, someone would have to be both highly motivated and certifiably insane to try to spy on the test runs.

Yamagawa-jo Castle was not exactly an impressive castle, especially in terms of size. It had four towers with a medium-sized pagoda in the middle; it was a pretty average in terms of construction and architecture. However what it lacked in style it made up for with airtight security. Guards guarded practically every square inch of the compound, not even a flea would be able to waltz on by unnoticed. Lady Komoda, the owner of the fortress kept various precious items stored and protected for her lord.