The city's lights were always bright, except at the highest rooftops and arches. Caboose always preferred it that way: the metropolis had settled down for the night, and therefore nobody was going out of their way to find him. He could just get straight to business. He was watching and waiting in the shadows, for the moment when his target would be in his sights.
From the top of the highest building in the town he could see for miles, almost even to The Great Mountains, and farther... but he wasn't looking in the distance tonight. He was waiting for one important person... One very important person...

An unmarked white van, trundled it's way through the dimly lit streets. This was the person Caboose had been waiting for. His target, soon to be his victim. The person driving the van would be the mastermind of the operation which had been successfully botched up several times by the ninja. Three men dead, all because of a chemical which could threaten the whole world Only Caboose knew of the catastrophic effects that could happen when the chemical would be used: the scientists researching it had not publicised the sudden deaths amongst their staff that occurred when it was misused...

The operation would have been simple. Steal a multimillion pound chemical and sell it on. Easy money. However, through Caboose's intervention there was only one person left - the boss. Aitch.

The chase was on. With almost lightening speed, Caboose was in hot pursuit of the vehicle which was making it's way to the North Gate. When the driver noticed a blur of blue, he knew what this meant. Abandoning the van, he ran through back alleys and side streets with the chemical in his pocket and a gun in his left hand. However, he came to an abrupt halt when he saw his pursuer, waiting for him in the dead-end alley he ran into.

"Ah, Minus... How silly of me... Running in the back streets is not the way to avoid a mass murderer intent on stopping me leave this city."

"A big mistake. It'll cost you, though. It'll cost you dearly..."

"You really think you can stop me though, when I have this..." Aitch looked triumphant as he held the chemical in his right hand, whilst keeping the barrel of his gun firmly fixed on Caboose's chest.

"That does not belong to you, Aitch. It doesn't belong to this world. The research being carried out in that facility will be stopped, but until then, there will be no more of it leaving the city."

"That's where you're wrong. See, I made a deal - I supply the chemical and I will be financially secure for the rest of my life. See, Minus, I wouldn't be like you anymore... I wouldn't have to hide like you... I'd be able to have an easy life..."

"Black market. I knew it. I really expected better from you -  first sending in your goons, then telling me you've finally sold out to..."

"Those *goons* where my friends!"

"Well, that's payback then."

"Oh I forgot... How is your friend nowadays? Still in a coma in County Hospital?" Aitch smirked. "If you hadn't intervened, the job would have been quick and probably less painful..."

"You son of a bitch..."

"And as for Black Market? I haven't sunk that low yet. I have a private buyer... Someone who pays extremely well. Unfortunately for you though... you won't live long enough to know how this story ends..."

As he was still speaking two shots rand out from the gun. A smoke bomb was thrown by the ninja in blue, and the bullets cut through the smoke. Two loud impacts told Aitch that the bullets had hit the wall behind where Caboose had stood. Stepping forward into the smoke, he saw the scattered bits of broken concrete which were displaced by the bullets. But there were no bullets or body in front of him.

"Looking for these?"

A shuriken in his back told Aitch he had been outplayed for the last time. He turned to face Caboose, who was holding in his hand both of the bullets.

"But how?..."

"Ghostwalking. You should know all about ghostwalking, but you seem surprised that I know all about it too? Shame on you, but you do get a consolation prize. You can become a ghost instead."

"Fine, you can have this chemical back. It's a fake. I was going to sell it to my buyer. The real chemical was left in the van..."

A screeching of tyres from a few blocks away indicated someone had just robbed the van which contained the all important chemical. In his fury , Caboose grabbed Aitch by the back of his head and stabbed him. Aitch didn't look completely surprised, but he had a parting gift for Caboose...

"It matters not... I'll be seeing you on the other side soon, old friend... She's coming for you... The devil in black and blue... She's looking for you... And when she finds you, you will lose everything..."

-----

The next morning, there was a large commotion at the back of the city museum. Someone had been stabbed and left to die. They were found face-down in a pool of blood and next to him was a calling card. Inscribed in blue and gold where the characters:

< C -1>

TO BE CONTINUED...