Noriko

"Have you ever drowned, Andromache? In all your years? Have you experienced that particular demise? You might think burning is worse, but it isn't. Drowning is more excruciating."

- Noriko

Noriko is an immortal formerly affiliated with the Old Guard. Her counterpart in the film adaptation is Quynh, portrayed by Veronica Ngô.

Appearance
Noriko is a slim but strong and skilled fighter with dark hair, dark eyes and fair skin. She used to wear her hair long, but cut it short sometime in the modern era.

Personality
Noriko is driven and incredibly skilled. She enjoys the thrill of battle and is always seen with a smile on her face while fighting alongside Andy. She is also manipulative and cunning, and isn't afraid of emotionally blackmailing the other immortals to get what she wants. Neither is she against killing Andy to get her point across, although she still seems to have deep feelings for her.

The time she spent separated from the others changed her stance on their mission, and instead of helping humanity, she has chosen to make them suffer and views them as vermin to exterminate.

History
While Noriko was traveling on the Horn with Andy, Joe, and Nicky, a large wave crashed into the ship and swept her overboard. The remaining immortals searched for her in vain and she was presumed dead.

Separated from the others and alone, Noriko made her way to Japan and started a feud with one of the shogun's warriors. The feud would last years, and each time Noriko was defeated, she would return and they would fight again. The warrior eventually retired and was killed by Noriko.

At some point, she began to view humanity as not worth saving. This change led her to lead a life of crime, where she became involved in drugs, weapons, and trafficking, with ties to multiple criminal organizations around the world. According to Copley's information on Noriko, her network is vast, and she has an indefinite supply of money and manpower at her disposal.

Plot
Noriko ambushes Booker at his home in Marseille following his suspension from the team. She asks where the others are and, though he tries to fight back, she easily incapacitates Booker. She then kidnaps and takes him to her yacht waiting in the bay with the help of her men.

Out in the Mediterranean Sea, Noriko orders her men to hoist Booker up, who had been tossed over the side of the ship and drowned repeatedly. Booker realizes she's an immortal like them, although she doesn't appreciate the comparison. She nearly chokes him to death, but is interrupted by one of her men.

With the intel she received, Noriko plans an ambush and shoots Andy when the latter discovers her in a shipping container. Nile tries to attack, but Noriko dodges and blows off Nile's leg instead. Noriko is bent on revenge for Andy abandoning her, and they both spar atop a shipping container until Nicky shoots them both. By the time the others catch up with Andy, Noriko has already disappeared.

Andy finds Noriko tailing Nile outside a bar and asks to talk. Noriko makes Andy feel guilty about giving up on searching for her and explains that she drowned repeatedly for years. She shares her own perspective about humanity, how they're not meant to help them but hurt them, and when Andy refuses to see reason, Noriko uses her katana to cut her down. She locks Andy in the trunk of a car, which she drives into the sea, and forces her to live what Noriko went through for years.

The following morning, Noriko is waiting for Nile outside of Agent King's apartment and lies that Andy sent her. Nile doesn't trust her, and Noriko implies the other immortals haven't been very honest about themselves either. Before she leaves, she tells Nile to ask Andy about "Law Two Hundred and Eighty-Two."

Later, Noriko's yacht is attacked by the rest of the immortals and all her men on board are killed. She hands over Booker willingly as she can see she's outnumbered. She asks Andy how the fight should proceed. She takes a swing at Andy, who blocks the attack, then uses the moment to kiss her. Andy chooses not to punish her and instead leaves Noriko after taking Booker back.

Noriko shows up the next morning at Andy's motel room, after the fallout she had with the rest of the team. She tells Andy, unlike them, she will not leave her and holds out her hand, which Andy takes. When Andy asks where they're going, Noriko vaguely replies, "To meet the others."

Appearances

 * The Old Guard: Opening Fire
 * The Old Guard: Force Multiplied
 * The Old Guard: Tales Through Time