Ok... one year and four months late.

[PC_Glenton]

Man… this sequence is going on forever. Well, almost to the sword. And after that, things change.

A little shorter this time, to make up for the long monstrosity of the last chapter.

Chapter 37: Entering the Dark Maze

The ride down was what I pictured the trip to hell to be like. Falling in a dark tunnel, tortured by the knowledge of where I was heading, knowing that this fall was probably the only respite before it all came to an end.

But, it would take more then a fall before I gave in to the devil. I took out my grappling hook, and quickly brought it against the edge of the tunnel. A long, lingering screech of the hooks edge against the cold metal of the chute hit the brakes on my descent, silencing only when it hit a recess, most likely another garbage door. But I know anyone outside would hear the end of my little trip, and would only provide a shortcut to the final destination.

A roar of flame, and a sudden illumination of orange quickly told me I had no choice but to get out of here. It seemed I was closer to the end of the road then I imagined, or I fell faster then I imagined. Either way, it was either certain death being burned alive, or a chance to live with the guards. I took the choice any sane mind would, and quickly catapulted myself through the nearby door.

I leapt into the darkness, quickly turning in a circle as I flung myself out, quickly scanning for any obstacles to my escape, and quickly found two nearby, but not quite recovered from the flash escaping from the garbage. Two typical guards, only different in one thing: they managed to find me.

I had to make it the last thing they ever did, and fast. Working on instinct, and a near panic state, I drew out a pistol, firing before they could say, or fire, anything. Adrenaline focused my aim, and sped up my arm, and the first bullet hit true. Using the momentum of the gun’s kick to speed the draw, I turned my sights on guard number two. I could practically hear his finger tense, as he prepared to fire, to kill me, and to let his buddies know where the bastard thief was.

But, I quickly turned such fears moot, as the blur I had become outdrew him, and ended this skirmish, and thankful I had the foresight to add silencers to my weapons. But, I now had to eliminate the evidence of my gunplay, before the bleeding did.

Fortunately, the silencer lessened the impact, so there were no geysers of blood. Just holes through the brain. As for the bodies, I already had my disposal. The same one I already escaped from. I dragged both guards over to the chute, and shoved them in. The smell would definitely linger for a long time, but I wouldn’t. I was back in the shadows, and on my way down. If I was that close to the incinerator, the basement was just around the corner.

There was only one flight of stairs, and that lead to an unguarded door. Well, was unguarded. The ones designed to protect it with their lives were probably the corpses I gave the devil in exchange for my escape. Well, at least they did their job.

Another keycard lock, but nothing the card picker couldn’t handle, and soon its code was in my possession, despite the numerous loops programmed in. But, as I was entering the door, I got a call from Mia, but it sounded like her voice was being crammed with pebbles and mouthwash. “PC…. Careful… Security…” Were all the words I could get before she just cut off. This place must be shielded from radio waves. Well, the only way to go was forward.

I entered the shadowy room, and noticed everything was outlined in red, giving off minimal light. Must be the work of the backup generator, supplying only the bare essentials. I knew the bleeding illumination would give off shadows, but my features would be distorted, so I was better off, in the long run. Hopefully, it would also mean the more mechanical guardians would be starving as well.

I entered into the new room, letting my eyes adjust to the new tone. This was the last challenge to the sword, and my past. I just hope all this trouble was worth it.

[GG_Crono]

Personally, I think this sequence was very well done. Something like this, one would expect it to take awhile and be done with extreme caution and attention to detail, so it merits a lot of drescription.

[PC_Glenton]

Whew… been a while, but this one caused a headache to write. Its easy writing obstacles, but making them sound real, and giving realistic solutions is a strain.

Well, I hope you enjoy it… as usual, criticize, praise, whatever you want.

Chapter 38: The Mental Domain of Hell

Even in the faint crimson light barely illuminating the walls, it was easy to tell this place was a maze. The first few steps led to a divide left and right, and not far from those turns, were other turns. I started to feel like a rat, waiting for some cheese. Well, I couldn’t smell the bait, but I could think my way to it, starting with the universal maze solution.

I turned right, keeping the blood colored stone on the same side. The only noise were my own footsteps, quiet thuds on the stone floor, as my toes were touching first, avoiding the heavier mass of the heel. An awkward way to walk for the beginner, but for those who live in the shadows, it is the step of survival.

But, even the quietest movements couldn’t do everything, especially when the obstacles had eyes, but not ears. Like the miniature spies that guard hallways without a need for breaks or rest. Surveillance cameras… they didn’t fight back, but they could start a commotion about what they see, and scream at any intruders, until someone came to do the fighting for them. And, you couldn’t just shoot them, either. Someone would eventually notice that something was wrong, and that same alarm would be raised.

And it was those annoyances I faced around the corner. A total of four, each one swerving left and right, in time with each other, so at least one was spying a part of the hallway, technically leaving no stone unturned. But, like every guard, these too had a weakness. They could only see.

So, they could not hear the movements of a thief walk underneath one protruding guard, and patiently waiting for it to turn, eyes on the second. Nor could it hear that same thief quickly move to the next camera, outside of its line of sight. And it was totally deaf to that same sequence of camera dodging, repeated to each of his brothers. If it saw anything, it was a brief flicker of black in the sides. Nothing to be alarmed about.

I grinned, and continued making my way through the twisted hallway, and found another type of obstacle, this one attached to something deadlier then just a siren. For, in front of me, was a steel shield with a barrel pointing out. It looked cheap, but I could make out the form of the weapon from behind. It was a standard issue machine gun. It looked like it was made into a turret. An automated one, from the looks of the wires coming of the sides… and into several indentions in the wall. I saw these holes before, during a bumbled bank robbery in Glenwood. Laser trip wires.

Well, I was better at this now. I didn’t have any talcum powder, but thankfully this hallway was old. I could make do with the collected dust. I picked up a pinch, and sprinkled it amongst the eyes. It was fainter then the white baby powder, but the faint outlines could be seen, twinkling, so it wasn’t too hard to catch their location in this atmosphere.

I took a deep breath, and took a step forward, landing my foot between two beams. This was the easy step. The lasers were only inches apart, barely enough room for my foot. I had to cross my legs to get the other foot in. I held this uncomfortable position for several seconds, then brought the first foot in front of the second. I only teetered a few millimeters, spreading my arms like wings to maintain my balance. I repeated this tedious balancing act. Left foot, right foot, my face drenched with sweat as I avoided even the slightest teeter. I was literally at gunpoint to succeed. But, soon, silence was returned. I was out of that trap, though I had to rest my legs. I was a little sore and tense from that little tightrope act.

I repeated these processes in this labyrinth for hours, pausing only to peek into the many different doors I found scattered around, but the only interesting thing I found so far was a break room. But, I kept looking. This place was well protected and confusing for a reason, and I knew I would find something suspicious sooner or later… and, I did, but not at a door.

Going down another hallway, after sneaking past more cameras, I noticed a thin line of dust that seemed a little thicker then most of the hallway… like it was shoved here by something heavy, or often. Curious, I took a closer look at my surroundings, pausing only to make a little adjustment on a camera, switching the feedback to make it loop over and over. A powerful, trick, but one best not used often. Too little activity can cause suspicion to mirror that of too much. But, I didn’t want to be interrupted.

Free of any distractions, I observed the walls… and noticed a few smudges along one panel. Just ordinary black smudges, but the fact they congregated on that one point seemed rather peculiar. I moved my hand amongst the dark spots, but felt nothing unusual. But, a quick knock confirmed my suspicions: there was something weird about this wall.

I changed my angle of approach, and tried applying force around the sides of the panel. Yes, it felt loose, like it could move. And, after my fingers took a trip around this new world, it finally gave, and opened up to show its treasures: a digital numeric keypad. While a deterrent for most, I had the luxury of being prepared. I reached again into my jacket, and pulled out they keypad pick. I put it over the keypad, making sure the small wires at the bottom of the squares fit snuggly into the numbered buttons.

As I hit the switch, and saw the flashing yellow LED light indicating the device was working, I paused to think a bit. I found it ironic, after changing and improving locks, they all had the same principle: a set of tumblers that needed to be bypassed. Sure, a simple lock and key lock worked differently then a keycard, but they still had a series of “tumblers”, be it digital information, or a metal pattern. And, even more ironically, they were picked in the same way. Bypassing the pattern by tricking it into believing the key or code was being entered, one step at a time. But, a green flash from the picker interrupted that train of thought. The code was deciphered.

And, right on cue, a part of the wall to my right moved into the hallway, revealing the secret behind. And, it revealed to me the only light in this dark tunnel. It was a laboratory, bristling with modern tools, and probably tools not yet on the market. I kind of regretted the sabotage I did earlier at this point. I would of loved to see these in action. But, disappointments aside, I had a hunch my quarry was here.

There were no cameras, and nothing out of the ordinary. Just an empty lab, most likely closed for the night while the scientists slept, dreaming of formulas and new gadgets. This was too easy, but I kept pushing on. After the security in the hallway, I could use a break.

It turned out to be a short one. For, in the center of a room, in a shining blue platform, was a long silver bar, with a red dragon on its side. I strode forward, and took a quick look around the device housing the device. It was more high technology, and beyond my knowledge. I threw a bolt I found near the bar, but nothing happened, so the weapon wasn’t shielded. But, there had to be something about this… nobody wastes time on a machine that does nothing. And, there were no panels, no keyboards. What was this?

Then, it happened. A slight hum, and the bar moved to the side. And, in a flash of blue, streaming upwards, an intense, laser like light, only existing for a few brief seconds. But the bolt I threw in was in now in two separate pieces, burned on the inner edges, and smelling of molten steel.

So much for too easy. It seemed that unwanted hands were not welcome here. Well, that display told me how it worked, so it was only a matter of finding a way around the deadly light. I moved my focus from the table itself to what my gut told me was the sword, careful to avoid touching the inner table. It couldn’t be a magnet, or else the bolt would be safe as well. And, it hit EXACTLY at the bolt. Took a few seconds, though. How did that pull work?

I grabbed something longer from a nearby table, and prodded it against the sword. I was millimeters away when the sword rolled away again, but in an opposite direction as last time. And, the laser of death appeared again, slicing the end off of my metal pole. So, it seemed it was proximity trigged. And the sword rolled quickly. I doubt I would be able to catch it barehanded. Then, when the trap reset, I noticed something… a bit of dust left by the bolt moved as well. So, it wasn’t the sword moving, but the tabletop. The whole thing was similar to a silent conveyor belt.

I figured out how it worked, but that left the problem of disarming it. The table was solid. I couldn’t break into it like the security panel. I had to work around it this time. Out of curiosity, I moved the metal stick closer to the sword, this time following it with the prized weapon, but parallel, so as to not move my hand over the table, and end up having it sliced off. The laser hit, but this time in a wave, one laser for each area the stick was at. There was the weakness. The trap could only activate once per intrusion. I could distract it, but I would have to be quick.

My primitive tool was now in pieces, so I get a new one, and repeated the multiple pokes. And, while the blue wave of doom was heading toward my prey, distracted by the metallic decoy, I quickly grabbed the weapon from the side, and moved my had, feeling a quick searing sensation as I did so. I paused to look at my prize, and the hole in my glove, revealing newly burned skin. It hurt, but I would recover.

Looking at the decorative bar in my hand, I moved my fingers over it, catching on an eye of the dragon that seemed loose. I pushed against it, and jumped back a bit when I saw the blue light, very similar to the trap that nearly claimed my hand, but a lot more intense, suddenly appeared. I knew from experience how sharp this was, and what it could cut through. I waved it a few times. It felt awkward in my hand, but not from the way I was holding it. No, I was so used to guns and triggers, holding a weapon like this was like switching a kid from a tricycle to a ten-speed just after ten minutes of practice. Still, I finally got it, and felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

But that second of joy was completely forgotten by the next sounds I heard. A yell to freeze, and about a half dozen guns getting in position. Like a shot, I turned my head, and saw a small squadron of five guards, all in firing position, ready to execute anyone daring to get in their way. In this case, me.

I knew I had to escape; that what little I had of life would be full of pain and torture if I surrendered. But, my chances of getting out alive were summed up by the next thought in my mind.

Shit.

[PC_Glenton]

Ok, long wait again, but this ends the robbery chapter, and I move on after this.

I hope you enjoy it, and please comment if you have anything you want to say.

Chapter 39: The Fight for Survival.

I quickly ducked behind the table, putting it between my and my armed foes.  I hit quick gun fire, and felt the bullets fly past, but wasn’t even touched.  The sound of lead death stopped as soon as I put a barrier between myself and the human obstacles.  I didn’t think the table was bulletproof, I only ducked to gain some cover.  Must not want to damage the equipment, probably worth more then their lives.

But, while the deadly sound of automatic fire subsided, the sound of impending doom was replaced by the thump of footsteps on a hard metal floor.  I pulled out a gun, and forced my nerves to clam down, breathing slowly, remaining in control, and suppressing the natural desire to panic.  I focused my attention away from my own instincts, to my surroundings, focusing on the footsteps.  I saw five guards, but it sounded like only two were advancing, one on each side.  Most likely, hoping to surround me, and make a thief sandwich, with the remaining three blocking the only way out.  Five against one… it was time to even out the odds.  

The dogs probably knew about the trapped table, so they would go around the sides.  If they didn’t… well, any loud painful screams would tell me of that.  But, it was all thumps, purposeful, and menacing.  And soon, to my predictions, I saw the tips of black, metal barrels peeping around the corner, like snakes tensing for the strike.

But, desperation and instinct beat out tactics, and I sprung, staying low, and underneath the gun on my right.  Grabbing on to the barrel, I then sprung upwards, practically leaping, and pulling the weapon backwards, out of a surprised wrist, but it only had a few seconds to relax, as my smaller pistol took him down, making the odds four to one.

I shoved his corpse ahead of me, using it as a shield against retaliation from the three doorstops, while I ducked again behind the table, belly sliding toward the second guard, steeling my nerves against the gun pointed at me, and got in another low shot, ending another obstacle in my way.  

The three in the back decided to stop holding their ground, and charged.  Guess they still feared breaking equipment in their attempt to stop me.  Crouching behind the table, facing the rampaging footmen, but keeping the deadly pillar as a wall, I waited.  I knew once they saw anything, they would plug it.  I needed them closer.  I was at a disadvantage at this far a range, since they bested me in firepower.  

That’s when I noticed several small, round ball bearings, like smooth steel marbles.  Thinking quickly, and desperately, I grabbed a handful and throw them toward the charging footsteps, and was rewarded by a cry of surprise and shock, and then a loud clunk as something heavy hit they floor, but all sounds were quickly drowned out when I received a shock of my own…a human head appeared over man, looking down at me.  At first I thought the maniac leapt, but then heard the familiar blue hum of the blue laser trap.  It seems the marbles got him as well, and he had the misfortune of landing right on the table, split in half along the spine, and dead, due to a quick surgery with a high precision operation table.  

I took this gruesome scene as a sign to get on with it.  I sprang to a standing position, and quickly shot at the first movement to catch my eye.  Namely, a confused guard, puzzled by his comrade’s sudden death, and his friend sprawled on the floor.  I made sure he never suffered such confusion again.

As for his friend, he never got up.  I couldn’t have him following me, and I figured I would have enough trouble as it was.  I ran out of the room, only to be greeted by a loud klaxon activating as soon as I stepped into the hallway, screaming that someone unwanted was here.  I did the only logical thing possible, and ran for it.  

The urgency of my situation blocked out the memory of the path I took to get into it, so I went on instinct and chose a direction.  I knew I would run into more guards, and that my position was already known, so I ignored the cameras this time, focusing on more direct threats.  One that was approaching around the corner, near a turret trap similar to one I encountered earlier.

I ducked back in the corner, knowing they would not give chase, unless they wanted to be fired upon by their own trap. It was then I got a crazy idea, and proceeded to pull of my shoe, and hit the eye on the sword, activating it.  And, acting in quick unison, I threw the shoe into the beams, while swinging the sword to just under the turret where it swiveled vertically, dodging back behind the corner as fast as I could.

I was rewarded by several screams, as the gun turret, no longer able to point down toward the shoe, was forced to fire in the closest position it could… straight ahead, at the guards working to bypass it.  Allowing a small grin, I then crawled low, underneath the shots, to get my shoe back.  It was bad enough I got detected, but it would be criminal to leave anything behind.  I was forced to keep low while the gun fired, but I wasn’t concerned.  It would keep others off my back for a short while.

I continued my crawling, unmolested, until I got to another door, similar to the one I entered the basement from.  Well, staying here would get me no where, so I went through, thankful I kept the key card that got me in here.  As soon as I came back in, the radio piece in my ear started yelling, deafening me worse then the bullets I avoided on my way out.

“Glenton, what the hell happened?  Its going crazy in there, we got patrols storming the whole place, ready to kill anything looking unusual!  What is this about a smell in the trash burner?  What the hell are you doing?”

Must have been the bodies I dumped.  Human flesh has a very distinct, and extremely unpleasant, odor when burned.  “Look, screw what happened.  I just need to get out of here.  Where the hell is the nearest exit?  And damn the details!”

“The closest one is the front door, but it’s heavily guarded!  The only way you are going through that is as a corpse!”

“Well, do your job, and cause a distraction, or something!  I can’t afford to gamble on a hiding spot that may or may not be there.   Hell, I can’t afford the time to talk to you!”

I quickly ended the call, and ran down the hallway.  It was against what I was taught, and what I wanted to do, but the instincts of a man knowing trouble are heightened, compared to one who is dulled by the doll-drums of repetitive quiet.  Technically, with all the trouble I stirred, the old adage you can run but you can’t hide was proven here.  

And so I ran.  I left the basement by the door, so I knew I was on the first floor, and near the door.  I didn’t see any guards in the hallway, but I kept running none the less, pistol on the ready.  Either they were looking elsewhere, or not all were informed.  But, I found the reason when I reached the door:  they were all stationed at the exit, making sure the fool who dare stole from them never got at alive.

Since I took an alternative entrance, I never got a look at the most obvious entrance, but it was a mix of aesthetics and military efficiency.  Marble pillars of grey stone, lining the way to the exit, and behind each one, a guard, with his gun primed, and very itchy trigger fingers.  I stayed behind the corner, not daring to show more then the peek I gave.  My breathing was getting heavier… and I felt my nerve slowly slipping away.  I was outgunned, outnumbered, and more were coming.  There was no way I could get by so many… disastrous thoughts kept pouring in, but the flood felt unnatural, like my mind was being crammed by such, in an attempt to crack it.

But, such a reverie was disturbed by an ear-shattering explosion on the other end of the hallway, accompanied by glass shattering, and ceramic tiles shattering on high velocity impact, with a smoke screen that could put even the worst volcano to shame.  It seems Mia actually agreed with me, and decided to provide that distraction… and then some.  The shock wave alone was enough to warp and bend some of those stone pillars.

The guards turned around, some cowering and running from the site, their instincts turning to panic.  Good, I finally had an advantage.  It was time to take it, and get out of here.  Without even thinking, like my body remembered something, and was taking over, my left hand reached for my spare, arming myself with both weapons, and then pulling them upward, as I took a few seconds to regain my composure, and to mentally prepare myself, emptying a state of action, clearing my mind of any doubt or hesitation.  Then, twirling around a corner, a tornado of black leather, I entered, pausing a mere second to see if anyone was facing my way.

Good, they were still distracted.  I guess an explosion is more interesting then a guy sneaking to the exit.  Well, should enjoy it while I can.  It would only be a matter of time before I got in a gun fight.

I made it to the third pillar, before the hairs on the back of my neck rose.  I felt three eyes watching me:  two human and a third hollow, long and deadly.  But, I quickly punished the human orbs for staring, with a scolding that sent him reeling on the ground, silenced forever by my cold, piercing argument.

But, that quick debate attracted the rest of the room, and I found myself in the spotlight for one heck of a roasting.  But, I quickly used the pillars as a way to dodge the crowd, and their ringing, leaded arguments.  The marble shields I was using as cover quickly chipped, turning the entrance way into a museum of abstract sculptures, but I had better things on my mind then commenting on art.  I did take the time to add my own opinions, mostly to stave off the protests of my leaving to the artistic guards.  

My decision to leave was obviously painful, and left several of my detractors on the floor, moaning in pain, covered in red flowing sheets of sorrow.  I had no time to ponder on this, for the exit was up ahead.

I was on the last pillar, unhurt, and unharmed.  The shattered door was ahead of me, the promise of freedom cheering me on.  But, exhaustion was beginning to overcome me, as I spend the last of my adrenaline, and I felt fatigue become a time bomb, ready to go off, and leave me lying on the ground, at the mercy of my attackers.  I shook my head, refusing to acknowledge that outcome.  I was too close to escape to loose now.  Spending only a second, again seeking shelter behind the pillar, I gathered what little strength I had left, and shoved myself out the door, leaping toward its gaping maw.

The guns and yells of the guards grew fuzzy, and I found myself landing on concrete, the world going hazy around me.  In a world of fog, I tried to shoot, the basics of human will refusing to give up, despite the energy leaving me.  I knew I had to get out… I had to escape…

Almost catatonic, I felt my mind grow heavier, my eyes losing focus, as I grew weary, the need to sleep.  The gun was slipping in my hand.  I needed to let it all go… to rest.

The final sensation before it all ended was a screech, and then the sound of rapid fire, coming from behind, as smooth, tan skin grabbed my collar, and flew me into a cushion of leather, surrounded by decorative metal.  I felt a lurch, and heard another squeal, a noisy signal that I was out of immediate danger.  My body did not argue, and just collapsed, entering sweet oblivion, the struggles of the night disappearing.

             I had escaped, the last sight I saw before darkness clamed me was an angel wearing black, with olive skin.  An angel one could love and hate.  One I knew would be lecturing me like a house wife when I woke up.

             Mia… why did you save me anyway?

[PC_Glenton]

Ah… the sword theft is over. Time to set up things a bit more, and get into a new phase of my story, and a little more character development.

Enjoy

Chapter 40: The Angel of Death’s Prophecy.

Blackness… everything was blackness. Existence itself was a dark shadow, a curtain hiding everything from the eyes of the curious, an endless cage made of void. A cage I have been locked into before, though it had been a while.

“Well, been a while since you been here, puppet.” I tensed… there was only one guy that called me a puppet… and sure enough, I saw the silhouette. The outline of black, somehow easy to perceive in this place, even though he was covered in it, and by all rights, should be impossible to see. Though, he did look a bit more defined, I could see the lines of pants, the appearance of lips, even though he was mostly an inky cloud of a man.

“What the hell do you want?” I felt strangled being here. Every time I entered his domain, I knew he was in the control, and the pain he inflicted, his punches and mocking, only reminded me of that. But, still, something seemed different, but I couldn’t quite place it.

“To remind you of your place. You have been spoiled, enjoying more time aware then you should. You need to remain humble to your true place. To feel what you are. Just a worthless puppet and my trash can!” The specter would up for a punch, and even though I knew what to expect, I did not fear it this time. Not out of any personal knowledge, but something I just felt. And, sure enough, when the punch connected, it only stung, and not the crushing pain I felt in the past.

The dark tormentor froze, and seemed stunned. After several seconds, he looked to his fist, and then back to me. And, after several seconds of this unnerving silence, the only word out of his mouth was “Interesting.”

I was then hit by a sudden flash of white, and it then felt like my mind was being yanked out of existence, and dropped hard, on the cold concrete of reality. Moaning, my brain banging on my skull, I adjusted to my new surroundings, the white daze giving way to a more serene, if grungy and dirty habitat. The smell finally clued me in. I was back in the hotel, and in one of its beds.

I got off the grimy sheets, and walked my headache off. The weight of my jacket, miraculously still on, told me all my gear was still intact. The only lightning was the sun shining threw the torn drapes. I did feel a pain in the back of my right heal, and the edge of my neck. Felt tender, like whiplash to the highest extent. I probably got winged, and shot in the heel.

Thinking of the pain brought my mind to the last few minutes of last night. I knew it was a miracle I was alive, and not a bullet ridden corpse. It may have been my training, and the focus on concentration and mental discipline Charlon advocated along with the physical trials, or it could have been instinct. Either way, I can’t deny it saved my life. Though, what tipped off the building? Was it the smell of the bodies, like I originally surmised, or some other alarm?

Approaching footsteps, nearing the front door, interrupted my reverie. I pulled out my gun… then both of them. After last night, I was not skimping on the fire power again. I aimed for the door, waiting for whoever would be approaching, and preparing to do what was necessary.

I ended up quickly pointing both my weapons up, toward the ceiling, as soon as I identified my intruder. It was my rescuer, the faint image of my final sight personified. Mia Koj, the deadly angel.

Mia, for her part, just nodded at my aggressive stance. I guess since she knew me now, she figured I wouldn’t shoot her. I quickly put my guns away, and just said a single word, one I haven’t said for a while. “Thanks.”

Mia gave a small grin, almost regretful, and replied. “Yeah, well, just delaying the inevitable. Figure your time is soon enough.” She let out a quick chuckle. “Hell, as far as Charlie is concerned, you’re a total failure.”

“Charlon? Where is he? And what do you mean…” Mia quickly cut me off with a hard stare.

“He left shortly after the alarms went off in the building. Didn’t say a word, just turned and went. Not surprising… its usual course to leave thieves who fail their exams to the wolves.”

“Wait… you mean, he expected me to die?” I felt an inner dread at this, like my escape at the Path compound was still in process. “I got the damn sword, after all. Doesn’t THAT mean anything?”

“Not to the Triads. To them, there is no partial. It’s succeed or fail. You may have gotten the cheese, but since you got caught, you became a filthy rat in their eyes. A filthy FOREIGN rat, to make things even worse. Seen it happen before.” She went to the bed, and sat, sighing a bit. “They give the poor bastards some hard task; make them do it alone… nothing but a body left. They then claim they worked independently, alone. End of the failure, and no loose ends.”

I just stood there silent. I barely got out of there alive, just to die again? No, I wouldn’t accept it. “Fine, I will run, hide. Do what I can to live.”

Mia gave another chuckle, scoffing at my desperate optimism. “For how long? In case you didn’t know, you have a piece of hot property on you, the answer to the government’s ballistic alarms. Any Dragon Head holding that will be the king of the Hong Kong criminal underworld. And, you are only one man, who lost the backing of his Triad. No, there will be no bargains…” She looked intently at me. “There will be hunters, chasing prey. Tell me, Glenton. Can you take on the city of Hong Kong?”

I paused, the enormity of my situation hitting me at once. I just met Mia, but she proved reliable, and I doubt she had any reason to lie. Though… “Why tell me this? Why do you care if I live or die?”

“Professional courtesy. You have promise, just got off to a bad start. Though, hiding bodies in an incinerator probably wasn’t the best idea.” So it was the smell. “Pity such a bright star had to end like this. It was nice knowing you, PC.” Mia stood up, obviously preparing to leave. “Besides, I have my own feelings about the Sunrise Dragon. Anyway I can make things more difficult for them, is just a bonus to me.”

Mia strode out the door, apathetic to my surprised and bewildered stare. “Oh, almost forgot. Your teacher gave me this, told me if you ever get out alive, to call him. For what reason, I think I already said.” She idly tossed me a business card, and left. I picked up, and then sat on the bed myself, head in my hands.

I knew I was promised the secrets of my past, and the knowledge of who I was. But, would it do any good if I didn’t have a future? Yes, sticking with Charlon and the Triad was the best bet to find out who I was, but it was obviously going to be a struggle to survive, to avoid the suicide mission that terminated a member’s career. There had to be a way out of this.

I felt a tingling in my head, the familiar sensation of a presence I detested, one that seemed to leave inside me. “Forget her… you spent how many months with Charlon? He saved you from the streets of LA. He gave you the skills you have. You owe him everything, even your life.”

“SHUT UP!” I felt myself getting angry. Those last three words, even your life, seemed to strike a cord in my being, a dial turning up the heat to dangerous levels. “I owe no one my life. I fought for, ran, and survived on my own doing, even before meeting Charlon. I owe no one, NO ONE, my life.

And then, the presence was gone. Odd, every time the Voice spoke, it was always something about how pitiful my life was, or how I owed things to him, followed by loses of bodily control. But, it seemed this time, he just ran. Interesting.

Anyway, I couldn’t focus on my inner demons now. I needed to figure a way out of this. I was looking at Charlon’s card; number intact, to baa pitifully to him, like a lamb waiting slaughter. I then had an idea. I had a second card, one from a different source. The Fanged Tooth Triad.

I grinned, and made two phone calls, one to a dragon saying I had a sword, but was being followed; meet me behind the alley way of the hotel in two hours. I had to lose my pursuers. The second, to a fang, saying I changed my mind, and would take their offer. Meet me behind the hotel in two hours; I needed to lose the Sunrise Dragons trailing me.

I left, a little happier. Now, I just needed to find some ketchup.

[demigod]

Ketchup? PC going for a hamburger?

[GG_Crono]

All things are possible with ketchup.

[PC_Glenton]

Well, this ends all my work from the Triads. Now to fast forward a bit more, and then get on with my life. Don’t worry, though. If you loved some of the characters from these chapters, you will see them later.

Now, on to the next chapter, and to find out why I needed ketchup.

Chapter 41:

I found myself in the dumpster, surrounded by trash, and covered in a blanket of filth. I laid still, my body unmoving, my shirt torn with several holes, each one surrounded in red stains. My own face reddened as well. To the casual observer, I looked dead, another piece of trash thrown into the dumpster, to be forgotten.

I blinked once. I was here for several minutes, waiting for it to end, waiting for the final hour, where not only would I be free, but I would be able to leave the responsibilities of this life, and move on. I paused to think what will happen, and what to do. But, such thoughts where drowned out by approaching footsteps, lots of them, approaching from different directions. The two hours were up. It was time to act.

The footsteps stopped, and I knew what they were thinking, staring across the alley. Wondering why the others were there, wondering what was going on. It was then I made my move, popping my head out of the dumpster, like a corpse suddenly coming back to life.

“They got here first! They took the sword!” Followed by a quick collapse back into the can. The sounds of rapid gunfire added life to this dead alley, the zinging sounds of ricochets, the quick, many bangs of lead flying through the air. I couldn’t see anything from my hiding spot, but my ears told me enough.

And, just as quickly as it started, everything stopped, a sudden lull, like the world was pausing to reflect on the fight. But, despite my ears ringing from the combat, I picked up unsteady footsteps, only one set. It seems there was a survivor.

I peeked my head over the side of the rusty metal prison, and saw a limping form, dressed in the same black tunic I was, but in much better repair, even with the bleeding holes coming from his thigh and arm. Looks liked he was walking over to the other side, probably trying to find the sword. A good, dedicated thug. Too bad he seemed to forget about me.

The thug collapsed on the ground, a third now in his head, and blood pouring out like a geyser, soaking the alleyway, and making a red stain that will tell any unfortunate passer-bys of the dangers found in this area. I left my hiding ground, and quickly sheathed my warm gun, still smoking from the kill. I couldn’t have any witnesses, no one to tell the truth. Its way I hid in that grime in the first place, to keep an eye out for any curious bums that littered this alleyway.

I wiped off the dirt as best I could, as I walked toward the group carrying the briefcase, but I would definitely need the services of a dry cleaner. And, if the Fanged Tooth was true to its word, I would actually be able to afford it, and much, much, more.

I noticed one of the corpses had a briefcase handcuffed to his hands. I quickened my pace, knowing someone would hear something, and call the police. Using a pick, I rapidly freed it from its owner. Inside, I didn’t find the five hundred grand promised me, but instead almost double that, in Chinese bills. Good thing my time in the Triad made cash conversions a second nature. I was wondering why the amount was doubled, when I caught a business card tucked into the top half of the case: Moheimadsajn ibn-Shumijksonirteds. A purveyor of electronics, machines, and other gizmos, located in the Kappa Bazaar.

The Kappa Bazaar. Charlon mentioned it before; it was a code name for a huge black market somewhere in Hong Kong, some kind of collective of marketers, or some such. The money must have been for something big then, and not for me. Probably only brought it here to wet my temperament. Bastards.

Still, I got paid for all of this, and I got to keep the sword. The only thing to do now was to lay low, and one more final thing.

I ripped off my torn tunic, covered in tears I made to look like bullet holes, mixed in with ketchup, oozing down, covering it like the thick, spilled blood I intended. Taking a lighter from the pocket of the handcuffed thug, I threw my former shirt in the dumpster, surrounding it with paper, and then lit up. With the help of the garbage, the shirt was quickly engulfed in the orange flames, the dragon on the back perishing in the blaze. I then quickly covered it with the dumpster lid, to minimize the appearance of smoke. If later found, it will probably be called a bum fire, or something similar.

I then helped myself to the wallets of the fallen Triad members. They weren’t going to need them anymore, might as well make good use of their contents myself.

I then left the alley, hoping the little scene I arranged was enough to point the wrong fingers. I was confident, though. After all, how could anyone even trace me? Only a few people from each Triad even saw me, and I technically don’t exist.

Now, the only thought left was how to spend all this money…

[GG_Crono]

Hookers and booze?

In seriousness, that was a nice little conclusion to this bit. Although if I may pick at a nit, you made a smal error in one sentance…

I my head peeked over the side of the rusty metal prison,

Which could use a quick ker-edit. Is no biggie, such things happen to the best of us.

And also to you. rimshot

[Wilfredo_Martinez]

Once again, sorry it took me forever to comment, PC, but as you know, I’ve been unbelievably busy these past few days. But now I’ve finally caught up with the rest of the story.

The part with PC and the Garbage Disposal almost had me shouting, “R2! Get us out of here!!” Snort But, I think it was well handled. Great details, especially with the laser trap. Great dialogue too, especially with Mia. As to whether it was too cinematic, well, if my suspicions about what is going are correct (see my above comments) then it can’t get farfetched enough.

Loved the resolution to the situation. Course, gotta wonder how long the Triads are going to be fooled by PC’s trick- especially by the KETCHUP. But right now, it makes for a one cool ending. (Of this part of the story, anyway.)

Can’t wait to see what’s up with PC’s “Other” now, however. Keep up the good work!!

[PC_Glenton]

A little transition, to reflect the changing times, and to officially kill my ties with the Triads, and start my life as a freelancer… sort of.

Well, at least this forum will see SOME activity.

Tell me what you think, like it or not.

Chapter 42: Time Passes, Blood Spills

Four months had passed since I turned my back on the Sunrise Triad, and pitted them against the Fanged Tooth, and almost all of it in a drunken haze, seen through the bottom of a sake bottle, and stashed away in a dark room, trying to be forgotten, hiding from those I angered. And I didn’t mean just the Triads.

The two Dragon Heads, naturally, were pissed as hell, but both were blaming each other. They spent two weeks gathering their forces, arming their men for what would have been the rumble to end all rumbles, if it wasn’t for a couple of things they overlooked: The Enlightened Path, and the iron-fisted government.

The Path stormed out of their compound, none of their guards saying a word, none of their leaders offering an explanation. They just ran out, and started shooting. It seems they wanted something that was taken from them, something rumored to have been stolen by a foreign thief. They had been planning retaliation for days, but the news of the two triads planning war so soon after the heist painted a big sign they read as “Kill us, we Did it.”

But, they did not only attack the two Triads. Anyone not native to Hong Kong was targeted. Russians, Italians, Americans, even the English who stayed behind, were shot down and massacred without even batting an eye. Guess they wanted to make sure that foreigner would never cross them again. Must not of had a high opinion of visitors, thinking he wouldn’t have the intelligence to hide himself.

The Chinese conservatives in power just bid their time, stating, “The fighting in Hong Kong has not reached a level to warrant our concern.” Meaning they didn’t care about a bunch of outlaws undermining their economic hold, or a crowd not even from their country. Well, who could blame them? Without the Triads, they would have a tighter grip on trade, and have more money and power, just by sitting on their butts.

Then, once it seemed the Path would eliminate the feuding dragons, the government finally stepped in, to the beat of marching drums, sending their troops to finish off the Path, believing they were weakened by all the fighting. Their mistake, for they fought one Triad that was beyond any normal crime family.

The Path may have been reclusive, but they weren’t stupid. All their power, all their influence and technology was hidden behind their black walls. And when the law came expecting a quick raid, they were answered with war. Any attempt to restrain was met with lethal force. The army had to withdraw, but the battles ensued, with the remaining Triads split amongst the two sides. Some hoping to get government leniency, and to operate freely. The other hoping to force their hand, and push the law out of their territories.

In the end, no one received anything. The military rolled out, realizing the cost and damage of further operations would only damage their main source of income, and the organized crime in the city was pretty well scattered, anyway. Even the enigmatic Enlightened Path was pushed to their limit, the area around their compound a graveyard. They had to change their focus from killing personal, to recruiting.

As for the Triads, the major ones that had control were scattered, their base destroyed, and any contact to the Dragon Heads severed. Including the one known as the Sunrise Dragon, my former employer. I took a risk on exposure, and check on what remained. It was all rubble and ash, blackened by the fire of federal vengeance. A distinct order polluting the alley of my former home, similar to a scent that gave me away during my escapade with the Path clued me in as to the fate of my unknown colleagues. The ranting of a wheezing bum filled in the rest. There were no survivors; no one associated with the Dragon remained in the world of the living.

I just walked away. I had no time to mourn those I never knew, or cry over a teacher that would most likely order me to my death. I had my own concerns to worry about, and didn’t want to risk being recognized just yet.

I used some of the money from the Fanged Tooth members to rent a cheap apartment in the poor side of Hong Kong, near the docks. Not the best place, but I doubt I would fit in some place friendlier. Besides, rats hide best in dirty holes anyway. Even sloshed rats, who were forced to go back to old habits just to get some sleep at night.

Yeah, the dreams returned, with the shadow taunting me. At least he stopped beating the crap out of me, though mental abuse, the insults, the swearing, the constant reminders I was not in control, and asking me why I trusted that bitch, Mia in the first place where enough to drive a guy to the bottle. I know it seemed odd, trusting a girl I barely knew, but it seemed to make sense. Like I somehow knew how things operate. He did have a point, though. My liberation did shove me against a dead end, and not only in searching for my past.

I had no identity, and thus, no passport, no physical ID… nothing to help me fit into society. As for living the old criminal lifestyle, I also had nothing. I couldn’t mug like I did in LA, the city was crawling with Chinese law enforcement, and no association to a “specialized” organization means hard time in one of the country’s many notorious prisons, where you were guilty, and never proven innocent. I was also tired of running, of drinking sake by the gallon, and trying to find a restaurant that wasn’t out of food.

It was time to stop laying low. I wanted to get out, stretch my legs. But, I needed a lead, I needed to know where to go, someone who had some information. It turned out such information fell into the palm of my hand, while reaching for more booze money from the briefcase

It was the business card, from the tech and info dealer in the Kappa Bazaar. It was a faint lead, but it was the best I could get. And I was in no position to be picky. I packed the rest of the cash to my jacket, securing it tightly. I had no idea how much green would need to flow to find the black market, so best to be prepared. I left my small, run-down apartment, and walked to the nearest bar, with a mind full of questions.

[PC_Glenton]

I was looking forward to writing this chapter. The Kappa Bazaar was an idea that would really let you in on how used people were to a free economy, and just how desperate they were to keep it, but also how that desperation made them a little depraved, and to show hints of the world outside of PC’s perspective.

Anyway, enjoy the next chapter. Please, I welcome any comments, of course. Anything harsh or pleasent.

Chapter 43: A Trip Through Vanity Fair.

I entered the smoke-filled bar, and was immediately overwhelmed and amazed by the sounds of silence. I had been in many bars since this morning, and while most of them were in this same state: Dirty, wooden floors, littered with stains and knotholes; a layer of filth across the premises, sanitary only for vermin. But, this one lacked the one thing that identified the other bars: patrons.

The only two people here were definitely workers: A Chinese bartender, bald, arms crossed, looking at the door, measuring up anyone who walked inside, an intense stare at anyone who dared ask him for business. The other was all in a black short-sleeved shirt, and black pants, standing guard next to a door, still as a statue, shades similar to the style I wore covered his eyes, adding to his cold, unmovable appearance. This, along with his sheer mass of muscle told me he was either a guard or a bouncer.

Despite the ambience of this run-down hole, all the information, all the drinks and bribes, pointed to this location. I took a deep breath, and approached the scowling bartender, placing my order. “Sake and scotch, no ice.”

The man just nodded, the expression of anger never leaving his hairless face. “We only have dirty glasses.”

Good. This was going smoother then I originally thought. “I prefer the dirty ones.” The man handed me, true to his word, a dirty mixture containing an unholy mixture of two different cultures, only consumable by either the masochistic or the highly inebriated. I took this glass to the bouncer in the back. He looked intently at it, shaking it up, and then nodded. He stood out of the way of the door, and gestured me through. With a loud creak, I took my first steps into Hong Kong’s underground catacombs, the housing of its black market, the Kappa Bazaar.

And, what I saw was beyond what I expected. Instead of a quiet, paranoid group of shady businessmen, working in dark corners, it was a true, open market Bazaar, looking more like a flea market then a criminal mall. There were farmers, artists, even sellers of fine leather jackets, all yelling out, extolling their wares to passersby. If it wasn’t for the catacombs hiding everything from public view, you could mistake this for a city event.

I found it amazing that so many would sell their goods on the sly like this, but it did make sense. The government controlled the flow of merchandise and money. If you wanted to make the most for your buck, you had to go where the control was less fierce, and where economic freedom was outlawed. I am surprised the same government that risked half the city to kill a few gangsters would tolerate this. They had to know something. Maybe it was the risk of pissing off all these people.

I just shrugged, and kept walking. I didn’t have to pay much to get this location, nor learn the codes to enter, and even got an address for a bottle of vodka. Hell, for booze, the only thing I couldn’t get is how to pronounce the merchant’s name. This guy the Fanged Tooth were buying from must have been good. I just hope he wasn’t too expensive, or held too much of a grudge, considering that briefcase I have been living out of held HIS dough, after all.

His street was on Tech road, so named because it was where the technology marketers gathered, and performed their business. That was how things were arranged here, in these catacombs. The streets, or hallways, depending how you looked at it, where named after the markets. I continued walking, hands in my pockets, and glad I carried everything inside my jacket. This would be a pick-pockets haven, with the crowd of shoppers everywhere. I soon found myself at the corner of Videos and Servants, next to a store selling DVD copies of Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix, Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Apprentice, and other releases, all marked in black Sharpe. Bootlegged, without a doubt.

The large shack on Servants had merchandise in the open as well, obviously smuggled in from all over the world, and all female, with clothing strategically ripped off, turning their outfits into nothing more then barely concealing rags, accessorized with chains and shackles, complete with sad eyes hinting at broken spirits. What caught me by surprise was the variety. There were Caucasians of different builds, but also Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Living in this country made me more sensitive to Oriental genetic differences then other human types, though I would say the Caucasians were European and American, offhand.

I continued walking, ignoring the wares. I had my own goals, and had no time to view his wares. Besides, dealing with slavers was always risky. You never knew if they were interested in doing business with you, or over you. I was better prepared for confrontation then I was four months ago, thanks to the old TV set showing nothing but Bruce Lee movies over and over, a continuous homage to the hometown legend, and my own desperation to keep in shape. But, it was sheer stupidity to get in fights that had no reward, to waste energy on pointless battles. I rather save it for when fighting means something.

Finally, after a lot of walking through the crowds, I found myself on Tech. This area was different. It wasn’t shacks or temporary markets, but actual doors carved into the ancient stone, with signs hanging out, advertising the different merchants. No windows, but there were numbers outside the niches. I walked down the road, quickly finding what I was looking for: Lot number 2611, and hanging outside, was a metal sign advertising the merchant: Moheimadsajn ibn-Shumijksonirteds. This was my man.

I entered the shop, the door creaking loudly over the crowd, into a site that was truly amazing and chaotic at the same time. Spread everywhere, with paper price tags, and secured behind locked and secured glass where a wide variety of different tools of the criminal trade were presented. Devices designed to bypass retina scans. A tool kit for hacking into surveillance. Everything a crook or ne’er do well could want. For a fairly high price, unfortunately.

I was looking at a pair of night vision goggles when I heard heavy footsteps approach from behind. I turned, to find a heavy set Arabian man, his face wreathed in a black beard, and his eyes covered in thick glasses. He had an air around him, one that said he knew he was smart, and wasn’t afraid to show it. This must be my man.

“Mr. Shumijoke…. Er, Shumjerk… I mean…” Damn, this name was impossible.

The man just sighed, and rolled his eyes, obviously a common witness to the butchering of his name. “Look, just call me Iban, ok? I am much to busy to be hearing some bastard stutter like a drunken monkey. Now, what do you want, or are you here just to piss me off?”

Whoa… guy had an attitude. But, I was here on business, so I maintained my control, and prepared to deal in business. “I heard you were a broker of information, Mr. Iban. And, I have some questions that need to be answered.”

“Yeah? Well, answers don’t come cheap. I doubt my price could be met by off the street bums like you.” Shit… what was with this bastard? Well, I guess I better get to the point.

“I need to know more about a certain company, one that had been giving me trouble.” A gross understatement, but I didn’t want to over blow my problems. A desperate man is a gullible man.

Iban just snorted. “What, forget to pay your bills? Why should I get involved in your personal affairs? I have better things to do then dirty my hands pointlessly. Now, get out of here, you worthless man!” He quickly pulled out a piece, and turned off the safety, obviously trying to scare me. Well, I had enough of this. It was time to get him a bit more curious.

“You know, I expected more from a man worth over a million to a Triad.” The look on his face was worth all this abuse so far. I think I finally got somewhere.

“How… how did you find out about that?” His former arrogance was melting away, the gun dropping. When dealing with the intelligent, the most effective weapon to wield is knowledge, of any sort. “I have my sources. Now…” As I dropped five hundred on the table. “I think I am worth more, yes?”

Iban quietly took the money, and gestured toward the back, I followed, my eyes quickly looking for windows or cracks. The memory of a similar situation, with DNA Doug, was on my mind. And his death, after opening the door to more questions, was quickly overshadowing this moment. I needed Iban alive.

I just hope history didn’t repeat itself.

[Alyx]

PC: Once agains I am behind but I am reading your chapters and catching up… But from the few chapters I’ve read in my process of catching up Seem very well writte and nice… I’ll edit and coment more laters :3

[GG_Crono]

Selling “fine leather jackets”, eh?

[PC_Glenton]

Whew… been a while. Getting harder to do these between slow times at work, since they are rapidly dissappearing.

But, I said I would finish, and I would. And, thanks for your interest Alyx and GG, though next to the jackets they also sell wooden carvings of a walking dog and a rabbity thing.

Anyway, on to the next chapter!

Chapter 44: The Shroud of My Enemies.

I was lead to an old cargo elevator, decorated in rust, with hanging chains adding much to the urban decay atmosphere. Iban closed the doors, and lowered us down into the dark tunnel. While descending, I thought about my companion, evaluating who he is, and what his true intentions are.

While the Kappa Bazaar does have its own set of rules, they are only loosely enforced, and angered mobs, or armed thugs make most major decisions. In the end, it was survival of the fittest to the extreme. Feel like your got ripped off? Settle it with a 2x4. Think someone lifted your merchandise? Get a tire iron. Of course, most merchants usually hired some security, or knew how to defend themselves.

Which puzzled me about Iban. His items were hot, and in demand by those of my profession. And, considering our methods, I would of thought more was needed then glass. Also, the Arabian worked alone, and his chubby frame did not seem to accommodate any unusual strength, unless you counted Sumo.

Yet, he had his own shop, made his own gear, and had a secret addition deep underground, judging from the time this trip was taking. What was his secret? How did he manage it all?

I shook my head from such doubts, and waited out the rest of the ride. I took to suspecting everyone lately, mostly out of paranoia, and fear of Triad retribution. I closed my eyes, and tried to focus a bit, to clear my mind and stay in the present.

The elevator stopped with a lurch, nearly bringing me to my knees. Thankfully, I kept my balance, and only ended up skidding a few inches. My guide seemed unaffected by this. Well, this was his territory, and he probably used this machine several times a day. In fact, judging from his sudden smug look, I think he enjoyed seeing others get caught by surprise. Asswipe.

I followed him down a dark tunnel, lighted only be a few swinging bulbs, moving shadows to one side from another, back in forth, making a wave out of the darkness.
I was soon led out of these shadowy tunnels, into something that looked like a cross between Goth and Sci-fi, like Dr. Frankenstein got an Internet setup. Five workstations circled the chamber, each containing nine screens, and each screen showing different lines of code. It then struck me how Iban protected himself, and did business. He was a hacker, a big one. His weapon was information, shot by the guns of blackmail and manipulation. The hardware store was probably a front, albeit a profitable one.

Iban sat at a terminal, and began typing away. I took the liberty of looking around, trying to pass the time. That’s when a rather interesting schematic grabbed my attention, and bribed me with a sense of awe. It was a long device, a narrow tube connected by a base with heavy engines, enough to speed an asteroid up to speeds, which could leave a visible mark on Jupiter. Unfortunately, from the computerized wire frame, I couldn’t tell what exactly it was, but the long barrel reminded me of a rifle.

“One of my most brilliant works, if I may say so.” I turned around, to see Iban looking right at me. It seems my nosing around didn’t go unnoticed. “An orbital satellite capable of leveling anything in a ten mile radius.” A weapon of such potential in his hands. The very scope of what this guy was capable of was enough to squeeze the sweat out like a sponge.

“How the hell do you expect to launch this undetected? You know the noise these things make.” And, anything shot like a rocket these days was screaming for political action. Ever since the “incident” in the Korean neutral zone, when a inactive, unmarked nuclear missile was uncovered, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to form a new department to regulate launches of any kind, including such procedures as filing for permits, and scheduling an investigation thirty days in advance. This applied to not only countries, but also corporations, or anyone planning on launching a rocket device over a certain mass.

“Meh. It was barely small enough to be considered a last-minute addition to the PPNC’s latest satellite, with the appropriate bribes, of course.” Made sense. The People’s Party News Channel, as the non-Chinese called it, while controlled by the government, was also controlled by corruption. If you had enough money, like Iban seemed to, you could make anything news, or have them work around anything. Even though getting by the UN wasn’t exactly a challenge. When you push papers for the planet, little details keep sliding through the pages.

“I originally was receiving payments from the Fanged Tooth for the rights to the controls. Until some bastard killed and robbed the messengers delivering the cash!” I kept my mouth shut. The less I mentioned about that, the better. Though, the irony that I was paying for my information with that same money was almost too much to contain. “Whatever, now that the Triads are merely fancy gangs, I may put it back on the open market soon.”

I then noticed what looked like a credit card reader, attached to the wall. I turned to its owner, a look of puzzlement on my face. Checks and cards were dangerous to pay with. They could easily be tracked, its why everyone in Hong Kong’s criminal side preferred cash, to avoid being caught in an embarrassing transaction.

“Heh. You think its only card locks that can be manipulated? This little baby can randomize transaction codes; scramble the outgoing data into a new corporation. Buying smack can quickly turn into buying snacks. A card from a Don can quickly come from a Dan. Its easy to use, and I only charge a ten percent markup, plus handling fees.” Very heavy handling fees, I mused

Iban’s face turned red quickly, like someone just dumped a bucket of paint on him, his tone changing to that of an angry paranoid… “What the hell are you doing looking at my stuff, anyway?! Mind your own damn business, and keep your hands to yourself, grubby little rat!” Talk about split personality, shifting gears from arrogantly informative to bad-tempered know it all. His ego must have made all the stops on the vanity train.
“Anyway, this is all I have. Stalter was a United States supplier of medical gear, back in the early Nineteen eighties. They got caught up in the whole Savings and Loans scandal the country had. Seems the good doctors took out a bill of thirty five million.”

That didn’t make sense. The Stalter I knew was definitely in full force, and from what I have seen of their gear, it wasn’t mere hospital gizmos. “What else?”

“That’s it. Nothing. They just disappeared, off the map. Money, stocks, tongue depressors… everything. Like they were mist in the Wall Street Fog.”

Odd, but hardly a news flash. It was obvious they were secretive, considering how little I heard about them from common conversation, despite the headaches they gave me, and from the full force I had on my tail in Glenwood. It seemed this avenue was a waste of time. “You expect to be paid for this?”

“Hey, cut me some slack! I can’t make anything from nothing! You think I like turning up nothing?!” The man kept whining, over and over, until my nerves had enough, and I handed him about a hundred, American.

“This is all you get. If you want more, give more. I will be back in a month” With that, I turned my back, indicating the conversation was over, and I was through dealing. I didn’t bother leaving any phone numbers. The last thing I wanted was that fat bastard bothering me.

I helped myself out the door, leaving Iban to wait for his own elevator. This trip wasn’t worth the effort I invested in it, and while I admit the man was skilled with machines, his facilities for information were lacking, though I had to admit he did dig up more then I managed in bar conversations since this all started. Maybe it wasn’t the help, but the enemy?

My ponderings on my situation stopped, as I froze mid-step. I got a familiar feeling radiating down my skull, one that any thief would dread, especially one hiding from two defunct Triads. Someone was staring at me. No doubt, I was recognized.

I pushed my way through the shoppers, swimming against the current of customers, looking for a spot to hide, to get away. I couldn’t risk fighting here, not when I couldn’t see my pursuers. My desperate eyes finally spotted an empty alley, locked between two of the ancient catacombs. I practically dived in, ignored by the crowd, who were obviously used to such actions. Tensing up, preparing my body for anything, I pulled out my guns, bracing myself for any sign of trouble.

And, in the sight of my guns, appearing confidently at point-blank range, was not an assassin, but perhaps something just as troubling. “We meet again, it seems.”

“Yeah, and in the same way as last time. Why the hell do you always have to point your weapons at me?” I couldn’t help but give a slight grin. Despite the fact she could be an annoying, demanding bitch, it was good to see Mia again.

[PC_Glenton]

Ok, for those who think I abandoned this again, here’s a pie in your face! I actually updated, and have a new chapter for your.

Not like anyone in these forums actually cares.

Chapter 45: Teacher of a Different School
The techno beat of the bar music screeched in my ears, already beaten by the wailing of the singer that couldn’t hold a melody even if it landed in his arms, clutching him like a desperate girlfriend. But, I was able to hold through this poor excuse for harmony, wallowing in the cheap Chinese beer, by focusing my hearing on Mia, at home in such unusual locales. Personally, I preferred more subdued hangouts, where the only noise was the gossip flying around. But, to each their own, and I would indulge her this time.

“The government getting in your way, hurting your business?” There was a heavier military presence on the streets, and the police had been replaced by soldiers, and the arm of the law had been replaced by itchy trigger fingers. It was dangerous to be on the other side of the line with such lunatics looking across.

“Actually, I’ve gotten more work lately. Everyone has enemies these days, people they want to kill.” I nodded, taking another sip. There was a lot of pressure on people when the government squeezed its iron fist, they needed some release. For some, that was usually the death of a human obstacle blocking their path to a promotion, a new job, anything. Hired guns like Mia could make a fortune firing their bullets, clearing the path for anyone with the money. “What about you? I thought you died with the rest of the Sunrise Dragon.” She said it matter-of-factly, like it was just more of the inane talk going around.

“Nah. I kind of made another deal.” I wasn’t ready to admit what happened, let her know that my self-preservation started a chain reaction to force the government’s hand. Best to keep quiet about it. “Otherwise, I’ve just been hanging low, playing it safe.”

“Sounds dull. And stupid.” I paused, my half-empty glass just millimeters from my lips. Stupid? Because I wanted to live? “This is the best time to be a player, PC. People with our talents are in high demand, thanks to the rules being enforced. And, you got talent. Why waste it?”

“I have two Triads that probably-“

“That probably don’t exist anymore, and are reduced to mere gangs. Damn it, you are practically hiding from ghosts. Get back out there, get a job.”

My brow furrowed. I had to admit, I missed it. I missed sneaking around, hiding in the shadows. I missed the thrill, the suspense. It was like a drug, entering your veins, giving a high that kept you coming back for me. I didn’t realize it until now, but I was addicted. But, still, there was one problem. “I live in a city that’s quickly turning xenophobic, and would probably be gunned down if it wasn’t for the fact I don’t attract attention. If I am worried about staying alive, how can I concentrate on my work?”

Mia smiled, gamely. I had a hunch she was up to something, and her next words proved me right. “You know, the people I kill aren’t scum from the streets. You don’t hire professionals for that. Too bad the corpses leave behind heavy security for all their worldly goods.”

I chuckled a bit. Was she asking me to work with her? Especially considering that last time we met, we were busy yelling and insulting each other. Hell, I was still wondering why she took me out for a drink. “Funny, Koj. You’d probably kill me once we get close.”

Mia’s grin tightened a bit, turning almost stern. “I’m not joking. You got a lot to learn, but it’s nothing a little experience won’t fix. And besides, it’s got to be better then dying a slow death by apathy, wasting away, having your mind grow old while your body rots, afraid to go outside.”

She had a point. I couldn’t just stand around getting drunk out of my mind, hoping my sleep is peaceful, and not plagued by my own internal demons, if they were even that. But, could I really trust her?

“Hey, there is a lot of hidden treasure in those mansions. I can’t get to it; I’m a sneaker and a killer, not a lifter. Besides, finding shortcuts, getting past security. I hate to admit it, but you’ve got more training in that then me. We could both get good money, and combine our abilities for even more gain. How about it?”

I was trembling with temptation, the beer glass shaking in my hands, as I took another sip. Steady work, a promise of good pay. I couldn’t turn this down. But, being her partner, so quickly? That didn’t seem like her.

“Partner? You’re still green, Glenton. We start 70-30. If you want the full 50-50, you have to EARN it. Got it?” Mia stared harshly at me. “If you think I am ripping you off, keep in mind I’ll be the one doing the talking. You just tag along, as my sidekick, while I do the dealing. And, I will have to be taking cheaper and easier jobs, because of your deadweight. Take it or leave it, but this is probably the best opportunity you can get.”

I hated to admit it, but I knew she was right. I was a nobody in Hong Kong, just another foreigner. I know I was being exploited here, but I would probably get worse from others, at least she was promising the possibility for more.

My mind was silent, with no protest. Good enough for me. I gave Mia a mock toast, and a nod, giving my silent agreement. I would work for her, but I would make sure she was true to her word about earning a better share.

.

[PC_Glenton]

Gack… becoming a Wil here. This chapter is not finished, so I have to pull a galloway too. Need to figure out a way past security cameras…

Well, enjoy the little there is.

Chapter 46: Work of the Thief and the Killer

Darkness. All around me were the shadows of darkness, swallowing everything in sight with its dark wisps, covering an invisible blanket over the eyes of anything able to see. It’s a time men subconsciously fear, for that is when we are vulnerable, when our preferred sense, sight, is weakened, leaving us at nature’s mercy.

But some have learned to become citizens of the night, to blend in with it, and take shelter in its arms, to hide from those who fear it. And no, we were not undead, vampires, or any of those other things that go bump in the night. We were normal people, trained to hide, and not be seen. And, with the dark paint of midnight’s brush, we can become just as invisible.

Both of us, Mia and I, were such, able to disappear in shadows, a common blur dismissed by the limitations of the human eye. But, shadows do not stay forever, and this is the liability of our version of sneaking. But, we are also adaptable, quick of foot. And simple tasks like these prove it.

Mia had a contract on a government rep, newly appointed and newly in charge of distributing the cargo from the ships to other parts of the country. But, like others in a position of power, some of that got distributed into his own hands, and his own pockets. Also, he had the power to order raids on suspected smugglers. Even if the targets didn’t even realize they were smugglers. Needless to say, he was fat and rich of the efforts of others.

It seemed someone had enough of this bastard, and decided it was time for a new raid, to end his sorry life. Mia managed to get the job, and for the first time in her life, hired a partner to do a little scouting and a few side jobs. Me.

We approached the building, a small mansion, about three stories high, located ten to twelve miles from Hong Kong. This wasn’t exactly the cave of the forty thieves, but should still provide a good bounty, with the price of the potential loot, and the price of the head.

Mia and I approached from the back, peeking out from the shrubbery. Their were guards, wearing black uniforms, but only carrying small peashooters, and obviously not the strongest around, judging from the guts hanging over the belts. Getting in would not be a problem, but once in the mansion, more evaluation would be needed.

We waited until the heavy footsteps of lumbering guards echoed away into nothingness, and staying low, quickly moved across the lawn to under a window. Mia kept lookout while I got to work, bringing out a glass cutter and making a circle in the low window, cutting an entrance big enough for the two of us. But, I was not yet satisfied. Reaching into my jacket, I then pulled out a packet of talcum, sprinkling it into the new hole. As I thought: red lights. The place was bugged and protected.

Well, nothing I couldn’t get by. I pulled out a small mirror, on a long stick, and moved it between the bars of damning light. I looked both ways, and found it clear. I then moved the mirror in front of the most obtrusive ray, and shoved it aside. I would need to relay on my body weight to hold the stick in place, while I went through.

I hoisted myself up on the sill, and pulled forward. The lasers were not too close, and I was able to squeeze through, with inches to spare. I looked around quickly, and saw it was still clear, but I had to hurry. I gently knocked on the glass, and motioned for Mia to enter. Soon, she was crawling through, but with much more ease then myself, thanks to her less bulky clothing.

We separated, and ducked under different sides of the same arch in the hallway. Like her, I quickly absorbed my surroundings. This was a lavishly decorated home, with fancy lights between the arches marking the hall every eight feet. Probably there for aesthetics, rather then anything functional. Taking a second to look at each other, Mia and I, striding toe-heel, to minimize the noise, ducked behind the golden painted cherry wood, until we reached the end of our cover, into what looked like a lounge, complete with old-fashioned piano, an empty fireplace, and an expensive chandelier. Looks like this guy might have a little more in his pocket then I thought. Most likely from bribes and extortion.

I quickly left cover to pick up a golden candlestick, and a few silver plates. I didn’t see any cameras, or hear any footsteps, so I felt like taking a chance. Mia hissed at me to stay, but I felt a risk was ok at this time. After picking up the goods, I crept back, the only consequence was my partner’s harsh stare. I just grinned, which seemed to irritate her even more. But, such antics were quickly forgotten, as we left from our cover, and proceeded to move.

The next hallway must of lead to something priceless, for the mechanical eyes of many cameras were lining the path, keeping a constant vigil in front of them. Well, this explains why it was easy so far. The budget for security was spent on just one area. Guy must be really paranoid about something here, but it might be something only he would care about, like his own neck.

Mia and I stared at each other, silently asking our partner for any ideas. The cameras were swerving in synch, parallel machines in constant view of the others blind spot. There was no chance to dodge this, but, from what I could see of the hall, it was the only way into the next room, save for a staircase leading up. This was a risk we needed to take.

Fortunately, there was another arch starting this hall, and thankfully, the cameras were pointing downwards, not focusing on what was above them. Probably not expecting a threat from above. A sign of over confidence in the walls you built.

I fired my grappling hook at the arch, and pulled myself up, hanging by its thin, but exceedingly strong, thread. I peeked underneath the wooden frame, and smiled. As I thought, there was a long piece of wood supporting the majestic archway. The owner of this place gave up security for a chance to look good. Well, vanity always had a price.

I gave myself some slack, lowering the line a little, and then swing forward, my right hand reaching out to the fancy log on the other side. My fingers almost touched, but I was still out of reach. A second swing did the trick, and I found myself hanging on for dear life, several feet above the ground, and a few feet above the cameras.

I dropped my hook in Mia’s direction, and then wrapped the other hand around the beam, and turned myself upward, making it look like I was riding an animal. I was glad this was expensive, will finished cherry wood. Any splinters now would be very painful.

I pulled myself forward with my hands, making slow progress across. It took a few minutes to get a mere quarter of the way there. But, my progress was halted by three rapid knocks, followed by one long one. That was Mia, knocking out our code for trouble. I then heard another knock, but one that was steady, and repetitive, and echoing down the hall. It was either a guard or servant, but I could not risk being seen by either, and I couldn’t count on them to look straight, and hot have their attention turned upward.

I acted quickly. I couldn’t help Mia and myself at the same time, in fact, would probably make things worse for the both of us if I played the hero. So, I concentrated on myself. With moves a gymnast would approve, I pulled myself upward with my hands, and then turned into a quick handstand. Then, sweating with this control, I cart wheeled to my feet, grimacing at the noise my landing made. But, the footsteps continued at their same pace, no sign of rapid approach, or cautious slow walking. I was safe, for the moment.

But, now came the hard part. I was good at keeping my balance, thanks to Charlon’s training, but even the best had their limits. And keeping one foot directly behind the other was a strain on leg muscles. On top of that, I had to avoid attracting attention, and that means make the walk in total silence, and with my hands at my side, unable to provide a center point. One thing about this job… it was always challenging.

The guard then walked in. This guy wasn’t a flab bucket like the ones outside. He was still only armed with a pistol, but he had muscle. Guess the true threats were reserved for when it was needed. He effortlessly walked passed the cameras. He didn’t fear them; he didn’t need to. He worked here, and was probably seen by many digital eyes each day.

I knew the best way to avoid his gaze was to stay right above me. The normal human eye could grab a lot of detail in one glimpse, and even a flicker would alert it to something else. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to stay right above him, and avoid his peripheral vision, while walking parallel to the board, forcing me to stand flat and sideways, not an exactly comfortable position.

The footsteps came closer, the resounding echoes perpetrating louder throughout the hall. The booming matching the beats of my heart, as sweat started to trickle down. I knew I couldn’t afford any mistakes like the Path compound. This wasn’t a Triads base, but a government employee. That was one gang I did not want to cross.

The steps appeared below me, and I started scuttling across, scraping on the board, going slow and silent, but struggling to maintain pace with a man going at a regular pace. I was agile, but even the greatest acrobats had limits in how fast they good go. And man was not made to walk sideways and flat heeled.

The steps stopped, and so did I. I peered over my shoulder and down, scared to add any more weight in front of me, and lose my already desperate balance. The guard was turning in circles. He must have heard something… please, not me. No, he continued, and so did I.

We were halfway through, and my legs were getting tired. I was losing my subtle step, and I feared I would make myself obvious after a while, or fall down, right into the sight of both an armed guard and several cameras, alerting more trouble to my location. The guard was stopping more. I knew he was getting suspicious. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep this up.

I kept it up, fear and adrenaline keeping me steady. I was only two feet away now, and drenched in my own sweat, from the pain in my ankles and thighs, to the fear of collapse and failure. I was near the end of this painful journey, just a few inches away, and by then I hoped the guard would turn away. But, it seems I was wrong. Instead of finishing his patrol, he just stood there, like a statue. Damnit… he wasn’t patrolling, he was just changing his guard. It seems my luck had run out for the day. It was only a matter of time before I did something to give myself away. So much for the first day on the job.

But, a crash echoed from the other side of the hall, echoing its destruction in a resounding melody. The music got the guards ear, and moved him to do a fast jig, away from his post, and out of my sight. Looks like Mia saw the problem, and conducted a distraction. Nice of her.

Taking a breath of relaxation, I slowly laid myself down on the beam, and then turned upside down, and released my now tired legs, letting them hang loose, inches above the down gazing cameras. I waited for the nearest one to turn away, and then dropped, and scattered, getting on the other side of the hallway, leaning against the corner, and catching my breath, sliding against the wall, melting in relief.

But, I snapped myself back to reality. I only got past one obstacle, I still needed to finish the job, and get Mia over here. She had my grappler, after all. To avoid detection, and give myself a little cover, I hit the nearest light switch, and engulfed myself in the shadows.

I needed to let Mia through, and I rather not risk the same danger twice. There had to be a way to turn off the cameras, some kind of override. I didn’t see anything on my way here, but it had to be close by, and in this room. Thankfully, I was rather perceptive in the dark. I may not be able to see colors, but I could discern shapes. I was only truly blind in absolute darkness, not in cased of mild illumination, like this one.

My fingers traced over the wall, lingering over anything sticking out, telling me what was hidden from my eyes. And, they found something that might be what I was looking for. I felt a grid of rubber buttons, depressible, with a smooth, fragile feeling screen to the right. I also made out letters on the side of this device. It was Chinese, but I know what it was… the Mandarin wording for this country’s version of Brinks. It seems I found the alarm console.

I pulled out my keypad decoder, imposed it over the rubber buttons, and let it do its thing. The beeps it made were faint, but the noise still put me on edge. I had no clue when the guard might be back, might turn on the light, and see me. I hoped Mia was doing her job, throwing bones to hungry dogs.

Finally, the beeping stopped, and I checked the displayed, after illuminating it with a special button. Good… it worked. I hit enter on the keypad, and the code was saved to memory, and the right buttons were activated. I disengaged the tool from the console, and went to check on the cameras. Good… that seemed to have done the trick. There was no activity at all from the digital sentinels. I knocked twice, hard. Our symbol for all clear. I then heard the quick pitter-patter of Mia’s walk, and then her form disappearing into the dark room, melding into the surroundings like me.

I gave her a few seconds to adjust to the lack of light, and then nodded, indicating I was ready. She returned the nod, and gestured to the stairs. She proceeded to rapidly slink toward the wooden path upwards, and I followed, but first grabbed what appeared to be a Ming vase. Now, to make sure I didn’t break it before I had it checked out.

The stair way was only a small flight, leading to just a single door on the second floor. Mia tried the handle, an old-fashioned brass turn knob, but struggled. Locked, obviously. I was about to offer my abilities, but she went ahead and did her thing to the lock. I quietly backed off. I should of known Mia was an infiltrator as well, and had the basics down pat. Meh, guess I was eager to prove myself. I was still curious about why Mia wanted me around. I figured it had something to do with the Sunrise Dragon. Sure, she took work from them, but one can’t be choosy when it comes to money. But, there was definitely no love lost between the two. Maybe she had a hint I had some hand in their downfall, or maybe we both were about to be crossed by them. There were a lot of maybes about this, but I couldn’t dwell on them. I needed to focus on the what is.

[d_Galloway]

“Pull a galloway,” huh? He he he, I like that.

Nice to see you’re still working on this, Glenton.

[PC_Glenton]

This is awkward. I finish the story, but the last two paragraphs won’t fight. Well, here is the rest of the chapter, and the rest here. Enjoy.

(cont.)

Mia got the lock picked, and silently opened the door. Good, only a slight groan from the hinges. Nothing that could cause a commotion. I looked over her should, and saw a huge blob in what looked like a very expensive bed, with the top rising and falling, like a flabby tidal wave. Mia grinned and gave the thumbs up. This was the guy she needed to kill. I nodded, and went back downstairs. I would let Mia do her thing, while I did mine. As I walked down the stairs, I heard the faint pop of her rifle, and then just shrugged, a tad disappointed. I was hoping for more time to loot, but I guess she wasn’t the type to wait. I would do what I could to delay her, while I helped ourselves to a few bonuses. After all, she was taking a huge cut out of my share. I needed to get as much as I carried, to even it out.

As I started scanning the room, I heard a quick pop from behind me, and then a very heavy thud. I didn’t turn around; I knew what it was. Mia just finished the contract. I quickly grabbed some silver and gold looking figurines, stuffing them in my padded jacket, knowing she would be wanting to leave soon. Oh well, at least this time, I didn’t get chased out by armed thugs.

[PC_Glenton]

Bet you thought it was dead again… at least if you cared about this.

Anyway, on to the next chapter… Hey, if Wil and d can get away with it…

Chapter 47: Idle Hands

This job wasn’t the highest paying, in terms of the bounty and booty, but it started a chain reaction. Mia was not happy with some of the “unnecessary risks” I performed, but I just took it in stride. I was there to add extra money to the pot, and what better way then lifting some valuables? Besides, I trusted my instincts enough to continue.

But, we worked together for five months, working in both killing and stealing. The Silent Pillagers. That became one of our nicknames with our criminal peers. We killed the target, and went off with as much of their riches our pockets could carry. Mia was good at getting by people, and I was the one who got by the machines.

Still, I felt more like her assistant then her partner. I managed to work my way up to thirty-seventy in only one month, and she was lingering forty in front of me like a dog with a bone. I think I figured her game out. She wanted the best, she knew what motivated them, and worked to make them better for her. We may have known each other for a short while, but Mia had great eyes for the unseen. I may be better in the dark, but in full light, she could sense anything out of place, even by a mere inch. It was like she was in tune with everything around her. We were indeed two different sides of the same coin. Light and Dark, also called by our peers as the Angel and Devil of Death.

I became more and more sullen, rarely smiling, always focusing on the job. I am not sure why… it felt like something was slowly dying inside me. Not like depression, but more of apathy. Like something that used to care was just fading. As a result, I was becoming more detached from my emotions, and the people around me. I figured it was helping Mia with her targets. In order to end life, you really can’t get attached to it.

Mia, on the other hand, was driven as well, but always contained a level of protectiveness about those around her. Sure, she always gave gruff, and knew how to take it. But, it seemed once you proved yourself, she was a bit more open, and went out of her way to watch your butt. I noticed how she reacted to our informants. She gave the newer ones crap, and was nasty, while trusted ones got a relaxed smile and a slap on the shoulder. It was like she had a shell similar to mine. Not sure what to do about something inside, so she cornered it off. I doubt it was as literal as my issue, but it was something I could relate to.

Still, I did not know a thing about her past, nor did I tell her anything about mine, or what little I knew of it. Everything I learned about her she played in front of me. It was like a game of stud poker. We only saw one card, and we hid the rest from each other, only guessing on what it could be. It was almost a rule; we never discussed anything beyond last week. Everything we talked about was technique, politics; work… pretty much anything non-personal. Almost like we were desperately trying to avoid getting too close.

We were in her favorite place, the same techno joint where she recruited me, drinking in celebration of our last job, a Russian Mafia boss trying to take over the shattered pieces of vice the Triads left. The bastard had government connections, and was hoping to expand his control to the East. Should have kept a lower profile. Just because someone is hiding, doesn’t mean he isn’t powerful, or able to pay for someone to do their dirty work. In any case, several weakened Heads, probably working together for the first and only time, pooled their cash together, and put a bounty on the invader’s head.

He was an easy mark, barely defended. It was more of a race to kill him, then any normal contract. But, it didn’t matter. Money was money. Mia and I proved ourselves quick, and the money was ours. I let Mia get the glory for this one. I didn’t want to be recognized by these guys. I was technically a casualty of a gang war, not to mention the guy who started it. Didn’t want to have all that violence coming back to haunt me just yet.

But, such thoughts were far from my mind tonight. It was a time to celebrate, to drink sake (I found I preferred this to beer, anyway), and just relax. Mia and I tapped our glasses together, and drunk deeply in the fruits of our success. We talked shop, our voices hidden in the blaring music and the crowd of dancers, and compared notes, laughing at each other. We were on our fifth bottle, when we finally lost our inhibitions, and started crossing the line.

“Say, Mia… how the hell did you get so good at this?” I must have been really plastered… I forgot the unspoken rule, and started going deep. But, it seems Mia was not exactly connected as well.

“Oh, just looking for a guy… couldn’t find him, so I thought I would practice on others. Made a lot of money on it.” She hiccupped after that.

“A guy, eh? Ex-boyfriend who stiffed you, or cheated on you?” I felt a sake glass pitched at my chest after that.

“No, stupid! Just… someone. Someone I owe a lot to. Don’t know his face, but I figure I’ll get him soon. Hell, killing everyone of his ilk here.” She laughed, and drained another glass.

I joined her in the glass, and resumed my drunken interview. But, it was odd… I felt some kind of tingling about this. “Fury of a woman scorned, eh?” I slammed the glass down on the table, hard. I’ve gotten drunk before, but that wasn’t to enjoy the pleasure of someone’s company, but to avoid mental suffering. I guess I was getting carried away in the fun of it all. “Must have been some bastard. Hope you find him out.”

“Oh yeah!” Mia suddenly perked up even more. “I hired a researcher to do some poking around a few months ago. The jerk finally came through.” Mia got a thoughtful gaze, and then smiled. “I could use some help on this. Why not join me?”

I chuckled a bit. “A personal job? Come on, Koj. You know I am only in this for the money.”

“Oh, come on. Hey, tell you what. You do this for me; I give you that forty percent. Deal?”

That convinced me. I raised another glass toward her, and chugged it down. I just hope she could remember all this in the morning. But then, it was her turn to get personal.

“Hey, PC… what about you? Why the hell you in Hong Kong? America not corrupt enough for you?”

Ok… I did NOT want to talk about this. I may be getting tipsy, but I was not about to blurt out my already converted past. “I was looking for something.” I stuck to being vague. It was best not to reveal I was an amnesiac escapee from a genetic lab that didn’t exist in any records. I doubt she would believe it, anyway.

“You find it? Any clues?” Mia leaned forward. She was smiling rather crookedly, and it looked like she was about to reach her limit. Damn, she was beautiful. A mixture of confidence, but an underlying need. A need to trust someone, to actually have a friend. Mia might isolate herself, but I was able to get that. She had walls, but she didn’t want them, unlike me. I couldn’t have enough.

“Some, but you know… it doesn’t matter. I just don’t care anymore.” I startled myself with those words, and how true they were. After all the sweat, blood and danger, after all the heists and break-ins, I lost all desire to find out my past, who I was. I guess this present, my new future, replaced whoever I might have been. And for some reason, that didn’t bother me.

But, as if to punish me for my apathy, I started to get a pounding headache, and my stomach felt like it was rotting inside. I would have blamed the booze, if I wasn’t already a heavy drinker, and if I didn’t feel something unpleasantly familiar in the back of my head.

I quickly left the table, saying I had to go to the restroom, and rushed to the men’s room, practically diving toward the porcelain throne. I knew what was coming up, and coming out.

“You think you can forget all that has driven you here? Just drop everything, and go merrily on your way?” I felt the inside of my skull tighten, like someone was trying to strangle me, but couldn’t reach my neck, so he settle for my cerebrum. “I got news for you… I am not letting you forget, jackass.”

I tried to argue, tried to talk, but something grabbed my throat, preventing me from speaking, so the Voice kept going. “I don’t care… I don’t care if that Iban person couldn’t find any more information; I don’t care if there are no more leads. Your only purpose is to know who you are… and I am going to make sure you never forget that again. You are nothing more but a puppet, just a toy pulled on strings. MY toy.”

With that final proclamation, I felt the mental chains loosen, and then, the pressure building throughout the whole conversation, I released my dinner and drinks into the toilet, the sickness going with the flow coming from my throat.

I should of known then that something was about to start. Something that would twist me into something darker, something harder. But, that started the next day.

The day I finally had enough of these games. The day the truth showed its ugly head.