Dead or Alive is owned by Tecmo and developed by Team Ninja. Its story and characters are the creation of Tomonobu Itagaki. All of the main characters belong to them. I only own Jaden Hayabusa. Copyright.
Like I said in my first story, I notice people read my stuff but don't really tell me what they think. I like hearing from you guys and believe it or not, it'll help motivate me to keep going. Please Read and Review and most Importantly, ENJOY!
The experiment is complete….biological weapon is developing well in its infant state….
A computer, streaming with information, reported as a man in a nice white suit and blonde hair looked at his creation. A young boy, maybe 7 years of age, slept in a bio tube. He must have been sleeping for quite some time. His short dark hair had matted up into small locks, his brown skin soggy. But his half opened eyes gleamed golden brown.
"Drain the fluid. We need to test him." the man commanded.
"Affirmative. Proceeding to disengage stasis mode. Setting project to active mode."
As the computer spoke, the fluid started to drain from the test subject's tube followed quickly by stimulant. The boy's half opened eyes grew wider, their gold gaze looking at everything they could possibly gather. He then locked drowsy eyes on the man in the white suit.
"Well, hello there, young man. How did you sleep?"
The boy just stared blankly at the man addressing him. He looked at his surroundings again while keeping himself aware of the man in the suit. Just then a geneticist fixed his glasses as he walked into the room.
"What is the situation with the subject? Did the project enhance anything at all?"
The man in the lab coat just observed the boy, noting everything that the project was supposed to do. He smiled as he walked off.
"Shall we find out, sir?" he inquired with a sneer.
"Humph, alright then." The man in the suit turned his gaze to the boy. "Come with me child, we are going to play a game."
The boy followed slowly, already adapting to his legs. He was quickly absorbing where he was at this point. The lab was dark and cold with little light shining on the individuals. They all stopped after walking for a few moments and the men looked at the boy.
"Shouldn't he have some clothes at least?"
"True, we don't want him passing out now, do we?"
The boy was led into a room where he was fitted with a body suit. This suit analyzes everything he did with his body and had a tracking chip attached to it. He was then led to a large spacious area while the men were looking from an observer dock.
"Allow me to explain some things, child. My name is Victor Donovan. I am the head of DOATEC's development department. My one dream is to create the ultimate soldier and I know I am close now. We need only to test you to see what you are capable of."
As Donovan spoke, three mech walkers landed with weapons armed and point at the boy. The boy just stared as his golden brown eyes turned a hostile yellow. The readers for the suit shot up high enough for the scientists in the building to gather in the room and watch. With all sights set on the boy, rockets were fired. The boy moved with high athletic speed and delivered a swift chop to the walkers' legs breaking them within seconds. Weapons still firing, the boy came to know where the bullets where going and evaded with ease. His senses heightening, the boy rushed the walkers and made them shoot each other while trying to get him. He was then shocked by the track chip in order to tell him to stop.
"Amazing! Look at these numbers! His muscles are developing and healing rapidly from the strain he put on him. The speed of those blows was impressive enough, his survival instinct and precognition is the real impressive thing. It's almost he saw those attacks coming!"
Donovan smiled as the scientists clamored over the results of the first test. The following weeks were focused on testing his weapon's intellect. He even personally played chess with the boy in determine his insight. The boy learned quickly that chess was all about adapting. And he did. He got stronger in those weeks and according to the scientists, he was intelligent enough to learn at least 3 languages. Oddly enough, the boy never spoke. He just thought.
I'd like to leave now…
And so one dark night, as he lay in his bed, the boy's eyes shined gold. He had seen exit routes during the many tests and he was going to bust out. He didn't like the idea of being someone's weapon. He knew nothing of the world outside the facility and he wanted to learn. Climbing out of bed, he looked at his body suit and identified the track chip. He reached behind his neck and crushed the device, shattering it into pieces. That immediately set off the alarm.
I guess I have to run now…heh
The boy put on the trackless body suit and ran as fast as he could. It wasn't long until security personnel were around him. With weapons pointed they commanded him to cease and return to his room. The boy just stood there and smiled. Taking one step forward, shots were fired soon followed by seeing the boy run on the nearby wall and delivering a kick to the guard's chest. He proceeded to evade and attack with enhanced skill until all of them were down for the count. Grabbing one of the guard's batons, he just ran and ran. He took care of everything in his way. Cameras, trip lasers, guard drones all gone or evaded after quick thinking. He finally got to his exit but suddenly stopped when a giant machine in the shape of a scorpion aimed all weapons at him. Donovan walked in from a nearby room and just looked at the boy.
"Where are you going child? You can't leave yet; we still have more games to play…" Donovan said with "sad" eyes.
The boy just looked at his goal and charged forward. Quickly gauging the machines strength he saw that he would have to take out the pilot. Guns locked on and rapid fire was delivered, bullets hitting the boy's dominant arm. He winced and but pressed on, noting the accuracy of the machine. He was use to bullet wounds and his regeneration factor was taking effect quicker because of it. The bullet just popped out after a moment and tissue and skin regrew. The boy took to the walls and waited for the machine to face him. Seeing the pilot, he jumped on the weapon and proceeded to smash the cockpit and the rest of the machine from on top. Guns were fired, but it did no good. The machine was soon taking itself out and fell hard on the ground. Donovan couldn't help but smile as those results and pulled out a remote. He pressed it to control the boy but, it did nothing.
"What! What did you..?"
"I took it off…"
Donovan stared as the boy spoke in plain English. He hadn't spoken to him before so it threw him off for a moment. Donovan then looked around him and saw that the fight was making the facility fall apart.
"What did you do?"
"I did nothing…I guess this place had bullets in the wrong places…"
The boy then ran as fast as he could out of a window. Donovan was escorted to his helicopter while other personnel panicked and went into escape aircraft. Soon after, the building collapsed section by section. Donovan was not happy with that result.
"What do we do about the boy, sir?" a guard asked. "I have a shot."
"Don't bother. I expect he would just heal after the shot. I saw it myself. Regeneration….Impressive. Anyway let him go, I have all the data I need right here."
Donovan held a chip with all of said data. He knew it would end like this. The boy was smart but, in the end disposable.
The boy was struggling. After jumping out of the window, he landed hard on what would be known as an ocean…and he didn't know how to swim right away. He was sinking fast and exhaustion took over faster…after a while he just kicked his legs to the surface and grabbed on the floating debris from the collapse. He laid on it and rested, drifting into the open sea….
Days later, a man with a long brown ponytail and a sword was training near a beach. His swordplay was quick and water-like, flowing from strike to the return of the sword to its sheath. The man wasn't really pay attention when he saw a body floating towards the beach until he saw that it was still breathing. The man glanced at the boy and walked calmly toward him, looking for any signs of shipwreck. Seeing nothing, he grabbed the boy by his tattered clothes and dragged him ashore and watched over him. After an hour the boy slowly opened his golden brown eyes and saw the man.
"Are you alright child?" the man said in an odd language. The boy didn't know how to respond.
"Ah you don't speak Japanese, huh? Let's see…." Then the man tried in English. "Are you okay?" he said slowly.
The boy nodded and tried to sit up but fatigue stopped him.
"Heh, you need a better place to rest, come on." The man said as he picked up the boy.
The kid almost choked the man when he reached for him, but the man was fast, quickly grabbing the boy's wrist and slowly pulling it down.
"Calm down, I have intent on harming you. Do you have a name?"
"No…I don't think so…"
"Hmm. Well I have to call you something besides child…I'll think of something." The man said while carrying him piggyback.
"What is your…name?"
"I am Jo Hayabusa. My home is not far from here, just trust me. I won't leave a child lying on the beach like you were."
"Where am I?"
"Hmm…you are somewhere hidden and safe. All I can say is that you are somewhere in Japan."
"Japan…I floated far huh?"
"Why were you on that rubble?"
"….."
"Ah, alright I'll let you talk when you want."
Jo quickly ran into the forest and started jumping from tree to tree with great speed. So after, both of them were in a quiet peaceful village. Jo walked calmly to his home where a young 13 year old boy was training with kunai.
"Ryu, help me out, son." Jo said in his native tongue.
"Coming father!" the Ryu responded as he ran to the door and saw the young boy.
"Who is that?"
"I found him on the beach. He looks like he has been through a lot. Help me get him into some better clothes. His look like they will fall apart soon. Maybe some of your clothes would fit him."
"Understood."
As Ryu went the get his old clothes, Jo was looking at the boy and thinking of a proper name for him. The boy always watched everything around him, expecting something to pop out of nowhere.
"Didn't I say you were safe here?"
"You did…"
"Then why so alert?"
"It feels odd here…like something's coming…"
"Well, you are under my care now; actually you are under the village's care honestly."
"Huh?"
"This village cares for one another, especially young children. If anything happens to them from the outside, we will not tolerate it. And just to make you feel more secure, I am the head of this village."
"I see…"
Ryu returned with some of his childhood attire and Jo pulled out some silver silk robes for the boy to wear. The sleeves were a bit too long, but otherwise, it fit nicely.
"We can get rid of these tattered things. Ryu go ahead and dispose of them. Then we can talk with our new member."
"You're making him a member of the clan?"
"If he is staying here, then yes."
"Alright, I'll be right back."
Ryu disappeared and soon came back after putting the body suit away. Jo then led the boys into a moderate sized room where a shogi set was ready to be played. Ryu was in the middle of a game with his father before he left to train. As Ryu and Jo played, the boy just watched, gathering every rule about the game.
"Do you want to play?" Jo asked after ending a close match.
"Sure….by the way…if I'm staying here I need to learn the language, right? Can I be taught?"
"Makes sense, tell you what, beat me at this game and I'll teach you myself."
The boy nodded and sat at the other end of the game board. Planning based on what he saw, he was quickly reminded of chess matches he played and planned ahead accordingly. After a few exchanges, Jo was actually starting to struggle with his next move.
"I think I won…" The boy stated with a slight smile.
"Ha-ha. So it seems. But how did you figure this out so fast?"
"Observing."
"Hmm…I think I've got it…"
"Got what? I beat you here."
"No, not that. I just I've got a name for you. From here on, you will be known as Jaden, for you have insight beyond your years."
"Jaden…"
"What's wrong?"
"I've never been named…so now I have something to go by."
"Of course, and think of Ryu and I as family."
Jaden looked at Ryu and Jo for a few moments.
"So I call him brother and you father, right?"
"Well that what most families do. I shall consider you my second son. Ryu, are you alright with this?"
Ryu looked at Jaden and nodded with a slight smile. It looks like he will have a little brother now.
"I really don't mind, but he will have to learn our ways soon."
"True, but I think he will be fine for now."
"Ways?' Jaden inquired.
"We are shinobi. Our way is secret and deadly. Especially with what our forefathers protect. You may become a shinobi soon." Ryu explained.
"Anyway, I said I would teach you to speak our language so let's—"
Jo was interrupted by a carrier bird flying in with a message from the Mugen Tenshin village. Shiden wanted to speak with Jo.
"Well looks I can get you a bit of training on both. I have to go somewhere and I'd like my boys to come along. We are headed to Mugen Tenshin. Ryu, you can practice with Hayate. Jaden, you may as well learn to speak as we travel. There are proper ways to speak to certain people."
"Right." Jaden said getting used to his new name.
"Well, let's be off then."
After a few moments, the Hayabusa left the village to meet with Shiden. All the while, both Jo and Ryu were teaching Jaden the language. He was grasping it extremely well and after a while he was able to speak it moderately well. After about a week of travel, they made it to their destination. Jaden quickly notice the size of this village in comparison with his new home. As they were entering, Jaden couldn't help but notice the people were looking at him differently. It made him uneasy.
"Why are they looking at me funny?"
"Because you look like a foreigner." Ryu said upfront.
"Ryu! Couldn't you have said that with more subtlety?" Jo reprimanded.
"Sorry…"
"Foreigner…I guess that is what I am." Jaden muttered.
"Do not mind them. They'll get use you soon enough. Tell you what, Ryu; take Jaden to find some kids his age to play with. I'll talk to Shiden and you can find Hayate. I won't be too long."
"Right, come on little brother."
"R-right…"
Ryu walked off with Jaden chasing after him. Jo went to Shiden to discuss an explosion that happened a few weeks ago.
Ryu led his brother to a waterfall where Jaden heard giggling and splashing.
"Someone's here?"
"Yep. Two people in fact. Be nice to them or else the whole village will hear about it."
"What do you me—AAAGH!"
Ryu gently kicked Jaden into the pool of water and watched for a bit from a nearby tree. Jaden panicked for a moment until he remembered how to swim. As he swam to the surface he saw two little girls just staring at him with wide eyes. One had orange brown hair in a ponytail with big brown eyes. The other was a bit more unique. She had violet hair in a ponytail and her eyes were pinkish red. They both just stared at the boy as his swam towards a nearby rock.
"What was that for Ryu!"
"What? It made a good entrance." Ryu laughed as he jumped from the tree he was hiding in. "Miss Kasumi, Ayane, this is Jaden. He is the newest member of the Hayabusa clan. Treat him well. Father said to have him play with kids around his age."
"Thanks for the intro…." Jaden said with his head halfway in the water.
"I'll be back soon little brother. Have fun." Ryu said as he ran off.
Jaden just sat on the rock and watched….he didn't know how to have fun. He also didn't have experience with making friends. It was Kasumi, the brown haired girl that initiated something.
"Do you want to play? We're trying to see who can catch the most fish."
"If he can keep up…" Ayane, the violet haired girl smirked.
"What that a challenge?" Jaden question sharply.
"Not one you'll win." Ayane smiled.
Jaden quickly jumped in the water and pulled out two mackerel.
"You were saying?"
Ayane pulled out four.
"Yes?"
"…..Alright that's it!"
And soon all three of them were trying to see who could get the most fish out of the river. After about 30 minutes, there was a pile of fish and three tired children.
"Well what do you know? This one doesn't hold back." Ayane stated rolling herself up.
"And look at all the fish we caught! This will last a while!" Kasumi pointed out gleefully.
Just then, some men from the village called out for Kasumi. It was starting to rain again. Just when things were getting fun too. When they finally found her, they seemed to have shunned Ayane a bit. They picked Kasumi up have started taking her home. She waved her friends goodbye and Ayane got a bit defensive.
"They always treat me like that…..humph…"
Just then, the rain stopped hitting her face. She turned around to see why and saw Jaden with a giant leaf acting as an umbrella for her. Needless to say, she was a little surprised.
"You'll get a cold…" Jaden stated.
"Thanks…"
"I'll make sure you get home nice and dry."
"And you?"
"It's hard for me to get sick."
"….Okay."
With Jaden following at a distance, Ayane started her way home. It was a smaller village within Mugen Tenshin known as the Hajin Mon sect. People ran into their homes to avoid the rain and while they did, Jaden made sure that Ayane was dry.
"You sure you won't get sick?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
Ayane made way to her home the edge of the village. It was the home of Master Genra, one of the few that treated Ayane with kindness. When she went for the door, Genra rushed to get her inside only to see that she was dry for the most part and a boy behind her was soaking wet.
"Ayane, who is that boy?" he asked analytically.
""His name is Jaden. Can we let him inside so he can dry up?"
"Of course! Get him in here."
"Sorry for intruding." Jaden said politely.
"Oh don't worry about that. Ayane get a blanket for your friend."
"R-right."
As Ayane ran in to get something warm, Genra looked over the boy while get firewood set up.
"So, YOU are Jo's new boy he took in. I've heard about you. Jo says you are smart for your age."
"I just beat him at shogi really. I don't think I need all that praise."
"Ha-ha. Such a modest young man. But why are you soaking wet while Ayane was dry?"
"Courtesy."
"Hmm?"
"I just wanted to be nice. No one else was going to do it and she could've gotten sick."
"I see."
Ayane soon returned with a large blanket that they typically used during the winter months. After arguing for a moment she got Jaden to get out of his wet clothes and into the blanket. He just sat there and pouted.
"Get warm already, or else I'll feel bad."
"I'll do my best to clear your guilt."
Genra chuckled and started to walk off. "I'll get something for the two of you. Ayane, make sure he gets good at dry."
"Right."
After he left, the room got quiet. Ayane was not used to having a boy in the house. It took her a moment to realize that.
"Did I do something?" Jaden inquired.
"No."
….
"Awkward silence…" Jaden said in a singsong tune.
Ayane tried to keep a straight face to the comment but it didn't really work, she finally laughed a bit and relaxed. It wasn't like Jaden was going to do anything stupid. Jaden scooted closer to the fire to dry up quicker and Ayane watched, noting those golden eyes in the firelight.
"You really are different."
"I know, I know I'm a forei—"
"No not that. Your eyes. They're unique."
"T-thanks."
Wait. Why was he stuttering? Ayane moved closer and shuffled into the blanket and leaned against Jaden. Her warmth seemed to sooth him more than the fire. His face actually got a tint of red in the cheeks.
"This will keep us both warm. It's not fair to have you get warm and I get cold." She said slightly flustered.
After a while, both of them start to get drowsy from the rain. Jaden tried to give Ayane the blanket but she held on to him. He was too kind. Ayane fell asleep on his back and that made Jaden freeze for a moment. He just watched the fire and after a while, leaned against Ayane and went to sleep. Genra returned some after with tea and saw them rest and just sat at the door. Ryu soon knocked on the door and saw his little brother with Ayane.
"Should we wake them up?" Genra implied.
"Nah, I having seen him this relaxed before. Let them rest."
Ryu then sat with Genra and had some of the tea he made while the two rested in content warmth of each other.
