Disclaimer: Own nothing, make no profit.

A/N (edited March 2008): Ok so sometime between when I originally posted this and now, ff. net decided to eat the quotation marks on the first four chapters. I only found out because I was looking over some of my stories. Hopefully I've fixed the problem. I'm not sure what caused this since I didn't have the problem when I first uploaded it. I apologize for the inconvenience.

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Chapter 2 - I Never Betrayed You

A sharp click of heels told of Manx's arrival even before she came into view on the basement stairs. "I want a full report now. Not the reader's digest version I got before," Manx did not look pleased. They wasted no time in filling in everything that happened, each taking turns. Manx's expression remained serious.

"You have been unable to find him in between here and the target site?" They shook their heads. They had spent several hours doing just that.

"You have a new mission." Their ears perked up as Manx started the mission tape.

Within moment's the silhouette of Persia appeared on he screen,"Your target is the last target's collaborator, Tanaka. He has been involved in inhumane experiments using both people and animals. He has been responsible for many monstrous atrocities loose in the surrounding wilderness around his lab." Images of strange mutations that looked like mix-n-match between people and animals flashed across the screen. It seemed as if he had been trying to turn one into the other. Or that's what the results appeared to be in any case. "White hunters of the night, deny this dark beast his tomorrow." The tape ended.

Omi looked questioningly at Manx, "What about Ken?"

"MIA, presumed dead," she coldly responded. Omi gaped at her. Her eyes softened at bit, "There is a small chance he's been captured. If that's the case then Tanaka probably has him. Don't let any search get in the way of the mission."

"Okay!" A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes.

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"How's the research coming Omi?"

"Argh..." Omi looked about ready to throw something at his computer.

"That good huh?" Yohji looked sympathetic.

"None of this makes any sense!"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's as if our mission did effect their activity at this location at all. Usually activity at a mission site drops to zero after our mission because we've proved their security useless and they usually lack the manpower afterwards to keep it useful to them. This location, still has a great deal of activity. Too much to be them pulling out of the site. Things are going in. Not just going out. It's a good location, far enough from prying eyes, yet our mission seems to have left them unfazed. Our new target even has been spending a lot of time there."

"Perhaps there is more to this location than it would seem," Yohji mused, his PI instincts kicking in. Looking at the blueprints Omi absconded, he was suddenly struck by a realization. "Hey Omi..."

"What is it Yohji?"

"This section right here..." he tapped the blueprint, "This is the area Ken blew up right?"

Sorrow flashed though Omi's eyes at the mention of Ken's name. He had been trying not to think about it, saving everything for after the completion of the mission. They couldn't make a mistake before the mission that might cost them another comrade. They had a mission, a mission where they might find Ken. So he threw everything he had into it.

Looking over that the blueprint where Yohji indicated, Omi nodded, "That was the area where he was stationed."

"Didn't he say he was around some labs? This says there's nothing but a bunch of offices..."

Blinking, Omi examined the diagram. It showed that there should have been a bunch of tiny offices either that or a bunch of large closets. Hardly big enough for even the smallest labs. "Either the building has had it's interior redone... Or this diagram is false."

"Maybe there's a hidden area, or an underground facility. That would explain why they've kept using the building. Especially if they know it was unmapped."

"Maybe I can hack into their security camera network. Perhaps we can use that to get a good look around or find out if there's a hidden level. Hopefully they've repaired the camera lines we cut."

"Heh, that's the first time I've ever heard you say that you want the security cameras to be on."

Omi chose to ignore that comment.

Yohji stretched a bit then turned towards the door,"I'll do some surveillance on the place, maybe we can figure out what's going on in there by what's going in."

"Take Aya with you."

"...do I have to?"

"Yotan..." Omi did his best impression of Aya's glare, "It'll be safer with both of you and at least one of you will actually be doing work instead of slacking off."

"I resent that."

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Powdery white snow fell outside. The weather had finally gotten cold enough that the rain of before had now become snow. Dull lifeless eyes watched as they floated dispassionately by the tiny window to join the rest of their kind. It had been two days. Two days and his minutes were numbered. After years of being death's bringer it was being brought to him.

He tried to shift his position sitting on the floor and bit back a cry of pain. He wouldn't make a noise. He wouldn't give them that satisfaction. He had told them nothing, despite the brutal torture and countless violations they had inflicted upon his person. Who would have guessed that Tanaka harbored such interest in western medieval torture?

But he had given them nothing. He wouldn't betray his teammates, his brothers... And it was that thought, that streak of stubbornness, that had gotten him this far. Gotten him to the point where they were going to kill him knowing no more than when they had caught him.

A bitter smile crossed his abused features as the door opened. Siberian was roughly half dragged from his place of confinement towards the fate that awaited him.

He would never betray them.

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Their investigation had been rushed, no doubt about that. But every night that had gone by lessened their chances of finding Ken alive. Not to mention gave their target more of a chance to recover from their previous mission.

Time. Things were progressing too slowly and too quickly at the same time. At times it was more than his analytical mind could handle. For better or worse things would be resolved tonight. Answers would be found, and the source of their grief would die.

He tested the edge of his katana for sharpness, then sheathed it. Tonight there would be only one thing waiting for those foolish enough to get in his way -

Death.

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Okay so this chapter's a bit shorter than the last one. Sorry about that! But this just seemed like a good point to end the chapter. Next chapter is the mission!