Hey everybody, Blue here with yet another update! 'Marked' is back and I'm in the mood for some action, aren't you? Hope you are cuz this one's a doozy. So I'll get to it. I don't own 'Beyblade' in any shape or form but I hope they revamp the original series someday. Enjoy!
"Iii" = speech
"Iii" = radio/phone speech
Iii = thought
Chapter 4: Aftermath
Tyson Granger couldn't help but growl a little in frustration at the sight before him: he and Max were officially stuck in midday traffic, trapped inside a box of cars and the occasional scooter or motorcycle in the mix. The bike messengers and pedestrians seemed to be the only ones unimpeded by the block up and it was making the navy haired cop irritated. Save for the fact they'd hidden Byakko's gauntlets in a storage facility near the edge of the city, there was little to sooth his growing ire at their predicament. Only in New York can anyone dumb enough to drive at this hour can get stuck in this exact situation. If I didn't need this damn thing for work I'd sell it first chance. He thought as he leaned back in his seat, hands loosely holding the wheel as he glanced around for something to focus on. Next to him, his partner and friend Max Tate was busy on his phone. Tyson was about to ask what he was doing just prior to the blonde finding what he wanted and selecting it, bringing the device to his ear as he gazed out the window patiently. Soon enough he was talking.
"Hey captain. Tate here, me and Tyson are stuck in traffic and it'll take us a while to get back. What? Hold on, I'll put you on speaker."
"I asked, what happened at the warehouse? How come no one called me before now?" he heard his older brother and captain ask, seeming to take a page from Tyson's book on being irritated about their lack of communication.
Flinching a bit at the older man's tone, Max kept talking as casually as he could. "That's actually kinda complicated sir, it kinda didn't go as planned."
"What? Tell me everything." Hiro demanded, his voice projecting more frustration and authority into the quiet of the car.
Letting his irritation flare, Tyson glared at the phone. "Rei woke up like you thought but his reaction was pretty bad. We got him to a safe place before we took the package to another location. Other than being delayed by traffic, I'd say we did good on this one bro."
"What about the gangsters? And the dealers? You're not giving me much to work with here Tyson." Hiro growled back, sounding more like an older brother rather than their boss.
Sensing a potential argument on the rise, Max cut them off before it could spark up even more, ever the calmer man in the middle. "Most of them were killed when we tried to arrest them, some from Rei's lack of control and none of it conscious. Any stragglers will probably keep all of it to themselves but Kai probably already has feelers out for them to keep them quiet. The dealers got away with the money. In all the chaos we couldn't stop them. Sorry boss."
A tired sigh sounded off from the other end of the line. It was possible that as a lesser spirit, Hiro was feeling the effects of the foul weather same as them. "No, no it's fine. We'll get another chance at them. For now find the thugs and deal with them whenever you get out of traffic. But come back to the precinct first, keep the illusion alive in case someone gets curious on where you lot went."
"Sounds good to me. I just hope I can get lunch soon, I'm starving." Tyson muttered aloud, mostly to himself but it didn't keep Max from rolling his eyes, smiling at just how predictable his partner was.
Hiro wasn't as amused, and it showed in his purely business tone. "Focus on the task at hand, no matter what your stomach says. I'm surprised you haven't eaten half of New York into poverty by now."
"Ha ha, very funny. Hang up already." Tyson bit out as his ire flared up again.
"Just get here and get this done. The longer Ian and Bryan are off our radar, the better chance Boris has of making his move. Now make it happen." At that, the line went dead and giving the older man the last word. The pair sat in the car silently, Max putting the phone into his jacket pocket while Tyson went back to glaring at the line of cars ahead of theirs. His hands were gripping at the wheel so hard his knuckles were almost white. Outside the car, a strong gust of wind swept past, the force of it nearly sending numerous people to the ground with an unnatural amount of force. A hand fell on Tyson's shoulder, making him glance at his partner, sky blue meeting navy without faltering. Words weren't needed as the pair looked at one another, Tyson eventually loosening his grip on the wheel, his shoulders falling into a more relaxed position. Not speaking they looked away, Max reaching forward to turn the car's radio on to fill the silence with a random song. Beyond the car, the wind had died down, fading away as though it'd never risen up to begin with.
Kai and Lee passed the drive to the station in relative quiet save for the radio on low, the disc jockey going on about how more storms were likely to pass through before it cleared up. It was enough to make them both scoff a little, Kai pressing the button so it went to a different channel, filling the car with an old pop song. Neither commented on it though they both secretly enjoyed it and its pleasing rhythm, the lyrics flowing smooth and flawless like the river that ran through their city. Mostly since Kai never was one to answer even when Lee knew better than to ask. Turning into the precinct's parking lot, they nodded to each other just prior to Lee stepping out, gently pounding the car's hood once he was clear of the vehicle. Giving the man a final wave, Kai pulled out of the lot, easily getting back onto the road and back towards the hotel and past the car choked sections. Only giving the daily spectacle a brief glance, Kai still couldn't help but laugh to himself on just how honestly predictable city people were. Having grown up in a small town where the worst that happened was when the winter ice and snow knocked out the power lines, the fact city people never learned to take other routes to and from work was always a reminder of how adept he was at avoiding such things. As he drove his mind wandered, making him ponder if he should head over to Rei's apartment to get the ailing man some toiletries for when he was up and about again. Hell it's a wonder I'm even awake right now. Kai thought as he came to a halt at a red light, patiently waiting for it to change as other cars made their way through the intersection. Getting Rei's newly awakened power under control had taken more energy than he'd anticipated but given his experience and equally high levels, the fact he was out and about was a mild surprise to him. Already he could feel his mark twitching as it recharged if a bit demurely, as if the patterns could tell that it needed to ease its energy back rather than flare like it was prone to doing.
Just like it's bound to do to Rei. The statement hung in his mind like a dark omen, making him frown in spite of the rather upbeat song playing on the radio. As much as he hated it, he could easily remember how his abilities would flare up like greedy demons, just barely contained in his body by his skin alone as they sought to break through and escape. Only weeks of rigorous training, meditation and determination kept him from literally bursting into flames like a human candle. Something he now had to help his friend teach to another of their number who was probably confused as hell at this point. His level of control and ability had improved immensely after escaping his grandfather and his uncle, barely getting away with Tala and a few younger kids who just wanted to live normal lives. Lives he'd ensured they had once they'd made it to the states, and now acted mostly as his contacts for the criminal world. All of them, like him, were cops of varying positions in other major cities and like him were cautious on just what they did for their supposed employers. More than half of them even had their own groups of spirits to look after, only calling Kai when they couldn't think of what to do themselves. As of yet, only one or two had requested he appear in person to help deal with the issue at hand and only because it was beyond their ability to handle. Both times, those in the group had gazed at him with surprise and wonderment which was both strange and perplexing. When he showed them the true extent of his power (or at least what he was willing to reveal) did they truly express their awe and respect. It took a while but he was finally able to impress on them that despite their differences, they were all technically equals and were separated only by experience and not power levels. He soon left after such encounters, making sure that there was little room for a response let alone an argument on the matter. From what his contacts told him, said people made progress in leaps and bounds after his departure, much like he had years before.
The light turning green brought Kai out of his thoughts, causing him to put the car back in gear as he gently stepped on the gas pedal. Raindrops were already starting to fall again, hitting the car with dull taps to sound off the impacts. Some wind even picked up to turn a bit of it into a grey haze in the air, blocking out patches of buildings, bits of sky and even the road ahead and the cars on it. Like everyone else, he was used to this and kept going whereas someone from out of state, maybe even a tourist from another country who was unaccustomed to the weather, would likely panic. Another bit of proof on the stupidities of man. He thought absently as he seamlessly made his way down the street. More rain began to fall with increasing frequency as the sky opened up, light flashes from the electric charged but trapped in it but little else. Kai didn't let it distract him however, pulling into an empty spot on the street some distance away from the hotel's front doors with full knowledge he wouldn't get towed. He paused long enough to pull his umbrella, a compact thing with tan canvass, out of the glove compartment before exiting the car. Rain threatened to soak him despite his leather jacket but the umbrella put a stop to that plan, moving the trunk of the car. Popping it open, he pulled out a leather messenger back that housed his laptop and other accoutrements. Gently closing the trunk and strapping the bag over his head, the Russian man slipping between his car and another in front of his to get to the sidewalk. The doorman and his fellow ushers knew better than to stop him, having met him time and again from his previous visits either for meeting the two foreigners upstairs or for busting some idiot dealer that the FBI wanted. Like with all his undercover deals, Kai was always halfway down the street before the feds even broke down the door. Nodding to said doorman as he was let in, Kai folded up his umbrella again as he made a b-line to the elevators with little care of how the overly rich people stared at him. He came from a rich family but he never let such wealth poison him against the lower classes, especially when he had to live in anonymity from the age of 14. The elevator ride back up was quiet and uneventful save for some holier-than-thou woman giving him the stink eye. She quickly looked away when he lifted his jacket enough to show the police badge clipped to his jeans.
That's what I thought you pompous bitch. He thought darkly as the woman got off on the twelfth floor, letting him right alone to the penthouse suites on the twentieth. The lack of people and noise eased some of the irritation but also raised his caution. No noise and no pedestrians meant something was wrong, and that he was about to be shot or ambushed. Possibly both. Still he shoved the feeling aside, at least for the moment. The instinct was further quelled by the lack of damage on the suit doors as he approached them though it didn't mean someone couldn't talk their way in before striking any resistance down. Exterior ever a mask of calm, Kai stopped and knocked on the door with his knuckles, hearing the sound echo past him and into the hall as well as into the room. Muttering and shadows accompanied his action so Kai made sure he was well within sight of the peephole. Anything else and he'd have to duck bullets. The shadow on the other side shifted as the door lock clicked, allowing it to swing open, revealing Jake. The body guard scanned the hall behind him and the small space around them before moving away, earning a nod of approval from the Russian. Unless Kai explained why he had a stranger with him, if at all, the door would've been shut in his face and a shootout would've begun. Once inside he was greeted with Mariah fully settled on one of the couches with a book who had looked up to see him enter while Vince sat on the other one, clearly eating lunch. A second meal was next to his, which meant they'd both been eating when Kai had finally come to the door.
"How is he?" Kai asked as Jake shut the door behind him, locking it again.
Knowing who he was talking to, Mariah sat up a little as she spoke, speaking with tones of relief mixed with authority. "Tired but fine. He's sleeping now. Any word from Tyson and Max?"
Kai shook his head, picking Jake out of the corner of his eye. "Not yet but they could be busy so calling might throw a wrench in things. Where are Oliver and Enrique?"
"They had business-related work to do, as well as ensuring the security of this hotel wouldn't be compromised during Mr. Kon's stay. Did you need something from them?" Jake asked, causing the Russian man to turn to the guard.
"No, thanks Jake. Get back to your lunch. I have work of my own to do. Do either of you know the pass code for the hotel's wifi connection?" he asked, glancing at either man curiously.
Jake frowned, turning to Vince who was still seated. "Didn't you write it down?"
"I did. Should be…here it is." Vince said, fishing a small piece of paper out of his pocket and handing it up to Jake, who passed it to Kai.
Taking the paper, Kai quickly read and memorized its contents before handing it back again. "Thanks. I'll find a place to settle in. Come get me if anything changes?"
"Sure. I don't need to check on him for a while. You'll know first thing." Mariah assured him, already resettling into her laid back position on the couch.
Kai merely nodded that this, heading towards the room he knew was the study. If he knew his friends, they were already there, either on their computers or on their phones speaking in languages he never really bothered to learn. He knew how to speak Russian, naturally, as well as Japanese before coming to America to learn English. Any other he could easily learn them if he wanted, his level of intelligence could make entering other organizations like the CIA a simple trip up the law enforcement ladder but he liked working with normal people. Sure he could still pick up a language or two but it would take him a couple of weeks before he was speaking fluently. He wasn't Johnny Travolta from 'Phenomenon'. At the very least he didn't have a brain tumor that made him smarter but was on edge of killing him. Sure enough, he entered the study to find the two men inside, Oliver at the desk on his wireless headset and Enrique in a chair with his laptop on a table set up in front of his chair. Going by its design, he'd brought it with him since it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the furnishings. Oliver glanced at him from over his own laptop, giving him a nod but kept talking in swiftly uttered French. Enrique looked up as well, if only to point to the outlet on the floor that'd been set up where one or two of the plugs were vacant. Kai got the hint, nodding as he too sat down in one of the armchairs after shedding his jacket and getting the bag off. As quietly as he could, he flipped the protective flap over, unzipped the main pouch and pulled his laptop free. The obsidian black device was sleek and the latest one in stores, the Russian man having gotten his hands on it as soon as he could trade his old one in for the new one. Like with all his computers, this one was more heavily protected than a major food company's CPU. Though he knew most of the people he dealt with in his day-to-day work were dumb as rocks that still didn't keep the smart ones from trying to hack his files. Most of the time he gave them credit for their effort, other times bullets or a pair of handcuffs depending on how far they got. The survivors were always convinced to keep their mouths shut if they wanted lighter sentences for their varying deeds. Others were simply shipped off to other states, or countries of origin. Thankfully, that was usually enough.
Pulling out the charger and its long black cord, Kai pulled one end into the floor and the other in the computer, waiting for the sign in window to appear as he fished out his wireless mouse and its pad. Not one to trouble other people, Kai used his bag as a lap table for the computer as he used the chair's arm for the mouse. Signing in and putting in the wifi information, he was up and running in moments as he fished out the USB drive Tala had given him earlier that morning. A new window appeared on the screen, blocking the default background picture from view as the computer acknowledged the drive by running a small virus scan before giving the all clear. Like all the data Tala handed off to him, most of it was files chock-full of accounts and their most recent activity with names and businesses clearly stated with each transaction. Others were photos of his uncle and his grandfather, Voltaire. Just looking at the older man and his cruel face make Kai want to punch the screen if it meant the man felt the hit. Pictures of Boris were mostly him and various people meeting in less than ideal places, many in a row of them merely talking while others showed them exchanging briefcases. And going by the backgrounds, Boris did this often in a variety of cities, meaning either the photographer was actively following the man or all the photos were taken by a myriad of agents. Kai made a mental note to ask just how Tala got his hands on everything he handed in as he continued to peruse the data cache. After maybe thirty minutes of active reading, Kai eventually noticed that sound files had been included, which were a first. Not about to disturb his friends in their business with some of his own, Kai quickly but quietly fished out his headphones from his bag to plug them in before slipping the sports-style device on. Clicking on the first one, Kai waited patiently for the file to load into the music program, the voices coming forth after a slight pause as the file began. Immediately his ears were assaulted by his uncle's guttural voice, using a tone so cold and so cruel that Kai knew it even after many years of being free of it.
But I can't understand a word! What the hell is he saying? Kai thought angrily as his uncle and another man began to speak, likely in argument over something. Not one to give up easily, Kai paused the playback as he resorted to his language software to go over the recording as best it could to translate it all for him. In moments his computer displayed a small window, stating it'd done its job, making Kai quickly respond as the recording started again. Only this time with a woman's voice, a byproduct of the language program, mechanically speaking into his headphones instead. What he heard chilled him down to the bone:
"Speaker 1: What is your progress on finding my nephew?" the female voice stated tonelessly, his uncle's grating voice just under hers.
In the same fashion, a second voice sounded off, obviously male but still mechanical in tone and cadence though it did nothing to keep Kai from feeling horror over the unnamed man's response. "Speaker 2: Very slowly, he is proving most elusive. Though all sources point to New York, we've yet to find definitive proof. What would you have us do?"
"Sp 1: Nothing until the avatar for Byakko is found. Any progress there?"
"Sp 2: Sadly no. Either he is aware we're looking for him or he has help. We thought we had him pegged in China, but he's since vanished. Our guess is he's come in contact with your nephew or another of his circle by now."
Though Boris's voice lowered in anger, the language program still picked up what he said though Kai silently wish it hadn't. "Sp 1: Dammit. Keep looking and don't stop until you do! I want him found, now! This project is too important and we can't do it without him."
"Sp 2: What is the project exactly? Why is the Byakko avatar so important?" the second voice inquired, Kai barely able to hear the man's curiosity past his English-speaking translator.
Even with the annoying female voice, there was no denying that the question angered Boris in a way that made Kai stiffen. He could've gone his whole life without hearing that tone again and it'd still be too soon. "Sp 1: Just do your job or I'll find someone else who will. That should be your only concern. The last two were incompatible with our intended purposes. We believe finding the last of the four will give us the results we desire."
"Sp 2: Yes sir. I'll have my report ready come the end of the month." The second man responded, effectively cowed by his employer's anger.
This did nothing to soften the cold edge in his uncle's voice however. "Sp 1: See that you do. And I'd best see some positive results or else I'll terminate your services…permanently."
"Sp 2: I'll keep that in mind sir." The second man stated, if grudgingly before silence dominated again. After a few seconds, the female voice for the program oh-so-politely stated to him. "End of file."
Kai was numb. If Oliver or Enrique were looking at him he didn't notice and he didn't really care. Not only was Boris looking for him but he was looking for Rei too. On top of that, the unknown thug had already traced him to New York! Going from the conversation he'd just heard, they still didn't know exactly where he was, only that he was in the city. Leaving would draw too much attention not only from his gang affiliates but his official ones as well. Only with both their aid had he stayed off the radar for as long as he had, even counting his two friends in the room with him. But it's not just you anymore. It probably never was to begin with. His mind chided him as he leaned back into the chair, staring at the computer in his lap with an unseeing gaze. No, it's never just been me. It's been Tala, Spencer, Tyson and the others too. They've been in the same boat as me whether they knew it or not. And now I have to defend them against men who would hurt them…maybe even kill them. The very thought of his friends dying due to his inaction or reluctance made Kai want to be sick, any semblance of control slipping as he sat in the quiet of the large room. After what felt like forever, a voice called to him.
"Kai? Are you okay? You're lookin' awfully pale there pal." Enrique pointed out, his normally jovial face warped by concern. Glancing between the two men, Kai saw that Oliver shared the same look. Neither of them were looking at their computers or were on the phone, they were looking right at him. When he didn't answer, the Italian spoke again. "Kai?"
Instead of answering, Kai unplugged his headphones and moved to replay the recording, making sure the sound was loud enough for all of them to hear. Once again the language program's female voice spoke up, monotone with an odd cadence. Kai forced himself to sit there and listen to it, not bothering to look at his companions as they sat in silence. Once the two voices once again finished their toneless banter, Kai nearly slammed the laptop shut, too sick to his stomach to even try the other sound files right then. As he waited for the two Europeans to say something, anything, Kai had to wonder if Tala had put the sound file on the drive on purpose, or that he even knew it was in there. Either way, just learning that his uncle was still looking for him threw a wrench in a number of plans he and his companions had devised for a number of things that he didn't want to think about. For all he knew, knowing that Boris was sniffing around could mean a complete overhaul of everything they had in place. Forcing himself to look up, he examined his friends' faces. Given how Oliver had paled and Enrique looked on edge of exploding in a mixture of anger, fear and indignation, he wasn't alone in his line of thinking. Even the Italian's hands were clenched into fists, shaking even though they were laid out on the arms of his chair.
"This certainly complicates things. To think even now, they search for you?" Oliver finally said into the dead quiet, hoping to break the tension they all felt. "I'm not sure what they have planned but you can rest assured we won't let anything happen to any of our number. None of us have worked this hard only for it to be ruined by one man's twisted ambitions. I trust that's one another of the drives Tala gave you?"
Voice lacking emotion, Kai responded, or rather forced himself to. "It is, and it looks like he or someone he knows were able to record other conversations. I haven't listened to them yet but just hearing this one is disturbing enough."
"We understand. Make a copy and we'll have our techs look at it. Run it through our own channels, see what happens." Oliver said gently, Enrique nodding in agreement though he seemed determined not to say anything. When it came to protecting his friends and allies, the Italian took such loyalty very seriously and would defend them until he was incapable of doing anything for anyone. With Oliver at his side, the more clear-headed Frenchman kept his friend out of trouble, most of the time.
"Yeah, I'll-." A loud thump echoed through the closed door to the rest of the suite, cutting Kai off. "What was that?"
"Could it be-? Kai were you followed?" Enrique demanded, his voice low but strained as he glanced between the door and the man across from him.
Getting to his feet, Kai set the laptop on the chair as he pulled his gun, also speaking in hushed tones. "No way! I was careful! They must've put something on my car or something!"
"Either way we must do something. Do you have another gun? I don't want to go out there unless we know whether it's just regular people or not."
"I don't but stay here until I give the all clear. Got it?"
"We got it. I just hope Jake and Vince are okay." Oliver whispered almost mournfully. He hated seeing people get hurt protecting him, and he knew all of his staff by name. Just because he and his friend were better off than most didn't stop him from treating people like people. In this way, it made it easier to do things smoothly and kept the rare few spies in his network from turning around and betraying him for their original employers. Enrique kept his face a stony mask, though Kai knew the Italian was essentially the same way.
Gun raised and face set into a hard expression, Kai approached the study door with as little noise as possible. More loud thumps and the occasional pop followed by a grunt or a shattering sound told him Jake and Vince were putting up a fight. What's more, he could sense Mariah's power flare as the struggling noises continued. Much to his surprise, two more flared up in response, making all three men flinch. It was all they needed to know about the situation as Kai holstered his gun, knowing it would be useless at least at long range. It'd been years but he knew these energies anywhere: it was Ian and Bryan, both men having brazenly appeared at a location they knew little about but went ahead and breached anyway. Either they were stupid, or more desperate than Kai had originally surmised. Taking hold of the door handle with one hand, Kai began to gather energy into the other until a ball of flaming red had appeared there. On his back, his mark awoke with a pleasant level of warmth as it spread itself across his flesh to the point of glowing past the dark blue of his long sleeve shirt. Behind him, he sensed that Oliver and Enrique were doing the same though he didn't turn to see what they were doing. Knowing that the two intruders could sense him by now, Kai didn't bother with theatrics by suddenly throwing the door open and pouncing through as fast as his legs would allow. Standing not far away, Bryan stared with wide eyes as his new opponent darted out at him, raising an arm covered in neon purple energy. He would've raised his other arm if not for the three glowing darts of pink sticking out of his shoulder. Good, Mariah got a hit in before Ian took over. Kai thought as he glanced away just long enough from his strike to see the pink haired woman was indeed fighting. In fact, she was jumping about like she had springs on her feet, using any surface she landed on as a launch pad. Desperately trying to fend her off was Ian, the shorter man letting off his own neon purple energy, if a shade lighter than Bryan. In spite of his size, Ian was forced to move with a level of agility he was unaccustomed to as the woman dove and struck, her hands having become neon pink claws that tore through bits of floor, wall and furniture like they were wet tissue paper. Going by his wide eyes and rushed movements, he hadn't been expecting such a nimble opponent.
A shimmer of purple caught Kai's attention, making him duck under a swipe by Bryan, the detective's fellow Russian looking angry at his appearance but also scared that he wasn't using as much energy to fend him off. Bringing his glowing hand up, he took hold of the man's throat as his flame-like energy began to grow brighter and spread across his arm like a living beast daring to edge outside its master's control. Desperate to escape, Bryan used his good arm to try and beat at Kai's only to find not only did it have no effect but each blow ate up what energy he put into the act. Orbs of opaque pastel purple widened as anger was tossed aside by fear, his face already starting to turn red from his efforts to breath. Glaring at his captive with a mix of hate and loathing, Kai spoke through gritted teeth, his enraged tone sending shivers through the room. "You two must really have a death wish if you dare face me twice in the same day. If that's what you want, fine. Let me grant it then."
By now, Bryan looked honestly scared to death as he began to try and beat at Kai's arm in earnest. Ignoring this entirely, Kai slowly raised his right arm as it too began to become covered in his red flames. Most of it settled on his hand, shifting and extending into a blade that seemed to give off a poisonous mist that made Bryan continue to frantically beat at his arm, his breath coming in panicked gasps between barely audible babbling. "No! Wait Kai! Please wait! I can-!"
Mouth curled into an angry sneer, Kai wasn't in the mood for what the man had to say to him. On anything, no matter the reason. "Lies won't save you now. Don't worry though…you won't feel anything. At least, for very long."
"Kai wait! This isn't-." Bryan gasped, eyes flicking from Kai to the energy blade primed to stab him clean through.
A new voice made the silver haired Russian pause, blinking in surprise at the abrupt interruption. "Kai stop!"
Standing in the ruined doorway, was Tala, the red-haired man almost falling down tired as he tried to catch his breath. Unsure if he'd heard him right, Kai could only state. "What?"
"Just...just stop a second! This is my fault so please, put him down!" Tala pleaded his friend with wide eyes, their dark coloring doing little to hide the fear at seeing what the man before him was on edge of doing.
Maintaining his hold on Bryan, energy blade still held dangerously close to his captive's face, Kai couldn't help but gape before snarling. "You're defending them? After all they've done? After they blatantly attack Mariah, Vince and Jake?" blue grey eyes glared at Tala with rage in their depths. "You know as well as I do that Lee won't be pleased with that tidbit Tala."
"I know this is confusing but please believe me, I sent them here." Tala said.
Kai stared in obvious shock before he demanded, half shouted. "You WHAT?!"
Wincing at his friend's tone, Tala pressed on. "This is the safest place to meet right now, even if you guys did trash the place. I wouldn't tell them where to find you if there wasn't a good reason." Turning to look at the shorter man to the side, Tala regained some of his composure as he too demanded. "Ian, what happened?"
Also turning his gaze to the smaller man, who'd managed to evade Mariah's strikes and now stood some distance from her, Ian glanced nervously between the glaring woman and the Russian informant. Licking his lips, a nervous tic, Ian spoke. "We showed up like you told us but that guard guy refused to open the door. So Bryan kicked it open but then she went all ninja on us. The guards shot at us but naturally that didn't do much even as they kept on trying to shoot at us, maybe to delay our actions. It was all self-defense, I swear."
"Like I'm going to believe you, either of you, until I get a straight answer: why are you here?" Kai growled, making Ian and Tala flinch.
Daring to speak despite his predicament, Bryan's voice sounded understandably strained as he forced his throat to work. "We came to join you."
Again Kai stared, this time at Bryan, taken aback by the statement. "W-what?"
Clearing his throat and shifting in Kai's steel grip, Bryan pushed on, knowing the man who held him so tightly could tell if he was lying just by his pulse. "Our bringing the gauntlets to the warehouse? That was Boris's idea at first. He wanted to bring dozens of men in to get both you and Tala when you showed up. We knew that would speed up whatever he's got planned so we gave him the wrong address and took the crate from under his lackey's noses. After the shootout this morning, we tried to explain to him that you'd made the changes yourself but he wouldn't buy it. So we called Tala and here we are." He tried to swallow, but when he couldn't, he nervously glanced between Kai and the blood red blade that covered his hand, again gripping at the arm holding him in place. "Can you put me down now?"
Choosing not to say anything, Kai relented, letting Bryan nearly crumple to the floor as he gasped and coughed, flame red energy dissipating. Ian was quick to come kneel next to his friend, Bryan grasped at his throat as though it could sooth away some of the pain. Already bruises from Kai's strong grip were tarnishing the pale flesh, but Kai ignored all of it as his mind struggled to comprehend all he'd learned. The fact that these two had finally turned against Boris was an astonishing thing but the fact that his uncle still sought him weighed heavier than anything else. He moved away as both Tala and Mariah also moved to check on the fallen man, barely registering that Jake and Vince had holstered their guns in favor of surveying all the damage. Kai was already at a window and staring out into the hazy rain when they started talking.
"You okay?" he heard Mariah ask, her voice soft in her inquiry.
If the two men balked at her, Kai couldn't, or rather wouldn't look to see, though Ian answered with surprise. "We were just fighting a minute ago. Aren't you mad?"
The pink haired woman chuckled good naturedly. She always was one to either make quick friends, or hold long grudges. "I knew your hearts weren't in it when you didn't try to kill me, just defend against me. Let me see that." Bryan must've hesitated because she soon told him in a soothing tone. "It's okay, I'm a healer."
"Explains how you got so many good shots in." Ian grumbled.
Mariah sounded as if she were smiling, though Kai tried to lose himself in the whirlwind of thought that threatened to engulf him. "My intention was to delay you, not hurt you. If I had wanted, you'd both be dead. And if you had managed to hurt me, I doubt Tala would've been able to stop Kai from killing you himself. He's loyal to me and my brother, who's also a lesser spirit. Granted my brother would just shoot you and get it over with." Bryan must've moved his hand away as she went on. "Now let's see. Does it hurt much?"
"Yeah, even more when I talk." Bryan croaked, his breathing less of a gasp and more of a low wheeze.
By now, Mariah's voice had become stern and motherly. "To be expected. C'mon, let's get you onto the couch that wasn't torn apart."
"I trust the battle is over?" Oliver called from the study doors, the French business man poking his head out cautiously.
Mariah spoke again, this time from the couch just behind Kai though he refused to turn and see if anyone was watching him. "Yes, it's fine now. Sorry about your suite. I tried to do as little damage as possible."
The man chuckled, likely surveying the evidence with amusement. "That's quite alright, we've had this sort of thing happen before though I'd say this amount of damage is minor to what Kai did in Tuscany."
"Which we won't be discussing. Period." Kai stated to the room, speaking in a low growl as he stubbornly kept his gaze on the window. He couldn't see much but there was enough there he could focus on.
Enrique's voice soon followed, the Italian sounded equally amused. "As you can imagine, he's not proud of it. If anyone does come to complain, rest assured we'll handle it. I trust you two weren't hurt either?"
Both men shook their head, Jake answering their employer over the sounds of them picking up the largest of the debris from the wood flooring. "No sir, we kept to the sidelines and did all the shooting, as he said. At least now we appreciate Ms. Wong's fighting skills and can adapt for future incidents."
"What? You didn't think I'd be able to fight with the big boys?" Mariah teased, and Kai knew she was smiling now. She never spoke in that tone without smiling, if impishly.
The two guards chuckled, Vince speaking this time. "No ma'am, only on exactly how well. We might have to pack heavier ammunition though."
"You do that and I'd have more than bruises to deal with. But I'll try to adapt if it means you're better at your job. Only fair I get better at mine." Mariah said musingly. "I'm going to need my bag but thankfully it's all just minor damage. Just hope my brother doesn't break your noses when he finds out you two tried to fight me."
"We can at least say we fought honorably." Ian muttered lowly but still smirked a little about it. Considering he rarely smiled about anything, it was safe to say he was smirking was a miracle in itself.
"I know you guys don't have much experience with women but even that won't keep my brother from wringing your necks. Again in your case. Hold on while I get my things." Mariah told them as she moved to the guest bedroom door, quickly and quietly opening it to be sure the man inside wasn't awake.
Staring at the dark space curiously, Bryan nodded at it as he asked. "Is that where that kid from this morning is?"
"Yes but he's resting. His awakening took a lot out of him." Oliver admitted sadly, his violet eyes already full of regret.
"Tell them everything why don't you?" Kai snarled from the window, still refusing to turn around and face his former attackers. He wasn't about to call them friend.
Pointedly ignoring him, Oliver kept going. "Since your former employer is being less than forgiving about your actions, I can safely say that staying with us is your best bet. We can smooth things over with the hotel and get you rooms here until it's safe to leave. We were in the process of upping security before your arrival but I'd say your presence will fit the bill. Naturally we must do various background and security checks to ensure you're not lying to us as well as fully assess this situation."
Barely glancing at all the carnage, Enrique joined in casually. "Understand we do this with everyone who's new to our group and should we ask you to, to perform the same tasks on another new member. Like you, we've been at odds with Boris and Voltaire for a long time and we must take precautions. Once you're cleared, just about everything you get will be from us though we're technically not your leaders but simply allies with the necessary resources and connections. Like Kai, we're the closest thing you'll get to high ranking officers in all this."
"I'm not working with them." The man in question growled out, finally turning around to glare at the pair.
"Kai-." Oliver began.
Only Kai wasn't in the mood if his open sneer was to go by. "Vet them if you want but the second they fail, I'm finishing the job. Don't bother trying to talk me out of it Oliver. We've had too many things pile up as it is and this little incident is one bad move away from becoming a multi-vehicle car wreck. I'll be ready to tell you 'I told you so' when it blows up in our faces." He all but bit out at the man as he angrily stomped around them and back towards the study.
"Kai!" Oliver called out to the man slammed the door to the study. Letting out a tired sigh, Oliver could only smile at his new guests apologetically. "Forgive him, it's been a long day and he was reviewing some of the files Tala gave him."
"So he knows then?" Tala asked, comprehension in his eyes while confusion was written all over Bryan and Ian's faces. It was possible they were kept out of the loop on said issue. By now Mariah had come back and was working in silence.
"Yes, and it's shaken him pretty badly. The thought he's not the only one his uncle is on the hunt for isn't an easy thought to process. I think our new friends showing up the way they did only made things worse." Epiphany bloomed in Ian and Bryan's eyes but they said nothing as Oliver continued. "Our best bet is to wait him out, give him time to cool down. Hopefully he'll be more perceptive to working with newcomers."
"What about Rei?" Mariah asked, not looking up from her work as she removed her claw darts from Ian's shoulder, making him wince.
"Was he awake when you went in?" Oliver asked, Enrique seeming intent to just listen.
Mariah frowned but only shook her head, barely looking up from what she was doing to meet his eye. "No, he's out cold. Probably didn't even stir with all the fighting going on. Maybe he's more tired than we originally assumed."
Glancing at the door in question, Oliver stared a moment before he spoke, worry filling his eyes. "Hm, curious but keep an eye on him. As the last of the four, having him suffer complications would only make things worse than they are. In the meantime, we'd best get this mess cleaned up."
"Yeah, thanks for giving that couch what for Mariah. Never did like that color." Enrique grumbled aloud, making Oliver glower at the Italian.
"And yet you insisted upon having them."
"Only because their design matched the chairs! All the other colors they had were awful! I made the best choice I could with what they had." The blonde stated, almost too quickly.
The Frenchman obviously didn't notice as he was soon biting back. "Only you would complain about furnishing at a time like this."
Enrique practically balked at the statement. "What? Not my fault they didn't have more colors to choose from. Besides all the other styles were unacceptable to the point where even you would've rejected them. I made a call and now we get to make another one. In fact, you can choose the furniture next time we need to get a suite in a swanky hotel where this sort of thing might happen."
"So nice you're thinking of your business partner Enrique. It almost makes up for all the times you paid for those horrible things you called 'art'." Oliver muttered sarcastically.
He must've known this would press a button because the Italian businessman was swift to respond, his handsome face twisting harshly. "Abstract is art! Why can't you accept that?"
"Sirs, don't you have some calls to make?" Vince reminded the pair gently, smiling in a knowing way as Jake looked as if he were desperately trying not to burst out laughing. That alone told all that the pair had this 'argument' often.
Blinking at the intrusion, Oliver nodded at the guard in his usual politeness. "Yes Vince, thanks for the reminder. I'm just saying that some painting that looks like the man who did it was on something addictive shouldn't be allowed into collections that include real artists like Monet and Van Gogh." He said as he moved for the study doors.
Moving to follow, the Italian was back at it again. "He says about the French artist with bad vision and the one that thought odd smears was a finished piece." Enrique snarled at his friend's retreating back. "Hell, the nut job sent his ear to his prostitute girlfriend thinking it would impress her. His ear!"
"At least they both knew how to express proper dimensional proportions!" Oliver shot back as he opened the door to the study.
An icy voice greeted them from within, chilling the whole suite in seconds. "Will you two shut the fuck up?!"
"See? Kai agrees with me!" Enrique stated triumphantly, oblivious to the Russian's irritation to their bickering.
Though none of them could see him, there was no denying the silver-haired man was in no mood for their childish antics. "I'm not agreeing with anybody. I just want you two to shut your traps for two seconds and get some work done."
"Surely you can't be siding-!" Oliver began to say, the two men all but crowding the doorway as the Frenchman tried to make his point.
Kai's voice seemed to fall a full octave as the room lost more temperature, his tone almost dripping with malice. "Oliver, I have a gun. As a cop in the Gang Unit, I've shot full-fledged criminal scum for less. So shut up, the both of you, and get to work. The next one to restart this argument gets capped in the fuckin' knee."
"But-." Enrique stammered before stiffening. One could only guess the man in question was glaring at them with a hawk's eye.
"You've both known me for over ten years. You both know I'm not joking." Kai stated icily, words forced through grit teeth. "Work. Now."
Officially cowed into silence, the two men walked fully into the room, shutting the door behind them in relative silence. Next to her, Jake dared to mutter to Mariah. "Perhaps we should get started once you're finished Ms. Wong."
"Sounds like a good idea."
The next Rei woke up, more than half of the day had passed by and he was reluctant to leave his cocoon of warm sheets and soft pillows. At some point his slumber had been on edge of breaking its grip on him when noise he couldn't identify filled his head. It stopped after a while, followed by what he could only imagine was irritated shouting, the voice distantly sounding like Kai's. Rei had wanted to get up to see what all the fuss was about but his body refused him as his mind only sent him back into the depths of sleep again. Now it was like his stomach was behind his recent return to consciousness. Daring to sit up, Rei found with a level of astonishment that most of his body didn't ache anymore, mostly certain joints maintaining their protest to his moving around. Looking around Rei saw the lamp had been shut off and the windows seemed darker than before which meant it was probably night time. Better get up now than in the morning…if I lose any more time I'll start to think I was in a coma or something. Rei thought as he swung his legs over the side, tiredly pushed the sheets away to expose his clothed body to the cold of the room. The effect was immediate, making the Chinese detective want to curl up again and not move from where he'd more or less made a perfect indent in the mattress. But he knew he had to get up at some point and he needed to eat. He wasn't about to take dinner in bed like an invalid, not when he wasn't in that much pain anymore. Testing his balance, Rei felt a wave of relief to find he didn't get dizzy and fall over, or that his legs gave out on him. Shuffling tiredly to the door, the raven haired man sidetracked long enough to head to the bathroom to empty his bladder, wash some of the sleep out of his face and make his hair look less sleep mussed. His five minute makeover complete, Rei opened the bedroom door to find the living room was much different than when he'd last seen it.
The couch just in front of his door looked like a giant cat had tested its claws on it, the small table that'd been behind it gone with only empty space in its absence. Looking to his right, he saw someone had patched the double doors back together though they both had bullet holes in them, the same marks also on the walls. That and more claw marks on the walls and floor, the lamps had been turned on to give the room a dull yellow glow to it. At least the room was full of familiar faces: Mariah, Jake and Vince were seated on the couches, Mariah across from the two guards as they appeared to be in a wicked game of poker. Lee was seated next to his sister, drinking a beer as he examined his hand. There was no sign of Kai, Oliver or Enrique but there was one person there seated in one of the arm chairs fiddling with a crossword puzzle from the newspaper: it was Tala, Kai's C.I. and underground affiliate though to what capacity he wasn't sure. Deciding to ignore the man for the moment, Rei opted to standing just behind his best friend instead, taking a bit of pleasure no one had noticed him just yet. The suite was mostly quiet save for some music on a laptop in the other arm chair filling the room with ambience. It was possible they hadn't even heard him leave his room. So he decided to inform them.
"Did you roll up your sleeves or did someone insist that you do it to keep you from cheating?" he asked, making everyone jump and stare, Lee most of all since he was just behind the other Chinese man.
Grinning like a fool, Lee was on his feet in a second. "Rei! How you feelin' bud?"
Smiling back, if a bit weak, Rei nodded at his friend. "Still tired but at least everything doesn't feel painful anymore. What's he doin' here?" he asked, giving Tala a curious glance.
Lee didn't even glance at the redhead to know who he was talking about, still smiling in relief at seeing Rei up and walking. "He's with us, don't worry. You won't be chasing him halfway across the city anymore, at least not when anybody's looking."
"Good enough for me. What happened? This place looks trashed. Did I miss something?" Rei asked as he half walked, half hobbled to the only open seat despite it having a laptop in it. Handing it off to Tala, the Chinese man didn't hesitate to ease into the plush chair.
Glancing about, more than one person grimaced as Lee answered. "It's…kinda a long story. But enough about that, at least for now. You're probably hungry right? We already called for dinner so it should be up soon. Made sure to order you a plate for whenever you got up again. Wanna join the game?"
"Only if you keep your sleeves rolled up. I want to be sure we're all playing fair." Rei shot back, grinning a little as the look on his friend's face soured.
"Hey! I do play fair!" Lee protested. Next to him, Mariah appeared as if she were desperately trying to keep from laughing.
Rei, not about to take pity on the man, quirked an eyebrow at his friend as he stretching himself out into a more reclined position. "Uh-huh, so that time you nearly got us both shot in that poker parlor was a one-time deal?"
"Not my fault the damn game was rigged!" Lee growled, annoyance making his voice rise in volume.
Chuckling, Rei was soon smiling, shaking his head. "Sure it wasn't."
"You're getting dealt in next round for sure, beat you fair and square." His partner declared confidently.
Which didn't last long as Rei sat up a little, feigning interest at the statement, again quirking an eyebrow at the man. "Are you saying you didn't beat me fair and square all the other times we played too?"
Lee grit his teeth, caught by his own tongue as he tried not to falter. "I didn't say that."
"I'm a detective, Lee, same as you. It was implied. Though I doubt you've been cheating since you're playing your sister and know better than to pull anything."
"Don't make me punch you." Lee growled.
"Are you two done bickering? Some of us would like to finish the game." Mariah cut in, her face having turned bright red from trying to keep from laughing at the pair. "You stay put for now Rei. We'll all take a break when dinner shows up."
"Sounds like a plan." Rei said casually, smiling still though Lee appeared irritated as he sat down. Glancing at the man in the other chair, Rei decided to be polite. "Hey."
The red-haired man nodded at him, having placed the laptop on the floor where no one could accidentally step on it. It was strained but he attempted a friendly smile. "Hi, again. Since we haven't been properly introduced, I'm Tala Ivanov. I'm an old friend of Kai's from…a long time ago."
Rei blinked, his brain going high-gear for a few seconds. "Ivanov? You're Russian like Kai right? It's barely there but there's no doubt about the accent."
Tala blinked in turn, clearly surprised by the other man's insight. "Yes, we were friends as kids even after we escaped his family's rather…warped sense of hospitality."
"Nice to know you're one of the good guys after the stunt you pulled. Did you really have to run from me?" Rei asked, thankful no one was paying them any attention.
The redhead shook his head, regret bleeding into his face. "You couldn't sense me and since you weren't 'active' yet, I couldn't tell either so I thought you were just another cop out to make a bust. It wasn't until I talked to Kai that I knew different." Grey eyes stared for a moment before he shivered, as though he'd seen something disturbing. "Definitely no mistaking it now."
"They tell me every one of us is marked like this. Feels weird to find I'm not alone in all this…craziness. It's almost like giving some little kid a hammer, some wood and nails and expecting him to know what to do with it all." Rei admitted, feeling relief at the understanding in Tala's eyes.
"It was confusing for all of us at the beginning. Don't worry though, you can trust each of us to give you the training you'll need to get through this. We're all in the same boat here."
"Which brings me to my next question: why aren't you a cop?"
Chuckling low in his throat, Tala smirked, this time without any anxiety behind it. "Not my thing. Unlike Kai, I like to stay in the shadows. It's my nature. With people like Kai or Oliver in the spotlight though, it gives others like us more room to maneuver. The bad guys can't always defend against strikes from the dark when their main focus is the prize sitting square in their sights. What little crime I actually do is minor stuff, all the big offenses are for my role as a C.I. and little else. It's thanks to Captain Granger that I've avoided all kinds of jail time for some of the shit I've had to pull."
"Somehow that makes sense. I hope you'll be able to go legit when all of this is over, if it's ever over." Rei pointed out, his inner self pitying Tala and his limited choices while the cop in him respected him for what good the man was trying to achieve. It pained him that such a person could be forced into such situations but he knew someone like Tala was necessary, despite the dangers he faced every day.
Tala seemed to pick up on this, smiling a little wider in agreement. "Me too. The guys filled me on your story and all I can say is that I've been in your shoes back in the day. Fully expect some info from me when you're back on the job."
"At least you'll be more adept at your job than Lee. I swear I'm still doing all the leg work when we're out and about." Rei called so all could hear.
"That's Lee for ya, he always was the lazy bones when he was a kid." Mariah said just as loudly, smirking impishly.
Nearly everyone was grinning when this produced the wanted reaction: a burning blush and a quick incensed retort. "I was not!"
Next to him, Mariah was quick to counter him. "Oh yes you were. Pretty sure you had a little pot belly too. If not for differing features, I'd say you'd probably be Tyson's long-lost brother or something."
"Now you're just exaggerating!" Lee protested, the blush spreading until almost his entire face was a deep red.
Mariah wasn't about to be merciful either. "Not when I've got the photos to prove it."
"Shit, you still have those?" he asked, going from red to white in a second.
His sister scoffed as if the question was ridiculous. "Of course I do! They're all we've got left of Mom and Dad. Like hell I'm tossing any of them."
"At least get rid of the ones of me. You're not showing any of my nieces or nephews any of 'em." Lee snarled, his ire starting to get the better of him.
"Like you can stop me." Mariah hissed, if somewhat good-naturedly. Rei had seen the pair argue before but even then they kept themselves on a tight leash when he was around. Given what'd happened the past day or so, he had a good guess on why.
Blinking at a loud knock at the door, Rei took it upon himself to butt in. "Guys, I think the food's here."
That was enough to get the siblings to cool off, both Jake and Vince answering the door in case it really was another unexpected visitor only to find it was indeed the busgirl. A skinny, raven haired woman with hazel eyes and a kind smile didn't even glance at the damaged section of the room or the busted doors. Giving them all a winning smile and a happy departure, the woman left the cart behind, saying to simply pile everything on it for when she or another of her coworkers came for it later. Passing the plates and utensils around, the group ate the food with vigor, as if some hadn't eaten in hours. Still conversation persisted as they kept on as if they hadn't been interrupted. Rei watched on in silence, content to eat and listen, speaking only when directly addressed or when asked for an opinion. It was slow going but the hours went by them without notice, only Lee glanced at his watch did anyone realize the time.
"Shit I've got to go. Hiro's probably pissed I haven't checked in yet. Tala you stayin'?" he asked, fixing his sleeves before working to get his suit jacket on.
The red-haired Russian shook his head, packing up his laptop carefully before standing up lazily. Like Rei, he didn't want to leave such a comfortable spot. "Nah I should have left a while ago. Unless I'm needed here?" he asked, glancing at the two guards.
Vince spoke first. "We should be fine sir. Security was added on some time ago but should something occur, both you and Detective Wong will be our first calls."
"Good enough for me. I already gave my number to Oliver so just ask him for my number." Lee told them, grabbing his trench coat and umbrella as he and Tala headed for the door.
"I will. Leave it to us." Jake affirmed with a knowing smile.
Lee nodded approvingly, pausing to ask. "You guys got plenty of space for my sister?"
"We do. This suite has another spare bedroom she can use next to Mr. Kon's. There are basic toiletries in there and we can ask the staff for proper sleeping attire." Vince added, earning a grin from the man.
"Think of everything do ya?" Lee chuckled, turning his attention to his sister. "I'll come back in the morning with some fresh clothes for ya so that you're not wearin' the same thing over again."
"Thanks." Mariah said, waving at her brother with a smile of appreciation. "Bye."
"Until tomorrow boys." Lee called out one last time before shutting the door behind him and Tala, the pair off to their intended destinations.
Turning her gaze to him, Mariah looked at him questioningly. "Rei, you up to moving?"
His warm food weighed heavily on him, making Rei feel sleepy, fighting down a yawn as he nodded at his friend. "I probably should since I can't fall asleep like this. Help me up?"
"Sure, nice and slow." Mariah instructed as she moved to help him, both letting the guards deal with everything as the pink-haired healer guided him back to his room. "The fatigue should pass in a day or so as your energies level themselves out. Did you need to use the bathroom?"
Rei shook his head after a moment, his normally swift mind sluggish from slight fatigue and the dull pain still wracking his body. "No but I should go anyway. How was it for you when you…what did you called it? 'Awaken'?"
For a moment he thought she wouldn't answer as they maneuvered into his room and toward the bathroom. "My awakening wasn't as…intense as yours, mostly since I wasn't near my tools when it happened. It still hurt if that's what you mean. According to my brother and our family, I slept for three days straight before recovering. Lee was out for almost a week when it happened to him, a few months before me. I can't say we know exactly what you've been through but we've at least been there."
"So you, Lee, the others? Even the captain, they're all in this?" Rei queried, part of his mind still finding that tidbit of information hard to believe.
Next to him, Mariah nodded solemnly. "We are and it's been that way for as long as the spirits have been around. The major and a number of the minor anyway. There are a wide variety of them but there's no real way of know just how many since all the old documents were destroyed sometime in the past. Oliver and Enrique have been doing what they can to keep a list of everyone but with potential hundreds it's a huge task that we'll probably never finish."
Rei blinked, gazing at his friend with shock on his face. "So many? That just makes everything even more surreal."
Mariah nodded, biting at her lip. "It does but it's true. And we're here to help you make sense of it, all of it. Anything new that we discover, you'll know too whether we've already made sense of it or not. That's how it is for us. And now for you too."
Rei nodded, brow furrowed as he digested this information carefully. "Yeah, I get that. Like you said, not all of it makes sense but I think I get what you mean." They both paused at the doorway leading to the bathroom, Mariah breaking away long enough to get the door all the way open and turning on the light. Watching her, Rei smiled. "I should be fine from here."
"I'll be just outside if you need me." Mariah smiled in turn as Rei moved forward, using the sink's counter as leverage as the woman shut the door behind him.
"Thanks." He said before it closed, taking a few moments to do his business, again using the counter to get around so he could wash his hand. Though he was able to get the door open, his legs nearly gave way when he tried to step outside, making the two of them almost collide and fall over. As Mariah held him up by the shoulders, he blinked as he tried to readjust to the shift in perspective. "Whoa, sorry. They decided not to work just then."
"That's okay, it happens. C'mon, let's get you to bed." She said, helping him stand upright again as they made their way to the bed. Once there, she helped him climb up and with the sheets as he lay back with a sigh. "Sleep well Rei. I'll check on you in the morning."
"Thanks. See you tomorrow." He managed to say through the fatigue that was now winning against his resistance. He was asleep before Mariah even got out the door.
Tyson was less than pleased to hear the few hours they spent searching for Ian and Bryan had been wasted due to the men turning themselves over to Kai and the others. He was even more annoyed to learn it was Tala they'd done it through, and all without any warning beforehand, leading to an uproar that thankfully Oliver and Enrique were able to smooth over with the hotel. Max had calmed him down naturally but that still left Tyson's older brother, and their boss, Hiro. Knowing the brothers would merely clash, Max had made the call himself, informing the older man of everything that'd happened since they last called. Naturally, Hiro was as displeased as his sibling but cooled off well enough to think clearly lest he too make a scene in his own office that would get half the precinct at his door. After taking a breath, the older man was soon stating coolly. "Interrogate them both for as much information as you can get. Their switching sides is the best thing that's happened all week and we need a leg up on Boris and his ilk if we're to end this. Report your findings when you finish. Go as far as you need to so long as you don't kill them. Just get us that information while Oliver finishes vetting them. Don't take any risks. And if they try to escape…kill them both."
Max felt his mouth go dry but answered mechanically. "Yes sir. I'll begin at once." He slipped his phone back into his pocket quietly prior to giving Tyson a dark glance. "We have work to do."
Tyson didn't say anything, merely staring at his partner a second before his expression mirrored the blonde's. As much as they both loathed causing harm to other people, they knew it was necessary on occasion to ensure the success of their organization and the survival of their peers, especially Rei. Being cops, every fiber of their being rebelled against hurting a civilian as the law prohibited. But as members of the Marked, this was pushed aside with one mantra: we are at war, protect the innocent, take down the guilty. In the end, balance must be achieved even at the cost of our own lives. We are the light to their dark. These words were forever in their minds as the pair moved toward the door where the two men in question were staying, under guard and unaware of the trials they were about to face. Once they opened it and went inside, there was no going back. With no hesitation, Max gripped the door handle and twisted it and stepped in.
And I have to stop there. You guys will have to wait until next time I'm afraid. I can only leave you without an update for so long I know but I've withheld this one long enough. Going further would just make for more delay! So enjoy this tidbit of what's to come:
Next chapter:
Chapter 5: Training
Rei has become one of the Marked but still faces many new things to add to his new perspective on his life, both in his future and from his past. What's more, are Ian and Bryan really on the run from Boris or is it just a ploy to get behind enemy lines? And can Kai and the others keep Boris from getting what he wants? If so…at what cost? Discover where the trail leads when 'Marked' returns in:
Chapter 5: Training!