Chapter Four: Welcome Home
Author's Note: Okay, here's chapter four, and this one will introduce another Tekken character! Enjoy, read and review please!
Eight hours of walking through the Greek countryside brought Jamie Parker to his place. The winding country road eventually gave way to a gravel, perfectly manicured path…and this path led to a rather large, palatial mansion.
The mansion boasted 53 rooms (not including various secret passageways), an indoor pool, a firing range, and a rather large indoor gym that was divided into three sections. One was for strength training, another for cardio, and the final was devoted to acrobatics.
This was Helios Mansion.
It was owned by the world renowned archeologist adventurer Dimitri Helios; a man who was accredited with finding some of the most important artifacts of the ancient world today. At 31, Dimitri had contributed much to the field of archeology; he was both praised and vilified for his rather unorthodox methods of finding artifacts, but the general consensus was that he had done more good then bad.
He was also a friend of Jamie's family.
Dimitri had attended high school with Justin Parker, the two had been best friends, and Jamie had known Dimitri since he was four.
And now Jamie came seeking Dimitri's aid. Jin had been claiming that he had found something big somewhere in Turkey…but where…and what?
Jamie figured that if anyone whom he could trust would know, then it was Dimitri Helios. Dimitri had helped Jamie before in the past…he'd helped the Nephilim and his friends exorcise the demon known simply as "Devil" from Jin Kazama's body, and later on, Dimitri had helped escort Heihachi to prison.
Jamie stood at the wrought iron gate to Dimitri's home. He knew that he could have simply vaulted over the gate, but in doing so, would have triggered the rather elaborate security system that Dimitri owned.
And being shot to death really wasn't on the agenda for the evening.
So, like most everyone else who came to call on Dimitri Helios, Jamie touched the button by the speaker box and waited for someone to answer.
"Hello?"
The voice belonged to Dimitri's lawyer/friend Leon, whom also went to high school with Justin and Dimitri.
"Leon?" Jamie asked, he paused for a moment, marveling at how scratchy and soft his voice sounded…in these past few months he'd barely used it. "It's Jamie…Jamie Parker? I'm Justin Parker's little brother and I need to speak to Dimitri."
"Jamie?! Hold on, let me open the gate!"
The gate opened, and Jamie began to walk in…each step he took brought a fresh pain through his feet. Human beings could go about three weeks without food, and three days without water…Nephilim could go a bit longer then that, but this didn't mean that Jamie wasn't suffering.
It was funny, but he hadn't really realized how weary he was until he crossed the gate…perhaps it was because he was so close to a familiar home…a place with warm, soft beds, climate control, showers, plumbing, and food.
Jamie's diet as of late consisted mainly of fruit that he found…or odds and ends of whatever came his way…personal hygiene came in the way of finding secluded lakes or streams to bathe in, and wash his disgusting, ratty clothes…he'd been wearing the same jeans for three months, and he regularly switched his grey Dunder-Mifflin t-shirt (from his favorite television show The Office), with a black t-shirt that had Chinese writing on it.
He looked like hell and he knew it…but there was little he could do about it now.
Suddenly, the door to the mansion opened, and Leon stood at the threshold with a smile on his face.
"Jamie?"
"Leon…" Jamie said tiredly.
He stumbled towards the door, and Leon was about to say something, when another voice called out from the entrance.
"Leon? Who is it?"
It was a female voice…one that sounded vaguely familiar, and as Jamie walked through the doorway Jamie found himself staring into the face of Ling Xiaoyu.
* * *
An hour later found Jamie Parker and Ling Xiaoyu sitting at the small table in the mansion's kitchen. It was rather large, the kind of kitchen that cooking enthusiasts dreamed of. It had state of the art appliances and cookware, with big open windows that had wonderful views of the countryside.
However, it was definantely the most underused portion of the house. Dimitri Helios was an Olympic qualified gymnast, a master of sword and gunplay, and could speak and read over a dozen languages (both ancient and modern), yet he could barely boil water.
The only things that looked like they had seen much action in this room were the microwave, and the toaster oven.
"So, where is Dimitri exactly?" Jamie asked.
"He's in Turkey right now looking for someone." Leon replied, walking into the kitchen.
"A few days ago, Hwoarang called…Julia had been tracing Jin's movements through the Middle East, and thought that she had found the Tomb he'd been looking for." Xiaoyu explained.
"She had wanted to confront Jin about what was going on…maybe beat him to whatever it is he was looking for, so she went…without telling Hwoarang." She finished.
"What?!" Jamie asked in disbelief.
For Julia to do something completely reckless like that meant that Jin was indeed looking for something big…Jamie felt bad that he hadn't kept in contact with anyone…maybe he could've at least gone with Julia to see what was going on.
"She disappeared, and by the time Hwoarang found out, he was beside himself…he said that he was going to go on his own…but…" Xiao trailed off visibly upset.
"Ling convinced Hwoarang to get Dimitri involved…after all, he has way more experience in this kind of field." Leon said.
"So…Dimitri's not here?" Jamie asked, slightly dismayed.
"No, he left about three days ago…and Leon came here to keep me company." Ling said with a smile.
"That raises another question Xiao," Jamie began. "Why are you here? This would be the last place I'd ever expect to find you."
"Exactly." She said with a smile.
"Wait…I'm still not following."
"Jin…I'm sure I don't need to tell you Jamie…but…he's changed so much…he's…he's not the man I married. I…I couldn't stand with him while he's on this insane path…I would've stayed, confronted him more…but, our daughter…she…she needs me, and I had to do what I thought was best." Xiao's voice trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. "So…one night, about six months ago…I left…I had to go somewhere where he couldn't be near me or my child…I thought about calling you, but I knew he'd look for me there, so Hwoarang suggested that I stay with Dimitri."
"Wow." Jamie replied.
"He didn't mind, he said that he had plenty of room…so, I've been living here ever since…I…I got a job at a daycare, so I could be with my daughter and…and I've been trying to disappear…but…it's just…I still love him…Jin…whatever is affecting he and Kazuya is driving them insane, and I can't do anything about it!" She finished with frustrated tears sliding down her face. "And now, two of my best friends have gone missing, and I can't do anything about it!"
"Hey," Jamie said softly. "Relax Ling, relax…you're doing the best thing you can do…you're being a mom for your daughter…and Dimitri…he'll find Julia, trust me…and he'll bring her back."
"What about you? What brings you here Jamie?" Leon asked.
And so, for the next hour, Jamie explained his story, as Xiaoyu and Leon listened intently. As Jamie spoke he couldn't help but realize how much Ling had changed since he first met her. Her hair was kept short, coming down to about her shoulders, long gone were her glowing bracelets and pigtails…she looked more like a young woman in her mid twenties, and her eyes reflected a knowing maturity.
She was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater…and it looked like motherhood agreed with her.
Meanwhile, as Xiaoyu was watching Jamie as well and couldn't believe how much different he looked. She supposed he was 22 now, the last time she had seen him was when he had just turned 21; he'd been a fresh faced, happy go lucky, laid back guy…handsome in an offbeat sort of way, and despite having to battle demons nightly, he had managed to build somewhat of a normal life for himself…having fun when he could, and getting down to business when he needed too.
But now…there was a certain…hardness about Jamie Parker; not so much in his personality…but in his mannerisms, one would say that it was maturity, but if they knew Jamie…truly knew him…then they knew that it was the face of someone who had seen a lot this past year…Xiaoyu had no idea how much her husband had affected Jamie's mental state…and she vowed then and there, that she would repay the Nephilim…for everything.
Jamie's eyes, once a bright blue, had dulled somewhat, to a pair of dusty sapphires…they were slightly bloodshot from lack of sleep, and the various dark circles also attested to that. Jamie had always had high cheekbones, but now, his face seemed thinner and greasy from constant dirt and grime.
His hair had grown an inch or two and was badly in need of a trim. It hung in a greasy, limp ponytail, down his back…he had grown a patch of blonde stubble across his cheeks, that he itched at sometimes…clearly the Nephilim didn't like facial hair.
He also seemed slimmer from lack of proper nutrition…and while he was still muscular, Jamie just didn't look…healthy.
The mothering gene in Xiaoyu kicked in, and she prepared him a sandwich…Jamie wolfed three of them down, drank four glasses of water, and ate a whole bag of chips…in the meantime, Leon asked what his plan was.
"I guess I'll join up with Dimitri in Turkey…and then from there we'll..."
"Well, Dimitri planned on joining the Iron Fist Tournament." Xiaoyu interrupted.
"What?" Jamie asked bewildered. "Another one? Who's calling it?"
Although he already knew the answer as soon as he asked it.
"Is Jin crazy? What could he be thinking?" Jamie asked.
"He's not…that's the problem." Xiaoyu replied.
"Then I'll wait for Dimitri and the others to return and I'll go with them…I don't even know if I'm invited, but I'll be close enough to Jin and Kazuya to knock some sense into them."
"You'll be walking into a death trap though Jamie." Leon advised.
"Leon's right Jamie; you are public enemy number one to both of them; of course Jin wants you in that tournament…he wants the ability to stop you!" Xiaoyu said. "And this time you have to deal with Jin, and Kazuya at the same time."
"You're right…what I need is a distraction…someone to take the heat for me while I figure out how stop this whole situation." Jamie mused.
The three reflected in silence for a moment, trying to decide what kind of distraction would be best…and suddenly, Jamie had it…it was crazy, and insane…but…it was just the thing to deflect the attention off of him.
"Dimitri escorted Heihachi to prison right?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah…you know that though Jamie." Leon said cautiously.
"Jamie…you can't be thinking…" Xiao began.
"I am Xiao. There's going to be a little prison break…and it's going to be Heihachi's lucky day." Jamie said.
"Jamie this is reckless and stupid! Heihachi is in Barla Kala Prison in Kazakhstan! It houses the most feared criminals in the world! It's in the middle of nowhere, and even if you manage to get him out, you have miles and miles of wind, snow, and cold to deal with!" Leon reasoned.
"Then I'd better get ready…let's hope Heihachi hasn't let himself go these past three years." Jamie replied.
"Jamie this isn't funny. Even if you release Heihachi who's to say he's going to listen to you. He won't, and you'll wind up with three generations of Mishima men trying to kill you."
"That's why I need him Ling!" Jamie argued. "They'll fight it out and I'll be able to stay on the side and figure out what's controlling Jin and Kazuya! It'll be easier for me, and give me a better chance of surviving long enough to stop this!"
Arguments were made around the table for another hour, before Jamie won with this closing statement.
"Yes, it's extreme; yes it's a huge risk; but we're dealing with the fate of the world here, and huge risks need to be made. I wouldn't do this unless I felt it was the best answer."
Silence followed.
"Alright;" Xiao began. "You'll need to rest up before you go though. I want you eating again, and I want you sleeping. You're staying here for at least three more days until I can get you healthy."
"And I'll begin looking at schematics of the prison…I can probably hack into the prison's data base…I can have something concrete for you in about four days."
"Then it's settled," Jamie agreed. "I'm going to bust Heihachi Mishima out of prison."
More silence…until Jamie broke it. "Never thought I'd say that in a million years."