(A.N.) Sorry for the extremely long wait, I have been incredibly busy as of late.
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!
Hanyoualchemist1, StraightedgeWingZero, ShadowNinja1011, staticblast1 and Cimar of Turalis.
Any and all reviews/comments/feedback is welcomed. It only takes a few seconds to write up a review, but doing so helps all authors to write faster in the hopes of pleasing their audience.
Okay sorry for the sudden shift in topic. Again thank you all for the continued support and reviews!
Here's the next chapter! Hope you all enjoy ^^
*Just as a warning there is a mild torture scene towards the end of this chapter*
- Demonzmagic
The Green Knight: A Hero is Born
Chapter Ten - Questions
[Link]
He jumped down from one rooftop to another, breaking his fall with a roll and getting up to his feet. He had spent the last week trying to find another lead to take down, but that had proved to be harder than he thought. Hacking into Darryl's Hadley's account was easy enough, but trying to find his dirty friends was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. After days of digging through account numbers, he finally found a connection between Darryl Hadley's account and just one other.
Account number 556934231 was wired $50K right around the same time that Darryl Hadley was wired the same exact amount of money, and they were both delivered from the same anonymous account. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Unfortunately for Link, the sender's account had some pretty heavy firewall security around it, making it impossible to break in to. But account number 556934231 was a different story. It belonged to a man by the name of Gabriel Travers; another industrial mogul who provided power and electricity to over eighty percent of The Valley. Three years ago Mr. Travers decided to raise the electricity bill and cut power to those who couldn't pay. Talk about your friendly neighborhood scrooge. Since then specific sums of money were funneled from his account to another, the same account that wired him the fifty grand.
Link watched from the building ledge as Mr. Travers exited a building and walked down the empty and stopped on the corner at the end of the block. A black limo suddenly pulled up and waited for Mr. Travers to get in before it drove off. Link jumped off the ledge and slid down a water pipe and landed behind a dumpster. He pulled out a small round electronic device and threw it under the limo as it drove by before slipping into the shadows again. Link pulled out his phone and watched as a red blinking dot turned down Adams Street. He waited another 5 minutes before tailing the black limo to the city docks.
A man disguised in a trench-coat and hat appeared out of the shadows and approached the limo. He was carrying a briefcase and as he neared the car, the back window rolled down. The disguised man lifted up the briefcase but, before he could hand it off, an arrow shot through a gap in the briefcase handle. The briefcase went flying off and the man who was holding it stumbled and grabbed his hand in pain.
Tired screeched in the night as Link hopped down from his vantage point and watched as the limo speed away down the dark and empty street. He ran towards the briefcase as the disguised man ran off in a different direction. Link ignored the man and picked up the briefcase; his sharp blue eyes inspecting every inch of the steel briefcase, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Link turned around and slipped away into the night, returning to his hideout.
[June 18th, 2006] – [Flashback]
Link was shoved into a large tent where a man sat behind a table shuffling through some papers. He flicked his eyes up at Link for a moment and returned to the paper he was reading. After a few seconds of silence, where Link looked around the room in utter confusion, the man put the papers down and motioned to the vacant seat across from him.
"Please, have a seat." He said through thin lips.
Link looked at the tent-flap and then back to the man before he slowly pulled the chair out and took a seat. The man smiled, "I apologize for the way my men treated you – you see I've trained them to react to any strangers on this island as hostile."
Link stared at the man with some uncertainty; was the man lying? Or was it really just a misunderstanding? "What is this place? Where am I?"
The man sighed and frowned mildly. "You really don't know what this island is, do you?"
Link merely shook his head.
"Well, why don't we first start with an introduction?" He asked, staring at Link expectantly.
Link seemed confused by this question, but answered regardless. "Link." He replied. "Link Avalon."
The man smiled. "Good. Why are you here, Link?"
"I was with some friends – kids from school. We were on class trip. The boat sank in a storm. I was the only survivor…"
The man gave a sympathetic smile. "How tragic. My name is Ghirahim and I lead a small task force on this island in the hopes of catching one of the
most elusive killers known to man."
"Where are we?" Link asked.
Ghirahim raised his eyebrows. "Ah, yes, of course. My sincerest apologies - the Chinese call this island yin jian, or the lower world."
"The lower world?" Link repeated, looking confused.
Ghirahim smiled thinly. "You can think of it like a human garbage dump - most of the people on this island are either ex-military members who tried to defect, or high-level criminals that could no longer be kept in prison due to overcrowding." He explained.
"So, everybody on this island are dangerous criminals?" Link asked, trying to understand his situation better.
"Everyone except for you and me, of course." Ghirahim said with a small smile.
"How did you manage to control everyone?" Link asked, suddenly becoming more and more fearful. Though he did his best to try and hid it.
"That's not important." Ghirahim said, suddenly looking serious. "What is important is that you have information that can prove to be quite valuable and beneficial to the both of us."
Link eyed Ghirahim with apprehension and caution. "What do you mean? How can you help me?"
"You tell me what I want to know, and I can get you off this island and back to your old life." Ghirahim said enticingly.
Link hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Ghirahim pulled out a photo and placed it on the table for Link to see. "Do you recognize this woman?"
Link felt his heart skip a beat when it was a picture of Naria, albeit she looked a little younger in the photo, but it was her. Unfortunately Link could not hide the fact that he knew her from Ghirahim. "No." He said, blinking a few times.
Ghirahim's cheekbone tightened. He stood up and walked over to Link and leaned down to his ear. "You're a terrible liar." He whispered.
Link felt a shiver travel up his spine as Ghirahim stepped back and folded his arms. "All I ask is the truth. This woman killed hundreds of US men and stole property from our government. Do you want to protect a criminal of America?! It's treason!" He said, growing more angry and frustrated.
"I don't know her." Link repeated more forcefully.
"Whatever she told you, whatever she's done for you - she is lying. She can't be trusted." He continued.
Link groaned. "I said I don't know her!"
Ghirahim clenched his fists and walked towards the tent flaps. "I am afraid my patience is wearing thin, Link. Keep in mind that I am your only way off this island." He said darkly. "All you have to do is tell me where I can find her. If you don't, I'm afraid you won't like what will happen next." He said cryptically.
Link turned around in his chair. "I already told you, I've never seen her before!"
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you." Ghirahim said in disappointment. He opened up the flap and left the tent.
"Hey! Where are you going!?" Link shouted. But his cries were cut short when a large man in heavy combat gear entered the tent, his face was covered in a ski mask. Before Link could say another word, the man struck him across the face, knocking him out.
[Sheik] – [Saber Industries]
"I told you already, dad, I'm not working for you. I'm not interested in what you do. It's so…boring." Sheik said with a shudder. He stood in his father's office overlooking the city with an ice cold whisky in one hand and the other in his pocket.
"It's called 'being responsible' son." Alexander said with a sigh.
"It's called 'being boring'." Sheik corrected with a light scoff and a roll of his eyes. "I never really liked working for you, so why's it such a big deal anyway? I'm having fun, you're doing the whole 'try to rule the world'. Why ruin a good thing we got going here?"
Alexander poured himself a drink and approached his son. "If you think gallivanting around with hookers and drugs will get you far in life you're gravely mistaken, my son."
"Please, dad, don't give me another one of your lectures – " Sheik groaned, turning his back to his father.
"I'm serious!" Alexander exclaimed, cutting him off and setting his glass down on his desk. He walked over to Sheik and placed his hands on his shoulders, turning Sheik around to face him. "Son, you need to get your life in order – you're a mess!" Alexander looked at his son with mild despair in his eyes.
"Oh don't act like you care!" Sheik scowled and pushing his father's hands off his body. He walked towards the small glass table with various bottles of liquor and he filled his cup once more. "You wouldn't be asking me this if there wasn't something in it for you as well." He turned around and faced his father. "So what is it? Hmm?" Sheik asked.
Alexander remained silent and Sheik studied his father's face for several long seconds before chuckling and shaking his head, "You're embarrassed." He smiled as he caught his father trying to hide his reaction. "I should have known - I've never lived up to your standards. So what happened? Did one of your rich friends see me in a newspaper or something? Didn't like what they saw? Because, let's be honest dad, it probably wouldn't have been the first time." Sheik bantered.
Alexander sighed and placed his hand in his pocket. "The only thing I have to gain is seeing my son making his way in life." He said in a father-like manner. "The board-members are starting to get worried, Sheik. Your change in behavior over the past few years is starting to affect the company." He gave his son a scrutinizing look, "I thought that since Link was back you'd be getting...well...better." He said, sounding hopeful.
"Better?" Sheik laughed. There's nothing wrong with me!" He shouted.
Alexander shook his head. "Look at yourself, Sheik. This isn't you. Please, just come back to Saber Industries and work with me, everything will be as it once was." He said, stretching out his arms hoping to embrace his son.
"Finding out that my best friend - whom I thought was dead for the past seven years, is still alive and back in Hyrule was the best news I'd heard in…" He stopped mid sentence and licked his lips. "It was the best news I'd heard since everyone thought he died. " He said, lowering his voice to almost a whisper. "But his return can't change what's happened since he left and I don't expect it to." Sheik stated. "I have to live with those choices and so do you!"
"If you're referring when you were younger - I already told you what happened," Alexander said, taking a step closer to Sheik, "it was merely a business - "
Sheik stopped him by raising his hand in the air. "Save it dad, there's no use in pleading your case to me. I already don't believe you."
"You're going to clean up your act, Sheik." Alexander said, suddenly looking impatient. "Or I'm cutting you off." He said sternly.
Sheik's eyes widened and he glared at his father. "You wouldn't…"
Alexander smiled and neared Sheik. "I already have, son."
Sheik felt his heart pounding beneath his chest. Was this really happening? Had his father really cut him off? Sheik smiled thinly and looked at his father in the eyes, "You're bluffing." He said before turning and leaving the room.
Alexander watched as Sheik as he stormed out of his office, closing the door behind him. A smile formed on his lips and he pulled out his cell phone. Dialing a number, Alexander placed the phone to his ear. "It's me." He said when the line picked up. "Do it."
[Kokiri Mansion]
Sheik entered Link's home looking beyond depressed. After checking his bank accounts he found out, to his immense displeasure, that his father really had cut him off of his billion-dollar trust. He stopped in the main foyer and looked around the empty area with his hands in his pant pockets.
"What's got you looking so down?" Someone asked from above.
Sheik turned his body and glanced up to see Anna standing at the top of the staircase. She wore a light blue tank top over a white wife-beater and khaki capris.
Sheik smiled somewhat and faced her completely. "Oh, you know, the usually. Messed up life, messed up family, best friend just came back from the dead…"
Anna smirked.
Sheik sighed and placed a hand on the wooden banister. "And I just found out that my father cut me off…" He reluctantly whispered.
Anna's eyes widened. "What? No way! I'm so sorry to hear that!" She said, now making her way down the steps.
Sheik waved his hand nonchalantly. "Please, don't be." He said. "The last thing I need is for people to feel sorry for me." He explained.
Anna seemed to understand. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that here." She said, giving him a small smile.
Sheik nodded. "That's exactly why I came here. I was hoping Link would be able to help me out."
Anna looked slightly confused, however before she could say anything Link suddenly appeared from one of the arched openings. "Looking for a job, Sheik?" Link asked with a smirk.
Sheik turned towards Link and grinned. "Something like that."
[Link] - [Hibachi Express: Japanese Sushi Restaurant, downtown Hyrule]
"Remind me again why we're here?" Link asked as he watched Sheik devoir a crab-rangoon.
"I love sushi!" Sheik exclaimed as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
"Any kind of food sounds great to me." Link said with a chuckle.
Sheik grinned and opened up Link's menu for him. "There's a lot of great stuff here. I've pretty much had almost everything on the menu." He said, taking a bit out of another crab-rangoon.
Link looked down at his menu and glanced over a few items before looking back up at Sheik. "So, what did you need my help with?"
Sheik stopped what he was doing and looked up at Link. "I need a place to stay for a bit." He said with some reluctance.
"What?" Link said, sounding confused. "What's going on?" He asked, suddenly looked serious.
Sheik shook his head. "It's nothing like that…" He paused and looked like he wanted to say something. He sighed and leaned closer to Link. "Look, when you...died...it was hell for me." He began. "And I changed."
Link nodded in understanding. "I get it."
"I know you do, buddy, that's why I came to you. I need your help." Sheik continued. "My dad...well he sort of cut me off…"
Link's eyes grew wide. "What? Why would he do that?"
Sheik shook his head. "It's a very long story - most of which you already know." He quickly pointed out.
"Except for the past seven years…" Link reminded.
"That's also a very long story." Sheik said with an awkward chuckle. "Look, I know that right now your life is kind of crazy and you're trying to reconnect with your family and all, and I wouldn't want to bother you with - "
"Sheik, buddy, come on!" Link exclaimed. "You are just as much a part of my family as Anna is." He said with a smile. "Whatever you need, anything, I got you."
Sheik chuckled with some surprise and smiled. "Link...I don't know what to say - "
"Why don't you start by ordering your food?" Link suggested with a grin.
Having finished their meals, Link and Sheik left the restaurant in Link's red Ferrari. They sped down the street and ignored the onlookers from the sidewalk as Link began to drive towards his home. As he pulled up to a stoplight, Link looked ahead and groaned as he caught sight of several construction signs and flashing orange lights. Great.
Once the light turned green, Link accelerated the car and pulled up to the roadblock. Link rolled down the window as a man dressed in reflective construction gear and a hardhat approached his car. "What's going on here?" Link asked, not unkindly.
"Sorry, sir," The man said with a frown. There were small smudges of dirt in various areas on his face, "but the roads closed." He grabbed a dirty rag that was hanging loosely from his back pocket and used it to wipe his face. "Might want to follow the detour if you're planning on leaving the city." He advised, squinting from the bright sunlight that was beaming down on Hyrule.
Link gave a small smile and nodded. "I will. Thank you." Link rolled up his window and turned left down, following the detour signs.
"That's weird," Sheik began. "I don't remember that road being closed off a few hours ago…"
Link shrugged. "Maybe something happened."
Not having any other answer, Sheik remained silent and looked out the window as the detour cut through a wide alley. Small clouds of smoke vented through a few various manholes, making it somewhat difficult to see.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Sheik asked.
Link frowned. "I'm pretty sure there was a big detour sign back there telling us to go this way." Link said as he cautiously drove through the semi visible path.
Suddenly a large, white van screeched to a stop in front of them preventing them from passing.
"What the hell?!" Sheik exclaimed.
Link immediately shifted to reverse, but when he looked behind him to back out another white van pulled up behind him. What the hell's going on?
Four men, two from either vans, got out of their vehicles slowly approached the red Ferrari. All four were wearing clown mask and carried silenced automatic rifles. "Get out of the car, Mr. Avalon." One of the men growled with a sneer.
"What the hell is going on?!" Sheik exclaimed again. "Link?!" He turned and looked at his best friend with worry in his eyes.
"Outta the car!" A goon yelled. "Now!" He aimed his rifle at Sheik and Link quickly got out with his hands raised in surrender. "Alright, I'm getting out." Link said calmly. "Take whatever you want." He glared at the four men and studied them closely, but their clothes and masks made it difficult, it not impossible, to identify them at all.
"We ain't here for your precious belongings!" One of the goons said with grunt. e raised his rifle up and fired a shot at Link. A small dart hit Link in the neck and he reached up to touch where the dart had struck him. He suddenly felt his world spin as he fell to his knees. A car door opened and Sheik began to yell, though Link couldn't make out what he was saying. A brown, cloth bag was suddenly shoved over his head and everything went black.
[June 18th, 2006] - [Flashback] - [Link]
Cold water splashed on Link's face and he awoke with a start. His shaggy blonde hair fell loosely now in small, messy locks, and the tips of his hair dripped from wetness. He had been tied to one of wooden beams that held up the large tent by his wrists, making it possible for him to stand or sit, but not walk or escape.
"This is your last chance to tell me what you know." Ghirahim said as he squatted down next to Link. "Before that man," He eyed the masked soldier behind him before looking back Link, "makes you. And believe me, he can be quite persuasive." He said with a cruel smile.
"I already told you, I don't know anything." Link said angrily.
Ghirahim sighed and stood up. "Very well." He turned around and left the tent.
"Wait!" Link screamed as he struggled to stand up. "You can't just leave - "
The soldier stepped before Link and punched him across the face with enough force to make him spin around. The soldier then struck Link in the back of his knee, making him stumble back to the ground
"Please, you don't have to do this." Link tried to plead with the man.
He did not listen. Instead, the man approached Link and drew a long, thin blade from his back. Link cowered before the man when he was suddenly hoisted up by his shirt. The man suddenly struck Link in his side, and Link cried out as unimaginable pain flooded his mind and body. He fell to his knees and the man released him.
Link groaned and clutched his side as every breath felt as though there was twisting knife there. He looked up to see the man towering before him, glaring down at him. "I told your boss that I don't know anything." Link said, still trying to reach the man. "You're hurting an innocent man!" He yelled.
"I will be the judge of that." Ghirahim said as he suddenly entered the tent. "This can all end once you tell me what you know." He said impatiently.
Link merely glared at him.
"Get him up." Ghirahim ordered.
The soldier grabbed LInk by his arms and hauled him to his feet. Ghirahim removed the photograph of Naria from one of his vest pockets and showed it to Link. "What can you tell me about the woman in this picture?"
Link continued to remain silent.
Ghirahim eyed the soldier and with incredible speed the man dislocated Link's right arm and punched him four times in his ribs with quick succession, and then pulled him up to his feet once more after he fell.
"Where is she?!" Ghirahim asked angrily.
Link struggled to breath but continued to say nothing.
The soldier moved behind Link and struck him in the back of his knee. LInk fell to his hands and knees, but the soldier quickly grabbed him by his hair and pulled him up to a kneeling position. With incredible speed the soldier sliced through the back of Link's shirt. It slumped down his chest and fell in his lap, exposing his bare chest.
Link felt the cool touch of the blade's tip as it pressed against the skin above his right shoulder blade. Ghirahim crouched before Link and raised the picture to his face. "Where can I find her?" He asked. Again Link did not respond. Ghirahim licked his lips and looked up at the soldier. The soldier's eyes flicked from Ghirahim and then back to Link before he pushed the blade almost a half inch into Links back and then slowly traveled down, and he screamed in agony.
[Link]
When Link regained consciousness the first thing he noticed was that his hands and feet were bound by zip ties to a wooden chair; Sheik was sitting directly across from him and was in a similar position, however he was still unconscious. The room was dimly lit, but it looked almost like an old storage room in a basement. The walls were an ugly green and red pipes, whose paint was chipped in several places, ran along the ceiling just low enough for a tall man to reach if he were to jump.
"Mr. Avalon…" A goon chuckled as he approached Link. Another goon stood behind Sheik with his rifle aimed at his head, while the other two stood beside a large steel basin.
"What is this?" Link asked with a snarl. "What do you people want with me?"
The goon bent low and put his face inches from Links'. "I'll be the one asking question here, is that understood?" The man growled as he jabbed the tip of his rifle at Link.
"Then let me friend go, he has nothing to do with this." Link asked calmly.
The goon chuckled, followed closely by the chuckles of his partners, and shook his head. "Nice try, but if I let your friend go then I'll have some real trouble on my hands."
"You're already in a lot of trouble, but it doesn't have to be this way. If you let us go then I promise that will be the end it of - "
"Sorry, but it doesn't work that way." The man replied. He turned to the two men standing before the large basin and they quickly grabbed the handles on either end and placed the tube in front of Link. All the while Link worked furiously and sneakily to break through the plastic zip tie.
"What can you remember before you left for that school trip?" The lead goon asked Link.
Link did nothing but continue to glare at the masked goon. The man looked at his two partners and the grabbed Links chair and tilted it forwards, submerging Links head in a tube filled with freezing cold water and ice. Links cries were muffled and lost in the water, and after several long seconds he was pulled out and his chair was set back to how it was before.
"Where is the journal, Mr. Avalon?" The lead goon asked aggressively.
Links breathing began to grow erratic as cold water dripped down his hair, face and body. "I don't know what you're talking about." He said.
"Wrong answer." The lead goon replied, and Links head was shoved into the tube once more. When Link was pulled up a second time, the lead goon had pulled a chair beside Link and he spun it around before sitting in it backwards. "There's no point lying, my employer knows you have it. Tell me where it is and you and your friend will be set free." He breathed through his mask.
Links breathing seemed even more forced now and he felt as if his entire body, inside and out, were frozen solid. However Links glare did not waver, in fact he even smiled at the man. "You're going to let us go, right now." He growled. "Or you I'm going to kill all of you."
The four goons looked at one another and laughed. "Now that's funny." The lead goon chuckled. "You're not gonna touch nobody, kid." He said, his mood shifting. "'Cause there ain't no way you're breaking through those zip ties."
Link smirked and raised his hands in the air. "Guess your zip ties were a lot weaker than you thought." He said as he stood up.
Startled, the lead goon raised his rifle but Link jumped up and grabbed ahold of one the lower hanging pipes. He shoved his still zip tied feet and chair into the lead goons chest, effectively knocking him backwards. Link quickly fell to the ground, breaking the wooden chair in the process, and managed to get completely free. He walked over to the broken pieces and broke off a thin sliver of wood.
The three remaining goons raised their rifles and aimed them at Link, who quickly kicked over the tube, emptying out the water. He grabbed it and used it as a shield from the bullets as he charged the three men. Bullets sprayed at the steel tube but none actually penetrated it, and as Link prepared to bowl them over two of the goons jumped out of the way just in the time. However the third stayed a moment too long and Link bashed the man down with the tube before turning to Sheik; He was still unconscious though otherwise seemed unharmed.
"You bastard…"
Link turned around to see the lead goon get to his feet. "You're gonna pay for that." He said his rifle again but Link was already inches from him. He grabbed the man's rifle and ripped it from his hands before hitting him across the face with the butt end. The man yelled in pain and stumbled to the side. Link jerked up and a saw the two men that jumped out of the way aiming their rifles at him. He managed to avoid another spray of bullets as he maneuvered his way to the lead goon and grabbing him to use as a shield just in time to block a third spray of bullets that actually aimed correctly. The lead goon groaned as his partners bullets struck him in the chest. Link tossed his body and slipped behind a square pillar to avoid a fourth spray of rounds. He tried to level his breathing but his lungs were still burning from the cold water. A few more minutes in that tube and he probably would have gone into hypothermia - it was a miracle he wasn't already passed out.
Link tried to peek around the corner of the pillar but a spray of bullets nearly him as he did. Link managed to duck back just in time to dodge the rounds, the majority of which had hit the pillar itself.
"Grab his friend!" One of the goons shouted as he reloaded his rifle. When the second goon approached Sheik, Link burst from his spot and rolled to avoid a spray of bullets before getting to his feet and driving the thick, wooden sliver into the goons' chest. The man cried out in agonizing pain and clutched the wood. The other goon raised his gun to shoot Link, and he quickly grabbed the injured goon before him and used the man as a shield.
When the dead man's body fell to the ground, the remaining goon turned and ran. Link rushed to Sheik and checked his pulse. It was a little weak, but it was there. He quickly broke Sheik out of his bonds before reluctantly running after the last goon. He would rather just let the man go, but he had seen his face, and that wasn't something Link could afford.
The man was far ahead of him now, and he was just barely able to see him turn left around a corner. Link grit his teeth and looked around for a quicker path, when he noticed a ladder on the wall to his left. He quickly made his way up to the roof of the warehouse and ran down its length until he neared the end. Looking down he caught sight of the man turning another corner and Link jumped down, landing on the man's back.
Link stood over the man and wrapped his right arm around his neck before lifting him up to his feet. Link tightened his hold by grabbing onto his left arm with his right hand while slowly lifting up with his left. "I wish it didn't have to be like this." Link explained while the man continued to struggle. "But you've seen my face, and you know what I'm capable of. I don't have any other choice." And with almost no effort at all, Link snapped the man's neck.
[Kokiri Manor]
Detective Dempsey sighed as he and his partner, Detective Gibbs, were escorted from their patrol car that was parked in the Kokiri's driveway to the front door or the Kokir Mansion by two large security guards.
What is this, the White House? Sheesh!
The front door opened to reveal Mido standing by the doorway. "Ahh, Detective Dempsey, I presume?" He said with a questioning look.
Groose looked at his partner with some confusion. He had actually told the Kokiri's he would be stopping by. In fact he was sure there was no way they could be expecting him. "Gentlemen," Mido began. "I give a sizable donation to the Police Pension and Retirement Fund every year, as a result I think you'll find that Captain Fisher keeps me appraised of any news I may deem to be an interest." He explained with a smile.
Groose inwardly glared at Mido but remained otherwise on the outside. The two detectives entered the home and followed Mr. Kokiri into the sitting room. Groose immediately took notice of Link and then Sheik, who was sitting right next to him on a very plush, cream colored couch. Mido sat next to Saria on an identical couch situated across from the other.
"I've already told the police what happened." Link explained, eyeing the detective with some confusion.
Groose sighed and placed a black, leather binder on the round table in the center and unzipped it. "I know that, Mr. Kokiri, however this case is...different, and I want to be sure i've got everything covered." He explained to everyone.
"Are you suggesting that my son is withholding evidence?" Saria asked with disbelief.
"No, ma'am." Groose replied with a shake of his head. "But I find it a little convenient that a criminal escaped through your son's party, and then rescues him and his best friend!" Groose argued.
"Criminal? What are you talking about" Saria asked.
Groose removed a sheet of paper and placed it on the glass table. It was a pencil sketch of Link's description of the masked man. "This man's wanted for multiple attempted murders, theft, breaking and entering, the list goes on." He glared at Link, "What is he, some friend of yours?" He asked.
"I don't find your tone appropriate, detective." Saria whispered dangerously.
Mido suddenly stood up, and Groose didn't know what else to do but to mimic the man's movements. "If Link remembers anything we'll be sure to give you a call." He said with a smile as he shook their hands one last time.
"Yeah, I bet you will." Groose whispered under his breath. When Link tried to hand him the sketch of the masked man, Groose waved his hand, "Keep it."
When the detectives left, Sheik picked up the sketch and looked at Link. "It is a little odd this guy shows up at your party and then saves us, don't you think?" He asked curiously.
Link looked from the sketch to Sheik and smiled weakly, placing his hand on Sheik's shoulder. "I'm just glad to be alive."
[June 18th, 2006] – [Flashback] – [Link]
Link screamed again as the masked soldier cut into his back again. He fought with all of his mental strength to keep himself from telling this lunatic and his crazy hound where Naria's cave was. It was clear to him, know, who his real friend was.
Link's back was covered in four deep and long gashes that ran down over half the length; it was almost impossible for Link to lift his back up even an inch now, and Ghirahim was forced to have him strung up by his hands with his feet hovering only centimeters from the ground.
"She doesn't care about you, Link." Ghirahim explained. "She is here for one reason and that is to claim a very valuable piece of technology that belongs to the government and I'm here to get it back." He approached Link, now only inches from his face, and gave him a hard look. "And believe me when I say that nothing will get in my way." He said coldly.
Links continued silence earned him deep cuts and long gashes in his front side. Ghirahim folded his hand behind his back and studied Link for a moment before a small smile crept across his face. "Perhaps he really doesn't know anything after all…" He said, suddenly looking disappointed. "In which case he would be of no more use to me. Kill him." He ordered the soldier.
Wordlessly the masked soldier raised his sword and prepared to deliver the killing blow, when suddenly the tent flaps flew open to reveal Naria holding her bow in hand. She quickly disabled Ghirahim and knocked him backwards with a powerful kick. He stumbled and struck his head against a wooden beam. With lighting speed, Naria drew a small knife and threw it at the rope that was holding Link up. He fell to the ground and tried to stand up, but the pain was too great.
The masked soldier suddenly spun around and sliced his blade downward, intending to slice Naria in half. But she quickly shifted her upper body to the side, dodging the blow, and struck the soldier in his face with her bow.
As the two continued to fight, Link managed to crawl away from them and closer to where the knife had landed from when Naria threw it. He sighed in relief when he found it several feet from where he was tight up.
The man stumbled backwards but quickly recovered. He delivered a series of quick slices and jabs that Naria was barely able to fend off; it was clear that the mysterious soldier was evenly matched with Naria. He blocked a right-fisted blow aimed at his throat and spun around to deliver a horizontal slice. Naria grabbed the soldiers arm to block the attack, and without any warning the man responded by twisting his arm and wrapping it around her neck. After applying enough force he was able to flip her over and onto her back.
Naria hit the ground and a loud grunt followed as the air was practically knocked right out of her. Winded, Naria blinked several time before the soldier grabbed her by the throat and pulled her up to her feet. She grabbed the man's hands and tried to pry them off, but he was too strong. Naria's efforts grew weaker and weaker until she looked like she just about to pass out, when suddenly the man let go of her. He cried out in pain and grabbed the knife that was embedded in teh back of his leg.
Dropping the knife, the soldier turned around and gripped his blade tighter as he slowly approached Link. Panicking, Link tried to escape by crawling backwards, but his wounds were too great and moving at all proved to be difficult. When the soldier was just over him, Link closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable. Before the soldier could kill Link, however, Naria quickly grabbed the chair Link had been sitting in hours ago and bashed it over the soldiers head, knocking him out.
"Come on, I have to get out of here." Naria whispered to Link. "Can you walk?" She asked.
He only nodded and she helped him up. He grunted in pain but somehow managed to get his arm around her neck to support him better. She lead him through the back tent flap and slipped into the forest, returning safely to the cave.
[Kokiri Industries Manufacturing Factory] - [Link]
The steel briefcase that Link had managed to obtain contained only a laptop that he had little success in hacking into. It was true that his computer skills were low, but he had hoped to be able to gain at least some intelligence - a name, an address...something. This was his only lead, so breaking into this laptop was top priority. But the security was just too high for him; what he needed was an expert, and he knew just the person.
[Kokiri Industries, downtown Hyrule]
Link entered the building with so much ease one would think he owned the place. The security and staff all beamed at him and whispered in hushed tones as he walked through the marble floors towards the elevators. A group of female employees deliberately walked past him only to giggle and run off, returning to their previous business. Link sighed and pressed the down button and waited patiently for the elevator to arrive. When it did, he entered the gold colored space with mirrors that started at waist height, and pressed the key labeled, B.
The elevator doors chimed and closed, and within a few minutes Link had made it to the basement level. A large sign that read, Kokiri Industries IT Department, could be seen on the wall before him. Link made his way down the hallway and spotted an opened door. He knocked twice on it before entering the small room that was filled with various computer equipment. A single desk with two large computer monitors stood before Link, with what appeared to be a very young girl sitting behind the desk in a leather swivel chair.
Link seemed slightly bemused when he say this girl. He had expected to see more than just one person - and older people at that. "Sorry, I was looking for someone to take a look at my laptop...I'll come back later."
"You're in the right spot!" The girl replied. She jumped up from her chair and smiled brightly at Link. She looked to be around 17 or 18, around the same age as Anna, if Link had to guess. She had short blonde hair and striking green eyes, and seemed to be in great physical health given her slim figure. Her face suddenly rigid and her eyes widened. "Oh my God, you're Link Kokiri!" She said in shock. "I can't believe you're actually here right now. This is…" Her face suddenly grew red with embarrassment and she quickly sat down to hide her face. "Sorry, I don't normally act like this around others. Usually it's just, 'hey how're you doing? Want to come fix my computer and then never talk to me again?'."
Link stared at the girl with some amusement. "It's alright, and as a matter of fact, I was hoping you'd be able to fix my laptop." He said showing her the computer.
"Of course, right away Mr. Kokir - " She said, jumping up from her seat.
"Please," Link interrupted, "call me Link." He said with a chuckle
The girl smiled. "Right...Link. I'm Navi, it's nice to finally meet you in person."
Link smiled and nodded.
"So what's up with your laptop?" She asked curiously.
Link swallowed. He didn't actually think about what he was going to say once he got here. He couldn't explain what was going on, not entirely. "Listen, I would prefer it if you could just keep this to yourself." He said. "I promise that nothing shady is going here - I just need to know everything that's in this laptop, think you can do that for me?" He asked with a hopeful smile.
Navi sighed and hesitantly took the laptop from Link. "Alright, I guess I can help you."
"Thank you." Link said with a smile before he turned and left.
"No problem!" Navi yelled back. She looked from the doorway back to the laptop and sighed, it was going to be a long night.
