CHAPTER 02

I hear myself moan…finally, I am fully rested. I slowly open my eyes, but the garish sunlight causes me to close them immediately. I turn my body away from the sunlight, and prop myself up on my elbows…again, I try to open my eyes, with better success. I try to stand, but my hand finds a wall and leans onto it for support. After about a minute of realizing where I was, I find the strength to stand on my own, and look at my watch.

12:30 p.m. …Wonderful.

Leaning against the tiles, I take my time to replay last night's events as the hot water pouring from the showerhead rinses away the blood and other filth acquired from the very events that took place.

What was supposed to be a simple task of finding some information and then leaving ended up with me fighting for my life…and leaving with twice as many questions as I walked in with…

How did he know? How the fuck did Heihachi Mishima know that I was involved with this G-Corporation, when I do not even know? What kind of information did his Tekken Forces seek?

Those two disks…I lifted them from two of the bodies. They may have some clue as to what it is Heihachi wants…but it may only leave me with even more questions…just this once I would appreciate it if I could get enough answers to leave me content.

Yeah, that will happen. When I'm dead.

After spending two more minutes in the shower, I cut off the water, taking a hold of one towel to wrap around my waist, and then a second one to dry my soaking hair…few people have actually seen me with it down…and I intend to leave it that way. To keep people guessing…something I have always been good with. But again, I digress.

I hold one of the two disks in my left as I towel-dry my hair with my right.

"Might as well get this over with…" I say aloud. Tossing the towel onto the couch, I set up my laptop computer, and boot it up. As I waited (though it is not a long wait), I change into a comfortable pair of silk pants, and glance into the mirror, only to immediately remove my gaze from it.

Even though it has been about nineteen, twenty years or so, I still cannot look at myself in a mirror...it shouldn't be so difficult, yes, but there is still something about my appearance that I cannot, and possibly never will, accept…I am still not used to seeing numerous scars on this body…and then there is my left eye…

I turn around and return my focus to the laptop. Taking a seat on the couch, I attach the drive that would be able to read the diskettes containing what would hopefully be the information I had long been searching for. I flip the disk between my fingers, and then slip it into the drive.

As I take a look inside, a filename immediately stands out: "Devil Gene Research".

Devil Gene…Devil…a possible connection? There was only one way to find out. I click on the document, and in less than a second, the entirety of its contents become available to me. I began to read the document, but as I approached the middle, I read something that made me feel upset, to say the least:

"—About two days after we found the body of Kazuya Mishima, we immediately set to restoring the badly damaged body. I was put in charge of studying Kazuya's DNA structure. Nearly three days after the body had been delivered to us, I had discovered something that was not found in any normal human's genetic makeup; unfortunately, I could not determine what this gene was.

"I decided to perform my own investigation on the body to hopefully find a clue as to what this abnormal gene could be. It took me about three days of testing, but all came up negative. On the fourth day, someone handed me some photographs of Kazuya, which were taken on the day he had been discovered. I studied the photographs, and noticed something strange protruding from his back…it looked like the remains of wings.

"It was extremely puzzling…not just to me, but to all of the other members of the team as well. I spent another four days trying to determine what was so significant about these "wings". It had taken me time, but I took closer inspection, and they almost appeared to be like the wings of a…devil. Now, I am aware that science and spirituality have never exactly agreed with one another to a certain degree over history, but there could not be any other explanation. I decided that this was the only explanation for the as of yet undetermined gene, and I decided to deem it the "Devil Gene".

"I will prepare a presentation to discuss this in the next week. I doubt anyone will believe me at first, but hopefully I will gather enough evidence come presentation day to prove otherwise."

--R.G.

After I had read this document, I scanned the disk for anything more about this…."Devil Gene" (The funny thing about scientists is that they always have to try and find some goddamn way to take something "spiritual" and come up with some bullshit scientific explanation).

Nothing. I take out the disk, and insert the second one. Hopefully, HOPEFULLY, I will find something more on there.

As the contents of the disk become available, I immediately see a document entitled "Reconstruction Progress". There was mention on the first disk about rebuilding my body…this should provide me a little more insight (at least it explains the scars all over my body.) to how the hell I came back from the dead, and even my ties to these people. The document is loaded…let's see what we have here:

SUMMARY OF OUR FINDINGS

We had found the body of Kazuya Mishima near a remote village approximately two days after his death. The body had been badly damaged due to the fact that it had come from a volcano, but surprisingly; some features on the body managed to remain intact long enough for us to identify that this was indeed Kazuya's body. However, there was something very strange with this body…on his back there appeared to be what could be considered…wings. It puzzled the lot of us, but it would be investigated in a matter of time.

Upon finding it, we immediately shipped the body to one of our facilities to begin immediate reconstruction. Our lead geneticist Rydia Gainsborough took it upon herself to be in charge of studying Kazuya's genetic makeup. Although there was some disagreement, her arguments proved more convincing and we allowed her to continue with her rather self-imposed research, while the rest of us set to work on the restoration process.

THREE DAYS AFTER BODY'S DISCOVERY

Although we have not yet reanimated the body, we have already made progress. We have managed to restore the damaged skin tissue, and we closed up the laceration wounds. After we had done this, we placed the body in one of the tanks to keep it from decomposing. In the meantime, Doctor Gainsborough had been studying Kazuya's genetic makeup, and had apparently discovered something unusual. As of this entry, we cannot tell what exactly it was that she found, but in due time, we should be able to have an answer.

NINE DAYS AFTER BODY'S DISCOVERY

As we continued our reconstruction process, the monitors picked up a heartbeat in the seemingly lifeless body. We investigated this to make sure it was not a fluke but sure enough, the body was now alive. We attempted to remove the life-support machines that allowed such an occurrence, but we nearly lost him upon doing so. However, we now know that it is indeed possible to resurrect him, and we are now working twice as hard to achieve this goal.

Doctor Gainsborough had requested that we give her photographs that we took on the day we found the body, in hopes that she will understand what exactly this strange gene was. Someone handed them to her the other day, and she has spent the past few days understanding those strange wings that protruded from the subject's back when we first discovered him.

SEVENTEEN DAYS AFTER BODY'S DISCOVERY

The reconstruction process is completed…however; we have not been successful as far as keeping the body alive without the aid of life support mechanisms. We will not give up until we can find a way to resurrect the body.

Doctor Gainsborough called together a presentation for all of the lead researchers. It seemed rather urgent, but we understood why: she claimed to have solved the mystery of the unknown gene she discovered within the body. Showing us samples of this gene, which she called the "Devil Gene", she managed to garner enough proof that this Devil Gene could be fact, despite the risk involved (i.e. the fact that the term "Devil" relates to spirituality.). She claims that the only way we'll know is if we can revive the body and ask Kazuya Mishima himself. Although a number of us remain skeptical, I am confident that her discovery will prove true.

TWENTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER BODY'S DISCOVERY

This could possibly be the greatest breakthrough in the history of science.

After extensive testing, research, and more testing, we decided to remove the life-support machines, and the body…the body was able to keep itself alive! We decided to keep the body living independently for twenty-four hours, keeping him carefully monitored in case some sort of failure occurred. However, even after twenty-four hours, the body was able to remain alive without the helping hand of life support machinations.

Now, all we have to do is wait for him to open his eyes…

I became angry. Furious. Who the hell did these people think they were, acting like they were some fucking deity and resurrecting anyone like it was their sole responsibility? Why were they interested in me, of all people?

I leaned back into the couch, looking up at the ceiling. In a way, this is a blessing in disguise…I am allowed a second chance; something people could only dream of. But do I honestly deserve this chance?

I shake my head. What did it matter, anyway?

Heihachi would surely try to find a way to trap me, but I would have to deal with him at a later time. There was only one thing that mattered to me, and that was getting a hold of someone from that facility. They have a lot to answer for.

But, getting to them would not be easy…I am certain the facility is under serious investigation after last night's attack, and it would be stupid for me to return to the scene. My only hope would be to use the organization that I have been cooperating with to help me find someone that works in the facility.

Namely Rydia Gainsborough. I am certain she would know more about me than anyone else.

I pick up the cell phone, and make a few necessary calls…