Disclaimer: Please see Part I for the usual statement
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Memory Ronin
Part VI
By Callisto
The Centre
Blue Cove, DE
'This is the start of the second week after her death,' Broots thought solemnly. He had reverted to his quiet almost serene existence, something that had not been a part of his life since Miss Parker had breezed unhappily into it. He remembered how angry she was when Sydney went over her head and had the Director assign him to the pursuit team. Now he would give almost anything just to have her here again—moody, grumpily irritable and amazing. She fascinated him and he had quickly developed an almost masochistic attraction to her. She had even rebuffed his advances with class and in such a way that he didn't feel uncomfortable still working around her.
His days were indeed quiet and the promotion to Technical Director added a nice packet to his salary. Broots wondered what else they wanted from him. Was the promotion a way of giving him hush money for all the extraordinary not to mention illegal methods they had used while trying to capture Jarod? He wasn't sure but a few things continued to puzzle him; why with her death was the pursuit team for Jarod disbanded? And why was Mr. Lyle going out to Pennsylvania to have a second look at the site where his twin was killed? He knew the man was a sociopath but this was positively gruesome—unless there was something else going on. Broots shrugged to himself and made a mental note to bring up this line of thought the next time he saw Sydney. Smiling to himself, Broots thought of his remaining friend from the pursuit days. Sydney would most likely psychoanalyze Lyle and come up with a more politically correct way of describing Lyle's actions. The guy was just simply nuts.
Biotech Research Facility
The Centre
Pennsylvania
It had been 3 days since Lyle and his computer wizard, Wade, had arrived at the Centre's research facility. So far they had discovered nothing new and at first glance the cleaner team assigned to analyze what had occurred here had come up with nothing new either. Lyle was frustrated, he felt there was something wrong with this whole scenario and he was determined to turn over every rock to find it. A faint whisper in his mind told him that his twin was still alive. These messages were occurring a lot more lately and his curiosity was piqued but he was reluctant, to say the least, about mentioning this to Raines or even Sydney. Being a science project once in his life was quite enough. He had one more week to probe for evidence before he was forced to return to Delaware empty handed.
Wade was nervous being asked to come with the Chairman's son to analyze and oversee the elite cleaner team who had been assigned to this case. Fortunately for Wade, he was an ambitious man. The rumors about Lyle didn't alarm him, he had been jealous of his superior, Broots, being assigned to work with Mr. Lyle's powerful sister, Miss Parker. Now she was dead and Wade had been reassigned to work with the surviving sibling. To his way of thinking, things were definitely looking up.
Wade had been given the mind-numbing task of scanning through the numerous security camera feeds to try to find something the cleaner team missed. He had been at this job for several hours and so far the only thing he noticed were some stupid sweepers kicking and trampling over the bushes on the outside of the compound. 'If they thought they were being sneaky, they deserved getting blown to bits', he thought grumpily. Glancing at the four screens arrayed before him, Wade's weary eyes caught a glimpse of movement from one of the airstrip cameras. Rubbing at his eyes, he knew fatigue was getting to him. He continued to scan the action on the camera when abruptly he decided on getting a second and closer look at the blip of movement he saw earlier. Perhaps it was another hare darting across the runway but at least it would give him something to do rather than sitting here doing nothing.
The Supervising Incident Review & Restoration Analyst or head Cleaner was miffed. Having to report to Mr. Lyle was exasperating. The man's infuriating questions and vaguely veiled insinuations that he and his team had rushed through their examination of the bombed out site tried his patience. Reminding himself that Mr. Lyle was not only the darling of the Triumvirate but also the close relative of both the present Chairman as well as his deceased predecessor kept the long-time Cleaner cognizant of his position. Taking a deep breath the Cleaner continued to conceal his true feelings and let his disgust in his superior fade into the background of his mind.
Saito Academy—Autumn 1973
Kyoto-fu Prefecture, Japan
The commodious dojo had room enough for the over 70 students and sensei who were assembled. Parker was very nervous being there and took comfort in Sensei Otsu's words that she not only belonged but he expected her to do well against her former classmates. Looking around curiously between matches, Parker was unable to locate Chiyo or any of the other girls who had trained with her while she was at the academy. A teenaged male voice whispered into her ear malevolently when she had finally settled down.
"If you're looking for Chiyo, she and the other girls were sent home where they belong, which is what will happen to you after today."
Parker was far from surprised at the nastiness of the threat but she wondered at the boldness of the speaker. She didn't respond to the threat or turn around to see who the speaker was, instead she shifted her gaze directly across the room and this time she was astonished to find Eiji's eyes staring at her unwaveringly. She had been the recipient of many unnecessarily hard knocks and spills at Eiji's hands. For a few weeks she wondered where he had disappeared to and finally when she summoned the courage to ask Sensei, much to her amazement, he answered her. Eiji left because he suffered from the weakness of intolerance and arrogance. Anyone unwilling to view his fellow man as an equal was doomed to failure. A worthy opponent's first advantage is to be underestimated, if a student in the middle of training is unable to accept that no one should be summarily dismissed than to continue training would be a waste of time.
Parker listened to this explanation in silence, Sensei Otsu noticing her pensiveness asked, "What part of my answer has you in a quandary?"
"Sensei, did you choose me amongst the other more skilled students at the Saito Academy because I'm a girl and a gaijin? I can understand you had Eiji train me so he could overcome some of his prejudices but was that the main reason?" Parker arranged her features into an impassive mask when she asked this question.
"I chose you for my own reasons, none of which had anything to do with Eiji or your appearance," Sensei replied with just a hint of heat underlying his words.
Recalling her attention to the match being played out in front of her, she saw the head student getting pummeled unmercifully by his opponent. She recalled how Hideaki had hastily wrapped his karate jacket in a plain wrapper and shoved it into her hands as she was leaving. He had always shown her kindness and now to see him of all people getting beaten down, seemed to be an insult aimed directly at her. Once the match was called and Hideaki was able to pull himself together to limp unceremoniously from the floor, her eye was caught by Eiji who gave her a small malicious smile.
Parker felt her face warm from the blush which suffused her features. She had not felt this intensity of anger since after her mother committed suicide. Her anger festered inside her breast like a caged animal waiting for release. To calm herself she mentally practiced the kata Sensei taught her and for a while the white heat abated and left her the ability to breathe.
When finally it was her turn to compete, she noticed her opponent wore patches on his uniform with the same design as Eiji and the other boy who had hurt Hideaki-san. Rising slowly Parker remembered Sensei's explanation of an opponent's first advantage and walked timidly to the center of the room to bow her respect to her Sensei. When she was finally facing her opponent waiting for the signal for the match to begin, Parker decided to be judicious and put this fellow down with a minimum of fuss. Never expecting the match to be easy, she was startled to find that she was well matched. The confusion on her opponent's face was obvious and Parker felt it was now or never to seize her advantage. She performed a series of strikes exactly as she had been instructed. Her opponent countered and delivered a blow that knocked the air out of her. She doubled over in pain and received another vicious strike across her back, slamming her against the floor with force. The world spun and her vision blurred for a few seconds—when her vision cleared she saw Eiji smiling triumphantly at her. This alone galvanized her strength as rage enveloped her and the image of a broken Hideaki filled her mind.
Parker sprang to her feet with an energy she didn't realize she possessed and was immediately propelled forward by a foot thrust forcefully in her back. She brought herself to a stop and everything faded as the many months of practice and watching Sensei took over. Parker felt her opponent approach her obliquely from behind and in a perfectly timed kick sent the boy flying into the students seated behind him.
Rising to his feet, Senzo tried to ignore the pain this girl had just delivered to his chest. He re-centered himself and glancing at the girl's eyes, he was surprised at the rage she was focusing directly at him. By the time their match was over, Senzo had developed a healthy respect for all women and vowed never to listen to another word Eiji said. Limping his way to his seat with the bitter taste of defeat smarting in his bloodied mouth, Senzo refused in disgust to look at Eiji.
Parker returned to her seat after bowing once again in respect to her inscrutable Sensei. As she sat, she caught Hideeaki's eye and gave him a ghost of a smile. The older boy was caught off guard as his eyes widened in amazement to Parker's mute message. She had avenged him in the process of teaching these so-called superior boys that a girl could hold her own amongst them.
"I don't recall teaching you how to execute a flying kick," Sensei began while they were riding home in his limo. Parker had changed into street clothes and carried her uniform in a small duffle bag.
"No, Sensei you haven't. It was something I saw one of the students practicing at the school we were visiting last week," Parker said quietly.
"Attempting to perform techniques you have not be properly trained in can result in serious injury. You are too important and intelligent to indulge in this sort of foolishness. Next week, you will do nothing but practice kata and strength building exercises as a punishment," Sensei replied angrily.
"Yes Sensei," Parker replied contritely. Looking up searchingly into his face she asked, "did I do the kick wrong?"
"That is beside the point. If you had hurt yourself we would be behind schedule waiting for you to heal and learn from your impulsiveness," he said harshly.
Later that night, Parker had been in bed for almost an hour when she got up to get a glass of water. She was just about to enter the kitchen when she heard Mrs. Oishi speaking to Sensei.
"I was certain Flower would do well in the competition. You said that she used an illegal move? Where would she learn such a thing?" Mrs. Oishi asked.
"It was a flying kick, perfectly executed however if she hadn't used it, she would have won prime distinction in her age class. The only answer of where she learned how to do it could be at Tsuge Shogakko when I took her with me for a visit, some of the advanced students took a liking to her."
"From the tone of your voice, you sound proud of her," Mrs. Oishi said softly. "Is she the one you were looking for?"
"I suspect that she is, unfortunately for both of us if she is who I suspect, then we are both in a trap. Mine from fate and hers from destiny." Sensei said with stern conviction.
Parker tiptoed back to her room, thrilled and concerned at what Sensei had said. She had finally done something to make Sensei proud but what trap could they both be in? There could be only one answer to that: The Centre.
The next morning Parker was outside early, first practicing Mrs. Oishi's style of tai chi and seamlessly moving into Sensei's personalized kata. Her limbs moved smoothly and from the expression on her face, this kata was a source of peace and enjoyment. Sensei watched with pensive interest as his student performed to perfection the kata he had taught her. It was time to inform her of what he had been instructed. The blackmail was still fresh in his mind. The Centre apparently was only vaguely aware of her importance but they possessed the crucial piece of the puzzle, the boy. The resolve, which had taunted him in its elusiveness a few days ago, now strengthened into an iron will. He would do as they requested but he would give the girl something they hadn't counted on. Releasing the breath he was holding Sensei Otsu walked out of the room and into the practice arena where Parker was still engaged in performing her kata.
Sensei stood before the young girl for several seconds. She felt his presence but knew he would expect her to continue until he bade her to stop. Feeling a hand, heavy in its own strength lightly rest on her shoulder, Parker stopped to face her Sensei.
"There is something of importance which I must discuss with you. I have been putting off having this talk with you but delay only increases concern rather than relieving it," Sensei Otsu said solemnly. He knew he had not only her undivided attention but a sharpened interest because of his words. "I have been contacted by the people who are your caretakers." At the eager look in her face, Sensei Otsu held up his hand to stop her from talking.
"The phone call was for me. I have been instructed to train you in the arts of assassination. The demonstration from yesterday's match at the Saito Academy was enough to convince both your father and his associates that you would make a prime candidate. My own views about your temperament and suitability, I chose to keep to myself." Motioning a stunned Parker to sit on the wooden seat at the edge of the garden, Sensei remained standing, towering over his pupil.
"I will teach you these arts however you must conceal them from everyone, especially from those closest to you. To make myself plainly understood: you are no assassin and never will be. There may come a time when you will need the skills I teach you. Like every human and animal on this earth, you will defend yourself when challenged. The tools I will give you, will enable you to do so at a greater advantage than most."
Before he could continue, Parker in a small voice asked the one question that kept buzzing in her mind since he started talking, "Why? Sensei, why?"
"You will discover the reasons in the fullness of time. It is not my place to divulge to you what little I know when my information is incomplete and therefore may put a complexion on the truth it was never intended to have."
"But you're acting on what you know. Please tell me," she begged softy.
An infrequent smile graced his features as he looked down on the pretty young girl. He was sure in a few years she would mature into a stunningly beautiful woman.
"I am doing this for one simple reason: I like you. You have a kind heart and I fear life will be harsh on you."
"How long will I be allowed to stay here with you and Mrs. Oishi?"
"Until the training is complete. Your academics tutor reports that you are doing well in your studies and that you are far ahead of your contemporaries. Let me further caution you to conceal your intelligence. When others feel your understanding is weak or limited they will underestimate you."
"And being underestimated is the first advantage when one is called upon to defend oneself or to attack," Parker recited by rote.
"Excellent. The lessons you learn here will assist you later in life. Continue to learn well," Sensei Otsu said. He then turned and re-entered the house leaving Parker on the wooden seat wondering what her father had in mind for her and if she would have the proper skills to withstand it.