Ch. V & 3/4
The sun was well on its way to setting in the capital city as Callous began his walk down the hall.
He's gone.
The footsteps under his feet were like heavy anvils over a duck in a cartoon. He knew full well what he had to do; naturally, he didn't want to do it. But there were others, others who had to know of what happened.
I must tell them. Callous reached the end of the hall. I have my safeties, I have my contingencies ready for them, but it is the tiger they want. I know these men well.
The thought of facing the men weighed heavily on the deputy director's heart as he walked into the room that awaited him. This one was circular, similar to that of the room where Callous attempted to wipe the Porcelain Tiger's memory. This one, however, was smaller, and instead of many computer towers lining the wall, only one large tower with "B.A.D." stood. Most of the space in the room was taken up by a large screen.
"Biochemical Agents Division Satellite." Callous sucked in a breath. "Log-in Arthur Callous. Password: smelly."
"Welcome to Knock Knock Network, Arthur Callous."
The screen bliped and went black for a moment after Callous fell silent. It then crackled to life again, this time with four windows popping up, each with the shadowed silhouette of a head.
"This meeting is now in order." Callous looked at each silhouette, his head throbbing with fear. "This is Arthur Callous, President of the B.A.D., deputy director of the Cetral Intelligence Agency, Washington, United States of America, logging in."
"Welcome, Callous. Log in Papu Atrava," the first silhouette dissipated, revealing a young-looking middle-aged Russian man, with only flecks of grey hair to account for his age. "Leader of the Russian Communist Party, head of Novgogrod Oils and the Mafia Corps, Moscow, Independent Commonwealth of Russia."
"Logging in Harim den-Abdala." The second silhouette revealed a dark-skinned Arabic man. "Pakistani section leader of Al-Queda, treasurer and fourteenth in command under the great bin Laden. Owner of the Burqua Bar and Grill chain in southern Afghanistan in shadow, location currently in secret."
"Anatole Johnson, log in." The next screen showed a dark-skinned man, with a slight French accent. "Commander of the rebellion in Duutyoogotadele providence, diamond dealer to the west, Maikrow Sowfta, Duutyoogotadele, Nigeria."
"Taichi Hamara." The fourth man, a Japanese man, appeared on the last screen. "Second in command of the Kyoto City yakuza, co-owner of the prized Yagyu bull herds. Logging in from Kyoto, Japan."
"This meeting of the heads of Operation Knock Knock shall come to order."
Callous gave a gulp as the four men - each from different parts of the world, all with the same ambition as he - stared at him.
"You arranged this meeting, Mr. Callous." Abdala gave a smirk. "We all know what it is about. Perhaps you can tell us how progress with the Porcelain Tiger is going?"
"It is...." Callous looked nervous. "...going well."
"Going well?"
"Better than well." Callous nodded nervously as he slumped into his chair. "There are a few problems that have come up, but they were expected."
"We see." There were nods all around. "So, you have found Porcelain Tiger?"
"Yes."
"You have proceeded to initiate the re-integration?"
"Yes."
"Is it done?"
".....No."
"No?"
"Well....." Callous' fear began to rise. "You....you see, gentlemen.......I am going to have to postpone his re-integration.....if not....cancel it."
"WHAT?"
The widened eyes of all of the men almost caused Callous to stand back from the glares. The looks of shock and indignation instantly bore into Callous. In response, Callous shut his eyes and almost let out a whimper of fear.
"I thought we had an arrangement, Mr. Callous." The Russian man on the screen stared expressionlessly. "Operation Knock Knock would resume once the tiger was found."
"Mr. Atrava." Callous began to feel the sweat on his brow. "There is a problem with the tiger. He has been compromised."
"Compromised?"
"But you told us everything was going well."
"It was going well.....until two hours ago." Callous shook slightly. "Because....he escaped again."
There was a sudden silence at this sudden admission. Every face on the screen was staring at Callous with increased apprehension as the minutes went by. As the minutes went by, however, Callous' fear began to sweep away, replaced with anger. He knew full well who would be blamed for the mishap, but he knew full will whose fault it really was.
That damn kid...
"Mr. Callous…" After a moment, the dark man spoke. "This is a disappointing development. I thought this would have been a much better piece of news you were giving us."
"Yes, I know. And the mission has been compromised as a result." Callous stood up. "Also, because of other.....unforseen problems, the attempt to retrieve Porcelain Tiger has failed miserably. The BSSM system was destroyed as a result." Callous' voice was heavy. "There is only one recourse left now, and you all know what that is."
"....No."
"What?!"
Callous' eyes widened at the response. He knew he who was dealing with, but he never realized their true resolve to finish the job until now.
"Why…"
"You cannot destroy him." The blunt response came from Abdala. "He has not completed the jobs we have set for him."
"That's the point!" Callous recovered from his shock, feeling his anger rise at the men's refusal to budge. "There is no way to complete the job with Porcelain Tiger! We need to change the plan!"
"You apparently do not understand, Callous-san." This time, the Japanese man, Hamara, spoke up. "My boss, Yakuza Takazori, invested two million dollars into Operation Knock Knock so that the reinstating of the Emperor's divinity could move swifter. So that our enemies could be disposed of."
"And I, Mr. Callous," The dark man, Johnson spoke up. "The government of Duutyoogotadele invested almost five million dollars so that we may break away from Nigeria and create the perfect democracy. We have yet to see any progress in our war with the Porcelain Tiger."
"And I, Arthur." This time, Atrava stood up as he spoke. "Myself and Mr. Abdala have each served you ten million dollars so that the Eastern Alliances may depose of the corrupt governments of our countries, Russia and Pakistan….once you were finished."
"You think you are the only ones to have lost money on this?" Callous growled. "I know! But there is nothing more that I am able to do with the Porcelain Tiger!"
"It is more than just monetary considerations." All of the men glared at him. "You don't understand that there is much mo-"
"No, you don't understand!" Callous almost stomped his foot. His mouth began to foam at the edges. "You don't understand, because there is no other choice! I put my heart, and millions of dollars of my own money as well - fourty million dollars, to be exact - into finding Porcelain Tiger. I put my best agents on the job and prepared for almost seven years for the rehabilitation it would have taken to get him back on track with our plans. And what did it get me? It took seventeen years - seventeen years! - and the lives of several of my men - to learn that my perfect soldier has been turned into a stupid, worthless plush toy by an obnoxious little six year old brat who has the gall to thumb his dirty little fingers at me - ME!!!!!"
The outburst was brief. Callous managed to calm himself down quickly, but it wasn't easy. He took several deep breaths before continuing.
"We cannot use him." He looked at each and every person on every screen, his voice calmer. "He's been destroyed. The mission has been compromised. And either way….." He looked slowly down. "In some ways, even as I abhorred the idea, I had also anticipated it. Your money was not all spent on the Porcelain Tiger; we have been at work on a second animal soldier for several years."
"Oh?" The realization that their money had not gone completely to waste put a surprised expression on everyone's face. "And which animal was this?"
"You are about to find out."
As if on cue, a door opened behind Callous, and a man dressed in white came in. Quickly, he put a cage on the console. Then, he left, though not before giving the men on a screen a quick bow. With a dark smile, Callous brought the cage so that all of them could see what was inside.
"I present to you…..the Talc Powder Rabbit!"
The rabbit was little more than a baby, one that was less than a week old. Yet all over its white body were tiny wires, clips and needles, all connected to a tube filled with a yellow substance.
"The steroids will begin to alter its body and mind to engage in specific human-like movements in several days." The men on the screen stared hungrily at shivering, obviously frightened little baby rabbit. "The process of the steroids my people have managed to refine, so the genetic altercations are self-created by the rabbit's body. Within the month, it will be ready to engage in the proper practices to ensure its full potential." The American looked up at the screens. "Operation Knock Knock can be up and running again, and going through the phases that we spoke of, in two months. Do I still have your support - as well as your permission to dispose of our faulty parts?"
-------------------------
Callous left the room, slowly wiping his forehead in relief. He looked at the man who had brought the rabbit in, his eyes almost glaring.
"Thank god I had foresight." The CIA's deputy director almost plopped the cage into the man's hand. "I just had the feeling…"
"Sir," The man nearly dropped the cage catching it. "Is the plan still in operation? I mean, we have the second subject, but…"
"The plan must stay in the operation." Callous walked by. The man quickly followed. "You must understand, this plan has been in motion for more than 20 years. Ever since Atrava allied his cells to us, we have always had to keep a double face to our government."
"But aren't we answerable to the government still?" The man objected. "I mean, what about the CIA?"
"We are not." Callous turned to the man, his eyes stern. "This division is privately funded. It always has been. It is simply that no one outside of this realize who has been funding it."
"I thought no one knew about it, period."
"…..Never mind that." Callous waved his hand. "Take him away."
"Yes, sir."
Callous stared at the wall as the man quickly shuffled off with the frightened rabbit in tow. His eyes were blank with many emotions; disbelief, anger, relief, and determination were among them. With silence he walked down the hall.
Calvin. The name echoed through his mind with the strength of a mallet. That boy…..nothing but a thorn in my side. He will be stopped. And the Porcelain Tiger…..him, too. It is a pity. But it must be done.
Finally, he came to another hallway, and turning to the right, he came to the end of the hall. A stone door met him.
"Are you in there?" He shouted.
Quickly, a man came out. He was dark-skinned, very similarly to the Arabic man. With a nod, the man stood in front of Callous and closed the door.
"We managed to get four."
"Good." Callous nodded. "This will be good. This attack will not be forgiven."
With another nod, the dark-skinned man walked back into the room. The door closed with a heavy thud that echoed into the hall.
Periwinkle…. Callous stared at the door. You have gone one step too far this time….
