Sakura Wars: The 21st Century
By Steve Edward
Chapter 7
Sunday May 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – 0900 hours –
Tsubaki Takamura began what was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday preparing breakfast for members of the Imperial Flower Combat Troupe. Her always cheerful outlook on life balanced with her close friendship with the Flower Division members had always made her very popular, especially with Iris Chateaubriand.
After cleanup, Tsubaki had been asked by Iris if she would take her shopping and together they were walking down the street headed to a nearby open-air market when they encountered John coming from the other direction.
John who had the night before had met Sakura Shinguji and Yuichi Kayama was going to the Theater in hopes of meeting with General Yoneda. Unaware of a scheme to kidnap Iris, John engages Iris with conversation in her native French language.
With Tsubaki standing nearby assuming; that John was just another admirer of Iris; Captain Yuichi Kayama and Captain Ichiro Oogami observe with some trepidation.
"Do you think it is no accident that he would met with Iris;" as Ichiro turns to Yuichi with a questioning look. Kayama meeting his gaze, "Considering what he discussed last night in front of the Theater; he is extremely brazen to be doing this."
As John finishes his greeting to Iris and turns to apologize to Tsubaki, a black sedan approaches to his rear. Hearing the car which oddly is facing the wrong direction on the wrong side of street, yet another car comes from the opposite direction, its doors already partially open.
Tsubaki is suddenly and violently knocked off her feet and to the ground, attempting to get up someone to her rear kicks her; her body tossed to the side. John just regaining his feet sees a man wearing a black handkerchief covering his lower face trying to drag Iris to the nearest car.
Swinging the leather portfolio case that he is carrying, John scores hits on two of the attackers and then grabs Iris. With a stunned Yuichi and Ichiro trying their best to get out of their own car as the events unfold, John blocks a swinging fist and returns a hit of his own.
With Iris now screaming for help again, John turns back towards her; John rushes past her towards the man still bent on getting her into the car. John observing sight of the man pulling a revolver and aiming it directly at Iris's head; and without thinking while yelling "GUN!" in English he steps in between Iris and the semi-hooded man.
Three gunshots ring out, and John standing directly in the path of the bullets is hit; falls backwards towards Iris and Tsubaki. Tearing his coat button off he pulls the Colt; but in pain and barely able to aim because of his wounds can only wave it.
Gun fire soon erupts behind him and with bullets striking at or near the car, the attackers jump back into their respective cars leaving the scene; Captain Oogami in foot pursuit of the departing vehicles, firing as he is running is unable to hit any of the men.
Sunday May 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – 0915 hours
The Moon Division surveillance vehicle with John and Tsubaki inside; races to the Imperial Theater which lay the best hope for his survival, equipped with medical facilities in the event any of the Flower Division are injured in battle its surgical suite rivals that of the Imperial Army Hospital much further away.
Captain Oogami and Captain Kayama following closely behind with Iris radio ahead, informing Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda who notifies the on-call Imperial Army Surgeon, Doctor Ichiro Sumerian that his skills are needed.
Controlled chaos is the best description to what happened next. The car containing John and Tsubaki who though battered and bruised; has place her fingers into one of the wounds in an effort to stem the bleeding braces herself as the car roars into the rear of the Imperial Theater, where it skids to a stop. Sergeant Yokihiko Ota who had been helping Kohran with moving some equipment; removes John from the car and placing him on a gurney where he wheels him into the medical facility of the Imperial Flower Combat Division.
Sunday May 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – 1345 hours – Imperial Theater
Doctor Ichiro Sumerian, a surgeon with 35 years of experience began operating on John at 0945 hours. Assisted by Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda and Sakura Shinguji; the surgeon deftly begins repairing the damage caused by the bullets. After plotting the best course of action from X-Rays of the wounded American that had been taken with the assistance of Kohran Ri, the surgery proceeds slowly and steadily.
General Yoneda now observing the operation listens to Kayama as he makes his verbal report.
"Sir, as ordered by you; myself and Captain Oogami were trailing Mr. Long, when unexpectedly he encountered Iris and Tsubaki. He apparently greeted Iris in her native language and had spoken to Tsubaki in Japanese apologizing for the intrusion. As we were watching two sedans pulled up to the group from opposite directions and several men numbering six in all exited the vehicles. Mr. Long appeared to be surprised and after he witnessed Tsubaki being assaulted, he engaged the attackers."
Absorbing that piece of information, and not surprised in the least; General Yoneda directed that he continue. "After striking two of the men with his portfolio he turned towards the man who had grabbed Iris and began having a tug-of-war with him. Mr. Long was able to get Iris away and was trying in my opinion to move her to safety when he observed a gun and called out the warning. It was at that point sir he was shot."
Turning back to the window observing the surgery, he saw Sakura handing the Doctor a clamp. Behind him other members of the Imperial Flower Division stood arrayed behind him. Iris whose dress had been covered in blood, the blood of Mr. Long had since been changed; clutching Jean-Paul her eyes asking the silent question that for now the General could not answer, the eyes of the others begged the same question.
Tsubaki who had not yet changed her own clothing the blood crusting on her stood up and walked next the General. "Mr. Yoneda, please pardon me for what I am about to say." Her hand moving in the direction of the operating table, "The man lying there defended me and Iris from those men; yet he had no compulsion to do so. He could have moved away in fear, yet he did not. Standing his ground he fought greatly outnumbered and against great odds at great detriment to his well being and for that I am deeply grateful; it is something I will have difficulty in repaying." Turning to look at Tsubaki, "I think we will all have a difficult time repaying him for what he has done; I can hope that with what you did provide for him was enough to save him."
Turning back to Kayama, "I want you to thoroughly investigate this; leave no stone unturned. Whoever perpetrated this must and will be brought to justice. Is that understood?" Kayama seeing the barely controlled rage being held back by the General concurred. "We are in the process now sir of interviewing eyewitnesses and anyone that may have seen the cars leaving the area. We will track them down."
Maria stepping forward; "I too will help, it is involving foreign elements unknown to us. They are likely still here, somewhere within Tokyo and we must strike back. They wanted Iris for a reason possibly her powers that she possesses. They want to possibly utilize them for some other means." Glancing to the operating table, "Only he stopped them from taking Iris; they were under orders to get her. If they could not get her then their other option was to kill her. Without Iris, the Imperial Flower Division becomes nothing but a hollow shell of itself. Mr. Long as some call him is no ordinary man; but a man who is willing to risk his well being to save others and he is laying there because of his convictions."
Leaving the observation room with Kayama, they walk out to the rear of the Theater; there parked nearby are several vehicles. Choosing a nearby sedan Maria slides in behind the wheel, headed to one place that will likely hold answers to her question.
Sakura, who has seen injured men before takes in the sight of the man whom she knows as Herbert Robert Long. His chest and back carry the scars of previous wounds some of which to her should have been fatal, yet here he is still alive against all odds.
The surgeon noting Sakura's observations as he toiled on the American commented, "Ms. Shinguji we are truly in the presence of a warrior; one who's body is no stranger to being operated on. He has fought many battles that only he can testify to. A man willing to endure such punishment to accomplish a mission is one whom I would proudly serve with." Nodding to the metal dish containing the three distorted bullets; "He sacrificed himself so that another could live and survive. I have no doubt that he would be willing to do so again."
Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda adjusting the flow of chloroform too has noted John's previous wounds. Sakura words which she had spoken only a few hours before stating that he is nothing but an architect seemed remote and distant now; whoever he really was would hopefully become known. Turning and gazing to the observation room seeing General Yoneda she finally gave indication that the man would some how live.
General Yoneda turning towards Iris after getting a nod that Herbert Robert Long would indeed survive, "He will live Iris," brought a sigh of relief from the others as well. Approaching the battered portfolio case, he decides against opening it for now
"Captain Oogami. Have Mr. Long's belongings brought from the hotel, and settle his bill there as well." Turning to Leni, whose emotional state is difficult to read; "Assist Yuri with the room in which he will be staying, that will be all for now." General Yoneda silently worried about her; especially with Iris's involvement. The prior events in her life had scarred her emotionally, looking back at the man who claimed to be Herbert Robert Long; he had no doubt that he was indeed an imposter. The real Herbert Robert Long who he knew previously did not have a scar anywhere on his body. As some of the Imperial Flower Division members left, a member of the Rose Division Sergeant Yokihiko Ota entered.
"Sergeant, once the surgery is complete. Take him to the room that is being prepared for him. He is to be treated as an important guest and not that of a prisoner. Is that understood?" Nodding in reply the Sergeant leaves awaiting the surgeon to compete the final stitches.
Sunday May 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – 2000 hours – Imperial Theater
John whose battered body lay in a bed slowly regained awareness of his surroundings. At first he thought he was having a really bad nightmare his own emotional state badly out of whack, which he assumed was playing mind tricks on him.
There was what appeared to be a stuffed bear floating in front of him, floating without any visible means of support every so respectfully it was still disconcerting to see it.
The pain flooded back to his senses, unable to move his right arm which his discovered was tightly bound to his chest, his free left arm appeared unencumbered. "He is awake!" a happy voice blurted out. Not so loud John thought, my head hurts too as he sought the source of the voice.
A small girl sat nearby in a chair, where she reaches out and collects the wayward bear as it comes to her. Iris? Is that her? Making sure that is indeed Iris; sighing with relief he stops trying to move. A knock at the door which opens reveals Sakura Shinguji. Her eyes focus on John and with a smile and bow, voices a belated welcome to the Imperial Theater.
Entering behind her are the other members of the Imperial Flower Division, for the first time he sees all of them together. Tsubaki, sporting a shiner to her right eye and bruising to her delicate face visible that even makeup will not cover closely follows the others in. Just how close did this come to turning into an unmitigated disaster? "Too damn close;" John reflected.
Then the man obviously in charge walks in. Surveying the collection of people within, he quietly asks everyone to leave; reluctantly all do but not before Iris walks up to John's left side and whispers, "Thank you for saving me, Jean-Paul and Tsubaki." Wheeling about happily she runs out.
"Kanna, guard the door!" and seeing a woman comparable in size to that of Staff Sergeant Bloomberg take position in the door entrance then reaching in and closing it, John turns his head slightly to see General Ikki Yoneda take to a chair nearby and in flawless English demands to know who he is.
"Well General, I believe it is obvious that I am not Herbert Robert Long, just as obviously you are not the Emperor of Japan." With the attempt at humor to break the ice, he began. "My name is John Long, age 56. I was born on November 15th, 1954 in the State of California. I currently hold the rank of Admiral in the United States Navy in the year 2010, I currently command Task Group Rose, which consists of the Battleship named the U.S.S. Wisconsin her pennant number is 64; which is armed with nine 16 inch guns which have a firing range of 300 miles plus numerous secondary 5 inch and 76 millimeter weapons as well assorted crewed weapons. In addition the Wisconsin is armed with anti-ship and cruise missiles. I have come to this time period to bring back with me to the year 2010, the Imperial Flower Combat Division and their equipment for an ongoing outbreak of demonic like creatures the likes that have not been seen for the previous eighty three years."
Suddenly exhausted as though a burden had been lifted John turns to Yoneda, whose expression non-readable, neutral returned the gaze and simply concurred that he believed him.
Yoneda, calling out to Kanna to have the Deputy Commander and Captain Oogami report turns as the door opens and both walk in. Asking where Maria, is Yoneda is informed that she has still not returned but has called however indicating she has a lead on whom shot Herbert Long and attempted to kidnap Iris. Maria is enroute and expected within minutes. Yoneda directs that she upon her return to come to John's room immediately for briefing.
Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda and Captain Ichiro Oogami size up the man who should be dead. It was Captain Oogami's turn to break the ice when he asked John, "Were you in fast walk mode or just strolling.;" getting for his trouble a jab in the rib cage from Fujieda. Seeing what happen, he put up his good hand; "Commander Fujieda that is alright, considering that I had been running both Kayama and Oogami into the proverbial ground with my walking, and because of that I can say that I was just strolling though I believe Captain Oogami already knew that."
Captain Oogami's next question had to be answered and though still unsure he was a senior American Naval Officer, Oogami from what he had already heard knew would be truthful as possible. "When you made contact with Sakura Shinguji last night then later with Captain Yuichi Kayama in the restaurant was that a deliberate attempt to make communication or was it unplanned as was the encounter with Iris?"
John replied "Both were unplanned, by happenstance I was already in the restaurant when Sakura came into the dining room. Seeing that she was apparently by herself; I did the gentlemanly thing and pulled out a chair for her to sit at the table that she was going to. If I remember correctly Yuichi came from behind me, likely from the back corner of the dinning room; he apparently had observed me making contact with Sakura and in the mistaken belief that I was trying to make contact with her broke his cover."
As for Iris and Tsubaki, that was entirely a chance encounter; I was too surprised by the cars arrival of the vehicles and initially thought it was either you or Kayama coming to collect me."
A soft knock on the door interrupted the proceedings. Without thinking both General Yoneda and Admiral Long said "Come" at the same time, the somewhat humorous looks of those seeing it happen as the two men looked at each trying their best to shrug it off.
Sunday May 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – 2045 hours – Imperial Theater
Maria Tachibana, walking through the door seeing virtually the entire top brass of the Imperial Flower Division present walks to the right side of the bed and looks downward at John. "I see you are doing well, considering what you looked like earlier," as she took in his bandaged wounds.
Replying in Russian, John commented that he was grateful for the actions of the Imperial Flower Division and the offer of succor for his wounds. Surprised that John could indeed speak her language, she stepped back and bowed; thanking him in return for saving Iris's life.
General Yoneda observing the exchange interrupted and asked Maria if she had the need information? Smiling; "Indeed I do General." After officially introducing John by his official rank and confirming for the most part his true identity to Maria who acknowledged him once again, she handed over a manila envelope to the General who opened it and began reading.
"So it's about Project Wachstum, a human enhancement program" the general frowning. Admiral Long stopped him, using his informal name for the first time; "Ikki just what the hell does Project Wachstum have to do with Iris? "He turns to John; "You obviously know something?" John still in pain, growing tired; doggedly continued, "Yes I do. While conducting research prior to coming to 1927 my research team came across mention of that program as they connected a member of the Imperial Flower Combat Division to the tests, Leni Milchstrase." John noting he had touched a nerve continued.
"There was a second individual, though never involved in the experiments but who had become a case study for Project Wachstum. Her name Iris Chateaubriand" this time a bit more shock; as John continued from memory; recruited by the late Commander Ayame Fujieda in early 1924 from France." At the mention of her late elder sister, Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda lowered her head towards the floor as John seeing that tried to reach out, "Kaede, I am sorry for your loss," as John continued. "The Germans were desperate because of the demonic outbreak wreaking havoc on their economy and efforts to rebuild the country so soon after World War One. Pausing briefly for a sip of water, "The Germans had equipment similar to the Koubus called Esienkleid that you also now have in your inventory; that utilized spiritual energy of the operator but there were not enough people who had the "energy" to operate the equipment, so they wanted to "mass produce" their own."
Now very much focused on John, who apparently knew a great deal more about the Project than General Yoneda that he laid the reference material on the table. "The experiments were supposedly successful; however the one considerable side effect was that any emotional feeling of love, hatred, pain, sorrow, greed and what makes us all human the compassion becomes absent.
With no emotions the experimented subject becomes a shadow of their former selves, and eventually a liability as they have none of the emotions that make us human; they in turn become self-described hunter killers. With no emotional attachments, they will kill because they are ordered to do so and it does not matter who the target is. It could be demonic or they could be ordered to kill every man, woman and child in a village; but leave the village intact to be occupied by their own forces."
Laying back and closing his eyes briefly, John continued, "Iris is from a different country all together, her parents hand her institutionalized because of her power. Now with this attempted kidnapping it is for all practical purposes that someone believes the key to the Project, which would make it successful in their minds; at least how to prevent the side effect from manifesting itself lies within Iris.
Concluding what he knew, John turned the floor back over to General Yoneda, who gave the location of the kidnapers reported hiding place. General Yoneda opened the floor to suggestions.
It was Admiral John Long, who discussed the final choices. "Ok we know where they are hiding and at minim there are 6 involved. Figuring that there was a driver in each car that makes 8, then there will be more at the safe house, figure the high side of 12 that is based on an additional vehicle and driver with a capture team.
General Yoneda turned over the decision for the raid of the safe house to Captain Oogami, "The raid team is to be made up of the following personnel, Captain Yuichi Kayama, myself, Maria Tachibana, , Kanna Kirishima, Sumire Kanzaki and Lachette Altair. These personnel are to be backed up by additional personnel from Moon and Rose Division, the individuals inside the house should be taken alive if at all possible. Ichiro who had finished stood up and left to organize the raid party. A brief argument ensues in the hallway and Leni soon enters and confronts both General Yoneda and Admiral Long.
The general waiting to intercede stops as John holds his hand up. "Leni, it is because of that Project you were involved with that Captain Oogami can not and should not have you involved in the raid. Those words coming from John caused everyone to pause.
"Though some consider the lack of emotion on your part as acceptable, I do not. What was done to you was barbaric; and I would not want to wish such a travesty on anyone, you still have some vestiges of emotion. As a result I feel that you could go into that house and slaughter everyone inside and think nothing of it because of the love no matter how infinite you hold for Iris. Iris will need a big sister and you are as close as they come. Also I do believe you are a target as is Iris so having you here out of harms way is the best thing for us right now." John looking into her eyes, reaches for her hand," What I want you to do now is get the rest of the Division deployed in the Theater as security. We still might need you to take action ok?" Nodding at his order she leaves.
Turning his head to Deputy Commander Kaede Fujieda and General Yoneda he asked but a simple request. "Gentlemen and ladies lets have a chat. We need to discuss Iris and Leni both and I need to do that now while we still have some time."
Kaede turns and closes the door returning to join him at his bedside; she is directed to get the portfolio.
Inside he removes some yellowed documents and has both of them read. A bit shocked by the implications, first one and then the other turns exchanging the documents with each other. General Yoneda states, "Perhaps both Leni and Iris should be called back for a discussing this?"
"In good time general, Now tell me who the hell is Haruyoshi Tanuma?" as the Admiral's eyes blazed with anger.