An Alternate Story of the Knight Sabers
2034 Year of the Tiger
Neo No Armour Against Fate (Section 2 of 5)
Flash Powder (Part 2 of 11)
by Shawn Hagen(1998;1999;2005)
Based on situations and characters created by Suzuki Toshimichi.
February 9th, Tokyo, 09:14am
"Leon-chan, should we be doing this?" Daily asked, leaning back in the Road Chaser's seat.
"Of course not, but I am more than a little interested."
"Fine." Daily closed his eyes. "You explain it to the chief if he asks."
"You know the old man will never ask. As long as he does not know he'll be happy."
"Isn't the 'as long as he does not know' the difficult part?"
"We'll see." Leon brought the Road Chaser to a halt just behind a police cruiser. "Want to come?"
"I'll stay here and watch the car," Daily told him, not opening his eyes.
"Fine. I'll leave the engine running so you don't get cold."
"Thanks."
Leon got out of the car and closed the door harder than necessary. Unfortunately Daily did not seem perturbed by the noise. After pulling his jacket tight around him he turned and walked towards the entrance to the garage. A uniformed officer moved to intercept him but Leon flashed his badge at the woman. She stood back and let him pass.
After that he had to deal with a member of Genom security who did not seem so impressed by the ADP badge, but let him through. He walked down the ramp, into the parking garage. He splashed through a number of puddles on the way down. Where the garage floor was not just damp, there were puddles.
He looked around, noting the burned out limousine near the elevators, the jeep not too far from the ramp and all the expensive cars. It looked like Genom executives liked to live well.
Not too far from him was a woman he recognised, speaking to a man he also recognised.
"Oi, lieutenant Bach," he called.
"Leon-san," Vanessa called back. "Long time no see."
"Been busy," he told her as he walked close. "Sakamoto-san," he said, smiling at the man beside Vanessa. It was not a friendly smile.
"Captain McNichol," Sakamoto said coldly.
"Nice to see you've been keeping up with me."
"Ah, you know each other?" Vanessa asked.
"A few years ago I arrested Sakamoto-san on charges related to illegal transport of proscribed boomers. Unfortunately he got off."
"Fortunately I was proven innocent in a court of law."
"And that means so much," Leon said. "So, this is the sort of work Genom has you doing now?"
"Do you have any other questions for me Officer?" he asked Vanessa, pointedly ignoring Leon.
"I believe that's it," Vanessa said. "If there is anything else I'll get in touch with you."
"Do that," he said, and left abruptly.
"He's not a happy man," Leon pointed out.
"What is he so angry about?"
"He was on the fast track before I arrested him. Genom saved him, to keep their own image clean, but after that, they no longer considered him a valued employee. That he has been relegated to a job like that proves to me that karma sometimes does work. So, what happened here?"
"Why is the ADP interested?"
"I heard boomers were involved."
"Not in anything illegal, as far as we can tell."
"So, what happened."
"According to Sakamoto-san an unidentified man entered the garage, pursued by three others. They fought here, all three were killed and the unidentified person escaped."
"What about that limousine over there?"
"Destroyed in the fighting, with its boomer driver."
"Who was it here for?"
"Sakamoto-san claims it was just ready, in case it was needed. Must be nice."
"You're drooling," Leon said, smiling. "Do you believe that?"
"All of it? Part of it? Not really, but they produced some blurry tapes and we gave them a look over. They appear to confirm what we were told. My tech won't even begin to hazard a guess as to whether they are fake or not. I could have someone better brought in to take a look at them, but I'd have to get my chief's okay."
"If your chief is anything like mine I doubt that is going to happen."
"Want a copy?"
"No. I could not do anything with it really."
"So what is up?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think it is good. Last night Shosan Jun, Genom exec, was killed by a car bomb. Rano Yami, Genom exec, was found hanged in her apartment. Harry Chin, Genom exec, was shot three times in the head."
"Well, looks like I miss all the good stuff that happens on night shift."
Leon nodded. "Now we have what looks like a hit team, in the parking garage of a Genom building."
"What do you think is happening?"
"Genom's had a lot of accidents recently. So have some other companies. Don't know for sure, but I think that it might be corporate warfare."
"Should I be worried?"
"Don't know. Depends if what is supposed to be a quiet, subtle war, gets noisy."
"And if it does?"
"Duck."
Vanessa smiled. "I can do that."
"Good. By the way, where's your shadow?"
"Alis is at a seminar in Hokkaido City, she wanted to get as far from you as she could. We heard you are chasing some biker lady, you broke her heart." She laughed.
"Nice to see that you are keeping up on me. I'm flattered. How is the Princess holding up these days?"
"Still is a firm believer in the nobility inherent in the human soul, no matter what its casing."
"Glad someone is."
"Don't be so dark Leon-chan."
"Can you keep me updated about what is going on? I'll return the favour when needed."
"Of course."
"Thanks Vanessa-chan. I got to run."
"Have a nice day." Vanessa called to his back.
"Find out anything interesting?" Daily asked as Leon got back into the Road Chaser.
"Vanessa Bach is wearing a new perfume."
Daily smiled. "Maybe I should get some. You might notice me."
"It wouldn't suit you. Something is going on."
"I checked with a few friends, the three person team that did all the shooting, they got an identification."
"Anyone special?"
"They are a hit team, been working Mainland China for the past three years. Expensive."
"Things just can't stay quiet in this town."
"Where to now?"
"Back to the office, for now." Leon put the car in gear and began to slowly back out of the area.
Domino sat on the cold examination table, a paper gown covering her upper legs, pulled just above her navel. Her personal doctor, Shileea Satto, was removing the bullet from her shoulder.
"Have you ever considered wearing a heavier armour?" Doctor Satto asked, removing the bullet. She dropped it into a kidney basin where it clanked loudly.
"The heavier weaves look just like that, heavier weaves of kevlar. It does not hang nice."
"Oh, perish the thought that you don't look like a fashion plate Odotte-san. Better to have a bullet in you, one that severed a control link by the way."
"The secondary is working."
"Probably took a few minutes to kick in."
"Nothing is perfect."
"Well, I'll just fix the link, and then I'll patch this up. You'll be as good as new in a few minutes."
"Thank you doctor. If you were a little less efficient I'd let you go."
"If you can find yourself another physician who can handle your unique condition I'd like to know. There are so few people I can talk shop with."
"Be careful Doctor, working at Genom has taught me that no one is irreplaceable. Not me, not you."
"I like to believe that you'll keep me around because I'm so nice. This is going to hurt a little."
"Wha...? Ow!" Domino almost yelled. It felt as if her entire arm had just been crushed.
"Sorry. It's a bit tricky doing work like this. Don't worry, that's the last of it."
"I should hope so," Domino told her.
"I don't like causing my patients undue pain. I did suggest we put you out for this. You're the one who wanted to tough it out."
The computer at her side suddenly beeped, cutting off Domino's retort. The information it presented to her was not what she considered good. "Six," she said softly. "And only in Tokyo?"
"Pardon?" Shileea asked.
"Six Genom executives including myself were attacked. Three are dead, two wounded, I'm one of them, and one who escaped without injury. Madigan-san has the devil's own luck."
"Should I put myself on combat alert?"
"You should always be so doctor."
"You don't pay me enough," Shileea said as she began to close up Domino's wounds.
"Are people supposed to take this sort of abuse from their doctors?" Domino asked her.
"Yes."
"I'm surprised more doctors aren't killed in homicides."
"It's because we do it out of concern for our thick-headed patients."
"Well thank you Doctor." Domino read over the information scrolling up the screen, shaking her head. Things looked troublesome indeed. She reached out for her jacket, grabbed it with her now perfectly functioning arm and then held it over her chest.
She took her NAVI from within her jacket, flipped it open, and entered a number. The connection rung twice before it was picked up on the other end.
"This is Tetsu," the young woman who answered said, then she looked a little surprised, seeing who was on the other end. "Ah, Odotte-sama."
"Tetsu-kun, I need to know if I can see the Chairman. Call up his secretary and arrange an appointment, as soon as possible, starting ten minutes from now," Domino told her. If she were to get her the appointment right when she asked for it she would end up being late.
"Hai. I understand."
"Good. Call me when you know." Domino cut the connection. "Are you almost finished Satto-hakase?"
"Just give me a minute more," Shileea told her.
Domino nodded and sat back, waiting as the doctor completed her work.
San Francisco, February 8, 22:30
Reika held the coffee mug in both of her hands, letting the heat warm her hands. She felt cold. Every few minutes an image of the woman she had killed entered her mind.
"We have identification on the assassins," Kou said as he closed up his cell phone. He was sitting across from her.
"Who were they?"
"Just a group of average assassins. They've worked the west coast for a couple of years, reasonable quality of work."
"Did Genom hire them?"
"Probably, but we have no proof. We are already working on a retaliatory strike."
"Do we have to?" Reika asked, not caring much for the thought of it.
"We do. It is the only way to stop Genom. We show them that it will cost them loss for loss if they continue this war."
"Isn't that what we have been doing so far?"
"Yes."
"Is it working?"
"No."
Reika said nothing for a moment. "What do we do?"
"That is up to your Grandfather," Kou told her.
"Oh."
"By the way, give me your revolver."
"What?"
"I should have taken it from you earlier, we could have planted it on one of the bodies."
Reika took the weapon from her shoulder holster and handed it to Kou. "What will you do with it?"
"Destroy it. Best way really. Go and wash your hands, take a shower in fact, and give the clothes you were wearing to housekeeping so they can wash them. Might as well get rid of all the powder residue."
"But, it was all in self defence."
"True, but you don't want to go to trial on this, even if they acquit. It's more trouble than you want to deal with, or your Grandfather wants to deal with."
Reika got to her feet. "Seems kind of funny, doing all this. Like I am guilty."
"It's just a precaution. It does no one any good for you to have to waste your time with something like this."
"Kou," Reika started, then paused. "What if it had not been in self defence?"
"Then I would have acted a lot sooner. You would already be on your way out of the country."
Reika blinked, not sure if she had heard right.
"Go clean up," Kou told her as he got to his feet. "This may be a busy night."
Reika turned and walked to the bathroom. She did as Kou said, stripping off her clothes then taking a shower. After she had cleaned herself up she dried off and changed into some clothing. Sweat pants, a T-shirt, none of it really fit her, but that sort of clothing did not have to. Reika wrapped her clothing up in one of the wet towels and carried the bundle out with her.
She then called for a member of the housekeeping staff and gave the man the clothing, telling him to get them dry cleaned right away. He assured her that it would be done, and then left.
Reika walked over to the wet bar and poured herself a cup of coffee. She drank half of it as she walked over to the couch and sat down. Her mind turned over what Kou had told her. That he would do such a thing offended her sense of justice. Wasn't it such abuse of power that allowed Irene's killers to go unpunished?
She put the coffee cup on the table and then drew her legs up and tucked them underneath herself. She had killed a person that night, in self-defence yes, but still, someone was dead by her hand. While she did not think she should be punished for it, she felt that it should, in some way, be admitted.
That would hurt her Grandfather though. Her having to go to trial, it would put yet another stress on him. The old man did not need that. Kou was protecting him as well as her. It was why she cared so much about him.
Still, at what point did she lose her claim to the moral high ground and become like the people she hated, like those who had killed her sister? She was worried that she had passed that point some time before and never noticed.
February 9th, Tokyo, 11:00am
Domino had changed out of her suit. The water had, after all, ruined it. The suit, and the pistol she had used to kill the men, had all been destroyed. Personnel from the motor pool were steam cleaning the interior of her car-not that there was any incriminating evidence within the car. All part of cleaning up after one's own messes.
She was wearing a new suit-she kept a small wardrobe in her office-and had presented herself at the doors of Quincy's office right on time.
When she entered she was a little surprised to see Katherine Madigan was in the office as well.
"Odotte-kun," Quincy said, acknowledging her presence.
"Quincy-shachou." She bowed deeply.
"What is it you wish?"
Domino walked across the floor, stopping a few meters from his desk. She noted that Madigan stood much closer to Quincy, a sign of his trust in her.
Katherine Madigan was a bit of a mystery to Domino; much about the woman's previous history had been locked down by Quincy himself. That she was trusted, as much as was possible, by Quincy was obvious.
Brian had not given the woman much thought when he had known her, a minor player. Domino thought of her as a major player. She respected the woman's talents and was a little intimidated by her, but she hid that. Ultimately Madigan was her biggest rival. Everyone else Domino knew she could deal with, but not Madigan, not yet at least.
"I wish to speak with you about the current tensions that exist between us and Hou Bang."
Quincy said nothing, he only nodded.
"I think we should work out a cease fire, as soon as we can."
"Has the attempt on your life cost you your courage Odotte-san?" Madigan asked.
Domino kept herself from reacting to those words. She turned to look at Madigan. "If we have to fight, I'll fight. If we don't, I'd rather important resources were not wasted."
"But Hou Bang wants this fight. They keep attacking us," Quincy said.
"Which does not make sense. There is more going on here than we know. The only way to find out what it is, is to speak with Hou Bang."
Quincy nodded. "Madigan-kun has also suggested such a course of action to me," Quincy told Domino.
Domino was careful to hide her surprise. She had been set up. Another test. At least it looked as if she had passed.
"I will get in touch with Mr. Chang," Quincy said. "After that, I leave it to you two to arrange everything."
Domino bowed, then turned, recognising the dismissal for what it was. She was surprised to note that Madigan was also leaving the room. Perhaps she was not quite as high as Domino had thought.
"How do you want to handle this?" Kate asked Domino after they had left Quincy's office.
"They'll want a meeting. I'll handle that."
Kate nodded. "Agreed. I'll get Genom ready to take advantage of anything that is offered us."
"Have you considered the assassination attempts?" Domino asked.
"Yes," Kate said as she pressed the call button for the elevators. The doors opened immediately. "They knew who to go after." She stepped into the elevator.
"That is what worries me most about it all." Domino entered the car.
Kate reached out and pressed the button to close the doors. She did not press a floor button. "Did you hear that someone tried to assassinate Reika Chang?"
"No," Domino admitted.
Kate smiled ever so slightly, she had won a point on that. "Did you order it?"
"No."
Kate nodded. "I did not. That only leaves two or three others that could have done it without my knowing."
Domino nodded. "I see. A third party then."
"Makes sense."
"'Who?' is the question now."
"That is one of the things we have to find out." Kate reached out and pressed the button for their floor.
"We'll do our best," Domino said.
Kate nodded.
San Francisco, Chang Estate, February 9, 02:23
Shouki Chang was woken up by the sound of his door opening.
"Mr. Chang," his secretary said. "Quincy is on line one."
"Thank you," Shouki said. He took a few deep breaths, to clear his head, to make sure he was fully awake, then moved his wheel chair over to the phone. He picked it up. "This is Chang," he said.
"Chang-san," Quincy's rich voice seemed to roll out of the phone. "The time for this pointless fighting is over. Call off your people. I have already done so with mine."
"Of course," Shouki said.
"We'll arrange for negotiations soon. I'm sure your people can handle that. Goodbye." There was a click.
Shouki put the handset back in the cradle. He looked up at his secretary. "Inform all members that all actions against Genom are to cease right now. We are in a state of truce."
"Yes sir," his secretary said.
Shouki felt tired. He always felt tired now. When he had been younger he might have felt victorious about the fact that Quincy had called him. Not any longer. Quincy had the strength to simply end the war. He could tell his people to stop, and they would. It had been sometime since Shouki had had the strength and certainty to do that.
Too many of his people would argue with him if he tried to just end it without a truce from Genom first. They still respected him, but they were all vying for position with each other. It made things difficult. He needed a successor, and he needed one soon.
Reika was sitting on the couch, staring out the window when Kou came in.
"I just got a message from your Grandfather," Kou said.
"What?" Reika turned to look at him.
"It's over, for now."
Reika nodded.
"Genom wants to talk with us, and we want to talk with them. He asked me to ask you if you will meet their representative."
"Me?"
"Yes. He thinks you will do a good job."
"I see. Of course I'll do it."
"This won't be easy." Kou walked across the room and took a seat across from her. "I'll help you in what ways I can."
"You make it sound dangerous."
"It is. Not physically, though that is always a possibility. You can give away more than you know if you are not careful. Information is very valuable."
"I understand." Reika was silent for a moment. "Kou, how are we different from Genom?"
Kou said nothing at first. "We're not," he told her. "We do what we do to protect those we care about and those that we have promised to protect. Perhaps Genom's reasons are more selfish, and if so, that is your difference."
"But it might not be."
"No."
Reika sighed and lay back on the couch. "I'm so tired."
"Then sleep."
"I feel too worked up to sleep. A little frightened perhaps."
"I'll be here, I'll watch. There's nowhere safer."
Reika stared at the ceiling for several minutes. Kou leaned back in the chair, watching her without staring.
"Kou?"
"Yes."
"When Irene turned four and was moved out of the nursery she wanted to share a room with me."
"And you didn't want her to?"
"No, I was happy to share a room with my baby sister. Sometimes she couldn't get to sleep though and would ask me to stay up and watch her."
"Sounds like Irene," he said softly, remembering the child that Irene would always be to him.
"I did, and I tried to stay awake but soon after she fell asleep I did too. In the morning she would always get up before I did and be upset that I had not been able to stay awake."
"I won't go to sleep Reika."
She said nothing else and Kou did not try to start the conversation up again. Some time later her breathing steadied into that of one asleep.
Tokyo, February 9, 12:13
"I need all the information we have to date on the buy out of Tanech," Domino called out as she entered the outer office of her office suite. "I need D-san to be here, as soon as possible. I need the Gendyne Bionetics update on my desk now. Tetsu-kun," she looked over at the young woman.
"Hai Odotte-sama?"
"I was supposed to have lunch with General Hashida today at two. Call him up and tell him that I have to cancel. If he asks why put him directly through to me," she said as she walked towards her office.
"Hai, I will."
"Good." Domino thought to add something, but decided not to. She had chosen her Office Ladies personally. Each one had the potential to do the job. She'd let them do it. Those that were not up to it she'd replace.
Sylia sat in her computer room, looking over all the data that was coming in. Something was happening between Hou Bang and Genom, though she had known that for several days. Why it was happening was what she wanted to know.
On the surface it looked as if Genom had started it and was continuing it, but that made little sense. It was not the Zaibatsu's style. So what was happening? She looked over her latest reports concerning MRAStech. The company was doing very well, Genom was taking a very light hand with its new acquisition. They had even made sure that the boomers found in Miyagi were traced back to Dr. Knight.
Very nice, Sylia thought.
She turned her attention to the information on Aphros Industries, out of curiosity mostly. Few if any changes, though they were under some scrutiny over the Knight Incident. Sharon Knight had been found dead in Korea, heroin overdose. Sylia was fairly certain that Genom had arranged it, though it would probably be difficult to prove. And then there were the boomers that Sharon had owned, and what they had been doing in a destroyed ski lodge in Miyagi.
The company would no doubt come out of it without too many problems, once it was all over. Ultimately it would be a great embarrassment, but Aphros Industries would survive.
Why had they hired Sharon Knight? Who had known what she was really working on? Was Aphros Industries on the whole the problem, or only a small part of it? What would Genom do about it?
And where would the conflict between Hou Bang and Genom go? If things began to heat up she might have to get ready to act.
She leaned back in her chair, staring up at the many screens, looking at it all, taking in the big picture, as it were. She stared at the data that flashed across her screens. Always so much happening. If she could just learn to read the patterns that she knew were there, then she might truly learn something.
Honolulu, February 10, 14:36 Local Time
The small landing fields were almost on the opposite side of the island of Honolulu from each other.
Two private jets had landed at them within minutes of each other. One was a Lear Silver Cloud, the other a Kyuusei Needle, a civilian version of an electronics warfare plane.
Limousines had met the craft, had taken the occupants to the Hilton, almost an equal distance from both of the fields.
Reika entered the lobby, Kou, her shadow, a step behind her. Taking her sunglasses off she looked around, making the visual search of the room look casual.
Kou did not say anything as she made for the elevators, he had obviously decided it was safe.
Almost as soon as she pressed the call button the doors slid open. Reika hesitated for a moment then stepped inside. Once Kou had entered she pressed the button for the top floor.
Her fingers were interwoven, she twisted them back and forth, shifting her weight slightly from side to side.
Kou reached out and hit the stop button. A soft chime sounded, alerting the occupants that the cab had come to a stop.
"If you don't want to do this I can have Daniels in here soon enough," He told her.
"I have to do this."
"Reika, you don't have to do anything."
"Grandfather..."
"Your grandfather does not want you to tear yourself apart trying to be something you aren't."
"Do you think I can't do it?" she demanded.
"You can, if you want to. If you don't, give up now."
"That is not an option. I'm going through with it." She pulled her hands apart and forced them to her side, schooling herself to stillness. It would not do to fidget.
Kou released the stop button and the elevator continued to the restaurant on the top floor.
The doors opened to an almost empty room. It was decorated in pastels with a number of plants lining the picture windows that looked out over the city. The carpet was light green, the tables and chairs wicker.
The restaurant had been closed all day. Both Genom and Hou Bang security personnel had swept the room. It was safe. As safe as it could be.
Sitting at a two-person table near the centre of the room was a beautiful, young woman-Domino Odotte, the liaison Genom had sent, Reika's counterpart.
Standing behind her, a step to the left, was her bodyguard, D. Most likely a boomer. Yet another worry, Reika thought as she crossed the room.
There was a subtle power game occurring, Kou had warned her about it. She realised the first part was the table Odotte had chosen. Only two chairs. That meant both Kou and D would have to stand, like servants. It was likely that Odotte had known how close she was to Kou and was playing on it.
Even though she was aware of it she could not help but feel a flare of anger. Treating Kou like that, just because she cared for him.
"Odotte-san." Reika nodded.
"Chang-san." Domino dipped her head in what might be considered a bow. "Please, have a seat." She waited until Reika was beginning to sit. "I'm looking forward to the release of your next album."
Reika dropped into the chair, surprised. Not that it would be that hard for anyone to make the connection between Reika Chang and Vision, once they had seen her. Still, it unbalanced her slightly.
"You're looking very well for a dead person," Reika said, using the one piece of information Kou had been able to dig up on the woman. She was not the real Domino Odotte, though according to all the records that mattered, she was.
He had told her to play it at the right moment, work it naturally into conversation, unbalance her opponent and see what she could find out. She had failed to do all of it. Domino shrugged her shoulders slightly and let it pass.
"I believe you are aware Genom has suffered a great amount of damage over the past few days, as has your company," Domino said.
"Yes, the initial line of thought was that your company was behind it."
"We entertained similar thoughts about your company."
"But not any more?" Reika asked.
"No. Whoever was behind this did make use of Kyuusei equipment though, as well as equipment made by other corporations within the Hou Bang fold. Your A3s played an important part in some attacks. I'm sure you're familiar with them."
"The basics." Did she know?
"Thirteen were stolen all together. Two have been accounted for. Where are the other eleven?" Domino's voice took on a demanding tone and Reika pulled back ever so slightly.
"We, we are still..."
"You don't know."
"Do you?" Anger creeping into her voice.
"No. They were not our property or responsibility though. An attempt was made to steal a cargo of Genom combat boomers a week ago. If the events are related you should be glad Genom's security is superior. Who knows how extreme your losses would have been if they had been used against you."
"Is there a point to this?"
"Genom does not hold the Chang Group responsible for what happened. Someone else is behind this, it seems likely they hoped we would be at each other's throats."
"Agreed. Hou Bang is of the opinion that Genom is not responsible, in the end, either."
"None of your people had anything to do with the attack on the Genom Centre in Toronto then?"
"No. That is what started it?"
"So it seems." Domino reached inside her jacket and slowly removed a disk. Kou relaxed once he saw it was not a weapon; D was able to do the same once Kou relaxed. "All the information we have so far concerning that attack. It might be of use to you."
"Thank you," Reika said as she took the disk.
"Genom has called off all actions against Hou Bang. You have done the same?"
"Yes."
"Good. I would like to propose that we work together and share information in an attempt to find out who was behind this and then to destroy them."
"Such an arrangement is acceptable to Hou Bang," Reika said, though she did not like the way that Domino had said 'destroy'.
"Good. This has been bad for profits all around. I will be working with you, or whomever you decide on as your liaison.
"Acceptable."
"There is more though."
"And what would that be?"
"You lost another piece of important equipment."
"That would be?" Reika hid any nervousness from her voice. They could not know, it was a bluff.
"A canister containing a rather powerful blood agent. Enough to kill a few hundred thousand people, if released in the right place."
"Obviously an unsubstantiated rumour."
"Do not lie to me Chang-san. I'm aware that the company that created it is a bit of a loose cannon in the Hou Bang fold, but it is still your problem. We'd like to know that you are going to deal with it."
Reika said nothing for a moment. "If this blood agent did exist, what would you want from us?"
"How about we start easy. Its present location."
"We don't know," Reika admitted, coming clean. She hoped Genom had really known about it. If she had just proven what they had only suspected she would be a fool indeed.
"Do you suspect?"
Reika looked down at the table. "We traced a possible lead to a smuggler named John Namara. He specialises in Japan."
Domino nodded. "We have heard much the same. Chang-san, a deadly weapon that Hou Bang had a part in creating is now likely in Japan. What do you plan to do about that?"
"What would you have us do?"
"I would have you find this weapon and ensure it is not used. If it were used in Tokyo, for an example, do you know how many people would die?"
Reika repressed a shudder. "It would depend on where in the city it was released. Death from the agent itself would be around three hundred thousand, and then due to panic, and other related problems, that would go up by another twenty thousand."
"If such a thing were to happen, Genom would reveal your culpability in the affair."
"I understand. There is little to worry about though. The agent is stored in two parts, they have to be mixed together in the correct proportions for maximum effect." Reika pulled a disk from her pocket, the action so fast that D almost drew her own weapon, causing Kou to almost draw his. Domino watched it with an amused smile. Reika flushed slightly as she handed Domino the disk. "That contains the plans for the storage canister," she told her. "It was designed to keep it from being used in a situation such as this."
"Assuming that the people who stole it do not have the codes, or cannot break them, or have not discovered a way to bypass the physical security."
"That canister is the latest design. The security on it will not be foiled easily," Reika told her. "We will retrieve it of course, you need not worry."
"Your assurances make me feel much better," Domino said in a tone of voice that skirted sarcasm without actually being sarcastic.
"I'm very happy to have relieved you," Reika told her.
"Is there anything you might need from Genom? It is in our best interest to ensure this weapon is found."
"Other than any co-operation you might give our people while they are in Japan."
"Of course. Just make sure that we have their names and current pictures. That way no mistakes will be made."
"I'll get that to your people as soon as I can."
"Good. We'll be glad to be of assistance."
"Thank you," Reika said coolly.
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss?" Domino asked.
"No. Thank you."
"I'm sure I will be seeing you." Domino got to her feet. "I will be returning to Japan, you should be able to reach me at any time."
"I think I may set up a command post in Tokyo, since you seem to think that the weapon may be used there."
"It is as good a place as any. Good day Chang-san." Domino made her way to the elevator, D a step behind her. She stopped just in front of the elevator doors, turned slightly looking over her shoulder. "I do hope that the city does not hold too many unpleasant memories for you." Domino's voice held a note of concern.
"What do you mean?" Reika turned in her chair to face her.
"Your sister, it was an unfortunate accident. I believe her fiancé was a Genom employee. My belated condolences." She reached out and pressed the call button for the elevator.
"Thank you." Reika's voice was now like ice.
"Goodbye." Domino and D entered the elevator. A moment later they were gone.
"Damn her." Reika slammed her fist against the table.
"Calm down." Kou walked around the table and took the seat across from her.
"I screwed up, didn't I?"
"It could have been worse. Miss Odotte is a dangerous opponent. Daniels would not have fared much better."
"She does not know where the agent is either."
"No, and she, so we can assume Genom as well, is worried about it."
"They want to find out about our special forces," Reika said.
"We will have to use them, we already knew that."
"Genom knows it as well. They will be watching, they will be learning. They even want me to give them a list of our people!"
"There is little we can do about it. We may have no choice."
"How long to completely overhaul the system? SOPs, codes, equipment, personnel, everything?"
"Two years," Kou told her.
"So for two years we are at a disadvantage. While our people are trying to find out where that damn canister is Genom's people will be watching us."
"So it appears."
"If we tell our people to keep to the shadows as much as possible it will limit their effectiveness. If a product of ours is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of we will be destroyed." Reika went quiet. "I'm scared Kou. I don't think I could live with myself if that happened."
"It won't happen. We will make sure of that."
"I think I will have to make use of some contacts in MegaTokyo," Reika said softly.
"What do you think of the young Chang-san?" Domino asked D. They sat in the limousine's passenger compartment.
"Inexperienced," D said.
"But she shows promise."
"Perhaps."
"That young lady, once she has gained some experience, could be an annoyance on the scale of her grandfather."
"And as his direct heir the trust his people have in him may transfer to her."
"Yes." Domino stared up at the ceiling of the car. "We will do our best to break her spirit over the course of this crisis. It serves our interests if Reika Chang puts business behind her and goes back to singing."
"You are going to be extremely cruel to this young woman aren't you?"
"I can't, 'kill her with kindness', as you might put it."
D nodded.
"Are we ready to take advantage of Hou Bang's problems?"
"As ready as we can be. Of course they are not the only ones that have to deal with problems. They will scramble more of their special forces teams to deal with this problem..."
"And we will watch them and learn," Domino finished for her. "That of course is the easy part. We have to decide how to use the information we get. Hou Bang has always been a tightly held concern. Anything we can use to pry it apart will be of use to us."
"We will have to use any such information quickly, at best we will have a three month window of opportunity."
"In three months we can make gains that will bring Genom years of benefit."
"It is unfortunate we cannot take the entire group that is Hou Bang over," D said, echoing Domino's thoughts.
"If we attempt to overreach ourselves we may fail entirely. We tread a fine line in this."
"What if Genom becomes too busy dealing with damage control?"
"That would be a very unfortunate thing, which is why we have to ensure that it does not happen," Domino told her.
"Of course."
"Someone has tried to put Genom and Hou Bang at each other's throats. It makes sense of course, we are the biggest players."
"Who?" D asked.
"There are a number of possibilities. Other corporations. Governments. Small groups that might have something against either or both companies. They would just have to be very smart."
"They made a mistake in assuming that we would not talk to Hou Bang."
"True, but an almost understandable one. There is a lot of tension between the two organisations at this point. I'm trying to decide who might benefit the most from this. Unfortunately there are too many possibilities, including that it might be an inside job."
"Someone within Genom?" D asked.
"Maybe, but doubtful. There are only a few individuals within Genom who could manage something like this and I'm one of them. Only Quincy could manage all of this without me being aware of something."
"And you don't think he is?"
"No, but he could be."
"And if we are to find out?"
"We forget," Domino told her.
"I see."
"Still, an inside source is something to consider. Not pulling the strings though, but supplying information."
"The six executives chosen as targets?"
"Yes. Half of Genom's upper echelon are minor, easily replaced players. The six chosen were all ones who are among those who wield true power and who replacing would and will be difficult. That they chose them does suggest inside knowledge."
"Or an excellent understanding of the Genom power structure," D suggested.
"I'll have to talk to Madigan about this, as well as Sousuke. I want you to look for possible leaks."
"I understand."
"If we get a chance during this operation to kill Chang or his granddaughter and make it look like someone else did it, we will have to do so."
"I'll start drafting plans."
"Do we still own that relation of theirs?" Domino asked.
"Yes, though I doubt she'd be willing to kill and I do not know how close she could get. The blood tie is tenuous at best."
"It's still a possible lever, I'll leave that part of the operation up to you."
"I'll start immediately," D said.
"Also, Gendyne Bionetics has finally crashed."
"I suspect Hendle-san and Saunders-san will be upset about that."
"Yes. I suspect that Saunders-san will get very loud about this. It is her way, but she is not a threat. Hendle-san may be a problem. He's been known to take these things very personally, and he is not above ordering reprisals."
"He will not succeed if he tries," D said with a sense of finality.
"Yes, I know. If he does try something though, I will retaliate."
"I will be ready if that is necessary."
Domino nodded as she leaned back in the seat, steepling her fingers, resting her chin on her thumbs.
She had much to think on.
"The Way of the Samurai is in desperateness. Ten men or more cannot kill such a man. Common sense will not accomplish great things. Simply become insane and desperate. In Bushido, if one uses discrimination, he will fall behind. One needs neither loyalty nor devotion, but simply become desperate in Bushido. Loyalty and devotion are of themselves within desperation"
- Yamamoto Tsunetomo
