Chapter 9
Break Stuff
February 9, 2071
Beads of sweat formed on Joseph's brow as he punched in the numbers on his transmitter that would connect him to Vicious' office. He had looked everywhere for the brat, but she had vanished without a trace. The last time anyone had seen her the little twit, she had wandered straight into the heart of the White Tiger's territory. His contact had made no move to stop her since she wasn't his problem. He waited, speech already formed in his mind as to what he was going to say to her violent and protective benefactor.
The screen flared to life and a beautiful woman sat before him. Her rich brown hair was pulled back into a professional looking bun and her business suit cost more than the young thieves he controlled brought home in a month. A look of distaste briefly flashed across her fine boned features then steadied into a look of pure professionalism.
"Mister Sikes," She stated in a matter of fact tone with a clipped British accent. "How may I assist you?"
Joseph stared at the screen like he was actually someone of importance. "Yeah, let me talk to Vicious."
"Mister Vicious is already on his way to your domicile." She emphasized mister to drive it home to Joseph whom she thought was the better man. "I suggest you tidy up before he arrives."
Joseph's eyes widened and his jaw unhinged. "He's... He's coming here?" He stammered out.
"Your wit and comprehensive reasoning astounds me Mister Sikes." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Yes, Mister Vicious is coming to see you. Will that be all today, or shall I repeat myself again?"
His face became distorted with anger and she deftly cut him off before he could speak. "Very well then, good day."
The screen went as blank as Joseph's mind. He had no idea how much time he had until death himself came to his door. Whirling away from the transmitter screen, he quickly picked up discarded clothes, throwing them into a near-by closet. Barely five minutes went by before the knock came at the door. Shin opened the door without waiting for Joseph and stepped in, giving a cursory sneer about the disorderly room. Shin turned without a word to Joseph and held the door for Vicious. The sharp winter wind caught his hair as Vicious paused in the doorway, visually inspecting the living area before he stepped in.
"Where is my child?" He stated flatly his voice carrying the usual rasp.
"Sir, I didn't know you were coming until a few moments ago." Joseph mentally cursed the janitor who cleaned Vicious' office for failing to inform him of this sudden visit, as he offered Vicious a chair. "Your secretary was good enough to tell me you would be arriving when I called."
"Ms. Thompson is more than competent in her position, but she is not who I am here to see." Vicious stood and eyed the offered chair warily as if he expected something to be living in it. "Why did you call me? Is Obsidian having problems at school again?"
Joseph hesitated then looked at Vicious pleadingly, almost desperately. "No Sir, I talked with her teachers, and there haven't been anymore problems at school. There have been a multitude of problems here at home with her though."
Vicious chanced the chair and sat, quirking an eyebrow as he did. "What sort of problems?"
Joseph took a deep breath before continuing. He knew that he was playing a game of chance and his life was forfeit with one false step. His heart pounded furiously in his chest and his hands twitched with the alcoholic reflexive need for the bottle. Vicious silently noted all of these things and nodded imperceptibly to Shin. Shin caught the small incline of Vicious' head and began to circle the room cautiously and carefully looking about.
"Well Sir, lately she's grown into a bully with the other children, and I have to admit, with me. She uses your name as leverage telling anyone who gets in her way that she will have you remove them if they anger her. She's moody, unpredictable, and quite the little actress. She does anything to get her way, including hurting them using the kung-fu moves that you taught her."
"It's Jeet-Kun-Do, but continue."
Joseph nodded, not really listening, and pressed forward into dangerous territory. "She's mouthy and very manipulative, saying things like if I don't let her do what she wants she'll tell you that I'm hurting her in some way or another."
"And what is it that she wants to be doing?" Vicious asked dangerously.
The tone of the question was completely lost on Joseph as he continued with a growing confidence. "Well Mister Vicious, she has taken to wandering off anytime she likes to do only the gods know what. She comes home at all hours, sometimes even the next day."
Vicious straightened in the chair as anger flooded his mind. Shin stopped his wanderings directly behind Joseph, who was completely unaware of the other man's location. Vicious forced himself to relax, but could not take the anger out of his eyes.
"Why did you not inform me of this sooner?" He growled.
"Sir, she was threatening to have me killed if I informed you. For all I know, she'd cut my throat in my sleep." Joseph whined. "She's been coming home with more money than you give her for her allowance and things I know she can't afford. I've even had to go down and pick her up from a couple stores and try and talk them out of pressing charges on shoplifting."
Vicious' eyes narrowed even further as he listened to the weak man's tirade. He wondered how he had missed it before, the spineless attitude. This was not the environment he wished his protégée to be raised in. As soon as he discerned her whereabouts, he decided, she would be removed to a more suitable living arrangement.
"Where is she?" Vicious asked malevolently.
"I dunno, she took off the other day and I haven't seen her since." Joseph said finally getting to the point.
Vicious nodded and Shin grabbed the unsuspecting man by his collar, driving his fist into his back as he hauled him to his feet. Joseph cried out and almost fell onto his knees as Shin punched him again in the kidneys. Shin had never liked this sniveling worm, and took great pleasure in administering physical harm upon him.
"Where is she?" Shin hissed into Joseph's ear.
"She was heading into the White Tiger territory!" Joseph screamed out as Shin's gloved fist impacted with his lower spine.
"Why was she going there?" Shin questioned him as he worked Joseph over like a heavy bag.
"I don't know! My contact said she was with a guy!" Joseph's ribs cracked and he screamed out in agony the same as Obsidian had done when he had broken hers all those many times.
"What guy?" Shin's questions were short and to the point as he finally let Joseph fall to the floor.
"His name is Jet, he's about six foot tall, bald, cybernetic arm." Joseph whimpered as he held his side.
Shin took the opportunity to kick him in the same broken spot Joseph was holding, before dragging him back to his feet. He had wanted to wipe the smirk off that particular toad's face for a while. Vicious stood and stared coldly at the husk of a man before speaking.
"You have one opportunity to find her. Fail and you will serve as a warning to her next guardian." He turned and strode from the room giving Shin the chance to kick him one more time.
Both men stood on the street, looking menacingly at the house one last time before Shin opened the limousine door for Vicious. After Vicious got in, Shin slipped into the car and it left the neighborhood behind. The ride was silent, then Vicious spoke.
"What did you notice?"
"There were perhaps half a dozen empty liquor bottles under the couch as if kicked there moments before we entered, signs of neglect, and old blood stains on the carpet. There were also three other children watching us from various hiding places and vantage points, one had a swollen lip and another looked like his nose had been broken several times."
"Have my men pick the children up and remove them to a more secure location. After that, they are to look for this Jet person. Find out if he is real or simply a figment of Joseph's diseased mind."
Shin did not answer, but simply nodded.
"If he tries to run or I find that he is lying to me, he will spend the rest of his long and painful days in the chamber, whim to my mercy."
Break Stuff
February 9, 2071
Beads of sweat formed on Joseph's brow as he punched in the numbers on his transmitter that would connect him to Vicious' office. He had looked everywhere for the brat, but she had vanished without a trace. The last time anyone had seen her the little twit, she had wandered straight into the heart of the White Tiger's territory. His contact had made no move to stop her since she wasn't his problem. He waited, speech already formed in his mind as to what he was going to say to her violent and protective benefactor.
The screen flared to life and a beautiful woman sat before him. Her rich brown hair was pulled back into a professional looking bun and her business suit cost more than the young thieves he controlled brought home in a month. A look of distaste briefly flashed across her fine boned features then steadied into a look of pure professionalism.
"Mister Sikes," She stated in a matter of fact tone with a clipped British accent. "How may I assist you?"
Joseph stared at the screen like he was actually someone of importance. "Yeah, let me talk to Vicious."
"Mister Vicious is already on his way to your domicile." She emphasized mister to drive it home to Joseph whom she thought was the better man. "I suggest you tidy up before he arrives."
Joseph's eyes widened and his jaw unhinged. "He's... He's coming here?" He stammered out.
"Your wit and comprehensive reasoning astounds me Mister Sikes." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Yes, Mister Vicious is coming to see you. Will that be all today, or shall I repeat myself again?"
His face became distorted with anger and she deftly cut him off before he could speak. "Very well then, good day."
The screen went as blank as Joseph's mind. He had no idea how much time he had until death himself came to his door. Whirling away from the transmitter screen, he quickly picked up discarded clothes, throwing them into a near-by closet. Barely five minutes went by before the knock came at the door. Shin opened the door without waiting for Joseph and stepped in, giving a cursory sneer about the disorderly room. Shin turned without a word to Joseph and held the door for Vicious. The sharp winter wind caught his hair as Vicious paused in the doorway, visually inspecting the living area before he stepped in.
"Where is my child?" He stated flatly his voice carrying the usual rasp.
"Sir, I didn't know you were coming until a few moments ago." Joseph mentally cursed the janitor who cleaned Vicious' office for failing to inform him of this sudden visit, as he offered Vicious a chair. "Your secretary was good enough to tell me you would be arriving when I called."
"Ms. Thompson is more than competent in her position, but she is not who I am here to see." Vicious stood and eyed the offered chair warily as if he expected something to be living in it. "Why did you call me? Is Obsidian having problems at school again?"
Joseph hesitated then looked at Vicious pleadingly, almost desperately. "No Sir, I talked with her teachers, and there haven't been anymore problems at school. There have been a multitude of problems here at home with her though."
Vicious chanced the chair and sat, quirking an eyebrow as he did. "What sort of problems?"
Joseph took a deep breath before continuing. He knew that he was playing a game of chance and his life was forfeit with one false step. His heart pounded furiously in his chest and his hands twitched with the alcoholic reflexive need for the bottle. Vicious silently noted all of these things and nodded imperceptibly to Shin. Shin caught the small incline of Vicious' head and began to circle the room cautiously and carefully looking about.
"Well Sir, lately she's grown into a bully with the other children, and I have to admit, with me. She uses your name as leverage telling anyone who gets in her way that she will have you remove them if they anger her. She's moody, unpredictable, and quite the little actress. She does anything to get her way, including hurting them using the kung-fu moves that you taught her."
"It's Jeet-Kun-Do, but continue."
Joseph nodded, not really listening, and pressed forward into dangerous territory. "She's mouthy and very manipulative, saying things like if I don't let her do what she wants she'll tell you that I'm hurting her in some way or another."
"And what is it that she wants to be doing?" Vicious asked dangerously.
The tone of the question was completely lost on Joseph as he continued with a growing confidence. "Well Mister Vicious, she has taken to wandering off anytime she likes to do only the gods know what. She comes home at all hours, sometimes even the next day."
Vicious straightened in the chair as anger flooded his mind. Shin stopped his wanderings directly behind Joseph, who was completely unaware of the other man's location. Vicious forced himself to relax, but could not take the anger out of his eyes.
"Why did you not inform me of this sooner?" He growled.
"Sir, she was threatening to have me killed if I informed you. For all I know, she'd cut my throat in my sleep." Joseph whined. "She's been coming home with more money than you give her for her allowance and things I know she can't afford. I've even had to go down and pick her up from a couple stores and try and talk them out of pressing charges on shoplifting."
Vicious' eyes narrowed even further as he listened to the weak man's tirade. He wondered how he had missed it before, the spineless attitude. This was not the environment he wished his protégée to be raised in. As soon as he discerned her whereabouts, he decided, she would be removed to a more suitable living arrangement.
"Where is she?" Vicious asked malevolently.
"I dunno, she took off the other day and I haven't seen her since." Joseph said finally getting to the point.
Vicious nodded and Shin grabbed the unsuspecting man by his collar, driving his fist into his back as he hauled him to his feet. Joseph cried out and almost fell onto his knees as Shin punched him again in the kidneys. Shin had never liked this sniveling worm, and took great pleasure in administering physical harm upon him.
"Where is she?" Shin hissed into Joseph's ear.
"She was heading into the White Tiger territory!" Joseph screamed out as Shin's gloved fist impacted with his lower spine.
"Why was she going there?" Shin questioned him as he worked Joseph over like a heavy bag.
"I don't know! My contact said she was with a guy!" Joseph's ribs cracked and he screamed out in agony the same as Obsidian had done when he had broken hers all those many times.
"What guy?" Shin's questions were short and to the point as he finally let Joseph fall to the floor.
"His name is Jet, he's about six foot tall, bald, cybernetic arm." Joseph whimpered as he held his side.
Shin took the opportunity to kick him in the same broken spot Joseph was holding, before dragging him back to his feet. He had wanted to wipe the smirk off that particular toad's face for a while. Vicious stood and stared coldly at the husk of a man before speaking.
"You have one opportunity to find her. Fail and you will serve as a warning to her next guardian." He turned and strode from the room giving Shin the chance to kick him one more time.
Both men stood on the street, looking menacingly at the house one last time before Shin opened the limousine door for Vicious. After Vicious got in, Shin slipped into the car and it left the neighborhood behind. The ride was silent, then Vicious spoke.
"What did you notice?"
"There were perhaps half a dozen empty liquor bottles under the couch as if kicked there moments before we entered, signs of neglect, and old blood stains on the carpet. There were also three other children watching us from various hiding places and vantage points, one had a swollen lip and another looked like his nose had been broken several times."
"Have my men pick the children up and remove them to a more secure location. After that, they are to look for this Jet person. Find out if he is real or simply a figment of Joseph's diseased mind."
Shin did not answer, but simply nodded.
"If he tries to run or I find that he is lying to me, he will spend the rest of his long and painful days in the chamber, whim to my mercy."
