Ante-Mortem

By: Wildfire Sky

Ok, the next part in this series...of...parts...I guess. Anyways, we're chugging right along here, and, yes, we're slowly coming to the end. Probably thirty chapters tops in this one, maybe less. Depends on how much I write in these next few chapters. I can tell you one thing; the last two chapters will be the longest. One being the climatic finale, and the other, the epilogue. A method to the madness. As to my decision for a sequel...well that's for me to know, and you to find out!

Oh yea...

STUPID UIL! That bastard of a judge decided that United ISD crappy show about dropping dead babies and insulting the Catholic church (in the wake of the Pope's death I might add), was much better than ours, which, if you ever saw it, you'd agree it was much, much better! Oh, and on a special note, they got LAST PLACE. Go figure.

Ante-Mortem

Chapter Twenty-Three


Min slowly opened his eyes, staring up at the white washed ceiling that dominated his view. The time and date escaped him at the moment, but right then he didn't care. He was hurting, both inside and out...the knowledge of his actions a heavy weight on his mind. How could he have gotten himself into this? And now, because of his mistakes, his own brother had been hurt...why had he made such a foolish choice in the first place.

Hearing the sound of the door hissing open, Min slowly lifted his head, staring across at the doorway to his left. His eyes narrowed at the figure standing there, leaning against the doorways with hard, cold eyes. There was an unlit cigarette clamped between his lips, his tongue simply rolling it around in his mouth thoughtfully. Min defiantly stared back, refusing to cower down to his captain's harsh glare. Suddenly, deciding against stepping up to the challenge, Min broke out in his usual playful smile.

"Ohiyo captain! Long time so see, eh?"

Sotomo shrugged one shoulder, also adapting a harmless grin, "I'm glad to see that you're finally up and awake...I hope you're making a full recovery as well."

"As good as can be," Min replied, leaning back again, "The doc here's been really good to me. Plenty of beer and girls to go around if you're interested. I've been asleep all this time so I haven't been able to enjoy their hospitality."

Soto allowed a chuckled to pass his lips, yet his hard eyes told a different story. To Min, the captain didn't seem like the laid back, carefree man he'd used to be. No. Now he seemed almost on alert, his eyes narrow and piercing...as if he was controlling barely contained anger.

The fisherman's heart thudded in his chest. Did the captain suspect something? Impossible! He'd been completely thorough in cleansing away any and all traces of evidence that might point back to him and his partner in crime. He'd done as ordered to the point, even beyond a little, just as a personal touch. If the look the captain wore meant anything, it was that the old man was truly worried about him, and probably angry at his clumsiness. That's all.

Min glanced over when he heard the captain shift slightly, watching the man approach and pause just out of arms reach. It was at that moment, Min noticed the flashing red light on the door pad.

"Oi, captain...I think the, uh, the door's busted."

Sotomo simply crossed his arms over his chest, giving another half shrug. "I know. Don't worry about it."

Instantly, Min was on guard, his body tensing. "Is there something wrong, captain? You seem a little...on edge..."

"I understand you had a visitor." Sotomo said, ignoring Min's question. "Who was it?"

Min gave a forced smile, "Oh no one big...Kinto just wanted to stop in and say hello. Why do you want to know?"

Sotomo uncrossed his arms, raising them in a submissive gesture. "Alright, alright...I sorry for interrogating you like this. I'm just worried that's all."

"Worried."

Sotomo nodded with a stiff smile. "Just worried. I certainly can't have anything happen to my best fisherman, now can I? Once we get back out at sea, I'll need your skills to pull in the big catch, right?"

Min smirked at the ego-swelling praise, "You certainly know how to butter a guy up, captain!" he winked, "And just because you said that, I'm gonna try extra hard to get better."

Sotomo nodded, his smile fading as quickly as it appeared, "How long ago did Kinto visit you?"

"I dunno...a couple of hours I guess." Min absently fiddled with his IV cord.

"And you spoke with him?"

"Yea...nothing much, really...just played a few rounds of poker and talked about the storm and all that."

Sotomo's frown deepened. "Well that's interesting..."

Min glanced at him before returning to fiddling with the cords and fabric of the bed sheets, pulling at a loose string. "What's interesting?"

"The fact that you said you've been asleep until I came...and yet, you've managed to play a round of poker with Kinto..."

Min's hands froze.

"You must be one helluva player to be able to do that in your sleep."

Min's eyes narrowed to mere slits at the sound of a gun hammer being cocked back and leveled at him. He slowly turned, staring directly into Sotomo's eyes. The captain stared back, his expression bored.

"Dare I ask who won?"

"Actually, Min won...but I'm hoping for a rematch real soon..."

By the time Sotomo was in motion to turn and face the newest intruder, the blunt of a gun was smashing across his face, throwing him to the floor in an unconscious heap. Min blinked, staring down at the captain's unmoving form.

"Holy shit, Kinto! Did you kill him?"

Kinto knelt down next to the captain's body, checking for a pulse. "No, he's fine. And even if he wasn't, I don't much care." Kinto stood, turning towards Min's bed, "But we need to get these wires off of you and get the hell out of here. My contact is waiting for us in warehouse, and I don't want to keep him waiting."

Min winced as Kinto jerked the IV from his vein, ignoring the dot of blood that welled up from the improper removal. "Ouch! Oi, Kinto, who is this contact of yours anyways, you never told me."

Kinto's eye twitched slightly as he pulled the monitoring wires from Min's arm, switching of the machines before their high pitched alarms could sound and bring unwanted company. "My contact would prefer that you not see him unless it becomes necessary."

"Necessary?" Min echoed, frowned, "Don't you think my getting involved with this makes us meeting necessary? Goddamn it, Kinto, I'm not playing anymore games! I've already screwed myself before messing with you, it was a miracle I wasn't convicted! Everytime I get involved with one of your little schemes, I always end up getting the blunt end of the deal."

Min stood up, pulling off the other sensors and stepping close to Kinto, their noses almost touching. "Now, I'm not going to stand for this bullshit anymore. If I'm going to ruin my life, and the life of my brother, then I think we'd better come to an understanding...I won't be kept in the dark anymore. We're partners, and partners tell each other everything, especially when it means risking the other person's life. So spill it!"

Kinto's face darkened and he pushed Min back to arm's length. "Min, there are something's that you just don't need to know about. Now, why don't you just relax..."

Min snarled angrily, shoving Kinto back, causing the older man to nearly trip over Soto's sprawled body. "I will not relax! Why can't you just tell me what's going on?" He angrily advanced on Kinto, his eyes blazing...

And came to a screeching halt, his face centimeters away from the explosive end of Kinto's handgun. The first mate glared at Min, his scarred eyes flashing. "I won't deal with your shit today, Min...not right now. There's more than just your life. If I don't pull this off, there will be worse consequences than death..."

Min opened his mouth to reply, when the thin hiss of the door opening caught both of their attention. Min looked over Kinto's shoulder in mild shock, thanking God that Kinto's body blocked sight of the now lowered gun. As he glanced back, Kinto's eyes flashed a warning. Doctor Gilmore moved further into the room, his eyes sweeping over Min and Kinto in surprise.

"My goodness, Min! What are you doing up...and why were the pads removed?" Gilmore eyes fell on Sotomo, his eyes widening in shock. "Just what is going on here?"

Kinto's eyes hardened as he moved away from Min, keeping his back to Gilmore and protecting his weapon as he walked over to the bed. "Forgive me doctor; I'm the one who woke Min up..."

Gilmore stared at the man disbelievingly, "Is that so? And can you explain to me why there is an unconscious man on the floor? Oh, gracious, he's bleeding!" The doctor dropped down next to Sotomo's body, examining the head wound. "How did this happen?"

Min panicked as Gilmore's eyes settled on him, his mind rushing through possible answered. "He, uh, he fell doc! Slipped and fell on the floor. Thank goodness Kinto came in; I was strapped to the bed and...and I didn't know if I could get to him in time."

Gilmore frowned, standing up. "Why didn't one of you call for help? That would have been the logical solution, instead of standing over him like that."

The fisherman's eyes glanced away from a moment. "I uh...I don't know?"

The doctor frowned, eyeing the two suspiciously. "There's something going on here. I'm calling for the others, don't you move."

Before the doctor could take two steps, Kinto was in front of him, blocking the Russian's retreat. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, doctor."

"What are you talking about?" Gilmore demanded, "Let me through at once!"

Kinto's eyes hardened. "Don't do anything stupid now, doctor..."

Gilmore tried to go around Kinto, but the man moved again to block his path. Irritated, Gilmore opened his mouth to yell for help.

Two muffled shots rang out.

Min barely stifled a cry of shock and horror as the old doctor jerked at the impact of the bullets, stepping back and staring at the two crimson circles that began to spread across his chest. A short gasp escaped his throat as the old man fell to his knees, staring up at Kinto in surprise. Min also stared at Kinto, watching at waiting for his next move. He'd seen Kinto in action, knew that he could become merciless, but never before had he'd killed someone who wasn't a target. But now, it seemed, he'd turned to a whole new level

Min was terrified.

"You should have listened to me doctor." Kinto said, his voice deadpan, "You should have stayed upstairs where you belonged. And you never should have asked so many goddamn questions!"

Min winced at Kinto's raised voice, praying that the noised would bring down any of the crew...especially not that big guy...

Kinto stared at the frozen, doctor, contemplating whether or not to shoot him and put the old bastard out of his misery...or simply leave him to bleed to death. Smiling, Kinto raised the gun, leveling it at Gilmore's head.

"Lights out, doctor."

The gun slammed across Gilmore's head, evicting a cry from him as he fell to the floor next to Sotomo's body, an angry bruise already forming on half his face. Kinto looked up and stared balefully at Min.

"Don't give me that look you whimp!" Kinto growled, stepping over Gilmore, "I didn't hit him hard enough to kill him, just knock him out for a few hours. Enough time for us to get out of here, do what we have to do, and then head to America for fine women and a permanent vacation all right? Now get your balls together and move their bodies."

Min continued to stare at him silently. Kinto had gone to an all new low. The sound of the hammer clicking back again snatched Kinto's attention, drawing his eyes back over to where Kinto now stood, poised over the sleeping form of his brother, the blood soaked pillow held against the side of Tai's head. Min tried to choke down the flood of bile that filled his mouth at the sight of Kinto aiming the gun at Tai's head.

"Like you said, Min, enough games." Kinto stared at him with cold, lifeless eyes, "I'm getting sick and tired of your whining, and it stops now. You either do what I say, when I say it, or you'll regret ever crossing paths with me. Either you move those fucking bodies like I said to... or you watch me blow your dear little brother's brains all over this room. Are we clear?"

Min nodded numbly, "Crystal clear...Kinto..."


Francoise stumbled down the wide, cement pathways, her tears mixing with the storm rain as she ran, searching for her beloved Joe. Oh why had she hesitated for so long...why we she so dumb to not use her powers when he was closer. She been lost first stepping off the ship, not sure which way Joe had gone, left, right, or deeper into the maze of warehouses that made up the Tokyo docks. It was by pure luck that she happened to catch on to Joe's position, her keen ears picking up a trace of mumbling that sounded distinctly like Albert. It was on a hunch that she headed towards the German's voice, knowing that where Albert was, Joe was sure to be close.

She's been running for what seemed like hours, even though it was only maybe the span of fifteen minutes. Her cyborg legs allowed her to run much faster than the average human...not fast as Joe, of course, but fast enough. The warehouses that surrounded her seemed like large, empty tombs, the windows resembling narrow eyes that glared at her accusingly, screaming at her that this entire mess was her fault.

How could I have been so selfish? She chastised herself angrily, ashamed at her behavior in those last few days. She'd ignored the obvious signs of Joe's distress, finding comfort in another rather than face whatever was troubling her beloved Joe. Never before had she acted like such a...wait.

Francoise paused in her steps. Why had she pushed Joe away from her...why hadn't she listened to him? Was it her fault that she hadn't asked about the spreading acid that was rotting his brain? No...How could anyone in their right mind ever think of a scenario like that?

She shook her head, droplets of rain mixing with those falling. This storm was getting out of control...hopefully it will have receded by daylight. Looking up, Francoise spotted the ship where Joe was, his cybernetic mind, as well as his conflicting emotions, giving off more than enough energy to track. She could also sense 004, moving along with two others and coming towards her. She could only wonder why they'd left Joe behind and come out in weather like this.

Suddenly, a heavy form slammed into her from her left side near the warehouses, clamping a hand over her mouth and wrapping an arm around her throat. Francoise tried to kick and scream, but the attacker merely gave her a vicious shake, dragging her into the back door of an empty warehouse, kicking the door shut and muting the sound of falling rain. The attacker slowly tightened his grip around her throat and gave her another shake. A deep, accent voice hissed into her ear, ordering her silent.

"And stay quiet or I'll snap your neck like a twig, 003."

Francoise instantly froze, scared more by the fact that he knew her coding rather than the fact that his arm was threatening to cut off her airflow...

Francoise gasped.

...her much needed airflow.

Hearing the labored breathing from his victim, the attacker eased some of the pressure from her throat, yet maintained a sure grip on her body. He spoke low and slowly into her ear, making sure that she heard every word.

"My name is Diablo, and I work for Black Ghost." The girl's body stiffened and Diablo continued, relishing in the fearful shivering that involuntarily took the French woman's body, "I know your code name and I know where you're from. I know your past and I know your capabilities, which, mind you, are no where near my own."

Francoise managed to shake away Diablo's hand, glaring ahead into the darkness, "What do you want?"

Diablo completely removed his hand from her mouth, pushing Francoise to the floor with an excited grunt. He fell on top of her before she could move or turn over, settling his body to the contours of her own. Slowly, he lowered his mouth next to her face, pressing her right cheek into the floor as he whispered.

"I want all of you dead..."

Francoise stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "Another assassination attempt by Black Ghost?"

Diablo chucked, leaning back to sit on top of her body, one hand firmly settled on Francoise's cheek, holding her down. "Oh no, my original mission was to take down 009 and return him to Black Ghost, alive or not. However, the more I learned about him, the more interested I became. I've been watching both you and him...I've heard his confessions of love to a woman he doesn't know, and you arguments with Jets trying to protect him. When I discovered how really fragile your relationship was with Joe, I realized how perfect that would suit me." He grinned viciously, "So I made the necessary preparations..."

The side door opened once again, slammed against the steel walls from the wind gust. Francoise tried to crane her head to see, but Diablo's sure grip prevented her from doing anything but thrash about and waste her energy.

"You're late, Kinto." Diablo growled, "What kept you?"

Francoise's eyes widened. Kinto? The firstmate? Impossible...

Kinto spoke, "Get off my back, I had a little trouble with my partner, but everything turned out fine in the end."

"Where is he?" Diablo growled, his voice hard and suspicious.

"Oh don't worry about him," Kinto moved around to stand in front of Francoise, "So this is her, huh?"

Diablo nodded up at Kinto, "Correct. Subject 003...our 'bait' for this evening."

Kinto squatted down low enough for 003 to see him out of the corner of her eye. Kinto smiled softly, raising a hand in greeting...a blood stained hand.

"Hi there!" He said happily, "We meet again, my young beauty. I hope you're doing a lot better than the dear doctor."

At this, Francoise started struggling again, panic gripping her in ice cold fingers. "What did you do to Doctor Gilmore?" she demanded angrily, trying to use all of her cyborg strength to push off Diablo, "What did you do to him?"

Kinto chuckled, but his smile melted away into an unemotional mask, "The good doctor walked in at a bad time, I'm afraid, so I had to make sure that what he'd seen would not be told to anyone else." Kinto glanced up, staring directly at Diablo. "Oh, and I'm afraid one of your patients passed away in the night unexpectedly."

The Cuban answered, although the comment had been directed at Francoise, "You killed Min? Why the hell would you..."

Kinto held up a hand. "Not Min, his brother." A dark smile cracked across the fisherman's face, "Apparently a bullet through the eye can cause quite an explosion of blood. I'll need to take a shower before we board the frigate."

It was then that Francoise noticed the thick, crimson blood splashed over Kinto's face, her cry of anger and disgust barely contained. But Kinto continued oblivious to her discomfort.

"Min wasn't being very cooperative and threatened to cut the deal short, but I told him that he had an...obligation to us and threatened to kill off him brother if he didn't do what I told him to. Well, after he stashed away Sotomo's and the doctor, I killed his brother anyways for good measure."

Diablo laughed lightly, "I must be rubbing off on you."

Kinto motioned towards Francoise, "What are we going to do with her?"

"She'll lure 009 out of the safety of the ship and into the warehouse complex." Diablo hefted Francoise to her feet, wrapping his arms around her again. "Then, one he have him in an isolated area, I'll attack him and snap his legs, rendering him powerless."

"And then we deliver him to Black Ghost, right? And I collect my pay."

Diablo clenched his teeth together, glaring at Kinto. "Yes...and then you get your pay. By the way, where is Min?"

Kinto threw out a hand, "By the door. I told him to wait there."

"Isn't there a possibility he could run?"

Kinto shrugged, "I think he's still in shock over the death of his brother."

Sighing, Diablo activated his internal clock, the digital numbers appearing before his eyes. "It's nearly two o'clock in the morning and the frigate leaves in approximately two hours. We need to finish this if we're to catch a ride."

Francoise glared, "I'll never help you...not ever! You're nothing but scum for trusting Black Ghost! He doesn't care about you! He---"

A thick blade pressed against her throat, causing her breath to catch. Diablo gently hissed in her ear. "I would start worrying about yourself my dear...because after this, you and your friends are totally expendable. In fact...Kinto."

The fisherman handed Diablo a small black box. The cyborg Cuban held it in front of Francoise, flipping open the top to reveal a blinking red light and a timer. He grinned, caressing her cheek with his face.

"The Dolphin has enough explosives to send it, and your dearest crew, to the bottom of Tokyo Bay within seconds. And believe me when I say it will make quite a mess of your friends. I dare say the police will have trouble piecing together a body when I'm through. But it can all go away if you just do what I say. Got it? You have a choice...either everybody dies, or just your dearest Joe does."

Francoise closed her eyes.

God help me...


Stretches

Ok! Another chapter completed! Thank God. You know, I think I made a big mistake when I limited my chapters to a minimum of seven pages. Seven pages can get awfully tiresome. Good news! I'm graduating from high school on Monday! And you know what that means...

Seriously, what's it mean cuz I'd really like to know...

R&R!

WATCH OUT FOR MY NEXT CHAPTER!

THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!