Now.....
The plane landed at Heathrow without incident, and Kira joined the throngs of travellers mulling through arrivals. She felt a sheer exhaustion that had little to do with the long flight, but people were eager to help her; a pretty face combined with a young child in tow seemed to bring out the best in people.
They were waiting for her there, those people that had shattered her happy world, and, for a moment, she felt a hot surge of anger. She willed it away; they weren't to blame. They were only the messengers.
There was one of the three she didn't recognise, a middle-aged man whose face was creased with worry. He was looking at her baby with a sort of pinched look on his face, as if he was struggling with a difficult decision. Kira's attention was soon distracted by one of the others; a short, nondescript Japanese woman, who glided forward and embraced Kira warmly. She had tears in her eyes, but spoke in a composed voice.
We were worried...worried you wouldn't come, she said softly. Kira looked away, her eyes settling on her daughter.
I didn't have much choice, Kira replied, her tone flat. Can we go now?
The middle-aged man nodded. It would be wise.
The journey up to their final destination took over three hours with all of the midday traffic, and Kira found herself looking at the English countryside. She had almost forgotten what it looked like, and found it now to be almost alien to her eyes. The car was rather full, with four adults and a baby, plus a few of Kira's belongings. Most of her things were being delivered direct to her new home by courier.
The middle-aged man, she had learnt, was Jeremy Martin, the head of the clandestine organisation that the other two worked for. Both the Japanese woman, Reiko, and her husband, who preferred to be addressed by his family name, Yamada, she had met in Japan. They looked like a couple of unassuming tourists, but Kira knew different.
******
Over two years earlier....
Kira knew that she hadn't really got any choice in the matter - she had to accept Mishima's offer.
It could have been worse, she knew. With the evidence he had on her, he could have forced her to remain his prisoner and do the same work she was doing now; he knew that if there was a choice between facing the full brunt and Japanese law, or being practically enslaved by a Japanese conglomerate, she would choose the path that allowed her access to computers.
But no. He was true to his word, and ensured that she did indeed have the salary and benefits enjoyed by senior employees of the zaibatsu. Of course, the existing zaibatsu staff were not pleased by her arrival. Their main objections seemed to be that she was gaijin, and female. The fact that within a week of her arrival she had pointed out no less than two hundred and ninety eight flaws in their computer infrastructure didn't endear her to them either. It took her two months to completely sew up the security, and, by the end of it, her colleagues admitted that she was quite good'.
She was tapping away at her workstation when she heard an excited murmuring. She glanced over cubicle wall just as Kazuya Mishima entered the room. The head of the department scuttled over to him, and gave an obsequious bow.
It is an honour, sir, that you should visit our department. We are grateful for your attention-
Kira stifled a snigger, but she saw Kazuya's eyes dart over to her. For a moment, she thought she saw a fleeting smile cross his face. He nodded to her superior.
I want to know how the new security measures are proceeding, he said, with a bite of impatience evident in his voice. My office has not yet received a report, like I requested.
We have successfully secured the system, sir, the man said, with another small bow. Our new...colleague...was supposed to send you a report. Our apologies if she had failed to do so.
He shot an unpleasant smirk in Kira's direction, who was glaring at him in disbelief. She was annoyed enough by his use of the word we', as they had contributed little to the effort, but she had been told nothing about sending the chairman's office a report. She opened her mouth to protest, but shut it quickly. This was Japan. Things had to be done differently.
I'm terribly sorry, sir, she said, with a sarcastic little nod. It appears that it, ah, slipped from my schedule. She tapped a few keys on her computer, and the printer whizzed to life. she continued, collecting the freshly printed sheets from the tray. I do keep an automated log of work done so far...as does everyone in the department, I believe. It's company procedure.
She handed Kazuya a thick wad of paper, and smiled pleasantly. Of course, I can compile this into an official report.
If you would, Kazuya said, the corner of his mouth twitching. He flicked through the sheets, nodding. You will need your colleagues logs?
It would be helpful, she said, fake sweetness in her voice. I daresay it slipped my mind to ask them before.
Kazuya looked at Kira's co-workers. Well? Print them off!
Kira wished she had a camera, as the expressions on their faces were priceless. They ranged from fear to fury, via resentment and disgust. They sheepishly handed their logs, the largest of which was less than a third of Kira's.
Kazuya said conversationally, glancing at Kira. Tell me about some of the measures you've implemented.
Kira smirked. We have managed to secure the system, like my colleague said. She turned to him and smiled poisonously. In addition, we have also implemented a tracer program. If anyone does manage to get through, they will be detected and a virus will be sent back to their computer, which will not only act as a beacon, but will also delete any information they have obtained.
Kazuya said, and Kira knew it was directed at her. Very good. I will expect the full report tomorrow. Perhaps it would be best if you delivered it personally, so to ensure that it doesn't get- he glanced at the others -
Kira nodded, grinning. Yes, sir.
******
The next day, Kira waited outside of Kazuya's office, report in hand. She was still feeling quietly smug and fairly triumphant from the previous day. Kazuya Mishima, she could tell, was not a man to be blinded by flattery, and was clearly not fooled by her colleagues'
attempts to discredit her. All the same, she was still put out that they should have attempted it in the first place.
You may go in now, Kazuya's secretary said politely. Kira took a deep breath, unsure why she was so nervous.
Miss Wilson, he said, smiling slightly, looking up from his desk. There have been no further problems with your report, I trust?
She took the offered seat, and sank into the leather with a smirk. No, I think I remembered everything.
I must congratulate you on your restraint yesterday, he said, his smile widening a touch. And I must apologise about my staff's behaviour. Perhaps I should review their usefulness to the company.
Kira sighed. I think I've distracted them. They're obviously a lot smarter than they've been acting over the past two months, or they would never have caught me in the first place.
A remarkably benevolent attitude, considering how you've been treated, he said, clearly surprised.
Don't get me wrong, I was ready knock them out, Kira said, grinning. But benevolence makes it so much easier to take the moral high ground later on.
And rendering colleagues unconscious is frowned upon in any company, Kazuya said, with that near-smile on his face. Kira nodded.
That's why I've always been self-employed.
Kazuya laughed, and shook his head. He seemed slightly embarrassed by his outburst, and Kira got the distinct impression that he was a man who didn't laugh easily. He soon composed himself.
There was another reason I asked you here, he said, becoming serious again. You will recall that I mentioned some files left by the previous chairman?
Kira nodded, intrigued. Wrapping up the security and adding counter-measures was all well and good, but hacking was what she was made for. Kazuya leant back in his chair.
I'd like to see what you make of them.
