Chapter 3
It wasn't long after the phone call that Elektra received the information that was promised to her. She went over everything that her mysterious employer had given her and she knew that she would definitely be up for the task at the university.
The following day Elektra was prepared for her interview with Professor Keiko Ling who was the head of the history department at the university and the one who she would be working with in the professor's Japanese history class. Elektra's meeting with professor Ling was for the professor to see how qualified Elektra was to be her teaching assistant.
Elektra arrived at the campus of ESU early for her interview and headed for the administration building in order to find out where the history department was. Once she had that information, Elektra made her way there to see Professor Ling. Elektra found professor Ling's office and went inside. Inside the office she saw the professor's secretary busy on the phone so Elektra waited for her to finish so that she could tell the secretary that she was here to see Professor Ling.
"Can I help you?" asked the secretary.
"My name is Elektra Natchios and I am here to see Professor Ling," Elektra answered.
"I'll inform the professor that you're here, Ms. Natchios. Why don't you take a seat and the professor should be right with you."
"Thank you."
Elektra sat down in the nearest chair while the secretary used the phone to let the professor know that Elektra was here. A few minutes had gone by when the secretary picked up the phone to answer it. She then turned to Elektra and said, "You may go in to see the professor now." The secretary showed Elektra which door to go to. Elektra gave the secretary a nod of thanks and went inside while closing the door behind her.
Professor Ling got up from behind her desk and greeted Elektra. "Good morning, Ms. Natchios," Professor Ling said while shaking Elektra's hand. "Please take a seat and we shall get started."
"Thank you, professor," Elektra answered.
After taking a chair from across Professor Ling's desk, Elektra handed the professor her resume and the interview began. They spent the next hour or so going over Elektra's qualifications for the job. Professor Ling was very impressed with Elektra's qualifications.
"How long have you been taking martial arts?" asked the professor.
"Ever since I was a child. My father was the one that got me started and I have been doing it ever since," Elektra replied.
"That's very impressive. I have always wanted to include a little bit of the martial arts in the course curriculum for the last few years but I have never come across someone who would be able to do it for this course. People that I have approached to help with this have always turned me down and I was hoping that you would be able to do it. If you don't mind?"
Elektra thought about it for a little while and then gave Professor Ling her answer, "I don't see why not. What do you have in mind?"
Then the professor went over the specifics with Elektra about what she wanted. It wouldn't be a full lesson on martial arts but like a demonstration since the course consisted of Japanese history it would be too much and probably a course of its own. Elektra agreed to it and told Professor Ling that she would come up with a lesson plan to include it in the course. With that settled. Professor Ling congratulated Elektra on successfully getting the job and was told to bring an outline of the lesson plan with her when the class started next week.
After she left Professor Ling's office Elektra was more than satisfied with the outcome. She now had to wait and see how she would be able to get close to Peter Parker. As Elektra was walking on campus she accidentally bumped into someone who she thought was a student.
"Let me help you with those." Elektra said as she helped the young man pick up his things.
"Thanks," was his reply.
"I'm so sorry. My name is Elektra Natchios. Nice to meet you."
"Peter Parker, nice to meet you too."
Hearing that name surprised Elektra. What are the odds that she would meet him so soon?
"So Peter, what classes are you taking here?" Elektra asked.
"I'm majoring in bio-chemistry," Peter replied, "How about you?"
"I'm not a student here. I just got a job as a teaching assistant with Professor Ling. She teaches Japanese history."
"Well, that is a coincidence. I have that class, so I guess I'll be seeing you there. I gotta get going now. It was nice to meet you and I'll see you in class."
"Goodbye Peter."
Elektra was still stunned that she ran into Peter Parker. At least now she knew that she would be able to see him on a regular basis in Japanese History. The next thing she had to do was find out what connection Peter and Spider-Man have.
After Peter left Elektra, he then ran into Mary Jane. Peter liked the fact that they both were attending ESU because they could spend a little time together.
"Hey there, Tiger," MJ greeted Peter.
"Hey, MJ," replied Peter while giving Mary Jane a kiss on the cheek.
"How's your day far, Pete?"
"Not too bad. Professor Warren's class went fairly well and I have Dr. Connors in an hour. How about you?"
"Can't complain. You know, I don't have Drama for about an hour and since you don't have class either I thought that…"
"Say no more, MJ. Let's go to the student union to hang out there until class and spend some quality time together."
"How can I say no to that," Mary Jane replied as she linked arms with Peter and went to the student union. As they were heading to the student union, Mary Jane noticed the puzzling look on Peter's face.
"Is something the matter, Peter?" asked MJ.
"Its something that happened before I met up with you. I accidentally bumped into someone," explained Peter.
"You don't usually bump into anyone, at least not anymore."
"Exactly," Peter replied with a chuckle. Before continuing with what he had to say to MJ, he made sure they were out of ear shot so that no one would over hear what he was about to say. "My spider sense would let me know about something like that and I would be able to avoid it. But this was different. It happened before I could react, but that's not what's so odd about it. After we went our separate ways my spider sense was still going off and in the direction that she was going."
"Her?"
"Yeah. A teacher's aid by the name of Elektra Natchios. She seemed nice enough until my spider sense was buzzing as she left."
"Don't worry about it, Peter. You'll figure it out eventually or it could just be nothing."
"Your probably right, MJ. Thanks."
They continued to the student union while Peter thought over what Mary Jane had just said.
Tokyo, Japan
Roshi had called a meeting of the Hand to go over what has been happening in wake of them losing the Treasure. It's been several weeks since then and Roshi wanted to go over some things to make up for that failure and to see how other Hand business was fairing.
When everyone was gathered together, Roshi began the meeting. The meeting commenced by going over what the Hand has been up to recently. Then the subject about the Treasure came up.
"What're the plans concerning the Treasure?" asked one of the members. That was followed by others nodding their heads also wondering about that.
"As of now the Treasure is out of our reach. The Chaste has made very sure of that. By using some of our contacts they have found no trace of her. We lost some very valuable members of the Hand and we should begin replacing them shortly." Roshi commented to the members.
That statement brought a round of agreement amongst everyone present. The Hand had lost some fine warriors in the form of Kirigi, Typhoid Mary, Stone, Tattoo and a handful of Hand ninjas. Ninjas would be fairly easy to replace but warriors of the caliber of Kirigi were very hard to find.
"Since we have lost the Treasure, what are we to do about the cause of that loss?" another member asked.
This time Roshi was ready for this question, "You mean Elektra Natchios, correct?" The members of the Hand all nodded in agreement. Roshi then pushed a button on the table where he sat and a door to the room they were in opened and two men entered. "These two men will aid us in this task."
That was when the two men appeared in full view of the Hand members.
"These two gentlemen are Matsuo Tsurayaba and Takashi," began Roshi, "they have been summoned to look into our Elektra problem."
"Problem? That female assassin is more than a problem. She should be punished for what she did to us," said one of the members of the Hand.
"In good time my friend, in good time. Their job at the moment is to locate her and to see what she is up to and not to engage her, at least not yet."
"Why?"
"We don't want a repeat of what happened the last time. That is why both Matsuo and Takashi will observe. They will report to us at least four times a day to keep us apprised of the situation and when the time is right we will strike."
What Roshi said brought a round of applause from the Hand members.
"Matsuo and Takashi. Hand contacts in New York say that she is there. Go now and see what the assassin is up to." Roshi told them.
"Yes Master Roshi," Matsuo and Takashi replied and left immediately for New York.
"Now if there isn't any more business concerning the Hand then I will call this meeting adjourned."
As the Hand members left, Roshi stayed behind. Alone in the conference room Roshi began to contemplate on their next move concerning Elektra when she was successfully located.
AN: Now things are starting to fall into place. Peter and Elektra have now met for the first time and now she'll be working at the university that Peter goes to. What will happen when the meet again? It now appears that Elektra will have something else to worry about, the Hand. They are not too thrilled with her at the moment and it looks like the Hand is out to get her. The next chapter might shed some light on these developments. I would like to thank the following people for their wonderful reviews for the first two chapters: Jenn1, Georgia Kennedy, jjonahjameson and SpartanCommander. Now just click the review button and let me know what you thought of this chapter.