Chapter Twenty Three: Intervention
Author's Note: Back again with another chapter! I'm gonna kick this chapter into high gear with lots of action, twists, and turns so I hope you enjoy! Hm…not much is happening for me here lately…so I'm not exactly sure what else to say…but…OH…in this chapter Nina will make an appearance and so will another Tekken fighter…and Jamie's going to find out that not only does Heihachi want him dead…but a whole other group entirely!
Jamie Parker never liked hospitals; it was always some primal, child like fear that everyone seems born with…he had fought werewolves, devils and vampires…but one of the primary things that scared him the most was a harmless building meant to tend and heal the sick.
The last time he had been in one for surgery was when he had a fever of 108…he had been seventeen, and even though he was practically an adult…he always had to have someone with him in his room at night.
Of course, Justin was willing to do just that…he sat by his brother's bedside and wouldn't leave until Jamie was well enough to go home. Jamie remembered fondly that Mina, Robbie, and Maureen had also visited him…but not as often (as they did have school).
As Jamie and the others walked through the halls and corridors the Nephilim began to feel a sudden claustrophobia sink in…he didn't know why hospitals scared him so much…maybe it was because people died in them? Or maybe it was because in the basement they harvested organs, and cut up dead bodies?
His heart rate began to pick up, and his breathing started to get erratic…
Panic had begun to set in.
Still, Jamie willed himself to press on…he couldn't let an irrational fear like this one stop him from seeing a good friend of his…Jamie longed for a distraction…any kind of distraction…so he began to think about who had done this.
Grey…
This was it…Jamie had put up with all of Grey's shit for far too long…if it was another fight he wanted, then Jamie would give it to him. Grey had fractured Steve's ribs…well then Jamie was going to fracture Grey's face!
The doctor's lead Jamie and the others into a rather dismal and depressing room; the walls were painted a rather nasty shade of green…and Jamie could feel the angst radiating off the walls.
"Steve!" Christie cried.
Ensconced in the center of the room was a bed which housed the British boxer…one of his eyes was swollen shut and he had white bandages around his chest…Steve was hooked up to several monitors that beeped on occasion…a bag of morphine hung suspended over his bed and it dripped periodically into a tube.
"…hey guys…" Steve whispered.
"Are you alright Steve?" Jin asked stepping forward…concern showing on his face.
"Obviously not Kazama he's in a fucking hospital bed!" Hwoarang shouted.
"I'm just trying to-" Jin began.
"Guys, let's not do this!" Xiao sighed.
"Steve…did Grey do this to you?" A voice asked.
Everyone turned to see Detective Lei Wulong standing in the threshold.
"Yeah…" Steve coughed. "That lil' bastard's powerful considerin' he's about as skinny as a rail."
Lei sighed, and when he did, his long ponytail swished back and forth…Jamie personally liked Lei a lot…the poor guy always just seemed down on his luck. He looked like he'd had a rough evening as his clothes were rumpled…his once white office shirt had yellow stains on it, and his tie was slightly askew…Jamie also noticed the distinct odor of beer and sake wafting off his clothes.
Add to the fact that his eyes looked as if they had been sprayed by kerosene…
Lei looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"Are you okay Officer Wulong?" Xiao asked, stepping over to touch his shoulder.
Apparently, Xiao and Lei were close friends.
"I've been doing a little investigative work on this Douglas Greyson…and I don't understand it…he hasn't even spent a decade in martial arts? Most of the fighter's have been training all their lives? And how is it that Heihachi Mishima took an interest in him?" Lei mused.
Jamie glanced nervously over to Mina and she exchanged his look…they knew where Lei was getting at…Grey's martial arts history sounded awfully similar to Jamie's…and right now, Jamie didn't have the time or the energy to come up with a good enough lie on the spot.
"In fact Mr. Parker," Lei said pointed to Jamie.
"Me?" Jamie squeaked.
"You've only been taking martial arts for three years…why is it that you and Grey have progressed so far in this tournament and taken out people who have spent their whole lives training and yet, you both have such little experience on your own?"
"Well…" Jamie began, looking for something…anything to say…
"Kazuya beat him!" Julia interrupted.
"Yes but-"
"Hey Jamie…look at all this…latex in here!" Kyo said loudly.
Apparently, Kyosuke remembered the conversation that he and the girls had had about Jamie's rather strange allergy.
"Yeah Jamie…you'd better be careful because aren't you highly allergic to latex?" Julia chimed in.
"You're right…I'm starting to feel a bit sick…I need some air." Jamie said as he scratched his arm convincingly, and pretended to dry heave as he staggered out of the room and towards the bathroom in the hall.
As he walked, his heightened hearing heard Lei sigh and leave a strange tidbit of information.
"No one takes me seriously! I'm a cop damnit and I deserve respect! I tried to question Nina Williams earlier about what Grey did to Steve and she just walked out on me!"
"Nina…" Jamie whispered to himself.
Whenever Jamie Parker thought of the mind…he always assumed that it was like a huge H.G. Wells, 19th century machine complete with whirring cogs, steam, bells and whistles…and for some reason…the wheels in his head began to turn.
Lei told Nina what Grey did to Steve…she walked out…Nina is Steve's biological mother…Nina is a highly paid contract assassin…Grey is a pissed off emo kid with superpowers who brutally maimed her son…both have volatile tempers…then this could only mean…
"Oh God!" Jamie's eyes widened in surprise as his mind deduced the scenario at hand.
Lei was watching him leave, so Jamie had no choice but to enter the bathroom…as he did he turned the water on in the sink and stared at it going down the faucet.
"Grey's gonna kill Nina unless I get to them first…" He whispered. "I've gotta save her!"
Suddenly, the door to the men's room opened and Jamie turned to see Hwoarang, Jin, Kyo and Kazuya enter.
"Did you guys hear what Lei said?" Jamie asked.
"Phft…Lei says a lot of things, none of them important." Hwoarang snorted.
Jamie ignored the comment. "Lei said that Nina was here and left when she found out about Grey!"
"What's wrong with that Jamie?" Jin asked.
"I'd personally like to see Grey get his ass kicked by a contract assassin…and I'd figure you would too." Kyo reasoned as he leaned against the bathroom's paper towel dispenser.
"Nina can handle herself Jamie believe me; I'd be more worried about Grey," Kazuya shrugged his shoulders. "Only problem is I'm not."
"That's not the point," Jamie argued. "The point is…wait a second, did you just use a witty pun?" Jamie asked looking quizzically at Kazuya.
"Don't get used to it…and if there's a point Jamie I think you should make it soon." Kazuya shot back.
"Okay…Nina may have been in all the tournaments…and she may be this cool female spy assassin girl…but Grey is…something that we're not even sure of; I mean, twice he's kicked my ass without even trying, and he didn't seem to chip his black nail polish when he gave Steve, the middleweight champion of the world a concussion and three fractured ribs." Jamie argued.
"So…you say we should go after her? Why?" Hwoarang asked.
"Because she hasn't tried to kill or maim me or any of my friends yet, so that makes her okay in my book." Jamie replied evenly.
"Alright, I'll go tell everyone that we need to find her," Jin began.
"No," Jamie interrupted. "I'm doing this alone...Lei will think it's suspicious if we all duck out at the same time…just tell him…tell him I had a reaction to the latex and got sick or something." He finished.
"But how will you get out? I mean-" Kyo began.
But all Kyo had been speaking too was air…for Jamie had quickly jumped out of the small window and into the alley below…
(New Scene)
Nina William's cold blue eyes stared straight ahead of her as she walked boldly through the street's of downtown Tokyo. Her blonde hair was tied back in a no nonsense ponytail, and a few errant strands brushed through her eyes. She wasn't exactly sure why she was doing what she was doing…letting her emotions get ahold of her as they were…Nina had always prided herself on having full control over her feelings.
She had always gone through most of her life emotionally numb…some might have perceived this to be unhealthy, but Nina wouldn't have had it any other way. Emotions got in the way…she had killed many in her line of work…and over time, she had not only learned to stop caring…
But also to stop counting.
And yet, here she was, acting purely on emotion…her so-…well someone she cared about…probably the only person in her whole life that she actually cared for, was brutally attacked and hurt.
Normally, none of this would have bothered the Irish Assassin…and the rational side of her was arguing this point to the other part of her conscience that was listening to her heart. This was a fighting tournament, people got hurt, and most of the participants in this badly acted farce weren't exactly the most emotionally stable…Steve had been lucky that he wasn't dead.
But…he was…Steve…her Steve…her…son…and he was hurt! Nina knew that she hadn't exactly been the best mother to her son…and she also knew that she couldn't have helped it, as, for the longest time she didn't even know she had a son…but still…all mothers should come through for their children.
Nina knew that she would have to make up a lot of lost time for Steve…at one time she had almost killed him! And to return the favor, he had tackled that incompetent rent-a-cop which gave her a chance to escape.
Well, it was too late for Nina to be the traditional mom and bake Steve cookies, and attend all his sporting events or recitals…but maybe, with this; she could not only make it up to him…but in some way start justifying what she had done to him.
This…Douglas Greyson was going to pay…Nina wasn't going to thrash him though…he deserved much more then that…she had seen him during this tournament, but known about him for a few months now. Certain people wanted him dead.
Nina hadn't taken the job at killing Greyson because in addition to his bounty, these certain people also wanted the head of the Nephilim…and Nina wasn't going to kill him. Nina had been around death for a very long time, and most of the people she killed didn't deserve life.
They had been rapists, human traffickers, mob bosses and the like…but Nina always had the utmost respect for people who selflessly gave their lives for others…which Jamie Parker the Nephilim did on a daily basis…she wouldn't kill him.
Besides, the Ritual of Triumvarence couldn't commence if one third of it's participants was dead could it? Nina heard the throbbing techno of the club and entered it. She had made an arrangement with the bouncer, who led her to a private VIP room that overlooked the throngs of dancers.
Nina opened a case underneath a set of chairs and began to assemble her rifle…it only took her a few seconds to chamber the weapon. She shouldered the rifle and looked through it's scope…there, in the very center of the floor, was Douglas "Grey" Greyson.
He looked as happy as ever grinding in time with the music with a handful of his groupies…some women, some men it didn't matter. His long fringe of hair whipped back and forth and revealed his liquid, eyeliner traced eyes, and pierced eyebrow/ He smiled as he danced showing pearly white teeth and three bottom lip rings…this was truly his heaven.
He was handsome, Nina would give him that much…well, handsome in that gothic sort of way…if he tried to pull off any other type of style, he'd probably look unattractive…well, in a matter of seconds, pieces of Grey's handsome face would be spattered all over the dance floor and on his adoring fans.
Nina refocused her target, and breathed in astonishment…she had lost him! How! Where did he- and suddenly, Nina felt something slam in the back of her head.
Quickly, she turned and smacked the butt of her rifle…it hit it's target…her attackers cheek…finally, she got a good visual…and saw Grey standing over her, blood trickling down his mouth.
"Oh, look who it is!" He said with a grin as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Mommy dearest."
(New Scene)
"You're incredible…I owe you my life!" The cowering man said from underneath the dumpster.
"Don't worry about it…get outta here before that gang comes back." Jamie said as he helped the young man (who looked only a few years older then himself) up and saw him run down the main streets.
Apparently, Grey and his cronies had figured that Jamie would go after Nina, so they sent a few obstacles of the fanged variety to keep him busy. Jamie sighed and dusted off his shorts.
"I feel like a new Nephilim." He said sarcastically as he checked his surroundings, "so…if I was a pissed off emo kid bent on murder and world destruction where would I go?" Jamie asked.
He jogged through the streets, and as he did, he found himself close to the club districts. Jamie remembered watching some of Grey's interviews…and in each one he always talked about "gettin' Crunk in the clubs"…and Grey was one of those people who liked to celebrate doing bodily harm to people by dancing.
Unfortunately, Jamie wasn't exactly familiar with this side of town…and besides, Jamie was more into bars then dance clubs anyway…the music and the people all around him made him more then a bit claustrophobic…but he visited them on occasion with his friends. His sojourn through the unfamiliar territory brought him to a dead end…and he wondered what to do next.
"Nina's counting on me," Jamie sighed. "And she could die all because I've got a bad sense of direction!"
Well, he wasn't totally off…his Nephilim senses were tingling, and he could feel Nina's presence close…and he could also feel Grey's.
"Hm…I could probably push that dumpster underneath that fire escape, hop on the roof and find them easier that way…" Jamie mused aloud.
Deciding that this was the best course of action, Jamie began the cumbersome task of moving the dumpster…it was so filled with trash that it would have been virtually unmovable by any mortal…but Jamie could…it was just incredibly heavy.
Grunting under the strain Jamie only pushed it a few feet when he noticed a peculiar red dot streak across the ground. Jamie wondered what it was, but it looked like those dots used by laser pointers…his Geometry Professor at school had used one in their big lecture hall, and class clowns back in high school had used them to torment teachers…but what was it doing here?
Suddenly, Jamie noticed that the dot was snaking it's way up his sneakered feet, legs and chest before coming to rest directly inbetween his eyes.
What the…that's so weird what-
A loud bang from inside the building rattled through the night sky and Jamie did a clumsy leap backwards…if he hadn't had supernatural speed, he would surely have been dead; Jamie crabwalked backwards looking desperately for the sniper, before getting to his feet. The beam began it's erratic journey again as Jamie sprinted desperately away…chips of concrete exploded at the exact spot where Jamie stood a second ago.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod
Jamie thought desperately as he ran from the beam…he didn't have time to continue pushing the dumpster…but maybe he could take a running leap? He'd have to, or he'd be dead. Pumping out full Nephilim speed Jamie hopped on the dumpster and leapt off at the last second…his arms full out in front of his face like superman.
Another shot was fired…and Jamie grunted as the bullet grazed across his thigh. With a sudden jarring in his bones, Jamie realized that he had grabbed the last rung on the ladder. Desperately, he pulled himself up, and shot up the ladder as fast as he could.
Sparks flew as yet another shot missed and hit the medal rung just below him…Jamie couldn't afford to stop, the whole time he wondered who was shooting at him? And how many more rounds were left in the gun? Obviously, the mysterious shooter didn't have to reload anytime soon.
It was times like these that Jamie wished he knew more about guns…after watching his parents killed by one, he refused to use them…but he supposed it wouldn't have hurt to actually know how many rounds a certain one held…or other kinds of fun facts like that.
Three more rounds were fired, sparks and brick dust assaulted Jamie as he clambered up the ladder and desperately, he pulled himself up; however, the Nephilim wasn't out of the woods yet…he needed to find cover and fast. He found it in a utility shed on the other side of the roof…he half ran half stumbled towards it, and ducked behind the small shed.
Jamie drew his knees up to his chin and waited...he strained his ears, and he finally heard the sound of footsteps walking away…he drew in a sigh and let his heartbeat quiet down to a dull roar.
"Okay…breathe…relax…the worst is over…"
"GAH!" A cry shot through the night.
"And here it comes again…" Jamie said sarcastically as he pulled himself up.
Three rooftops over he found Nina Williams engaged in a pretty fierce hand to hand combat scenario with Grey…both looked incredibly tired, beaten and bruised. Jamie noticed that Nina was defiantly holding her own, Grey was tired…but so was Nina!
"God will you do me a favor soccer mom and just DIE ALREADY!" Grey asked through pants.
"You talk too much Grey." Nina countered as she delivered three precise strikes to Grey's chest.
"Y'know Nina? You're almost too pretty to kill…but not quite." He said as he preformed a jumping front snap kick to Nina's face.
Nina staggered backwards and fell to her knees.
"Say goodnight bitch!" Grey said as he raised his fist in the air.
"Goodnight bitch!" Jamie Parker replied with a smile as he grabbed Grey's fist from behind…he flung Grey over him and he landed with a thud against the ground.
"What the hell are you doing here? Don't you have girl scouts to save…or a runaway baby carriage to stop or something?"
"Nah," Jamie said. "I'm kinda free tonight, so I thought I'd give you an ass whoopin'"
"Go away Nephilim…I've got an assassin bitch to kill!"
"See that's the problem, it looks like I can kick your ass without even trying…Nina's laid into you pretty damn good and I won't have to exert a muscle. I'm still alive and kicking…and it looks to me like you're just alive." Jamie said.
Grey's eyes glinted with a cold hatred. "I will kill you both…by the end of this tournament both of you will pay for your sins."
"Oh…mmkay, ya see, that's my department…I'm officially God's right hand…and right now it's definitely giving you the finger."
"I will eat popcorn and watch you bleed Nephilim." Grey said as he limped away and jumped off the roof.
"Run along then." Jamie said.
He helped Nina up and had her lean against him for support. "You okay?"
"I'm fine!" Nina said coldly as she pushed away and brushed herself off.
"Hey, look I know you're all about doing everything on your own…but if I hadn't come around you'd be a grease stain on the pavement."
"I know…" Nina sighed. "And I appreciate it…I have a great amount of respect for you…and you're a good friend to Steve."
"Oh…" Jamie began. "Is…this what this is about?"
"Yeah," Nina sighed. "I know I'm a terrible mother but…but I had to do something."
"Listen, Grey actually looked scared when he fought you…I've never seen him that weak or upset."
"I don't need a therapist. I appreciate what you're trying to do but I don't need it!" Nina said coolly as she began walking towards the edge of the roof.
"Then let's make a deal!" Jamie called.
Nina stopped and turned.
"Leave Grey to me…but I need you to do me a favor…I need to know who else wants me dead…I know Heihachi wouldn't try to have me shot to death, and that's just what I dealt with about ten minutes ago."
"Raven…" Nina muttered so low even Jamie couldn't hear it.
"Huh?" Jamie asked.
"Leave it to me!" Nina said as she jumped off the roof.
"Great…" Jamie chuckled. "someone else is trying to kill me and I don't even know who it is…it's not like I'm wearing my pin that says 'I'm the Nephilim! Ask me how!'"
Author's Note: Sorry this is so late…I know I promised that I'd have had it yesterday morning, but I ran into some comp trouble and now am officially ready to deliver you the next chappie! Hope you enjoyed PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!