DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY DEAD OR ALIVE CHARACTER. THOSE CHARACTERS BELONG TO TECMO, LTD. AND TEAM NINJA. I AM IN NO WAY INTENDING ANY COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND I'M NOT MAKING A PROFIT FROM THE USE OF THESE CHARACTERS. ANY CHARACTER NOT A PART OF DEAD OR ALIVE IS MINE AND MINE ALONE.
Author's Note: CYPHER is not my idea. it is the idea of me and a group of people on an IGN forum. I just didn't want them to think I was tring to take all the credit or anything. On with the story, and thaks for all the reviews.I only wish my story were more popular...thanx for reading my story!!
Chapter Twenty-four
Sunday, December 25
8:30 P.M.
Jack's Apartment
Shark had been waiting in the lobby of the building since early this afternoon, awaiting Jack's return from where ever the man was spending his day. Bayman had deliberately told him that Jack would have answers, but finding him seemed to be a problem. Then it occurred to him that if Jack had killed Duncan, then it was most likely that he had taken the girl to the hospital. And if the man cared enough to kill a man over the pain of the red head, then he must love her very much.
But of course, this was all simply a speculation. But he was well aware that the wounds he had inflicted on her were nearly fatal. In fact, he had only intervened when she was on the brink of death. That was an action he regretted taking so long to do. If the girl was dead then Jack would be at home. No one stays out for almost eight hours without coming home on a Sunday.
So that must mean one of two things: he was in the wrong building, or the girl was still in the hospital. But even with the severe injuries he had deliberately inflicted, she wouldn't still be in the hospital. But there was the remote possibility that she was still there, so he decided to go and check. It was better than waiting around here for another eight hours doing nothing. If she wasn't in any of the town's three medical centers, then he could always come back and keep waiting.
Shark stood up and unruffled his dirty suit jacket. It was embarrassing to wear the same suit that he had been wearing ever since he ran from the Organization Compound, but the jacket hid his shirt, which was still stained with Kasumi's blood, and he had nothing else to wear. He exited the apartment complex and walked down the street. The nearest hospital was the Charity Medical Complex, which coincidentally was the largest hospital in town. It would take him almost three hours of walking to reach the building, but he had nothing better to do.
As he strode down the dark city streets, Shark's thoughts returned to the week he had spent mercilessly wounding that poor innocent girl. How could he expect to receive any forgiveness for what he's done? Why did he even care? And if Jack Wallace ever found out how he had treated her, he was a dead man for sure...unless something totally unexpected happened.
Sunday, December 25
8:37 P.M.
Organization Compound 32
Jack and Myamoto wandered deeper and deeper into the depths of the underground base, looking for clues, but still coming up empty handed.
"Are you sure that there's anything down here?"
Myamoto nodded. "I was right about the door wasn't I? There's definitely something at the bottom of these steps."
Jack nodded. "I hope whatever we find is useful. I am getting so damn tired of letting her down."
"You mean Kasumi? Dude, it wasn't your fault she was treated this way. Don't be so hard on yourself."
Jack remained silent, neither acknowledging or denying Myamoto's statement.
Soon they were at the foot of the steps and Jack was greeted by the sight of a labyrinth of walls and boxes. The room was dark, like the rest of the abandoned complex, but this room even felt black like a thick oil.
Jack wasted no time in searching. He walked over to the nearest box and opened it, holding his small black penlight in his mouth. The cardboard container was full of papers about genetic experiments to enhance the human body. What shocked him the most about the vague files was the strange seal on each page in the upper left corner. It was a black eagle contained within a navy blue circle. It was clutching a golden scroll in its talons. The word CYPHER was clearly etched into the upper hemisphere of the circle in silver letters.
But Jack failed to realized the importance of a few papers on some kind of genetic research project being conducted by another mysterious association. One organization at a time was enough for him. He kicked the box aside and looked at Myamoto.
"Is this place organized in any specific way, or should we just keep opening boxes until I find what I want?"
"Just keep opening them up, Jack. There's got to be something we can use."
It was nearly eleven thirty that night when Jack stumbled onto something useful. He had found a lot of information of Kasumi's captivity and treatment in the past few hours, which made his heart ache with unimaginable hurt. He knew the exact details of how she was kept in a frigid dark room with no food and limited water the first week she was taken. Then he saw that she had been constantly abused for the last few days, not even getting a chance to sleep more than a few hours. But there were no names, just records. Records made for the sole purpose of tracking how close they were to shoving her over the edge and shattering heralreadydamaged spirit. He kicked the box aside, knowing that if he continued to read the files he would only get angry.
But what he now held in his hands was something he could use to find Smith, assuming that the document was accurate. It was a list of all the Organization's major buildings and contacts. If he could get one of them to talk, maybe he could track that little worm down and--
"Hey, Jack, did you find something back there?"
Jack nodded and approached Myamoto carrying the small white box. "Let's go. I have something we might be able to use."
As the walked towards the stairs Myamoto eyed Jack curiously. "What's that?"
"Information on all of Smith's previous contacts and employees. There also some blueprints to their HQ in Tokyo."
Myamoto whistled. "Jackpot. But do you have any idea how long it will take for us to read all of those files?"
Jack nodded. "A long time. But it's all we have to go on."
Soon they were back out to the Jeep and on their way back to the his apartment building. Jack realized that if he went back to the hospital, he wouldn't be able to see Kasumi anyway. The doctors specifically asked that he wait a few days before disturbing her, and the last thing he wanted to do was impede her recovery. As he drove down the dark city streets, Myamoto peered inside the white box scanning through the various reports and documents stored inside.
There were many interesting things inside, but what caught his attention first were the blueprints. The building in Tokyo was massive, to say the least. It was a skyscraper disguised cleverly as an office building above the surface, but below the building was a massive underground maze of rooms and hallways.
"Geez, you'd think this guy was a mole in a previous life or something."
Jack chuckled. "Then he should be happy when I bury his sorry ass."
They pulled into the parking lot of Myamoto's building first. He turned to his friend. "Take this box and look it over for me will you? Call me if you find anything else. I'm going back home and try to clean up the massive mess."
Myamoto stuffed the blueprints back into the box and nodded. "Sure. See you later."
After Jack dropped Myamoto off, he headed back to his own apartment, not wanting to face the incredible mess that had been made there. He couldn't sleep until he had cleaned up either the bed or the couch because both were stained with blood.
How had things gotten so out of hand? Suddenly everything was in chaos. All he had wanted to do was help the person who meant everything to him. And now both Kasumi and Ayane were lying in a hospital, fighting for their lives.
He pushed these thoughts aside. It wasn't doing anyone any good to dwell on the events of the previous weeks. It was time to move on.
Unfortunately for Jack, he had no idea that the past wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily...
Monday, December 26
10:02 A.M.
Jack's Apartment
Shark had gone to the hospital, and confirmed two things. Kasumi was alive and recovering, but not from the injuries that he had inflicted. It seemed that this wasn't the first time she had been treated. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed any visitors until tomorrow afternoon. And then he could only see her if she was awake.
He wondered what happened to her if she had already recovered once. Had Smith taken her straight from the hospital? It was a bold and foolish move, but one that a man such as Smith was likely to make. That idiot never did know when to let things go, which Shark had noticed when Smith stabbed his knife through Kasumi's hand. Even though it was clear she was in too much pain to say anything useful, that stubborn mule had continued to torment her.
Since he had been stonewalled at the medical center, Shark decided to come back to Jack's and see if the man had returned home yet. He had spent the night in the waiting room and woke up refreshed and ready for thesix mile hike back to Jack's, even through the cold winter air. When he finally arrived, Shark stood before Jack's door not knowing what to expect or say.
Hey, I'm the man that nearly killed Kasumi. How are you?
It was stupid to take such a risk. But he ignored his instincts and knocked anyway.
Soon a man wearing a clean white T-shirt and a pair of faded black jeans came to the door. He looked like he was expecting someone else, but didn't say anything. Then finally he spoke.
"Who the hell are you?"
Shark cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. "Are you Jack Wallace?"
"Maybe, maybe not. It depends on who wants to know."
Shark decided to use his wits. "I'm a detective with the local PD. I have reason to believe you know something about the park ranger murder that happened recently."
Something flashed behind Jack's cool brown eyes like lightning, and then it was gone as fast as it had appeared. "Let me see some ID, detective."
Damn! "Um--"
Jack grabbed his suit jacket and hauled him through the door. "That's what I thought. I don't give a damn who you are, you know something and your going to tell me what it is right now! I've been through a lot of shit these past few days and I'm sick of it!"
Jack pushed him onto the couch, which was now cleaned as best as could be expected. Shark's jaw dropped as he looked around the room. There was blood staining the carpet beneath his feet and on the wall behind him. The amounts suggested that whoever had spewed the liquid was most likely dead.
Jack dragged a kitchen chair in front of the couch and glared at him. "I asked you a question."
Shark glared right back. "Bayman told me you know who killed Duncan last week. I don't care that he's dead, in fact I'm glad the bastard is gone, I just want to know what he was doing in the woods."
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. "Bayman? You working for Smith?! Why can't you just leave us alone? She's suffered enough hasn't she?"
Shark shook his head, pretending to know nothing. "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Jack's tone was icy.
"Just tell me what happened in the park," Shark said.
Jack sighed. "Why should I tell you? How do I know you can be trusted?"
Shark got up. "I guess you can't. I'm sorry I even came."
Jack pushed him back down. He was just as curious as Shark was. "I'll answer a few of your questions if you answer a few of mine."
Shark nodded. "Sure, but tell me what happened first." He was going to have to lie.
Jack told Shark everything that had happened last Friday night, starting with Kasumi leaping in front of his headlights and ending with the moment he pumped Duncan full of hot lead. He left out a few details, though. He didn't mention what he was doing in the forest, or Kasumi's name.
However, when he described Kasumi to Shark he noticed a faint glimmer of recognition in the man's steel blue eyes. That was something that caused Jack to think about this mysterious intruder. "You know her, don't you?"
Shark swallowed hard. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Now ask your question so I can leave."
Jack shrugged. "Who's blood is on your shirt?"
Shark looked down at his stained white shirt and muttered a silent curse. "That's none of your damn business!"
Jack got up and towered over Shark, trying to intimidate. "I answered your question. You're not going back on your word are you? That would be so typical of an Organization thug. You're just like your boss."
Shark stared the young man that stood before him in the eye and glared. "I am nothing like Smith! That slimeball can rot in hell for all I care."
Jack grinned. "So we do have something in common. Now answer my question."
Shark thought hard for a good lie, but drew a complete blank. "I can't tell you. I won't tell you."
Jack was out of ideas for now. He sat down next to Shark. "You have some explaining to do and you're not leaving my sight until I find out how your connected to this mess. Got it?"
Shark smirked. "You're going to hold me prisoner?"
Jack shook his head. "No. I'm not going to lock you up in a room until you talk, although the idea is tempting. But I'm not letting you leave. And from the look of you, I doubt you have anywhere to go."
Shark muttered a silent curse. Jack was right. He had nowhere else to go and he obviously wouldn't be able to go anywhere even if he wanted to.
"If you kill me you get no answers. You have no choice but to let me do as I wish. But fortunately for you, I want to stick around for a while. I might even tell you what you want to know when I'm certain that it will be in my best interests to do so."
Jack knew he was right. He had no choice but to let the man live unless he was willing to kill any lead on finding Smith. But killing him and not letting him leave were two different things, and Jack knew he could keep the man in check. "Fine, you can stay. But I'm going to be watching you very closely. What did you say your name was?"
"Shark."
Jack thought it was a strange name, but he said nothing and switched on the television, waiting for Myamoto to call.
Monday, December 26
11:21 A.M.
Streets of Downtown
Hayabusa had left the hospital just a few hours ago, finding it more sensible to sleep in the waiting area than on a cold rooftop. He needed to find Hayate. He was probably still at Jack's apartment, so he decided to go back there and check everything out. After all, Hayate had to have been affected by the last few days in some way or another, and Ryu decided it would be best to see if everything was all right.
When he arrived, however, things were not what he expected. As he crawled through the window, a strange man was helping Jack clean the apartment. He walked over to the former private eye and pointed towards Shark.
"Who's that?"
Jack grinned. "My new maid."
"Seriously."
Jack put down a rag he was using to clean his living room wall. "That's Shark. A former employee of a mutual enemy. I've 'convinced' him to help me clean up the place. I'm not letting him leave until he shares some information. So I thought he might as well make himself useful. What are you doing here?"
Hayabusa sat down on the recliner. "Looking for Hayate. You haven't seen him have you?"
Jack shook his head as he resumed scrubbing dried blood off his wall. "Can't say that I have. I thought he was with you."
Ryu shook his head. "Maybe your friend knows something."
"Myamoto?" Jack asked. "Not likely. Besides, he's a little busy sorting through some information we found earlier. I'm sure he'll show up sooner or later. Hopefully sooner than later."
"May I ask who's blood I'm cleaning up?" Shark asked, a little irritated that he had let himself be pressured into helping Jack.
"Sure, I'll tell you. As soon as you tell me who's blood is on your shirt."
Shark muttered something under his breath and continued to clean the carpet. Although he had tried to maintain the illusion that he could leave whenever he wanted, both he and Jack knew that he had no such power. Jack was in control for now.
"Didn't think so," Jack said.
Hayabusa thought about the stranger's name for a moment. Somehow, it seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it before. He shrugged off his struggle to recall the information and again approached the open window.
Jack stopped him. "Hey, why don't you help us out. I'm sure the mighty Shinobi warrior has nothing better to do that clean my apartment."
Hayabusa shook his head at Jack's sarcasm. "I need to find Hayate. And how many times do I have to tell you I'm not Shinobi."
Jack let him go. "Whatever. When you find him, tell him that Kasumi and Ayane should be able to leave the hospital by the end of the week."
Hayabusa nodded. "I'm sure he'll be relieved to hear it. Now, I'll be going."
Jack shrugged. "Seeya later."
After Hayabusa had left, Shark got off the floor and went into the kitchen for a drink of water. He knew only Jack and Kasumi, but had no idea about anyone else involved. Who exactly was Ayane? Or Myamoto? And who was the guy who had just entered and left through the window? What about Hayate? It made him wonder exactly what he had gotten himself into. He took a big gulp out of his glass and sighed, looking down at his stained shirt. That stain was from an innocent girl. Kasumi. But if he told Jack that information, he could kiss his ass goodbye. So he had no choice but to help. At least until he could speak with the girl.
But he had to admit, helping Jack take down The Organization would be fun. Smith deserved what was coming. However, he would need to attain the girl's forgiveness in order to be of any real use.
"Can I ask you another question?"
Jack sighed. "I hope you're not planning on annoying me until I let you go, because it's not going to work."
Shark glared at Jack. "I think you should bring me into the loop if I'm going to help you take down Smith."
Jack almost laughed. "You want to help us take down Smith? Your boss?"
Shark nodded. "I never liked him. He used way too much excessive force."
Jack was intrigued. "Excessive force?"
Shark shook his head. "I'm not telling you anything. At least not yet. But do you want my help or not. I know things you can use against him."
Jack scoffed. "I'm sure you do. I'm wondering, though, how you plan on helping us if you refuse to share any information. I'm not sure you can be of any use if I can't trust you."
Shark nodded. "I figured you'd say that. But from what I can tell, you and five other people against Smith's entire organization aren't going to do much damage. Whether you like it or not, you need me."
Jack was getting a little irritated. "I can say one thing about you for sure: you're are a cocky little SOB. But you are right. I do need help. I'll think about it. However, I am wondering how you know how many people I'm working with."
Shark grinned. "I'm observant. Judging by your conversation with that guy who was here a few minutes ago, you are working with two girls who are currently in the hospital, a man named Hayate and someone named Myamoto."
Jack nodded in approval. "Very good. I may have a use for you. But right now I need to clean this place up. So let's get back to work. After we're done, we'll talk about Smith."
Monday, December 26
1:56 P.M.
Myamoto's Apartment
Myamoto had been going through the white box all morning. Well, not really all morning since he had waken up at around eleven. But he had been looking ever since then and found a lot of useful information he couldn't use.
Sure, the box was filled with contacts and addresses, including the one in the woods and the one under the warehouse. But a lot of the contacts names were in code and he didn't have the key. If it were a computer program he'd have the names in a matter of minutes by checking the program's history and changes in the code. But this was printed on paper so all he could do was go back to the Organization stronghold and hope to find the key.
But that room had been so huge, and finding the box with the information he was looking for would be like finding a needle in a haystack. It had taken them forever to find the white box, and they weren't even trying to be specific. Thinking of how long it would take to find the key was giving Myamoto a headache.
And the maps and addresses were equally as useless. The locations depicted were either too far away to be of any interest or out of commission. The only thing useful he had were the blueprints to the HQ in Tokyo and the map of the warehouse base. There was also a map of the facility in the woods.
Jack wasn't going to like hearing that after all the work they had gone through earlier, they were still empty handed. But he decided to call anyway.
"Hello?" Jack answered.
"Hey, I've got some bad news. That box you gave me is practically useless. Sorry, but we've hit another brick wall."
Jack grinned on the other end of the line. "Don't be too hasty with that decision. I have someone over here that could make all the difference. He claims he hates Smith just as much as us. The funny thing is he used to work for him."
Myamoto was doubtful. "Really? Are you sure he's not just trying to spy on us?"
"No way. If that were the case, Smith's retarded goons would be all over us by now. He's definitely clean. You want to come over? Maybe he could shed some light on the box I gave you."
Myamoto shrugged. "I guess so. I've got nothing better to do. I'll be there in about ten minutes."
"Okay. I'm ordering a pizza for all of us."
Myamoto said goodbye and gathered all the papers into the white box, where they belonged. Then he took a cab to Jack's place, wondering who this new ally was. But if he was good enough to earn Jack's trust so quickly, he was good enough for him. And it would be fortunate if this new guy could solve the mysteries that the box held within it's cardboard walls.
Once he arrived at Jack's, Myamoto walked into the lobby and proceeded up the stairs to his friend's door, carrying the white box under his arm. But the man who greeted him gave him a unexpected surprise. The man who answered the door had ruffled sandy brown hair and piercing blue eyes. His white dress shirt was covered with dried blood and his black suit pants were dirty.
"You the pizza guy?" he asked.
Myamoto shook his head. "Where's Jack?"
Shark pointed towards the couch and let Myamoto through. As he closed the door behind him, he took a drink from a can of soda he was holding.
Myamoto approached Jack and pointed towards Shark. "Who's that?"
Jack grinned. "He's our resident expert. Or at least the closest thing to an expert we're ever going to find. Sit down and have a soda."
Myamoto grabbed a can from the fridge and took a seat in Jack's black leather recliner. He gestured towards Shark. "Who'd blood is that?" he asked cautiously.
Shark simply shrugged and took another drink from his can.
"He won't tell me either. You might as well deal with it, Myamoto. The man has secrets and he wants it to stay that way. If we want any information, we have to gain some trust first."
Shark grinned. "It looks like you know how things work. I'm surprised you could kill Duncan. You're no older than twenty, right?"
Jack nodded. "Twenty-one. And don't be so quick to underestimate me. That's all anyone ever did in Los Angeles and they're all dead."
"L.A.? What are you doing in Japan?" Shark asked.
Jack took a drink of his own soda. "For someone who doesn't like to share secrets, you sure are nosy."
Shark shrugged. "Just trying to make conversation." He pointed towards Myamoto. "Is this your computer geek?"
Myamoto glared at him. "I'm a hacker."
"Whatever."
Jack turned to Myamoto. "He's willing to help us take down Smith, and we could use the help. Maybe we should crack that mystery box of yours and see what's inside."
Myamoto leaned back. "Go ahead. My field of expertise is computers, not paper work. Maybe you'll do better than I did."
Shark dragged the box towards the couch and took a seat next to Jack. He pulled off the lid and grabbed a file folder. Jack did the same and examined some of the papers in the tan folder he had just grabbed. Myamoto sighed and grabbed a file of his own. Maybe between the three of them they could get somewhere.
Monday, December 26
2:32 P.M.
Charity Medical Complex
Doctor Nikata rubbed his eyes and sat down in a blue chair. The girls that Jack Wallace had brought in were showing vast improvements and were recovering at a remarkable speed. The medicine he used this time was the same that he had used before and would heal them at an amazing speed, not to mention the added bonus of absolutely no scarring.
He was glad that they wouldn't have any physical signs to show what they've been through. They would be reminded enough from their memories without having to see it everyday of their lives. But even though they would look as good as new, Nikata knew that they would feel far from perfect when they regained consciousness.
He walked down to the room that they were sharing. Only a blue curtain separated them from each other and right now it was retracted. Both of them were still sleeping and it was immediately apparent that the red head was still having nightmares. He felt sorry for her, but there was nothing more he could do until she woke up.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, doctor Makita entered the room behind him.
"Karei, how long do you think they'll have to stay here?"
Doctor Makita shrugged. "Normally, I'd say it would take about a month before they would recover fully, but with that new medicine you've been using, I'm thinking they'll be fine by Friday or Saturday. Why do you ask?"
Nikata glanced towards the girls. "I was just curious."
Karei looked Nikata in the eyes. "I know what you're thinking, but there's no reason to think that it will happen again. Whoever did this to her won't try to steal her from the hospital again and when they wake up we'll let the cops handle it. I've already decided to call them the moment that one of them wakes up."
Nikata still seemed to have his doubts, but he dropped the subject. As they were about to leave the room, Kasumi let out a pained whimper and began to cry.
Makita sighed and almost started crying herself. "That poor girl. She's been like this ever since she left the OR. I can only imagine the horrors that the pain has inflicted on her mind. It's heartbreaking isn't it?"
Nikata muttered a silent agreement.
Karei walked over to Kasumi and gently dabbed her sweaty skin with a cool damp cloth one of the nurses left on a nearby table. Kasumi seemed to calm down as Makita brushed away the fall kunoichi's tears. After a few seconds she was normal again, or as normal as she has ever been since her captivity.
After Makita was sure Kasumi was calm, she changed her bandages and checked Ayane's status. She was surprised to see that Ayane was still sleeping peacefully, but was also thankful only one of the girls was having nightmares.
Soon Makita and Nikata left the room and tended to their other patients, but both their minds remained on the special cases of Kasumi and Ayane.
