! -- WARNING -- ! This chapter contains a character death! --GF
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and as always, please don't flame.
Chapter 19: Access Denied!
"I wonder what's his score on playstation?"
Bruce shook his head. He finally calmed shattered nerves and made several promises about finding whoever shut down the mainframe. His best system operators were clueless on how to get back in or how it did was done.
Kurama sighed and leaned back into his chair, waiting for the printer to print. "This person is good but I'm better. Playstation isn't much of a challenge."
o0o0o0o0o
"BLAST," came a shout as fingers danced on a keyboard. "He's blocked me every way possible. How's he doing this? Hmmmmmmm. . . . No matter. I'll get what I want, like always. Let's see if he can get past this riddle code."
o0o0o0o0o
Kurama had traced the phone connection to a small and relatively new company. He began running over the client list, checking for something that would give him a lead.
/Hello. Red, go back a bit. . . . There. /
'Found something? Oh I see. You're right. His Japanese is atrocious.'
/No argument there, Red. /
Leaning back, Kurama said, "I've traced the path to this company and building but according to the records, the place was suppose to be condemned but wasn't. It was bought out by a Japanese company. The name came be translated into three different ways. However, no honorable family business who associate with such a name." He handed Bruce the printout.
"I'm running a check on the client list but nothing so far," Kurama said. "However, I'm pretty sure it's the owner of the business that worries me."
o0o0o0o0o
Batman and Robin decided to check out the building as Batgirl sat down beside Kurama facing another console and started doing a back ground check.
"I'll take over the checks, if you want Kurama. That'll free you up," she offered. Although her fingers didn't fly over the console like Kurama's had, she was no slouch either. Picking up a head phone, she started to relay to the duo what she found in the database.
"Looks like half the clients are bogus with dummy accounts. I'm not sure where he's getting his money from but it isn't through accounts payable. Be careful guys," she said.
"There seem to be some sort of security system in place," Robin said through his head set, as he made for his bike.
"Kurama says not to mess with it. He says to check the phone box. He's pretty sure someone has sliced into the phone lines for that building," Batgirl instructed.
o0o0o0o0o
Batman and Robin both relayed what they had discovered. By now, Kurama had been working at the console for about 4 hours without a break. Batgirl tried to get him to leave, but he shrugged. "I'm fine. I would like a bit of pot of hot water," he requested, softly as he flicked a couple of more keys.
/This guy is good. I think he's convinced this is a new bit of code. We've seen it before, haven't we Red/
'Hmmm. We have him,' Kurama started chuckling to himself. Apparently it's making its round in the States.'
/As I always said, if you have to steal, steal from the best. Time to lock and load. /
Kurama chuckled. 'Where did you learn THAT phrase?'
o0o0o0o0o
Batgirl and Alfred exchanged looks as Kurama appeared to be chuckling to himself. The aged butler set down the pot of hot water as requested. Kurama smiled a thank you as he reached into his hair and pulled out a seed. A small plant grew in the palm of his hand.
"I never get tired of that. How do you. . ?" Batgirl asked.
Plucking a few leaves off the plant before sending it back into a seed, he chuckled, "I used my own spirit energy to control plants." He dropped the leaves into the pot, letting them steep. He started to rotate his neck and doing light stretching exercises, waiting for the tea.
"Spirit energy? You mean like esp?"
He shrugged as he sipped his tea. "Well, not really. There are several types of energy. Spirit energy is of the spirit, esp is part of it but many have psychics awareness and can manifest their spirit energy in different ways. Then there is life energy which is just that, it comes from your own soul. Then there is sacred energy which priestess and monks try to obtain or are born with," he explained, rubbing his forehead.
"You mean like the Force?" she asked.
Setting down his tea, he went back to the console. "Something like that." Alfred took away the tea settings giving his niece a look. She shrugged and went back to work as well.
o0o0o0o0o
Batman and Robin cautiously made their way into the building. Everything seemed empty and quiet as they moved from floor to floor searching.
In the basement, noise and lights flashed on and off. A loud frustrated scream echoed. "HOW IS HE DOING THS? . . . BLAST IT! HE LOCKED ME OUT OF MY OWN CURSED COMPUTER!"
Robin exchanged a look with Batman. "I guess we know who won, don't we?" he said, holding back a chuckle.
Stepping inside, they found a man dressed in green wearing a bowler with golden question marks painted on it shaking angry fists at a huge computer screen that had a video image of a man with long silver hair, cold amber eyes and fox ears instead of a human's.
Yoko was smirking with his arms folded in front of him as the words flashed behind him. 'ACCESS DENIED' scrolled past every time The Riddler tried to get his computer back. The poor man was shouting obscenities at the silver fox as Batman came over and tapped him on the shoulder.
o0o0o0o0o
Kurama and Batgirl were looking at the screen when Batman and Robin finally returned to the Cave. Kurama seemed to be speaking to someone in blue on the monitor.
"Isn't that the toddler?" asked Robin.
Yoko howled. /He sounds more like Yusuke every day. /
"I am not a toddler!" Koenma said heatedly. "Hello Batman. Now as I was saying Kurama. Your request is granted with limitations for two reasons. One: It'll help Batman and his team to keep Human World safer and two: for helping to keep Yoko entertained and out of mischief. We were quite worried about you, Kurama when you left Japan. I see you've managed to keep yourself busy."
Koenma went on to say, "Batman, don't abuse this trust. Your computer now has a link up to Spirit World files on a very low security clearance. Which means general information only. The high security files are locked and access denied. Kurama felt and I agreed that you could use this information as more demons discover your area. Don't worry, your secrets are of no consequences to Spirit World. We already know them. Oh and Kurama?"
"Yes Koenma?"
"I don't know if word got to you yet, but something happened at the last Makai Tournament that you should be aware of."
"I haven't had a chance to speak to anyone yet," Kurama replied. "Who won?"
"Enki again, for another three year term," Koenma sighed, lowering his eyes as if trying to figure out the best way to break the news. "Kurama, I know that you and Yomi have managed to patch up your differences but you should know that Shura was killed in the tournament by accident."
Kurama sat stunned by the news. "It can't be. And Yomi?"
"He is locked up in his citadel for the time being. He decimated half of the tournament. It took Enki, Yusuke and Hiei to bring him down. Kurama, watch your back."
Yoko growled in the back of his mind. /Yomi will be more unpredictable then ever. What about Mother/
Kurama closed the connection without saying a word. He bowed slightly to Batman and Batgirl as he grabbed up his book case. He jumped over the chasm with graceful ease, continuing down the tunnel to the Cave entrance with one hand in his pocket and the other holding his book bag slung over his shoulder.
o0o0o0o0o
Flaming Kitsune: I hadn't realized I had the anon reviews turned off. Thanks for pointing it out. I am sorry I'm slow in updating. Please be patient with me.
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Until next time. --GF