CH 8

Eddie showed his boss the 'official' video they took on that island. He and Bill also explained the big drug operation that was there that was shut down hard, but were ordered not to talk about it, to keep from harming the huge tourist trade there that was supplying the island with income and keeping the residents employed, by order of the Emperor.

Begrudgingly, their boss agreed. They still got their salaries for the time they were gone. He also was going to run the good points about the island Eddie had videoed to help tourist trade there.

Eddie and Bill then got to work searching for the next Brock Report. As he did, he began to think about that facility that had held Kaede and Nana. He decided to look up the National Health agency and give them a call. Searching, he found a phone number for them in Yokohama. He also turned his recorder on.

"National Health Agency, front desk," a woman answered.

"Yes, this is Eddie Brock. Who can I speak with to talk about the facility you have off the coast of Kamakura?"

"Hold please."

Eddie paused the recorder. Bill eyed him. He winked.

The receptionist came back on. Eddie restarted is recorder.

"I'm sorry, but we do not have a facility off the coast."

"Yes you do," he replied cheerfully. "I am asking because I have heard strong rumors about women and young girls being held captive there, and can take you right to the place they said they were held. I would very much like to confirm or dispel these rumors."

There was a pause, then, "Hold please."

Shortly a man's voice came on. "Mr. Brock, what can we do for you?"

"As I told the receptionist, I have heard strong rumors about women and young girls being held captive on an island just off the coast of Kamakura, and can take you right to the place they said they were held. I would very much like to confirm or dispel these rumors. Will you help me with that?"

"Sir, we do not have any secret off shore facility."

"Yes you do. I saw the sign above the main entrance. I also said nothing about it being secret. Why did you call it secret?"

"I can tell you nothing about any off shore facility we have," the man said firmly.

"Because it's secret?" Eddie asked.

*click*

"I'll call back," Eddie said and called the number again.

"National Health agency, front desk."

"Yes, this is Eddie Brock again. It seems I got disconnected. Could you please reconnect me to the man you connected me to before?"

"His name, please?"

"He didn't give me one. Perhaps you can?"

"Hold please."

Eddie waited a half hour on hold before a man answered.

"This is Director Abe, what can I do for you, Mr. Brock?" he said in an irritated tone.

"I have heard strong rumors about women and young girls being held captive on an island just off the coast of Kamakura, and can take you right to the place they said they were held. It does belong to the National Health agency. I would very much like to confirm or dispel these rumors. Will you help me with that?"

"Certainly, the only people there besides staff are people who are sick and need to be quarantined. No one is being held there against their will," he said firmly.

"Will you allow me to go there and verify that?" Eddie asked. "As I said, I was led to that island to prove that is where certain people said they were illegally contained in vaults."

"Who are these people?" the man asked in a hard tone.

"Ones who are afraid to become public because you might forcibly attempt to retrieve them," Eddie said firmly. "I have listened to their stories and they have pointed out the buildings on that island where they were kept. Either they are a little psychotic, or they are telling the truth. I am trying to determine which is it. A trip out there with someone reliable would do that."

"I want names, Mr. Brock." Abe stated.

"I want to find out what the truth is," Eddie countered.

"I can have you picked up for harassment."

"I can air this conversation so everyone can hear what I was speaking to you about."

There was a pause. "Meet me at the regional airport. We will continue this discussion there."

"What time?"

"Two hours."

"Thank you, Sir."

*click*

Eddie grinned at Bill. "Grab your camera." he said, then called his boss and the Inspector's office where Kawa worked.

.

Director Abe was not happy. He knew Brock was a reporter, and an American working here who was very tenacious. Having had the mess of the Diclonius project turned over to him after the raid on that island facility that killed the previous director, his number one job was to keep it under wraps about what Kakuzawa had been doing. In the reports he'd gotten from the dead man's office, one of the people who'd been brought there for 'questioning' had been Eddie Brock. It didn't say why Brock was taken there, but that was one of the last reports filed. Right after that had been the murders due to something dangerous, no one knew what had gotten loose.

Why Brock was pushing for information on that island now, he didn't know. He did know that since Brock was a reporter, he'd have to be very careful about what he said. It was obvious Brock was digging for the truth and anything he learned would be broadcast.

He also knew of no legal way to arrest Brock for asking legitimate questions, or force him to reveal his sources.

.

Eddie met Inspector Yamada at the airport. Upon meeting, Yamada thanked him again for saving Kawa's life and getting her out of the drug dealer's den.

Yamada also had a question for Eddie. "Why are you interested in the National Health agency?"

"I have heard information that people who aren't sick, are being held on that island off the coast against their will, and subject to inhumane conditions, including torture. I want to either prove or dispel those claims," Eddie said firmly. "There is also the question of so many fatal 'accidents' that have happened there."

"I see. You wish me to go along to verify what it is you find."

"Yes, and to be there to witness everything. The idea I got is these people would rather keep what they do hidden not only from the public, but also from the government." Eddie explained.

"And what is to stop them from throwing both of us in a cell on that island and claiming we never showed up?" Yamada asked.

Eddie motioned to Bill. "Bill, my cameraman will be transmitting video straight to our office. Whatever happens will be seen live with staff watching."

Yamada grinned. "You believe there is something to fear there?"

"I have strong belief that there is," Eddie stated.

.

Abe came to the conclusion that the only thing he could do, was to tell the truth about everything. He called the Imperial Health Director and explained what was going on with the press involved, and recommended they come clean with the whole history of that island and the Diclonius project. After a long pause, the Imperial Director agreed. He was to minimize information about the previous Director and show they were improving conditions while keeping dangerous Diclonius contained.

Abe got to the airport and found Brock had indeed brought a cameraman. He'd also brought a Police inspector with him. They introduced themselves and Bill stood back and filmed them. Once the introductions were done, they went out to the helicopter and flew to the island.

Landing on the island, they moved away from the helicopter so they could speak. Abe gestured to the sign above the door. "This is a special branch of the National Health agency to deal with people we call Diclonius," he announced. "When I came here to replace the previous director, I found many abuses had been committed, causing the loss of life, as well as two escapes by Diclonius."

"So, girls were held and tortured here?" Eddie asked.

Abe stiffened himself. "They were. Which brings us to a tough problem. Diclonius, by what they are, have very powerful minds you can think of as focused telekinesis. They are capable of stopping bullets and killing people that are in their range. By the treatment they have received from the previous administration, the ones left here are also very angry. It is not safe to get near them. That makes trying to make amends with them extremely difficult."

"I can understand that," Eddie agreed. "So, what have you done to help them?"

"For a couple, assuring them no one will hurt them any more, giving them real rooms to themselves and ensuring they are taken care of have calmed them down," Abe explained. "You can meet them if you like, but we do have those that truly hate any human they see. We keep them fed, and all experiments have stopped, but we dare not let them out of confinement."

Yamada spoke up. "Even if Brock doesn't, I'd like to see these Diclonius we are able to."

Eddie quickly said, "Yes, and get them on camera if possible."

"We will ask if they want to do that," Abe told them. "This way, gentlemen."

Walking into the facility, Eddie noted the guards had strange looking pistols. "Abe, what are these weapons the guards are carrying?"

"Modified Tasers. Normal guns will not harm Diclonius, most times not even affect them. The electric pulse from these taser pistols will disable them and not permanently harm them if we have a diclinous that is troublesome." Abe explained. "It's a more humane way to control them. Also they know the tasers are effective, so they tend to behave better. The previous administration only tried using stronger guns with larger bullets with mixed and rather sad results."

"Where are these previous administrators?" Yamada asked.

"All but one are dead. The one left we dismissed I can give you his name later, if you wish." Abe explained. "Most of the guard force and care takers have been replaced also. We wanted to start with as many new people as possible to try and get the Diclonius to trust us. Again, in some cases it as worked, others it hasn't."

Eddie asked, "Have you tried getting the ones who will accept you to work on the ones who won't?"

"We have," Abe said with a sigh. "They will all talk to each other, but only the two will interact with us."

They went down an elevator to a lower floor. The hallway down here had large, heavy steel doors to the sides. The doors were marked with a large '5' symbol on them. Abe went up to the doors and pushed a button and asked for entry.

Metallic bang was heard and the doors slowly opened. One guard was by the doors. The other sat across the table from an adult looking purple haired woman bearing horns in her head. They were playing cards. That guard stood up upon seeing Abe.

Abe gestured to them. "Brock, Yamada, this is the containment for number Go. That is Go there."

Go raised her hand in a wave. "Hi Abe, we were just playing cards, Ichi showed me how. Who are these other men?"

Abe introduced them, then said, "As you can see, Go has her own bedroom and bath. She usually sits out here with the guards for her meals."

"Greetings, Go," Eddie said with a bow. "How are you being treated?"

"Much better now Abe is here!" Go beamed. "Go isn't chained to a wall any more, Go has her own rooms and the food is much better!"

"She looks and sounds like Nana," Bill said vacantly.

Go tipped her head slightly, then eyed Eddie. Coming over, she studied Eddie closer. As she did, Eddie noted she did resemble Nana.

Go frowned a bit and asked, "Does Brock know Nana?"

"I do," Eddie admitted.

He was going to say more, but Go blurted out, "You know Nana? Nana is alive! Go heard Nana died."

Eddie grinned. "No, Nana didn't die, she's fine." He wanted to tell her Nana was living with him, but with Abe here, he didn't want to give that away.

"Does Nana have good food too and a nice place to sleep? Can Go visit Nana?" Go asked.

"Nana eats and sleeps fine. As far as visiting, you'll have to ask Director Abe if you can to that." Edie told her.

Go spun to look at Abe. "Can I?" she asked eagerly.

"Maybe Nana can come here?" Abe asked, looking at Eddie.

Without thinking, Eddie said, "I doubt Kaede would allow it. She's very protective of Nana."

"Who's Kaede?" Abe asked.

Aww shit. Well as long as he let that shoe drop, he said, "You would know her as Lucy."

Abe's eyes widened. "Lucy? The Diclonius Lucy is alive!" he asked in a squeak.

"Yeah, and doing well outside this place," Eddie said in a harder tone. "She hates that name, by the way."

"Lucy is a murderer!" Abe stated.

"Not when those she killed was trying to stop her escape from illegal confinement here, and those who did their best to kill her after she got free." Eddie retorted.

"Brock does have a valid point," Yamada stated. "Abe, unless you have court papers committing any of these women here, they are all being held here illegally."

Abe looked at Yamada, then the camera watching them. "I know," he said in a grumble. "We dare not let them out though, and they have very little, if any, knowledge to live in the outside world. Just letting them leave is inviting disaster. Surely you can see that."

"We know you're trying your best," Eddie offered. "It appears Go here is trying to adapt. Possibly you can do a test and let me take Go to see Nana say, for a few days, and see how she does?"

"Yes, please?" Go pleaded.

Abe shifted in place. "Brock, you will have to take responsibility for Go, and ensure she returns."

Eddie nodded, then said, "On one condition. If Go does well fitting into society, and Nana is willing to teach her, she doesn't have to return unless she wants to."

Abe frowned. "You are asking for a Diclonius to be released into society," he said firmly.

Eddie shrugged. "I know two who already are, and they have done jobs for the government others couldn't do. Remember that North Korean sub that was kidnapping Japanese and got sunk? Kaede did it. Just like it was Kaede and Nana who were vital in getting Officer Kawa as well as a pair of CIA agents away from those drug dealers and wrecked that place so it will never be used again."

Yamada nodded in understanding. "OK so some of Officer Kawa's claims now have merit. You took a pair of Diclonius to go raid that place. That yokai, Venom went with you as well."

"Correct. I do believe Go will do fine also on the outside with some instruction." Eddie said.

Clasping her hands together, Go bore tears in her eyes as she begged, "Please?"

Abe nodded. He quickly said, "If there is any trouble, then Go must return here."

"Agreed," Eddie said with a nod. "Go, do you agree?"

"Go does!" she cried, shooting her fists in the air with a bounce.

'Looks like we got another Nana' Venom thought.

'At lest she'll be free,' Eddie thought back.

"Go has to get clothes!" Go announced, and ran to her bedroom.

.

The other approachable Diclonius was the pink haired teenager, Ku. When called by the guard, Ku came out of her bedroom.

"Yeah?" she asked acting irritated, stopping just outside her door.

Eddie waved. "Greetings, I'm Eddie Brock how are you being treated here?"

"OK now, I guess. Much better than being chained to a wall naked and being shot at," Ku said flatly. Seeing Go with them, she asked, "Go can get out of her vault?"

Go nodded. "Go is leaving with Brock to see Nana! If Go behaves, then Go can stay out and live with everyone else!"

Ku raised an eyebrow. "Live with more humans? Why?"

"So Go can live with Nana!"

Ku shook her head. "Look, I behave myself so I don't have to be experimented on, get shocked or harassed. If you want to leave to live and put up with MORE humans, be my guest. I like my peace, so have fun. Are we done yet?"

Abe said, "Yes, Ku, thank you for speaking with us."

Ku went back in her room and shut the door.

"All she knows is abuse and being controlled," Eddie noted.

"And telling her otherwise, she refuses to believe it," Abe said sadly.

Eddie eyed him. "Can you blame her? How long as she been here?"

Abe sadly said, "Her entire life."

The interviews and trip turned out better than Eddie had hoped for. Of course on the way back to land, Go's face was pasted to the window by her seat. Bill got video of her face wide open in discovery as she watched the ocean, then land below.

"Kakuzawa really screwed those girls up," Abe admitted. "Right now, we're doing our best at damage control. Go here makes me hopeful that we can at least let a few of them back out eventually. Brock, if you could manage to get Nana or Kaede here, maybe we can make some more progress?"

"I'll ask," Eddie replied. "Right now, Nana has school."

"Nana goes to school? A special school?" Abe asked.

"Regular High School. She's a senior. Her grades are pretty good too," Eddie told him. He also remembered something. "Bill, got that cap?"

Bill reached into his camera bag and dragged out the wool cap. "Go, could you please put this on?"

"Huh?" Go asked.

"It's a hat, to hide your horns," Eddie explained. He took the cap to put it on her head.

Go touched it and giggled. "Will Go get more new things?" she asked eagerly.

"I'm sure a shopping trip is coming." Eddie assured her. "That's where you buy clothes at."

"OK!"

.

Heading back to the office first to get editing started, Go watched Bill and Eddie review the whole thing, then decided what mark to keep before they sent it to the editor. They still headed home a little early. Like on the helicopter, Go watched out the window of the train all the way back. Eddie understood, this was her first time seeing anything but bare, steel walls.

Getting off at the local station, Eddie had Go hold his hand so she wouldn't wander off. Her eyes were everywhere, trying to take in everything at once.

Venom chuckled in Eddie's head. 'let's hope she doesn't want to marry you like Nana does.'

"Really," Eddie said aloud.

"Huh?" Go asked, looking at him.

"Nothing."

'You hope it's nothing.'

Eddie really did.

Getting back to the Maple Inn, Eddie explained to Go that shoes, even the slippers Go had on, had to be left by the door. Since she didn't have house slippers yet, he had Go try Nana's on. They fit. Passing by with a clothes basket, Kaede said, "Nana why are you home early?"

Kaede eyed Go for a moment. "You're not Nana. Who are you?"

"Go! Nana lives here? This is a nice place!" Go beamed.

"I think they're related," Eddie offered.

"They're almost twins," Kaede agreed. "Go, come with me, I'll put you in Nana's old room."

Go followed Kaede. "Nana has a new room?"

"Nana sleeps with Eddie now. In here, this will be your room now."

Kaede showed Go where her futon was stored, and how to roll it out and put the sheets, pillow and blanket on. She also asked, "Go, where'd you come from?"

"Go came from the steel rooms. Eddie said he knew Nana, Go wanted to come see her."

"You know Nana?"

"Go knows what Nana feels like. Eddie feels a bit like Nana. Go can sense Nana a ways away. Now and then, Go was able to think to Nana. Go was sad when Nana left the facility. Go heard she died."

"They lied to you. Don't trust any of them. How'd you get away?" Kaede asked.

"I came with Eddie and the camera guy, Bill. Kaede has a real nice place here!"

"Thank you." With a crooked grin, Kaede asked, "So how many people did Venom eat?"

"Who's Venom?"

.

Mayu was the next to come home. "I'm home!" she announced and went to put her slippers on. She saw Nana's slippers weren't here by the door. "Nana, how was school today?"

Passing by Nana's old room, Mayu noticed Kaede and Nana at the closet. She poked her head in. "Nana, you're back in here ? Are you mad at Eddie?"

Kaede chuckled. "This is Go. Nana's not home yet. Go, that's Mayu."

"Wow, she looks just like Nana," Mayu said.

"I think they're sisters," Kaede offered.

Looking at Mayu, Go pointed and said, "Mayu doesn't have horns."

"Mayu's human," Kaede explained. "We all live here together. My Kouta is human too, so don't be surprised."

Putting a finger to her lip, Go asked, "They don't have those shocker guns, do they?"

"No, no one here has any guns."

"Oh, good." Go then perked up. "Nana's here!" She ran out past Mayu.

Nana was about to complain, "Who took my …" then changed it to a scream of, "GO!"

"NANA!"

In the entryway, Go and Nana hugged as they spun around in place. "You're here!" they both cried loudly. They then cried in joy, holding each other tight. Nana yelled, "Eddie! Go is here, she's really here!"

"Yes, Eddie brought me here!" Go replied happily.

.

That night was introducing Go to everyone while she was stuck to Nana's side, their hands clasped tightly together. Permanent smiles adorned their faces. Go thought Kaede was a genius cook, diner tasted so good. In a near constant ramble, Nana told Go about going to school, her boat, and how she and Mayu were going to start a restaurant. Their happiness was infective, putting smiles on everyone just watching them.

While the super-happy reunion was going on, Eddie did explain how the facility was being run now. He also relayed Abe's request for Kaede to come help the Diclonius there accept the humans there now were trying to help them.

"Eddie's right!" Go proclaimed. "Go isn't chained to a wall any more! Go even had her own room and sleeps on a bed. There's a room there with a sink, toilet and tub Go can wash up in. Go even has her own clothes now," she said happily.

May stared at her. "You were chained to a wall?"

"There, we all were," Nana said. "It's good Go has a better place to stay there. Nana wants Go to stay here, with us."

"Go wants that too!" she beamed at Nana.

Kaede was quiet for a few moments, then said, "Eddie I want to meet this new Director nowhere near that island."

Kouta eyed Kaede. "Why?"

"Relax, my love, I only want to get the truth out of him." After a pause, she added, "I won't kill him, unless he attacks me."

"Want me to set it up?" Eddie asked.

Kaede nodded. "Yes, set up a meeting with you and him. Let him know I will be coming after you meet with him. Get his reaction before I show myself."

"I can do that," Eddie replied.

.

Tonight, Eddie was sure he'd be sleeping by himself. Go had Nana's full attention. He could tell they when they were in the bath, neither one was quiet. Listening to them from his room, he noted that If it wasn't for each of them calling out their names every other sentence, he was hard pressed to know which of them was speaking. When they hurried past his room, he was sure Nana was sleeping with her friend tonight.

That night, Eddie had a strange dream. Nana had duplicated herself and was now laying on either side of him, each had her head tucked under his arms to snuggle up to him. He rubbed their back out of habit. Yup, both were naked. Upon rubbing them, they snuggled closer.

'Eddie, you might want to wake up' Venom thought in a chuckle.

Early morning, Eddie did wake up from the mental prod. He still felt his dual-Nana dream.

Only, it wasn't a dream. A purple head was on each shoulder, his arms around both of them, their legs over his, their hands clasped together over his chest. Right, Nana invited Go with her to snuggle up.

In his head, Venom chuckled.

"Ahh Nana?" Eddie asked. He was greeted with a snore. He tried again. "Nana?"

The one on his left stirred. Softly, she said, "Nana's right, this is really comfy."

"Go?" he asked.

"Hmm?" she replied sleepily.

"Ah, Go, sleeping with me is only for Nana."

"No, Nana said I could." She then asked, "Nana, I can sleep with you and Eddie, right?"

"Uh huh," Nana mumbled.

"See?"

Eddie was stunned. Nana had all but threatened to kill Catherine, but she was letting Go sleep with him? "Go, I love Nana. That's why we sleep together." he explained

"Go knows. Eddie is real nice to Nana. Be nice to Go too."

Venom's chuckle grew into a full blown laugh in his head.

'Shut up,' Eddie thought, irritated at Venom.

Nana stirred and looked up at him, then Go. "Morning Eddie, Go. Isn't this nice?" she asked Go.

"It is, Nana! Go really like this."

Since they were waking up, Eddie decided it was time to get up. Both girls got up first, verifying they were naked. Edie couldn't help but see that Go looked like a younger version of Nana. They didn't just look similar. Seeing the lines of their bodies, they looked exact. They even had the same dimples on their butts. He tore his eyes away from them and focused on getting some clothes on. On course, Go had brought her clothes in here with Nana.

While they talked about going shopping to get Go more 'fancy' clothes like Nana had, Eddie slipped out of the room.