I have finally decided to put up the next chapter to my series and I must say that this is the last chapter to this particular part of my series. Hopefully I did a good job with it. Before starting, here is the disclaimer, I don't own digimon.
Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention.
Sharon Salzberg, O Magazine, The Power of Intention, January 2004
Chapter 5:
Crossing the Line
It appeared to be a quiet night in the city of Kyoto. That wasn't really the case however a in the industrial area the sounds of what seemed like a struggle was taking place. Following the noise it was discovered to be coming from Daisuke as he fought against someone that he had dealt before.
"Come on, don't tell me that's the best you got." The one who he was fighting tried to stab him with a sword. "This is becoming pathetic. Why don't you just face facts that you can't beat me?"
Fed up with his constant taunting, the opposition swung their sword and made contact as it hit his neck. The force of the blow was strong that it actually cut clean through, resulting in Daisuke's head to fall to the ground.
Under normal circumstances when a vampire has its head cut off they would become dust but that wasn't the case here as the body and head remained. In fact, the decapitated head kept on talking. "Is that all you got? I hardly felt…a…thing." Apparently whatever was powering the Daisuke look-a-like had ran out as it became nothing more than a pile of junk.
"All right, I believe I had enough of this." Suddenly the entire area went all swirling and when it ended everything wasn't like it was a moment ago. Instead of standing in a city, the person was in a room completely covered in steel. As the swirling passed the Daisuke look-a-like it was revealed to be nothing more than a robot. Soon the sound of someone clapping could be heard. Focusing where it was coming from the person saw that it came from none other than Rowan Stevens.
"Congratulations. That was a fantastic work you did there Serenity." Indeed it was Serenity who had been the other person that had fought the Daisuke robot. Walking over Rowan picked up the decapitated robot head. "You really did a number on this training droid. Perhaps we should get you some tougher machines to work with."
To Rowan's surprise Serenity walked right pass her and out of the room without saying a word. Confused by her charge's sudden cold shoulder she followed where she headed off and finally caught up to her in her personal room doing nothing except sitting on her bed. "What's the problem Serenity? You've never been this cold to me before."
"Well, how do you expect me to act after basically being abducted by people who I believed that I could trust?" There was no doubt that Serenity was doing her best to force her anger on Rowan.
"What?! I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe you should start from the start so I can perhaps understand what's going on." For the next hour Serenity explained to Rowan about what happen just a few days ago. She told her about fighting the group of vampires, being treated by Jun, having to fight the retrieval team and then having to basically surrender herself to them in order to protect Jun from being captured as well. To say that after finisher her story that Rowan was upset would be an understatement.
"Those son of bitches! When you came back they told me that you were simply brought back because you were found injured. Why would they lie about that?"
"Who knows what their reason was. But how do I know that you're not lying to me right now about not knowing about this?"
Whatever anger that Rowan was feeling were momentarily forgotten when she heard that question. "Please tell me that you're not serious in thinking that I had something to do with what happen to you."
"And why shouldn't I?" questioned Serenity with a bit of anger in her voice. "After all, aren't you under the employment of the Takenaka Corporation?"
Controlling her anger that was building inside her, Rowan knelt down in front of Serenity. "Yes, I do work for them but you know that ever since you came to being I've helped to raise you as if you were my own child." With a deep breath Rowan pushed away the hostile feelings that she had. "When you came back from fighting Daisuke I was the one who treated your injuries. I'm practically the only one who gives a damn whether you live or die. Do you believe after all the stuff we've been through I could actually betray you?"
A moment of uneasiness went by until Serenity finally answered. "Maybe you wouldn't but that still doesn't change the fact that I was force to do things that I didn't want to do by people that I thought I could trust."
With a half heavy sigh, Rowan decided to come out with what she knew. "Serenity, there's something that you should know about the people that you once trusted." Walking away from Serenity she went over to the computer that was installed in the room. After going what appeared to have been several protection programs she seemed to have finally reached what she was searching for. Gesturing Serenity she allowed her to see what she had found.
"After extensive amount of discussion the people of the Takenaka Corporation have come to the conclusion that on the matter of the project codenamed Serenity is to be terminated. The project, who's main purpose, was originally supposed to capture the subject named Daisuke Motomiya so he could be used for the purposes of the higher ups." For some unknown reason Serenity didn't like the reason why her lack for a better term her father was needed by the corporation.
"However, after the project fought the target the subject it showed weakness by not capturing Motomiya when the opportunity presented itself. That and many other circumstances have proven that the project is too much of a liability. Therefore within the week, the entire Serenity project, including the actual living subject, will be wiped out and erased."
Once Serenity had finish reading the report she felt completely numb as she had basically read her death sentence. Not wanting her to read another word, Rowan turned the computer off and focused back on her charged. "You have to listen to me Serenity. You can't allow what you just read get to you as we need to concentrate on you escaping because they're planning on 'terminating' you tomorrow night."
Those words seem to finally bring Serenity back to her senses. "Don't you mean we need to focus on the both of us escaping?"
"I'm afraid not. No doubt the higher ups already know about me showing you that report and there's no question that they'll be sending a team here to deal with you and to make sure that I suffer the consequences for betraying them." Despite the severity of the situation Rowan smiled tenderly at Serenity. Before that happens though I can at least make sure that you get out of this place alive."
"If you actually think that I'm going to leave you here to possibly die then you're crazy." exclaimed Serenity with an authority behind her words. "I may not have known the mother or whoever the woman whose blood runs through my veins I hope that she was as good as you have been to me."
Though deeply touch by Serenity's words, Rowan couldn't help but flinch on the inside. "If only it was possible for you to know about your mother Serenity. Unfortunately, I believe knowing the truth would cause you nothing but pain." "Thank you for your kind words Serenity. But you do know that even though you don't have a mother you do have a father and perhaps he could help you now." The mere mention of her father immediately caused Serenity to groan in disapproval.
"You don't have to if you don't want to. Just remember that there is someone who could help if you need it." Understanding that there wasn't anymore time to waste, Rowan became even more serious. "Now get as much of your stuff as you can bring because we need to get moving."
After grabbing only the necessary items the two of them ran through the corridors in the hopes of escaping without being caught. "All right, everything looks good." informed Rowan as she peered over the area. "We just need to go out this hallway and we should be home free." No sooner did those words leave her mouth a squad of men dressed in protective armor came bursting through the door while being armed with stun guns. "Then again, I could be wrong."
Going in the opposite direction the two of them ran off with the men not too far behind them. Thankfully they managed to stay ahead and were able to barricade themselves in some dank room. "Why are we running?" asked Serenity as she braced herself against the door to prevent the men from getting in. "It'll be no problem for me to stop them."
"There's no doubt about you being able to do that." stated Rowan as she helped in keeping their enemies from coming in. "But remember, our main priority is to escape."
"Trust me, if it was that easy I would already have done it." exclaimed a completely different voice that came from the room that they were holding up in.
Making sure that it wasn't some sort of trap, Rowan carefully walked towards the source of the voice and peering into what appeared to be nothing more than a small containment room and saw a woman who looked as though had seen better days as she looked filthy. What was left of her tattered clothes barely covered her and appeared to not have a decent meal in sometime as she was practically skin and bones. "Who are you and what do you mean by what you said?"
"The name's Hitomi and what I meant is simple. Take a nice long look at where you are. You're in the Takenaka Corporation's holding facility where they keep their captives so they can torture them or make them join their side and they don't let up until they've gotten what they wanted. Trust me, I've been here for over a month and I haven't discovered a way to get out of this place unless they allow you to."
"That can't be true." exclaimed that sounded like she was trying to convince herself if anyone. "There must be some way to escape."
"Well, perhaps if you could unlock the door to my cell I could help you in getting out of here." It was apparent by Hitomi's voice that she was desperate for them to help her get out of her prison.
"Don't do it Rowan." hollered Serenity, who was beginning to struggle with holding the door close. "The higher ups may not be the kindest people in the world but they're no fools. They must've had a good reason for locking her up. We have no idea why she's here."
"Actually, I know exactly why she's here." informed Rowan with certainty in her voice. "She was the one who was in charge of dealing with the Daisuke situation before you came to be. However, after numerous failures she was sentence here just prior to your awakening Serenity. Because of that and with the situation that we're currently in, I have come to a decision." Reaching over to the key panel beside the door handle she did some sort of sequence and once finished the door became unlocked.
Not allowing the opportunity pass by, Hitomi rushed out of her cell. The feeling of having new found freedom was short lived as the door to their only way out was on the verge of collapsing. Searching around her surroundings, Rowan discovered some lead pipes leaning against eh wall. Grabbing two she held one out towards Hitomi. "This may sound a bit forward in me asking but I need to know if you're with us on this?"
For a short time there was no answer until finally Hitomi grabbed the pipe and stood up. "I'm in." Coming to the realization that there was no other choice but to fight, Serenity stepped away and prepared herself to what was to come.
With nothing holding them back anymore the guards were finally able to break through and were confronted by three women instead of the predicted two. Going on the offensive, the three women fought against the guards and were putting up a good fight despite being out numbered. Out of the three there was no doubt that the one doing the most damage was Serenity as she was fighting against numerous guards at once.
"This is crazy." Remarked Serenity as she threw one of the guards over her shoulder and into one of his comrades. "No matter how many times we knock these guys down they keep coming back."
"Then you should get out of here while you have the chance." exclaimed Rowan as she fought against a guard. "Get out of here Serenity. We'll keep them held up to allow you the time to escape."
"Are you nuts? There's no way I'm going to leave you here to possible get killed."
"There's no time to debate this. What happens to me is irrelevant. What does matter is that you get away before they can do what they can do what they have plan for you. Now, get going!"
Reluctant to the whole idea of running off, Serenity hesitated for a moment until seeing that it was probably the best decision she broke pass the guards and out the doorway before they could stop her. "You do realize that with her gone we're sure to be on the losing end of this fight?" asked Hitomi as it was now just her and Rowan up against every guard in the room.
"That'll probably be the case but at least we'll go down fighting. Wouldn't you agree?" Without warning, Rowan was struck in the back of the head with something and the force of the blow was so strong that it rendered her unconscious. The one responsible for the blow was not one of the guards but her partner Hitomi with a now a extremely dented pipe.
"As a matter of fact, I don't." Soon all the guards had the two of them surrounded. "Don't worry, I give up." Proving that she was telling the truth she threw down the pipe and put her hands in the air. "Just give me a meeting with the higher ups. That's all I ask." For a while the guards seem a bit reluctant with the request until one of their walkie-talkies went off. Answering the call, the apparent head guard had a quick discussion with whoever was on the other end.
"All right everyone, I'll be taking Miss Hitomi to the main conversance room for her requested meeting." He got no argument from any of his subordinates. "As for the rest of you, escort this traitor into a holding cell and make sure that she doesn't escape."
Following their orders the guards took the unconscious Rowan in the very same holding cell that Hitomi once occupied. "I think it would be wise that we head toward the meeting before there's trouble." Agreeing, Hitomi headed out of the room, not once looking back at the person who had basically rescued her moments ago.
-/-/-/-/-
"There she is!" shouted some soldier that was taking watch. "Don't let her escape." All around the exit that lead to the alley of the Takenaka Corporation building a squad of highly skilled sharpshooters were waiting for the appearance of their target, Serenity. They didn't have to wait long as she suddenly burst into the scene and trying to make a clean getaway. That wouldn't be the case however as she was quickly spotted by the sharpshooters who immediately opened fire.
Using every bit of speed that she had in her disposal, Serenity avoided the shots that were being fired. It appeared as though she was going to make it without being hit until she was suddenly struck in the left shoulder but it didn't appear to be a bullet. Ignoring the pain that she was feeling, she continued to run off and was able to make it to safety.
Seeing that their target had gotten away one of the sharpshooters contacted his superior. "Sir, I'm afraid to report that the target has escape and we are unable to pursue her."
"Are you saying that she got away scot-free?" was the response from the other side of the walkie-talkie.
"Not necessarily. We managed to tag her before she was able to get away."
"That's good to hear. For the time being report back in. We'll locate the target on a later day. But for now we'll regroup for things to come." Receiving the orders everyone headed to their original posts, not worrying about the fate of the prey that had gotten away.
-/-/-/-/-
On an alleyway several blocks away Serenity clutching her left shoulder looked towards where the Takenaka Corporation building was. Many thoughts went through her head about what had happened. "Where are Rowan and Hitomi? Were they able to escape? Did they get captured or worse? Why did those bastards allow me to get away and not bother to come after me?"
Those and many other thoughts were going through Serenity's head. Pulling back her hand from her hurt shoulder she saw that it was nearly covered in blood. Placing the hand back on her shoulder she took one last look towards where the building was before walking off but there was one question that she didn't know the answer to. "What am I going to do now?"
-/-/-/-/-
"I can't tell you how good it feels to be wearing clean set of clothes." exclaimed a woman from within a charging room.
"That's good to hear." responded one of the higher ups by the use of a monitor. "Now, you do know that not many others are given the opportunity that you've been given?"
"Yes. I know this and I know of the consequences if I blow this." Having finished changing the woman came out from the dressing room.
"Do make sure that you don't forget because there won't be any other chances if you fail us again, Miss Hitomi."
I bet some of you were expecting that. Some of you were wondering if I was going to have Hitomi reappear in this series and well, here is your answer.
If you wish to know what happens next you just have to wait until I have the next story of this series on which will be entitled, 'Battles Close To Home'. Trust me, the title will make more sense when you read it. Please remember to leave a review before leaving.