Part 4 – Singapore
The next morning, Sakura was fast asleep when she awoken by the sound of grunting, and blows landing on something hard and sturdy.
She walked outside to see Sasuke using the punching bag, sweat rolling down his forehead, arms, back, and chest.
The sight of his abs made Sakura feel short of breath, but what made her slightly afraid were the scars across his back, and chest.
"You going to just stand there and gawk?" Sasuke asked.
"Sorry," Sakura said as she walked over to him, "I was just noticing the scars, I knew you were a SEAL, but these look like you've been through hell," she pointed at his chest, "May I?"
Sasuke stood firm in front of her, Sakura reached out, and touched one of the scars on his right pectoral, "August 3rd, 2013," Sakura said, "Iraq, AK-74?"
"Yes." Sasuke said.
She then touched the deep scar on his ribs, "March 2nd, 2012," she said, "Afghanistan, AK bayonet."
"Yes." Sasuke said.
Sakura then moved up to the one on his shoulder, "January 1st, 2013," she said, "New York… High-heel shoe?"
"Ex-girlfriend," Sasuke said, "Her name was Jenny. It was right after I joined the SEALs, when she learned, she went ballistic, and started throwing things," he then undid the wraps on his hands, "I managed to dodge a lot of things. She wore those sharp high-heels, one of them got my shoulder."
"I'm sorry," Sakura said, "I understand most women are like that."
"I'm sure most women on your homeworld are very pristine." Sasuke said.
"I don't know where I'm from," Sakura said, "I am an alien. That much I know, but where am I from? Why am I here? And above all, why do I feel like we knew each other as more than friends?"
"I don't know," Sasuke said as he leaned over the couch, "I feel the same way. I've never met you, and the others before, but I keep having this feeling like I just found the family I haven't seen in years."
"I feel the same way," Sakura said as she looked at Sasuke, "I've just met you three days ago, but feel like I know you."
"I have to admit," Sasuke said, "It's weird. I've had several friends before, but you're, as far as I know, a stranger, but I feel more a connection to you, and everyone else than I did them."
"Me too," Sakura said as she sat on the back of the couch, "I feel the same way. I just wish I knew if we met."
It was then that she slipped, and nearly fell back over the couch, she would have if Sasuke hadn't grabbed her by the arms, and pulled her upright.
It was then that they noticed how close they were to each other, but as they tried to get closer, Naruto entered in his night pants, "Morning," he said as he looked up to see Sasuke and Sakura, "Am I interrupting?"
"Little bit," Sasuke said as he helped Sakura onto the floor, "Let's get dressed, we've got a lot of work to do."
After getting dressed, and grabbing a quick breakfast, the team walked into the control room to find Ino was waiting for them.
"Your hunch was right Major," Ino said as she tapped on the D.S.I., which showed James Wong, "The UN does have an asset in-country. Once you land, he'll meet you at this small café," Ino ran her hand across the D.S.I.'s screen, which showed a small café right next to a large construction sight, "He'll be exposed to sniper fire so I want you six to be on guard duty."
"You want me on over-watch," Sasuke asked, "I don't think when I start firing that people are going to stay still, and the police are already hard on gun control in Singapore. I don't want to give them an excuse to increase gun security."
"Hopefully you won't have to shoot," Ino said, "We've called ahead to Singapore, and they've agreed to let us operate on their soil, so long as we give them the prisoner after we're done."
"I can agree to that." Sasuke said.
"You see a good perch?" Ino asked.
"There," Sasuke said as he pointed at the construction site, "What am I armed with?"
"M39 EMR," Ino said, "I think you'll enjoy it."
"Where's everyone else going to be stationed?" Sasuke asked.
"Various areas," four highlighted bodies appeared around the café, three sitting at the café, one sitting in a van in the alley, not five feet away, "Naruto, you're going to meet the contact. He'll be sitting at the café, just ask, 'Can I borrow a menthol,' and he'll reply 'I carry 100s'," she then turned to Shino, "Shino, think you can cause a small explosion, and create a smoke screen?"
"I've done that several times," Shino said as he held up his hand, and caused a small explosion that smoked like someone had just put out a fire.
"Nice," Ino said, "Sakura, you'll be stationed here," she pointed at the area four yards away from her location, "If things go south, I need you to on guard duty."
"Generate something to get you out of there?" Sakura asked.
"Yep," Ino said, "Tenten, you're in the van, we're going to need a quick extraction if things start popping."
"What about me?" Hinata asked.
"You're Sasuke's spotter," Ino said, "If things go south, he's gonna have to know where to aim."
"I think we can manage." Sasuke said.
"Good," Ino said, "One other thing," she handed Sasuke a picture printed to the size of a piece of paper, "SAS just sent us that photo."
What Sasuke saw shocked him, "They had room to store six bombs." He said.
"And three spots are empty." Hinata said.
"She really can see the future," Ino said, "Since the last place this bomber hit was a financial center. Assume that the next place they hit is very similar."
"Look up possible places while we're in the air," Sasuke said, "Maybe your informant will give us the help we need."
"Maybe," Ino said, "The H.A.W.K.'s on the landing pad, and Sai is waiting. Good luck Major."
Sasuke and the team walked out onto the deck where the H.A.W.K. had been prepped.
"Sir," Sai said as he handed Sasuke his helmet, "Ready?"
"Always Lieutenant," Sasuke said, "Let's move."
Sasuke climbed into the H.A.W.K. along with the rest of the team.
As the H.A.W.K. took off for Singapore, Sasuke thought back to his first mission in Singapore, it was an H.V.T. extraction with his old SEAL Team, when his CO ordered the team's breaching expert to enter, his friend blasted the door lock with a twelve gauge, and as was about to kick the door down when Sasuke heard something, grabbed him, and pulled him out of the way as a hail of bullets tore the door to pieces.
As he was getting into the extraction which was quite loud, he felt a hand on his shoulder, "Major," a voice said, "Major," he awoke in a start, "Wake up, we're almost there."
Sasuke looked over to see Sai was shaking him, "Sorry," Sasuke said, "Didn't sleep last night. Shouldn't you be flying the H.A.W.K.?"
"It's got an auto-pilot," Sai said, "We're approaching the U.N.S. Hong Kong."
"Thanks," Sasuke said as he sat upright in his chair.
It took another two hours for the team to arrive at the café, and the contact was already sitting down when Sasuke was set up.
The contact looked around before a blonde man walked up to him, "Can I borrow a Menthol?" he asked.
"I carry 100s," he said as Naruto said down, "Took you long enough."
"The U.N. is keeping you safe," Naruto said, "We've been meaning to talk to you. The man that supplied the explosives that bombed the New State Stock Exchange has connections to the Akatsuki. We need to know if the bomber is with him."
"I can't you help you there," the contact said, "I read your profile of him, there's nobody that I know of that matches that profile."
"But do you know of the plot of an attack anywhere in Singapore?" Naruto asked.
"I do," the contact said, "But I need a few things…"
Naruto held out a finger as Naruto touched a finger to his ear.
"I'd hate to cut this short," Sasuke said, "But get him to the extraction quickly. You've got a white van approaching from your one. They've got Model 12s."
"Shotguns?" Shino asked.
"No," Sasuke said, "SMGs. No body panic, Shino, they're going to be in firing range in one minute, there's a water-pipe in the street they're going to pass over in thirty seconds. I want you to burst that pipe when I say."
"Got it." Shino said.
"Naruto, get the contact to the van," Sasuke said, "Just stand up, and walk away."
"Roger," Naruto said as he turned to the contact, "Come with me, don't panic, and don't run."
"Of course," The contact said, the two of them stood up, and walked toward the alley, "What's going on?"
"Things are going to start popping," Naruto said, "Like I said, don't panic."
"Now Shino!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Shino focused, and the water-pipe exploded underneath the van the shooters were inside.
A jet of water and steam sent the car four feet into the air, Sasuke raised the EMR, and fired six rounds through the window.
"Let's move," Sasuke said, "Tenten, get moving."
Tenten started the van, and backed up as Naruto and the contact got inside, Sakura and Shino ran up to the van, and jumped in.
"Move!" Shino exclaimed.
"We're moving," Sasuke said as he picked up the EMR, removed the suppressor, the scope, placed it into a guitar case, and slung it over his shoulder as he turned to Hinata, "Let's move!"
Sasuke and Hinata ran down to the exit to the construction site when Tenten pulled up in front of the exit to have the two of them jump in.
"Good job," Naruto said as Sasuke put the guitar case off to the side.
"I hope this was worth it," Sasuke said, "We're taking a big risk Thickskin. If these terrorists know what we're doing, we could end up risking the ringleaders going so far under we won't be able to find them."
"I bet it will be," Naruto said, "Right now we have to get him to the safe house."
"I'd hate to break this up," Hinata said, "But we're about to have company. White 2000 Saab 9-3. Four men, two Mini-Uzis, one Desert Eagle."
Sasuke pulled out his P99, and pulled back on the slide, chambering the .40 round, "Just tell me when." He said.
"You're going to have to take them all," Hinata said, "Think you can do it?"
"Come on Hinata," Sasuke said, "It's me."
"Now," Hinata said as she pointed at Sasuke, "Two rows backs."
Sasuke popped the door, leaned out the side, and fired four times, the two bullets flew over two cars and another two flew underneath the cars, and struck the four hostiles as they raised their weapons to fire.
"Got them." Sasuke said as he ducked back in, and closed the door.
"Nice job," Naruto said as he looked in the passenger rear-view mirror to see the Saab pull across two lanes of traffic to crash into a guard-rail.
The safe house was a nice two-story underground apartment two stories beneath a large apartment complex in downtown Singapore.
"Alright," Sasuke said as he ejected the magazine on his P99, and began cleaning the gun, "Start from where Naruto left off."
"I want a few things." The contact replied.
"Name them." Sasuke said.
"I want a house in America," the contact said, "I want round the clock protection, and half a million dollars for my family."
"I'll have to talk to my contact," Sasuke said as he put the brush and grease away.
The contact nodded, and walked off, Sakura pulled a small phone out from underneath the table, and placed it in front of Sasuke who contacted the Konoha.
The Konoha…
Ino was in her office, working when a single sailor walked into her office, "Excuse me ma'am, there's a call for you, line one," he said as he pointed at the phone on the table.
Ino picked up her phone, "Ino here." She said.
"Commander," Sasuke said, "We're on a secure channel, and we've got the principle."
"I take it he wants something in return?" Ino asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "He wants a house in America, round the clock protection, and half a million dollars for his family."
"Yes to the first, and yes to the second," Ino said, "But he better divide that half a million in half."
"I'll let him know, but we can guarantee his family's safety?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Ino said, "That we can guarantee."
Sasuke hung up the phone, and spoke, "You can come out of the shadows," Sasuke said, "I'm done."
The contact walked out of the shadows, and sat down on the couch, "Well?" He asked.
"We can guarantee a quarter million dollars," Sasuke said, "And absolute safety for your family."
"My family's safety is enough," the contact said, "But I need the money to start a new life. When my first daughter was born, I promised her I'd be a good father. When I took this job, I thought it would be better for my family, but I went too far. Now all I want to do is protect them, and give them a good life. Is that so much to ask?"
"No," Sasuke said, "It isn't."
"Is there nothing you wouldn't do for your family?" The contact asked.
"I don't have any family," Sasuke said, "I was brought up in an orphanage several miles west of Black Mountain, New York. Both my parents died, but I never found out how. But it was when I joined the SEALs when I found my true calling, and I had a family. I was no longer lonely, my team showed me what it was like to have brothers, and even now, I think of them as my family."
Sakura, standing behind the couch was having déjà vu because she too was raised in an orphanage, and never knew how her parents died.
"I'm sorry," The contact said, "I will tell you everything I know."
"Start from the beginning." Sasuke said.
"A few nights ago I was told by my boss in the Akatsuki told me to deliver some boxes to a building on the other end of Singapore," the contact said, "We were told to leave the boxes there, pick up the payment, and leave. As we knocked on the door to collect our money, a man came out of this basement, and as he opened the door, the smell made me and my partner keel over and vomit. I have never smelled this smell outside of a mortuary. It was the smell of death, that wasn't all, it smelled like someone had been in the middle of a cologne factory."
"I don't like where this is going." Naruto said.
"That wasn't all," the contact said, "The man that came out was covered in blood, and dressed like a surgeon. It was then that I knew what were in the crates."
"Humans." Sasuke said.
"Yes," the contact said, "I think they were cannibalizing humans in there."
"This shit makes me sick," Sasuke said, "I'll have someone come here, and take care of you," he stood up, and turned toward his team, "Right now though, we have to get there, and see what's going on."
Guess what happens…