Disclaimer: Tekken is owned by Namco and Bandai, not me.
Underground G Corporation Facility, Nebraska, USA (EDITED)
Dana Garcia never has never witnessed such an invaluable discovery. The cells and the DNA are what make a living organism possible. While the cells are responsible for the structure, the DNA is the data blesses the organism with traits, quirks, flaws, strengths, weaknesses, everything that resembles a live human being.
But looking through the rectangular glass monitor of a man floating in the biotank, Dana discovers so much more to the cells and DNA of this subject.
The possibilities that must originate from a well-written science fiction novels she used to read extensively during her days in college.
Dana is a woman in her mid-twenties with a scientific mind to rival that of Sir Issac Newton. Being a urban native from the metropolis of Dallas, Texas, Dana's aptitude scores were off the charts, which caught the attention of the US Air Force. They wanted her scientific expertise for various projects that she would potentially head.
The way everyone's face looked where Dana just laughed haughtily in that rough and tumble Colonel's face and flat out rejected his offer. She may as well closed the door to an amazing opportunity permanently after a few insulting nicknames she called out.
Instead, a much better opportunity came up. One with promise and clear goals: a scientist at the full-fledged biotech conglomerate known as G Corporation. Dana's been responsible for the several breakthroughs on various projects relating to bio-genetics.
That's how she's been assigned her own team to care and research on the notorious Kazuya Mishima.
Dana's heard stories of Kazuya, and many of them were sinister in nature. Champion of the first King of Iron Fist Tournament, to the CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu, to being thrown into the mouth of a volcano. By his own father! Heihachi Mishima!
Thankfully, G Corporation resurrected a scorch ridden Kazuya back to proper health a few days later, and has spent his time in secret practicing martial arts, meditating, and ambitiously trying to unlock the full potential of the Devil Gene trapped in his body.
The Devil Gene. Dana just laughed about it thinking it was a sick joke. In front of Kazuya! Everyone thought that he would strangle the life out of her thin neck. Instead, the brooding man calmly explained more about the Devil Gene, and it did not take long for an awestruck Dana to volunteer for this project.
Her bright copper eyes glare intently at the intense, yet the serene face of a sleeping Kazuya. He bears a thin face with a strong muscular jaw. His bright bronze cheeks are decorated with deep yet graciously curve scars that are only disconnected by his nose. His midnight black hair is fluidly blasted back and his thick bushy brows are in a sharp angle downwards barely touching his harsh closed eyes.
Dana chuckles still thinking he looks like one of those hardcore characters from those anime's she used to watch.
Resisting the nerve to gaze below the waistline, Dana still cannot get over the fact that Kazuya has been a crafted a top physique form with the fine mix of toughness and elegance. His chest is sculpted with every muscle down to the last detail without a trace of any fat visible. The burnt scars are thick and savage from his chest to the tips of his arms.
A grim reminder of the volcano that killed him.
Kazuya has the body of the ideal ancient Olympian.
Not to mention that hot ass!
Dana's wicked grin vanishes as she looks the division of cells on the screen on the top right. From the data she's gathering, the mutated devil cells are vastly outnumbered by the natural human cells, but they hold a vast influence over the numerous counterparts like a few ant queens directing the thousands of workers.
Dana frowns. The devil cells are killing off the human cells, but they are met with a stubborn resistance. The resistance of the human cells can quickly exhaust the devil cells for a long time.
This is how Kazuya is able to remain human both physically and spiritually.
But the human cells are only prolonging the inevitable dominance of the devil cells. That's why Kazuya is willingly subjecting himself to numerous experimental procedures, he's hoping to find a way to control the devil gene.
So far, however, Dana is frustrated by the lack of the countermeasures to at least contain the devil gene.
She lets out an irritated grunt and rests her hand on her forehead. She's exhausted and is now ready to bring Kazuya out of the tank.
"Anything interesting?" A cheerful man's voice echoes loudly in the compact lab room.
Dana gasps and winces from the abrupt call. Her body begins to tense up recognizing that voice.
Dana forces out a chuckle, relaxing her muscles. "Oh yeah!" She sarcastically elates. "I just found this little microscopic mole on the burnt skin! Very tiny little guy! And it's the magic bullet to this baby!"
Loud rapid footsteps close up behind her until they suddenly stop. "Seriously?!"
Dana snickers at her partner's excitement and gullible behavior. "No, but you were a great distraction for a few minutes." She answers plainly.
She cocks her head to the side to see a tall lanky man of a dark bronze complexion in a loose lab coat with a wrinkled grey T-shirt with a brutal looking alien displaying it's blood-soaked nails. A sharp contrast to his neatly combed hair and intense scuffle blanketing his face.
Dana gives her colleague, Shonkar, a friendly grin and playfully jabs him in the leg. Despite his humble appearance, Shonkar is no simpleton. Being born and raised in London, the United Kingdom, he graduated at the top of his class at Oxford University, G Corp caught wind of his brilliance and approached him with this opportunity.
Another benefit of working for G Corp is that they are loose with their uniform code, as long as every employee is present with a lab coat and ID. Something that Shonkar takes advantage of fully.
"Devil boy still sleeping?" Shonkar asked.
Dana nods. "Like a broody baby." She adopts a more serious tone. "It's still the same results: The devil cells are slowly taking over, but right now they're incapacitated."
"It's got to be more than the human cells?" Shonkar thoughtfully hypothesize.
Dana looks up at him with an arch brow. "Like some sort of unknown gene?"
Shonkar nods. "Possibly." He points at the screen. "See how these devil cells are acting passively? Like some sort of barrier is blocking them or something."
Dana inquisitively hums thinking of the possibility. "Well whatever it is, it's certainly delaying the harvesting of the regular cells." She lets out a long yawn realizing how tired she is. "Alright... I'm gonna wake sleeping beauty up soon and give him the bad news. After that, I'm hitting the hay."
Shonkar pats Dana on the shoulder with a toothy grin stretched across his face. "Look on the bright side: At least I'm not waking him up!"
Dana gives him a not so amusing frown and glares at him in silence.
Shonkar starts stifling his laugh. "What that doesn't make you feel better?" He bursts out cackling in a scratchy high pitch cry. "It makes me feel better!" He pats her and departs from the room still laughing like some frenzied banshee.
"I fucking hate you!" She shouts at him somewhat amused now.
"I know!" His screeching laugh echoes the halls.
Dana scoffs and returns her attention to the screen, randomly scrolling through the microscopic map. She lazily lays her cheek against the palm of her hand fighting the urge to fall asleep on her desk. Just before her eyes fluttered closed, a lone bright orb illuminates a shining white pulse sending a wave across the cells.
Dana grunts and shakes her head muttering, "The heck..?"
She curses silently at herself for foolishly scrolling too far out of the broad map of cellular structure and lets out a frustrated groan fearing she may have lost an amazing discovery.
"C'mon... C'mon, baby..." She silently pleas her computer to give her a clear visual whatever that unknown illumination is. "Show mama the pretty light! C'mon, girl!"
Dana has never been one to beg in general, but for once, begging has given her what she wants. She zooms in on the same white orb, which sends another wave across the cells.
"There you are." She makes a kissing sound and focuses in on the unknown discovery. "Heeeelllllllooooooo!"
With her gaze fixated on the bright microscopic light, Dana feels a strange sense of tranquility that grows stronger the longer she's staring at it. She can feel her lips stretching into a large curvy grin when her heart is full of content and happiness that makes her rigid muscles massage themselves loose. It's like this vibrant organism is the purest light ever produced in all of biology.
"What are you, gorgeous?" She mutters quietly.
When she catches the next pulse created by the bright light, she follows the ongoing wave in the northwest direction as it hovers above the infinite normal cells without having any effect. However, when coming across the abnormal devil cells, she gasps when she witnesses the cells is slowly shifting into a more natural state. The gradual change slowly stops and the devil cells are fully restored but are not 'fully charged' non-scientifically speaking for the dull-witted idiot.
"Holy shit..." Her smile reveals her toothy grin and whistles. "Houston, I may have hit the jackpot!"
Dana slips her hand into her pocket and pulls her smartphone out of her pocket after a tight struggle and after selecting a key contact brings the phone to her ear.
The other line picks up after the second beep.
"Dana? You alright?"
"Shonkar, get back here! Now!"
*TK*
Violet Estate, Bahamas
His days in the tournament are in the past, but that doesn't mean Lee grew bored in perfecting his martial arts skills. Other than reading a good book or a stimulating game of chess, perfecting the traditional art of karate is an excellent candidate to sharpen both the mind and the body.
His left leg unleashes a set of quick and precise kicks upon two virtual red circles, one of many that tower and surround him in a claustrophobic circle, and with two lightning strikes, the two red targets flash to green and digitally disintegrated.
Many circles remain and they were slowly closing in on him from all sides.
Lee expels a sharp cry from his throat and twirls his right leg across a diagonal straight line of now 4 green circles before vanishing.
Lee then performs a series of combinations solely focusing on his legs vanishing several floating red orbs from the already vanishing circle.
With his bitter departure from the Mishima Zaibatsu, Lee escalated his spite by abandoning the Mishima styled martial arts and mastered traditional karate. Over time, he developed a fighting style mostly devoted towards kicking.
Lee finds this a more reliable replacement for the previous martial art.
He easily finishes off the remained of the circle with a spinning side kick with a punishing uppercut to the sole red dot. Lee feels liberated and accomplished as he is rewarded with a sight of a pristine sterile white room completely devoid of doors or furniture. The natural crisp cool air quickly diminishes the increasing heat of Lee's upper bare body.
Lee quickly steadies his breathing to slow deep breaths and runs his neck around in a circle until he's rewarded with a fulfilling pop. He performs a few quick pivots with his feet to help cool himself down. A haunting thought from the night before ceases his routine.
Anna was truly a one of a kind young woman, like a maiden lioness that skillfully traps her more powerful prey with subtle affection and direct action. All the more reason why Anna nearly slashed through all of his defenses like a knife through butter.
It's no secret that he's very fond of the female species, and is not afraid to have nights of blissful intimacy from time to time. But he never commits to them. Some understood his reasoning, some were in agreement, and others had their hearts broken.
With Anna, whatever her plans were that night, he never experienced anything like it before. He was more than tempted to say yes, come home with her, share the night with her, and tenderly hold her in his arms until the new day had dawned.
And that's why he refused her invitation.
He still remembers the callous words he said to her.
"Oh, Anna. I think we both know how this will transpire." His tone was brash and proud. "We share a wondrous night and we fully fall under lusts blissful spell. Many mornings spent in the bedroom lazying about in bed, making foolish shenanigans until later afternoon. And the cycle repeats itself nonstop until we grow bored and tired of each other but refuse to leave each other because of the fading lust. He laughed at the foolish thought. "How long will that be? Five, ten years? That would be a huge waste now, would it?"
Those are the exact words before departing without even shooting a glance at a rejected Anna.
That was one of the most... challenging trials I have gone through. Was bitter, but will be bittersweet later on...
"Mr. Lee?" A smooth yet professional English female voice echoes softly throughout the room.
"Yes, Val?" Lee courteously responds twirling around in a sharp 180-degree turn to face his reliable secretary and colleague.
Val stands in a poised and proper stance with a folder in one hand and a towel and water bottle in the other. with a buttoned dark grey cashmere coat and a matching elegant skirt that shines from the lighting of the room. She is a average height lanky woman with a neatly wrapped chestnut brown ponytail with two small loose bangs displayed from her temples. Her silver brown eyes are slightly enhanced in size, because of her high-quality office glasses.
Mature, experienced and confident, Lee could not ask for a more excellent employee.
"The demonstration is about to begin, sir." She informs him in a friendly tone while offering him the towel and water.
"Ahh, excellent!" Lee silently exclaims. "Thank you." He gladly takes her generous offer and gulps a quick sip of water before splashing the rest on his mild red face.
Lee marches forward with Val marching right beside him, her heels sharply clicking to the sleek surface with each step. From a perspective of the naked eye, it feels this room is infinite as Lee and Val continue to walk farther and farther away from the center without having to worry about blindly crashing into the walls. A sharp hissing sound is produced as a piece of the wall sinks into the ground allowing for an exit for the duo. The missing piece sprouts back up after Lee and Val steps out.
"Dr. Platts assures that the latest tests for the prototype are a success." Val hands him the folder showing him the report. "He's confident that it will be clear of simulations in four months, he says."
Lee furrows his brows and discards the report to his side. "That man has cost me more than enough time with these delays. The deadline for Combot is fast approaching, and he still insists on using training wheels on it!"
"Well, Dr. Platts insists on a thorough review of all of Combot's functions to eliminate any glitches." Val calmly reasons. "He said that the littlest minor glitch could majorly backfire."
"I admire his caution," Lee says coolly. "However, it's his methods of training that are left to be desired."
"Do you have a solution, sir?"
"Sometimes fortune favors the bold," Lee mutters with determination.
Val's eyes widen. "Sir?"
"Inform Dr. Platts to abandon the training protocols and to have Combot on standby." Lee orders. "Time for the training wheels to come off."
TK
The massive estate's structure resembles a majestic Mediterranean villa with a homegrown vineyard with a Olympian themed pool with dark ocean blue tiles that shine beneath the clear water. However, many more wonders await inside the mansion.
As Lee and Val stroll through the pool area occupied by several young women rapturously engaged in all sorts of activities both active and stimulating. Many of them squeal like excited school girls when they see a shirtless Lee walking across the pool area, while others teasingly greet him from afar with the alluring waves of fingers and sing-song calls.
Lee lowly chuckles at their reactions. "These poor girls still think I'm some sort of Olympian god."
"Well..." Val eyes linger at his runners build chest. "You are displaying something promising to our guests, sir. If I may be so bold, I would say that you are right about that as-"
"Val..." Lee feigns his lecturing tone. "Remember what I said?"
"The ocean is vast, and there are plenty of fish in the sea?" Val correctly guesses.
"The ocean is vast, and there are plenty of fish in the sea," Lee repeats proudly.
"I still say that's a ridiculous way of saying it," Val mutters amusingly.
"Oh, please!" Lee exclaims dramatically. "It's poetic!"
"It's boring!" Val counters. "All your doing is adding something very dull to a saying that has been around for... well decades!"
"Val, the moral." Lee reminds her. "Remember the moral of the saying would you, madam?"
"Well maybe if a girl steals your heart then I definitely will." She responds playfully.
With a soft chuckling, Lee hides a man whose heart feels like it's been tightened. He can't blame Val for unintentionally bringing up Anna, but he wishes he could think of something else. Hopefully, this new test will take his mind off her.
Infatuation certainly knows how to change the tune of a man's heart. One of his greatest weaknesses. And here I thought I was immune to such a lovely feeling.
Upon entering the villa, the sublime interior, which the only source of lighting comes from the rays of the sun, is a vast contrast to the polished white dry mud exterior. With a shimmering marble floor with a grand stone statue of a unicorn proudly parrying on its two hoofs. Beyond the statue is the spacious living quarters glittering with refining granite and marble. The clear glass walls showing a circular outdoor bathhouse resembling an ancient Mediterranean style and an enchanting garden teeming with a vibrant polyculture environment. Above a small set of stairs is a concealed fireplace that is not bursting with flames as well as a elegant table with tucked in chairs surrounding all corners. On a far end there are a set of cushions and a high deluxe flatscreen glass TV, a high-quality feat of engineering created by Violet Systems.
Elegance and grace is a favorite of Lee Chaolan.
Lee makes his way down a set of stairs avoiding the elevator.
"The elevator is working, sir." Val reminds him.
Lee skips a few steps down. "I'm warming up, Val." He tells her. "I need to get myself ready."
"I'm sorry, sir?" Val is at a loss, she picks up the pace to barely pass him. "Getting ready for what?"
"For Combot of course." Lee replies with resolved determination.
Val says nothing and retains a stoic stature, but beneath her professional appearance lies grave concern of Lee's directive for Combot.
TK
Anna carefully brushes her hair back with her hands as the hot water from the showerhead trickles down on her bare body. The natural shampoo drops to the tile floor like a soapy waterfall before sinking into the drainage.
After the thorough washing of her soon to be smooth hair, Anna becomes motionless with her head down to the bubbly bottom. Her long night of splendor was cut short by the abrupt and rather cruel rejection of Lee. Even when he's rude, he puts on that charm, but it only made it all the more infuriating and heartbreaking.
Ignoring the numbing pain in her chest, Anna's faltering arm turns the valve of the shower ceasing the boiling flow of water leaving a heavy mist of steam with a strong wooziness that plagues the young brunette woman. She remains still for a few minutes before opening the glass door and stagger out of the shower, padding her wet feet on the floor leaving heavy drops of hot water.
She moans feeling a heavy dizziness in her head effecting her now blurry vision. She leans into the granite sink breathing heavily as she reaches for a towel to thoroughly dry her hair. Anna softens her breathing and her vision becomes clear as she finally finishes drying her hair, she fetches a larger towel to dry her naked body around before departing from the bathroom discarding the towel onto the floor.
Anna is a woman of refine tastes, and she always chooses the best of everything as long as they match her standards. She's always been strangely picky about those sort of details. Her room is equal to that of a luxurious condo found on the American West Coast with a theme mixed with the classic and modern world. Padding her semi-dry feet up the cold stairs, Anna makes it to the top eyeing her silver satire sheet bed looking out at the city of Nassau. She slowly approaches the glass to overlook the scenery before her.
Her thoughts begin to overtake her. Anna remembers seeing that cryptic note left by Nina, saying she was leaving and that Anna should not contact her. Sullen, but understanding, Anna reluctantly accepts her sister's choice, but she can't help but worry she'll slip back into the nasty habit of taking up cold-blooded contracts for money.
Anna lets out a tired chuckle knowing the hypocrisy in her thoughts. Anna and Nina were taught how to be professional assassins, although their teachers were sharp contrasts.
She certainly has the stone cold killer aspect. Thanks, dad.
Anna frowns remembering the envy of how she was always looked down by her own father. It was Nina who received his training, it was Nina who was guided by him. But Anna? Richard wouldn't even let her use a pistol for target practice!
That's when mom taught me everything she knew.
"In a way looks like he did me a favor." Anna wearily murmurs feeling drained and wishes to sink into her bed.
She flops down on her bed sighing softly not even thinking of getting dressed or getting under the covers. She pulls a pillow close to her naked self and stretches her slender leg over it and hugs it tightly.
Not entirely having Lee evicted from her mind, Anna shed a single tear on his cold words. She wonders why he would do such a thing to her? To act like such a pompous self-righteous ass who would have the audacity to hurt her like that. Usually, that's the sort of tactic used by arrogant men who are done taking advantage of a woman after being together for the night.
Lee rejected even that!
From Lee's rejection to Nina's disappearance, Anna has never felt so powerless and alone.
Then it hit Anna. The gazes they share, the lovely conversations, the vulnerability, the ruthless departure. It's all connected.
I get it now.
She curves a small tired smile, satisfied and confident that she broke the code.
Maybe with some luck, we'll see each other again, Mr. Lee.
Anna hums softly letting her mind enter the dream realm with her downtrodden spirit slightly uplifted in a lukewarm feeling, but is quickly overcome with a harsh cold feeling.
TK
Combot's movements were slow and graceful as it imitates the movements of Dr. Oliver Platts. The soft whirring of it's mechanical limbs is that of a soft hiss. With the advanced learning AI, Combot is able to mimic Dr. Platt's movements perfectly. Tai Chi has always been a good warm up.
The design for Combot resembles that of the elite samurai of feudal Japan. Although it's a prototype, Combot is fairly slim with the appearance of a fit human. It's refined silver-titanium alloy plating is the main component of its body with shinning red dots for eyes, a smooth sloping face and natural armor for the back of it's neck. The only thing that resembles a bulky prototype would be the clumsy looking claws acting as Combot's hands.
Dr. Platts smirks in pride that the results are very promising. Despite some chewing from his employer, Mr. Lee, he's no fool when it comes to machines. They are tools that need to be thoroughly reviewed especially when it comes to an artificial intelligence.
Dr. Platts is an older looking man, the same age as Lee Chaolan, but lacks his employer's youthful looks and vibrant personality. With thinning copper hair and a rugged scruff on his chin, hardening his meager appearance. Everything else with the sterile white lab coat, a tight well-kept button red shirt, and stainless khaki's, some of his scientists' joke about the Head Technician is more concern about looking good at his job than actually doing it. Though they keep it to themselves not willing to take the risk to have their employment terminated. Regardless, he has been a major contributor to the Combot program.
The problem is that he's playing with fire with the deadline of Combot fast approaching. But Platts would rather have a robot that's flawless and fully controlled by it's human master, than rush it because money demands it.
And if Chaolan wants my help, we're going to be handling my creation my way!
Dr. Platts grins smugly feeling he holds all the cards over Lee Chaolan.
The Doctor paces his movements more quickly with a few simple jabs a direct kick followed by a few combinations. Combot executed every single mimicking move flawlessly, maybe even better than Platts.
Platts lets out a satisfying laugh and relaxes while Combot copies his loose stance. "Program instruction: Initiate standard shutdown. Directive confirmed."
Combot's tiny red orb eyes began to twinkle a bright violet color and a low garble from the machine indicates a frequent change in its patterns. Almost as if Combot is trying to speak. His eyes return to their normal red state and his shinning head slowly tilts up to face the group of scientists sitting at their computers on desks. It notices the mild erratic behavior of each individual like there is a major problem.
The question is what is the problem?
Combot brings his focus to two new subjects entering the premises.
"Program instruction:" Dr. Platts repeats again in a more heated and wild tone. "Initiate standard shutdown. Directive confirmed!"
"Is there a problem, Dr. Platts?" The charming cocky voice of Lee Chaolan makes Platt's skin crawl in a nasty way.
The grizzled doctor swallows his pride and turns his attention to his flamboyant dressed employer. "No, sir." His rough deep voice replies.
"In that case, disable all standard test protocols for Combot and set up a simulation for me." Lee orders casually rolling his neck around.
Dr. Platts is at a loss. "I'm sorry... what?"
Lee nods. "You heard me." He walks past the doctor and towards the sealed off-white room where a disobedient Combot keeps his rigid gaze upon the silver-haired man. "Seal the doors and begin the combat scenario."
"But, sir!" Dr. Platts takes a step forward in protest. "It's not ready yet!"
Lee turns his head. "Val, override Dr. Platt's last directive and begin the combat scenario!"
The lifelong doctor's skin turns deathly pale but is powerless to express his shock and rage.
Val strolls over to the main terminal with her ID card pinched between her index finger and her thumb, and hovers it over the main computer, overriding any restrictions. Full access and authority is hers. She looks up at Lee who has his focus to the synthetic fighter in the testing room and silently gulps. She couldn't tell if Lee is overconfident, or that he's gone crazy.
Lee cocks his head at Val again. "Now, Val!" He sternly orders.
Val jolts and acknowledges his command with a curt, "Yes, sir!" She begins removing any combat restrictions on Combot, even the ones preventing Combot to do lethal damage.
Val yelps and staggers back when the computer starts blaring out an alert system along with the all bolded on the intense red screen:
UNAUTHORIZED USE DETECTED. EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN IN 20 SECONDS.
"What the-" Val recuperates and pounces forward, desperately trying to shut down Emergency Protocols. "Why did it activate?! I have full access!"
"What's going on, Val?" Lee calls back a little alarmed as well.
Combot starts to feel the effects of the emergency shutdown as its eyes begin to fizzle in and out along with mild spasms and sparks erupting from deep in the shoulders. It's whirring knees start to buckle and threatens to fall on it's back if Lee did not catch Combot.
"What's happening?!" Lee demanded, resting Combot to the floor as it shakes violently like it was experiencing a brutal seizure.
"Self-destruct emergency protocol!" Val exclaims, desperately tapping her fingers on the virtual keyboard to reverse the effects. "It's overloading critical systems!"
"What?!" Lee grinds his teeth together and sprouts up, marching over to an observant Dr. Platts. "What the hell's going on?!"
Dr. Platt's ignores Lee and sprints to the terminal, forcing Val away. With the hover of his ID card, and the rapid tapping of the keyboard, the emergency shutdown is disabled, and the color of the red computer display fluidly changed into a serene cyan color.
The alarm is silenced, and a critically damaged Combot lays on the floor immobilized.
Lee growls giving Dr. Platt's a hostile glare before returning to the testing room where Combot is while a heated argument is boiling over between Val and the seasoned Doctor.
With a grim look on his face, Lee slowly crouches down on his knee and carefully examines the full extent of the damage. Small sparks continue to burst from various angles of the robot's body while a small pool of oil gradually grows from multiple leaks in its body. Despite the damage, Combot remains online evidence of the fading red eyes.
Lee snarls silently and his fist begins to tremble before rising to his feet. "Doctor Platts," His suave voice is dripping with a deadly acid. "I'd like to talk about your future here at Violet Sys-"
Lee suddenly feels a strong clamping on his ankle strong enough to completely cut off blood circulation. Before he could even turn around, Lee feels as if gravity is manipulating him and thrusts him in the air before colliding into the sterile white wall and collapsing to the ground.
Lee groans feeling the ice cold floor numbing the blunt pain he sustained. He glances up to see a jittering Combot on its feet with nasty twitch visible in its neck. An ear piercing hiss sounds off as the door of the testing room rises up and traps Lee and Combot within.
"Oh, brilliant!" The silver-haired man spat.
Lee, quick with his reflexes, hops up and slightly raises his fists at the volatile robot glaring at him. Lee pushes air out through his clenched teeth as he feels the cold goosebumps forming on his skin.
With each metallic clank, Combot sprints towards Lee like a bull threatening to trample a rodeo clown. Lee's reflexes once again delivered as he pivots his head to the side to evade a punishing thick claw to the face. Another successful evasion is executed, though Lee staggered a little this time due to Combot's lightning fast counter punch. It didn't stop there when Combot raises his foot and unintentionally dents the wall. Lee strikes back with duo kick to the center and up towards the malfunctioning robot's neck, brutally tilting it.
High pitch warbling gurgles from Combot, like it shouted an enraged war cry, and without warning, twirls and side strike Lee into the air for another critical landing.
Lee's vision becomes dangerously blurry as he quickly makes out the blurry figured Combot marching towards him at an alarming rate. Coughing violently, Lee quickly disciplines his woozy mind and commands his body to roll away and struggle to his feet.
Sucking air through his teeth, a battered Lee focuses on the rogue Combot, ready for it's offense.
Looks like it's body is having a hard time keeping itself afloat. The more effort it puts into its movements, the more it's vulnerable to falling apart.
Lee is assured by this quick summary, but even with time on his side, there's still the concern for Combot's quick combo strikes. This robot is designed to triumph over the most elite fighters!
That's when Lee sees his magic bullet within his opponent itself.
The neck! Excellent! Just need the right timing.
With his plan established, Lee spreads his form out and waves his finger at Combot to come at him.
Combot obliges without a second thought and sprints after the bruised and bloodied man. Its charge becomes more of a mindless two-legged beast flaunting its limbs aimlessly. As the two fighters became only millimeters apart, Lee gracefully spirals over Combot before landing behind it on his two feet with a glowing green vital tube in his oil blanketed hand.
Lee let's out a curt laugh, feeling a sense of pride that he defeated a nearly invincible fighting machine, regardless of the critical condition. As Combot turns to face Lee, it's neck starts to leak profusely of oil. It seems to notices this as it brings it's thick claw over the lethal wound before it begins to spurt out more of its black life essence. It's armed become more erratic as Combot looks as if he's desperately trying to seal his wound in an irrational manner.
Lee's proud expression quickly falters and contorts into a surprise confusion. The silvered hair man slowly relaxes his stance and stands up properly as he watches Combot slumping to the floor, making low gable sounds that vary in volume and tone. It quickly collapses on it's back trembling intensely; its claws still clutching the side of it's neck.
Lee becomes shock at Combot's state and cautiously approaches it. He slowly bends down on one knee to watch the dying robot kicking its legs and waving its head from one side to the next. Lee's expression softens as he feels a sharp tightening in his chest. As their eyes meet, he couldn't take his silver brown eyes off of Combot's flickering red ones. A mere few seconds becomes an eternity, and time begins to slow as the remaining life in Combot vanishes and slowly turns away, like some sad child who didn't want to look their parent in the eyes.
Lee is incapable of moving a single muscle and he couldn't bring his eyes away from Combot. This was a project gone wrong. So why does this feel like a tragedy for Lee?
His ears pick up the alarms, and hissing of the door, snapping him out of his sullen trance. He cocks his head away and exhales roughly before rising to his feet. Val rushes to Lee, demanding in a calm but alarmed tone. Lee just shrugs her off and marches out of the room through the several scientists rushing into the test room.
Before he could leave the labs, he turns back and venomously calls out, "Dr. Platts, my office!"
Those four words suck the color out of the Doctor's paralyzed body fearing the worse case scenario.
TK
Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom.
The cafe is gifted with a steady supply of customers, despite the sun not even rising yet.
Nina's mind blocked out all noise those rowdy cranky people as she focuses on her laptop researching her family's past. The only lead she has right now is located in Ireland, which she is waiting for her next flight to Dublin. It's silly, but Nina thought she should be a sense of adventure, or a sense of real desire to uncover her past, but she feels nothing.
Frankly, the only reason she's doing this is because she has nothing else to do.
It's either that or becoming a stewardess for an airline.
Nina let's out a humorless chuckle and sips away at her tea mixed with warm milk. She could do research for hours and still not find answers! Other than located in Ireland, Nina could not find the name anywhere. She must have typed Richard Williams a hundred times and none of them match up with the man in the crumpled photo resting beside her hand.
A weary face, dark chestnut hair, sleep brown eyes, and a rough beard, Nina's father looks more like a monk in street clothes than a deadly assassin for the Irish Republican Army.
Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing with my life? Even if I get answers, what then?
Nina's ears pick up some distant muttering coming from the booth all the way on the other side. She rolls her eyes getting annoyed that those idiotic boys are trying to see if they can woo her over. Not only did they look pathetic, but they like the confidence of a man. Even a woman with amnesia knows how a man should be around a woman.
Nina's peripheral vision catches one of them finally having the gall to approach her. Wrinkly t-shirt with jeans, small hair poorly blasted back, and a slight slouch in his posture. All were more than enough for an annoyed Nina to coldly say, "Go away."
At least the idiot has quick reflexes when he twirls around and walks away not trying to look ashamed. Unfortunately for him, his friends did not waste the opportunity to taunt him.
"Oooh, denied!"
"Better luck never, mate!"
"Oh fuck off all of you!"
"Hey! Where you going? Just teasing! C'mon!"
Probably changing into his big boy pants.
"You got to give the poor boy credit." A deep voice in a smooth Irish lilt caught Anna's attention. The startled blonde woman glances up to see her new visitor. "Keep it up and he might grow some hair underneath those pants."
The man Nina sees is wearing a rolled up sleeve shirt with a soft stubble dotting all over his strong chin. His black hair is a clean cut with tiny hard green eyes. He has a broad tall build to add to his rugged and charming appearance.
Nina groans in disgust at his comment. "Gross. Go away."
"Easy there, love." He says contently. "Just want to have a wee chat. Promise it'll be worth your time."
Nina's scowl does not vanish but gestures the stranger to take a seat. "You have about five minutes. Don't be boring."
"I'll only need two." He daringly declares. "Normally, people are not so keen on the hostile behavior, but after all these years, it's good to know you're still the same lovely ice cube, Nina."
Nina gasps silently. It's like saying her name has planted him under his spell as her body becomes frigid. Keeping her cool, Nina regains her composure and leans back against her chair. "Okay, you certainly have my attention... whoever you are."
The stranger chuckles. "Me name's unimportant. What is important is that I thought you were dead for nearly 20 years. Then, all of a sudden, you just sprout out of the ground like the Lord himself had been reincarnated."
Nina's scowl grows more intense and wishes she has a pistol with her.
"You really don't remember d'you?"
"And what is that I should be remembering?" Nina calmly questions.
"I'm not gonna force you, love." He replies with an assuring tone. "I'm just giving you an opportunity to help you get the answers you want."
Nina hums cautiously. "What's the chance, bigshot?"
Again he laughs quietly. "Straight to the point. Definitely, haven't changed, Nina." He looks down to his side with his arm wriggling around until he pulls out those strange portable phones with no buttons. After a few taps on the screen, he slides the phone to Nina for her to see a digital image of a middle age man that looks like a university professor.
"So, why am I looking at him?"
The man's expression grows dead serious. "His name is Kevin O'Harehan. Former CIA that did some wetwork for Her Majesty's eyes and ears all across Ireland before retiring about ten years ago."
"Why would a former CIA agent be in Ireland in the first place?" Nina asks, a little curious.
"To shut down IRA holdouts. Specifically, your father's holdouts."
Nina's stoic eyes widen by this revelation. "What?"
He grins at her reaction. "I knew that would get your attention." He fishes his phone off the table and taps on the screen not taking his eyes off of her. "About a few years back, the fella got himself a fancy new job at the Mishima Zaibatsu. Still using the same cutthroat tactics on me pals back home."
"So want me to use my long forgotten cutthroat tactics to make your life easier?" Nina quickly deducts.
He grins at her quick thinking. "You catch on quick, love." He flashes a few quick glances outside the cafe before calmly turning back to her. "Annnd done WAY before two minutes." He grunts loudly as he rises out of his seat. "Well, love, I can't say more now, but if you're still interested, you can meet up with me once you land in Dublin."
Before Nina could demand how he knew about her flight information, he takes hold of her hand and grips it tightly. Before she could strike him in the jugular, Nina feels something small and light dancing against her palm.
"Was good to see you, Nina." The man says genuinely before grunting loudly and rising to his feet. "Oh! And send Anna my love." He shamelessly chuckles. "She's always a beauty when she's angry."
Nina watches the man depart from the cafe as he makes a few sharp glances before fading into a huge crowd of people. With him gone, she looks down at the table to see that he planted a crumpled piece of paper in her hand. She roughly opens the paper, damaging it with a few rips and tears, but does not fully destroy it. Nina quickly deciphers the words.
Meet me in Cork. Call me when you land. Don't use your phone
Seeing the number below his message, Nina carelessly slips the paper in her bag along with her laptop and takes her leave, but not without having one more sip of her tea.
Walking across the shining floors of the airport, Nina can feel a painful feeling of... nostalgia? She couldn't see it, but she can feel it. Whatever it is, or what it's trying to tell her, it doesn't matter now.
All that matters is she has to endure another flight with another unpleasant experience with jet lag.
TK
Nassau, The Bahamas.
Another young night in Nassau for Anna, only less rapturous.
Without the vibrant company of Lee, Anna is forced to wait outside of her hotel, the Royal Pearl, for her cab to arrive.
Regardless, Lee or no Lee, Nina or no Nina, Anna has not abandoned her plans on attending a fanciful establishment to satisfy a high-quality hunger. It's a shame she'll have to enjoy it all by herself.
Anna sees a few bubbly cheerful women that look to be around her age, or slightly younger. She smiles at their excitement and watches them intently as they all huddle together in front of those portable screen phones, and pose with hand signs and a loud drawn out, "Fromage!"
Anna looks away frowning a little. Looking at those women made her feel out of place. She wonders how many women in their twenties are strolling the streets the Nassau wearing an elegant red silk dress, matching heels and gloves, and a dark floral pantyhose over her slender legs. She has no doubt that it's an amazing style, but feels it would be an uncomfortable transition from her favorite red dress to regular street clothes with sneakers like those women are wearing.
"Excusez-moi!" Anna sees that she's got the attention of the cheery tourists. One of them, in a t-shirt, short jeans, and a ball cap, rushes over to Anna with her phone in her hand. "Umm... Take our... picture? Please?"
Anna couldn't help but grin at the girl. Her trying to speak English and that adorable puppy dog face is too adorable to say no to.
"Oui, cheri." Anna replies fluently and sweetly. "Umm... pouvez-vous me montrer comment prendre la photo?"
The girl is in total shock of Anna's flawless pronunciation but eagerly nods yes to Anna's question. After quickly being instructed on how to take a picture, Anna thought it's easier than she thought.
With Anna understanding what to do now, the girl rushes back to her friends, claiming a spot right in the middle.
"Sourire, chéris!" Anna calls to her eager muses.
The girls give Anna their biggest smiles with a couple hands raising two fingers. As they all shouted cheese, Anna hesitantly taps her thumb on the screen feeling it to be really strange, but successfully takes their picture. After getting the girls approval, she then asks Anna if she could take a picture of her. Anna graciously agrees feeling she's in the spotlight. When the signal is given, Anna flaunts her curvy hip to the side with her bend arms over her head.
Approving whoops and exciting praises are Anna's reaction from her unbashful pose. Even a few bystanders seem to have admired the red dress brunette.
Anna giggles and struts over to the girl and plants a kiss on her cheek. Yelps and eager cries excited the group more.
The girl's cheeks turn rosy red as she sheepishly says, "Merci."
"Pas de soucis, chérie." Anna tenderly replies. "Mais je n'ai pas ton nom."
The girl chuckles nervously. "Yvette. Et toi?"
"Anna."
"Voulez-vous sortir avec nous?" Yvette nervously asks. "Mes amis et moi allons essayer ce restaurant sympa en ville."
Anna politely shakes her head. "Non merci, Yvette. Mais tu es si gentil de m'avoir invité."
Anna feels bad rejecting her offer, but right now, she's looking for some peace and quiet.
Yvette, disappointed but understanding, thanks Anna for the picture and rushes back to her friends who have a healthy head start.
With Anna alone again, she waves her hand in the air for an oncoming cab that quickly pulls up next to her. She enters the car and offers her destination in a low cooing voice that'll warm any man's heart. "The Tropical Royale, please."
The driver happily acknowledges her and pulls away from the hotel.
Anna lets out a disheartened sigh and gazes up at the pitch black sky decorated with a series of constellations. She quickly spots Ursa Major, Hercules, and even the North Star like it's child play before she grows bored and turns her attention to the vast ocean. It doesn't take long for her to zone out and bring her thoughts to the charming silver-haired man from last night. She simulates meeting him by the pier, or the beach, slapping him hard across the face before getting down to his knees and profusely apologizing to her for how he acted. An apology that Anna graciously accepts. Then follows a guest and stealing him back to her room only for the night...
"Ma'am?" The cab driver's voice has thrown Anna back into reality as she jolts in her seat a little. "I believe this is your stop."
Anna generously offers the driver his pay, and as she opens the door, she slides her leg out onto the ground making a solid smooth click. Anna fully emerges from the cab as it drives away. She has her eyes on the sophisticated lounge and steps forward to drown herself in a drunken stupor. An ancient and fairly efficient tradition of drowning away troubles of the past, the present, and the future.
And right now, the finest strongest wine is bound to make her forget Lee.
I'm so sorry this took forever! I was busy with college work along with changing and editing parts of the chapter!
So Kazuya makes an early appearance, Lee is furious with his chief scientist, Nina is offered a job opportunity, and Anna is planning to get drunk. What could possibly go wrong?
PS the French is only a rough translation with the aid of Google translation.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and more is on the way. :)