Cultural Exchange

by tartar12345

Story is set shortly after the Tekken 6: Scenario Campaign ending. Who are Julia Chang's real parents? How is she and Michelle Chang connected to Ogre? Warnings: Some re-edits & retro-add-ons. Julia-centric. Raw & highly self-indulgent & potential angst backfire. Currently NOT planning to follow T7 plotline/characters. Relatively OC-heavy, moments of OOCness, & AUishness.

6. PI-C2: Mined

Pre-Warnings/Clarifications:

(1) Beginning of the chapter takes place with Julia taken to Raven's organization (after seeing her friends safely dropped off, restoring Alisa's program & picking up her belongings from Violet Systems), and sleeping in Jin's cell room.

(2) Chapter includes instances of sexual harassment, bullying/terrorization, and physical battery.

(3) Chapters 2~7 will be organized by each day or days Julia spends as a live-in cellmate with Jin (i.e.: Day 1, Day 2, etc.). Future chapters (after Julia gets her own quarters) may or may not have a similar chronological format.

(4) Five more named OCs are introduced, each largely varying in significance and frequency of appearances. More in A/N.

(5) Jin will be acting like a cruel and confusingly ambivalent jerk-ass towards Julia for the majority of this chapter, then will start softening a tad near the end. Julia will be acting as a very quirky & somewhat of a loser pushover for the a good chunk of this Chapter, then will start pushing back near the end.

(6) A one-time minor OC mentioned in this chapter was created based on Namco's supposed "Lara Croft tribute" for Julia, and she won't be portrayed in a positive light. More in A/N.

(7) There's a description of Julia's body type here (also in Prologue III) that may contradict her most recent canon's. More in A/N.

(8) Jin & Julia will be surrounded by OCs this chapter and the next. Raven & Zafina will be reappearing in Chapter 5.

(9) Jin will be referring to/addressing Julia solely as his "cellmate", "the girl", and a derogatory-sounding nickname in this chapter and the next. More in A/N.

(10) Loads of long-winded & possibly OOC POV thoughts on both Jin's and Julia's part (towards each other), as well as some lengthy dialogues from the OCs. Julia and Jin won't be interacting directly with each other until near end of the chapter. More in A/N.

(11) As a chapterly reminder, I'm planning for this fanfic to disregard post-T6SC official developments, including T7 & its characters (at least so far, as trying to integrate them will significantly de-motivate & discourage my storywriting incentives at this point). Thus, I'm currently going to actively ignore T7-related facts, which will likely render the Tekken in-universe facts of this story canonically obsolete, contradictory, and/or highly inaccurate.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Tekken, its original characters or the mainstream fictional works that inspired or I derived my Storyline/Characterizations/Plot Devices/OCs/Character Names.

I do own the OCs presented here, along with the chosen naming & self-invented backgrounds of both playable & previously nameless canon characters with little or different background info (up to Tekken 6: Scenario Campaign).

Part I Ch2: Mined with a Monster and Their Demons

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 1

*****
Deep in Julia Chang's sleeping subconscious realm...

Julia felt a certain chill creep in her bones as she surveyed her surroundings. She was somewhere deep within an wonderfully lush and thick forest - wild and untouched by humanity's meddling. Sunlight streamed gently through the flourishing leaves like green stained-glass. She heard the trickling of a stream nearby, and cheerful warbling of wild birds. Fresh grass and flowers grew freely, undisturbed by human maintenance or path-paving.

Standing among such vast and flourishing greenery should've been the young native American scientist's dream paradise. On the contrary, it felt like a nightmarish apocalypse of Mother Nature's ruthless vengeance against humanity. Huge trees demolished what had once been a thriving suburban area. Vines infested the broken walls of buildings, condos, and cars. Torn clothes, bags, sports gear, toys, and baby carriages were strewn all over the grassy ground, being eaten away by thick moss.

And then there were the trees themselves.

The area was densely populated by trees of widely varying heights, sizes, and types. The only common trait among the trees were the shapes of their trunks and branches - they all looked horrifyingly humanoid - naked, distorted forms of men, women, and children of all ages. Their wood-frozen faces were twisted in sheer torture and terror. It was as if some wrathful arboreal deity with occult alchemist powers had cast a wrathful curse upon the whole residential area, forcefully converting all the human residents into trees via some agonizing bio-transmutation process.

The young scientist grew more aghast and frantic each passing moment, as she realized this now heavily-forested place used to be her beloved toddlerhood neighborhood...a quaint residency area that'd been occupied by the nicest neighbors and their children - everyone knew, played, and looked after each other.

"You've finally made our biggest dream come true - giving us the ultimate green paradise we and our tribe always yearned for. Thriving reforestation for our desert wasteland of a home." A very familiar woman's voice chimed triumphantly across her ear. Startled, Julia whirled around, but saw nothing. "The best of it all? Our Forest Hex feeds on human flesh and soul - the very enemies of nature themselves." The woman's tone grew chillingly dark and malevolent.

Julia felt herself go pale as recognition of the voice dawned upon her. "Michelle?! MICHELLE!" Julia yelled at the top of her lungs. "Where are you?! What the hell happened here?!"

A sudden and painfully loud roaring snapped Julia out of her horror-struck stupor. The young scientist felt the surrounding heat and heard the crackling noise before realizing that all the human-statue trees around her have been set ablaze.
She then saw a gigantic black blur swishing right at her. Julia instinctively jumped out of the way before its body smashed into hers, but the air-momentum from massive form and speed knocked her further away, against one of the burning statue-trees.

Julia shook her head out of its daze and took a look at the flying arsonist. It wasn't a human being. It was some gigantic bat-like creature, with glowing eyes, huge horns, fangs and talons, with frightening snake-like creatures coiling and hissing around its left arm. It had a furry white collar, and was wearing some golden plate-like loin belt around its waste. The hideous creature suddenly spoke eloquently to Julia, although its mouth did not synch with the words, nor did its appearance match its voice's smooth, feminine pitch.

"Huh. Your father could never see the forest for the trees, and that was his downfall." Another woman's voice - velvety and unfamiliar - emitted from the monster. "But now he's served his usefulness and is out of the way. So please acquaint yourself with your future - and eternal - body-soul mate: These three Level-II Ogres - or perhaps better known here as True Ogre - that the Mishima failed to detect. Three separate bodies merged in one, and you're going to be its fourth!" With that, the True Ogre creature lunged straight towards Julia.

Julia's sense of fear seemed to have numbed itself, as she reacted solely upon self-defensive impulse. With a warlike yell, she charged forward and scored a hard punch straight against the vile monster's chest.

It took a few seconds for Julia to register that her fist neither pushed her or the creature back. Instead, she was stumbling forward while the True Ogre creature stood perfectly still. Her fist sank straight and deep into the monster's chest, absorbing her arm whilst forcing her whole body forward via forceful suction!

"No...NO!" Julia heard herself scream. In her panicking horror, she automatically pressed her other arm against its chest without thinking, in an effort to pry herself free from the monster's body. That arm sunk into the creature's body too, all but quadrupling the rate she was being sucked and absorbed into its body. Soon she found her left cheek and neck melding with the True Ogre's green-black flesh.

"Please do not worry." The woman's voice seemed to speak right from her own mind now. "You're not being devoured, or even assimilated or absorbed like a common victim. I'm fusing you with our modified True Ogre creation as its new equal component, in order to create a brand new species...a hybrid Ogre and Celestial-Fairy Avatar. With your attributes integrated in that body, the hybrid can asexually reproduce at an exponential rate - an overwhelming army of its own breed."

The woman's breezy voice suddenly grew heavy and dark. "The deadlock battle between the Ogres and Celestial-Fairies has gone on for too long, at too great of costs. Truce must be attained at all costs - by the forceful entrance of a stalemate third rival species, this hybrid's invincible power of which you'll comprise half of...and the upgraded True Ogre will be the other half."

Julia tried to scream in pain and shock, but her throat and vocal cords were no longer hers to control. The young scientist's skin and insides felt as if they were simultaneously being digested alive and regenerated, bit by bit. Memories that were not hers started to flash lucidly in her brain...the Ogre's sub-consciousness was starting to merge with hers:
Bird's eye view of ancient villages burning in massive blazing destruction with a flurry of screams filling the air;
Human hands moving busily upon its prone body - apparently in the process of creating or upgrading it. There was a lone tweenage Asian girl with a pink ribbon-top hairband and a banded side ponytail draping down her left shoulder, standing observantly in the corner with some other grown men and women...

Julia vaguely heard the woman's voice resound again in her head. "You and True Ogre-Mass must Become One. I have bestowed upon you a new and infinitely more glorious fate of your born purpose. Your sacrifice is the key to peace and balance against two family-species of war..."

*****
Jin Kazama's chamber cell, 8:36 A.M...

Julia awoke with a gasp, and panted heavily for a moment or two, putting her palm against her head. Then she realized that she was lying not on her cheap twin-sized sofa-bed back at her Violet Systems studio, but on a king-sized and very luxuriously comfy poster bed - Jin's cell bed. The Agency guards must have tucked her in it when they rendered her unconscious last night.

Startled, Julia frantically observed her immediate surroundings...and breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out was alone on that bed. It was then Julia became aware of the TV news blaring in the background. Jin was sitting on the floor to the far left of the bed.

Jin's large, bared back faced her. The Mishima boy was still reading that fifty-plus page report he'd been studying since last night, whilst listening to the news broadcast. He had some hand-held device plugged with a set of earphones, set right next to him on the floor. Squinting, Julia recognized the device as a compact media player and downloader.

"...the still grief-stricken families of Benevolencia Caballero Rojo and Chencho Javier Santiago - civilian casualties a tragically disrupted wedding - have officially pledged their support to G. Corp." The live news reporter's strident voice jolted Julia's attention.
"However...it is strongly rumored that Miguel Caballero Rojo - older brother of the late bride and once-prominent guerilla member against the Mishima Zaibatsu - harshly condemned his family's and in-laws' means of avenging his 'little sister Benecia', declaring that..."

"Benevolencia"...what a lovely name for a lovely girl. And such a shame, too. The young scientist thought sadly to herself, momentarily sidetracked by the photo stills of the doomed wedding victims, their grieving families, and then the vengeful big brother. Come to think of it, so is the name "Ingrid", Christie's late sister and another casualty of Kazama's war...

"...it has also been confirmed that late last night, the pet panda of Ling Xiaoyu has perished in G. Corp.'s ambush on both Mishima Zaibatsu factions, just last night. Ms. Ling holds Lars Alexandersson partly responsible for her Panda's death...announcing that her other dearest companion would still be alive if Mr. Alexandersson simply surrendered his share of the Mishima empire back to Heihachi Mishima..." Julia suddenly heard the reporter continue, while the TV screen zoned in on Ling Xiaoyu's visage - tear ravaged and contorted with grief-stricken rage.

Julia saw Jin look up at the TV, and his slouched figure stiffened up in a painfully tense manner. His fists clenched, scrunching the report in his hand. The Mishima boy suddenly switched off the TV and hurled the remote control across the room. His figure then abruptly drooped like a withered plant, and he buried his head in his hands as he heaved several deep breaths.

The young scientist nervously turned away and quietly slunk back into a prone position, pretending that she was still sleeping. Even after becoming a mass-murdering monster who claimed innocents, Kazama still loves and cares deeply for his girlfriend...merely seeing Ling in grief is enough to send him in a distress-related breakdown, Julia thought to herself in a mix of confusion, wonderment, and resentment. Huh. It's all Kazama's own fault anyways. He doesn't deserve compassion for any of his woes or plight. She stubbornly reminded herself. He didn't even twitch a muscle when the TV was broadcasting those grief-stricken families his war play drove to G. Corp.'s side!

Julia's mind subsequently wandered to last night's events that found herself waking up in Jin's bed...

*****
Julia's Flashback: 26 hours ago, Julia's round-trip to Violet Systems aboard the Agency's large-scale stealth transporter...

Julia rode a prisoner-transporting stealth jet that took her, her unconscious friends, the two loaned-out female agents, and several Agency guards to Violet Systems. Before departure, Jin Kazama had ordered Alisa to self-erase her databank memories about the Agency's location. Julia had the guards lay Lee and Lars's prone body sprawled on the large couches in Violet Systems coffee room, while she quickly stuffed her garments, all 7 pairs of corrective lenses she owned, her special black thermal blanket, towels and hygiene products in a large carry-on.

As the young scientist anticipated, the guards took her Hound workstation with them after she reinstalled the Scapegoat program back into Alisa and left the gynoid there - along with Agent Valkyrie and Agent Pak - to guard the premises until Lars and Lee woke up from their drugged states. Julia was requested to nullify Jin Kazama's "commanding authority" once again and return Alisa to her "human imitation" personality. Lest Lars throws a fit and loses even more morale than he already has. It was now clear that Julia's control of the gynoid's Commanding Authority didn't really affect Jin's control over Alisa, anyways. The Mishima boy would continue to secretly relay orders from afar for his voluntarily subservient robot to carry out - via monitored radio-frequency commands provided by the Agency.

Halfway during the ride back to the base, Julia's Rochefort-induced "Pleasure Doll" personality mode wore off, causing her to stagger into the lavatory, retching and hyperventilating violently.

The Agency guards had been moving to sedate her with drugs, but she managed to get her psychological breakdown under control on her own first...by unhesitant self-striking of a major pain-inducing pressure points. The excruciating self-inflicted pain snapped her out of her uncontrollable panic attack. It allowed her to calm down in a conscious state, recollect her wits...and retrieve her normal self back into place.

Julia hadn't relapsed into that agonizing, unshakeable imprisonment of involuntary tranquility and congeniality for almost 8 years...until Luce's footage of her 9 year old self took her took her psyche way back in time, back to those Rochefort ordeals.

During her sessions with Laurent De Rochefort, little Julia's psyche had clashed violently between protecting Michelle's happiness and defying the unbearable things Rochefort coerced her into doing. The internal conflict eventually became so great, the 8 year old girl's sense of self had split in half - one half belonging to her mind and heart that could not abandon Michelle...the other half her spirit and soul that could not tolerate the abuses she was allowing herself to be subject.
As little Julia became more compliant to Laurent De Rochefort's increasingly painful and dehumanizing demands, she felt her true self screaming increasingly louder in agony and her spirited soul being repelled further away from her heart. The whole cycle became an insidiously distorted coping mechanism, eating its way down dangerously close to the core of her being and fundamental instincts. When Rochefort physically left her and Michelle's life, the little girl's warring damaged psyche barely managed to reconcile a tenuous truce with each other.
This self-hurting method was a surefire trick the young scientist learned from her little foster sister many years before. Back then, just shortly after she finally came to solid terms with her childhood murder guilt...13 year old Julia's psychological survival was then almost immediately assaulted by the post-traumatic Rochefort-related ordeals which suddenly and violently erupted within. It started with unrelenting nightmares that lucidly revisited those horrible sessions. Not long after, the young adolescent Julia relapsed back into that dangerously detached psychological mode. Something within her was eating away any inherent negative emotions in an extremely unnatural and virulent manner, threatening to crush the majority of her emotional sense of humanity - permanently. Lei wasn't able to help this time - nor were any of the top psychologists he took Julia to. She was losing her sense of true self, individualism, and soul - and declining at an unstoppable, rapid rate.
All hope seemed lost for young Julia...until a long-term cure in the form of Lei Wuji's extremely unique and brutal chewing out - including many, many merciless hits to Julia's most painful-inducing pressure points to "wake the Big Sissy up" from her "meaningless funk".
Wuji's agonizing but effective therapy rendered the "Pleasure Doll" persona caused by any lingering Rochefort-related nightmares for several hours at most, then Julia would be liberated back to her original self...after an episode violent and unusually prolonged panic attacks. Her little foster sister helped found a solution to that problem too, by forcing her to learn a few essential Qigong basics. First, the most pain-inducing pressure points - the physical pain-inducements were always enough to snap Julia out from her panic attacks. And secondly, internal Qi-based expulsion methods, in case Julia needed to force out harmful substances, poisons, or even energy from inside her body.
The only basics Julia didn't learn out of staunch refusal were the fatal pressure point spots.
The "Pleasure Doll" detachment problem and Rochefort-related nightmares dwindled to nil within a year after Wuji's harsh curing methods, with the help of Julia's own self-induced selective amnesia.

Until tonight of course, when those vivid memories sprang back to Julia with a vengeance, triggered by the stolen session recordings Luce provided. Fortunately, the therapeutic and countering effects Wuji had taught were still just as solid, too.

*****
Julia's Flashback Cont'd: 9 hours ago, Julia's return to the Agency base as official (and unwilling) test subject-cum-employee...

When Julia initially stepped back into Agency base, she almost felt hopeful and eager - a part of her was actually glad to have been given an excuse to stay here. The young scientist knew it was extraordinarily risky, whether she'd be able to remain physically or psychologically intact here for the 10 days and 9 nights she set her escape countdown to. Nevertheless, the organization apparently knew a great deal more about her obviously unnatural development and mysterious heritage than she did, and in truth she'd been dying to read the rest of the Agency's gathered information it had briefly granted access to her.

The agency personnel provided her permissible information in printed hardcopy form, bound into a huge folder - 6,813 pages of unorganized raw data comprising legends, rumors, anecdotes, eyewitness accounts, and paranormal science-based claims - along with a big empty notebook and writing utensils. Julia wouldn't get her workstation back until they've thoroughly examined and properly reformatted it. In fact, she wouldn't be provided any electronic device at all, not until she officially started her assistance work with the Agency. Julia was a tad disappointed, but could live with that just fine. Then they showed the young scientist her new living quarters...

Julia never imagined in her wildest nightmares she'd have the gloriously opportunity of being roommates...or rather, cellmates with the Devil Gene-mutated Global War Criminal himself.

When the escorting guards first opened the heavy mechanical doorway to her prison chamber, Julia was initially amazed and uplifted to see the interior: It was practically an unbelievably spacious 4-star hotel room...save the prisoner door. The prison chamber even came with a tall mini-dining table with a comfy-looking upholstered dining chair of matching height. The only furniture appearing out of place was an old-fashioned and medium-sized tube television.

Then Julia's observing gaze fell upon the room's only bed, an extra-large California king-sized poster bed...and spotted something she inexplicably missed on first sight. Jin Kazama was lounging on said bed, manacled and shirtless like before, apparently interrupted from his reading of an inch-thick paper report. The Mishima boy stared at the young scientist's blanched face with narrowed eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Jin growled in a deep, menacing voice. Julia tried to open her mouth to say something, but realized that she had lost hers.

The escort guard leader stepped forward. "Jin Kazama. Julia Chang. You two have been assigned as cellmates, under direct orders from both research project supervisor and Agent Raven himself. You're to have your daily meals sent in together, periodic hygiene supplies replenished together, laundry done together, and lab trips made together. And that will remain the case until further notice."

Jin scoffed. His lips curved in a sneer as he glowered coldly at Julia. "The only real comforts I'm granted here are quietness and isolation...and now the Agency's stripping me of that too - by having this Stray dumped right into my breathing space?"

The guard leader scoffed back. "Don't be whining to me, Kazama. Take it up with Agent Raven and the project head when you see them."

The still-in-shock Julia started shaking her head with wild abandon. She abruptly spun around and pushed her way through the exit. Several of the escort guards grabbed her and pushed her back into Jin's doorway entrance.

"Where you think you're going, Chang?" The leader guard demanded.

The young scientist heaved a breath in exasperation and disbelief. "No way in hell will I be locked alone in the same room with that mass-murdering war criminal, even for a minute. I'LL go and take it up with whoever's responsible for this absurd rooming arrangement."

The escort leader snorted. "Sorry Chang, but you have no say in this. Now haul your luggage and your ass right in there. You both be good kids and make an honest effort to get along, all right?" He jeered with a chuckle.

"And roommates killing one another - is that classified under 'highly discouraged' or 'disallowed behavior' around here?" Julia snapped sarcastically. Then the young scientist took on a serious and desperate tone as she grabbed the leader tightly by his shoulders. "Listen...lock me up in one of your specimen capsules or whatever's convenient, just for tonight. Until I can talk to Raven or the supervisor. I'm not living here with Jin Kazama! I'm not!"

The leader shoved Julia away roughly, causing her to topple butt-first on the floor. "Just shut the hell up and get in there, wench. Hurting my ears..."
He was turning to exit with his fellow guards, when Julia suddenly shot to her feet and snatched him by the collar from behind. She yanked him sideways to face her, and gave him a sound wallop that staggered him, before flooring him with a vicious roundhouse.

The rest of the escort leader's team moved to restrain Julia, but she was ready - she slammed herself as hard as she could against the closest guard, kneed him in the groin to incapacitate him. She then used him as a semi-human shield as she fought out a path to escape, and high-tailed out of Jin's cell. She heard the remaining escort guards' footsteps pounding behind her, and one of them requesting backup on his communicator. To hell with this bullshit! She seethed to herself as she ran aimlessly somewhere - anywhere. Right, find the lab...I'm gonna-

The young scientist didn't have time to finish that thought - hordes of guards filed out from the corners of the base, quickly surrounding and outnumbering her. Julia desperately tried to ward them off as they closed in on her, then yelped in pain when she felt a needle stabbing the side of her neck. All of the sudden, she felt too groggy and weak to fight back. A strong sedative. Was the last thing that crossed Julia's mind as she forlornly struggled to maintain consciousness...

*****
Present Reality, back in Jin Kazama's cell chamber...

"Nothing but a stupid wretched Stray, abandoned by both my uncles." Jin's cold voice suddenly snapped Julia out of her reminiscing. She whirled around in alarm and found him standing at the opposite foot of the bed, staring at her with narrowed eyes. Her cell-roommate was obviously aware that she'd been awake all this time.
"By my adopted uncle, whom you almost lost your life assisting for his selfish gains, yet still faithfully worked under his employment afterwards. Then by my half-uncle, your savior knight - who turned his back on you for a mechanical human imitation that returns none of his delusional longings."

Damn. Damn, damn it. Anxiety filled Julia's mind as she hastily scooted off the bed. She had her back facing to Jin, who stood there, patiently waiting for her to say or do something in response. The young scientist forced her jumbled thoughts into logical coherence.

When Julia first encountered Jin Kazama here, during the Lee rescue mission with Lars and Alisa, the Mishima boy held no reservations in showing how much he personally despised the young scientist's character. And, well...she wasn't anywhere near restrained in her indirect retorts against him either.
Now the Agency has forced the young scientist to invade Jin's private space. Forced her to disrupt the Mishima boy's sole piece of cherishment - peaceful solitude - and play the punching bag of his anti-social resentment.

Julia was tempted to blurt out to her cell-roommate that she'll be escaping from the base within 10 days, anyways - out of his life, his living space. But she knew the room was under constant surveillance, every corner of it.
Thus, all she can do to survive in the meantime is not intrude or disturb Jin - make it easy as possible for him to disregard her existence. Her eyes darted around the room, careful not to look into the Mishima boy's general direction. Where...the bathroom, yes that's it. I'll hide in there and huddle in the bathtub - if they have one - for the majority of time.

The young scientist made a beeline towards the bathroom - now to be her unofficial, self-designated living quarters...her cell-roommate can have the main room all to himself. Not really a privacy haven when either of them has to use the bathroom's facilities for their practical usages. However, she was sure she and her cell-roommate can eventually work out some unspoken agreement for coexisting in mutual avoidance. Jin was obviously averse to her imposed presence and proximity, as much as she did towards such a-

The young scientist was suddenly and brusquely jerked to a painful stop by her hair before she could finish that thought, causing her to stumble backwards with a startled grunt. Grimacing, she spun around and saw that Jin had grabbed both ends of her very long twin braids - one in each of his large hands.

"Pigtails..." The Mishima boy muttered in soft voice, examining her plaited hair with an unreadable expression.

Julia momentarily felt like chortling in surprised amusement. Kazama, of all people...singing Lee's tune about women's fashion taste. Instead, she yanked her braids out of his grasp, dashed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

The bathroom was quite small compared to the rest of the cell chamber. However, there was a nice, large bathtub at the far end from the bathroom's doorway - complete with white opaque shower curtains. Good enough.

It suddenly hit Julia that she'd also have to mentally block out the fact that whenever she uses the toilet or shower, she'd be giving all the surveillance room watchdogs free shows. She somehow needs to desensitized herself to the very idea.

Julia climbed into the spacious tub and pulled the shower curtains all the way shut. The alabaster felt cold and hard through her sweats, but there was a nice sense of cozy refuge. This will be her new room. She'll read, eat, shower, sleep, and study the Agency's notes in this little curtained cubicle while she bides her time.
Of course, she'll have to scurry out temporarily whenever Jin showers or relieves himself, whenever she herself needs to use the toilet or grab her meals...and so on. She'll manage. And short of simply killing her to rid her presence, Jin Kazama will have little reason not to leave her be if she goes this far to stay out of his living space, his awareness...

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 3

*****
Inside the bathtub of Jin's chamber cell bathroom, 14:22 pm...

Julia yawned, taking a brief break from her 5-hour non-stop studying of the 6,000+ page note stack provided by the Agency. It was a bit taxing on the young scientist's brain and eyes, but she had to finish under a week...and then re-read through the loads of superfluous details to ensure she didn't miss any important ones.

As for Julia's attempt to stay out of her cell-roommate's hair and have him return the favor...on one hand, the two had adapted a routine of avoiding each other's presence - much more quickly and wordlessly than she had hoped. She will also continue to staunchly avoid any and all eye contact with him...as if he was a male Gorgon who'd petrify her upon the slightest glance to the face.

On the other hand, Jin's method of ignoring her presence felt...off. Not to mention the Mishima boy's subtle but undeniably personal body language and gestures, which he almost seemed intent on ensuring that she's made aware. The young scientist had a nagging feeling that - as anti-logical as it seemed - the Mishima boy was, in reality, increasingly resentful towards her whole-hearted efforts to maintain minimally interrupted mutual isolation.

When Jin first came in to use the toilet, he just went - no warning of any sort. The Mishima boy did not pause or glance at the half-shower curtained tub's occupant - or react to her shocked gasp - as he undid his pants and relieved himself. Acting as if she wasn't even there in complete nonchalance.

Julia's heart had thumped almost painfully then - she'd been fully expecting Jin to kick her out either physically or verbally, or at least pause long enough for her to scramble out and grant him his basic privacy. Upon her cell-roommate's third trip to the lavatory, Julia realized he had been deliberately softened his footsteps to the bathroom. Leaving no opening between him entering and using the toilet for her to exit, without making her appear even more awkward and blatantly discourteous.

Jin Kazama had either lost all care towards the most basic self-consciousness, or he was indirectly trying to make her uncomfortable in her tiny personal space. Thank goodness for the excellent ventilation in the bathroom, plus the young scientist's acquired lack of squeamishness after years of hands-on biology lab work...and having lived in largely untamed nature environments with Michelle.

When the Mishima boy first came in to shower after his self-training workout, he simply strode in and threw the curtains aside - already stark naked. He had disposed of his sweaty clothes before he entered. The young scientist only had time to turn towards him, before she found herself staring at a very well-endowed and shapely manhood - dangling a mere two feet from her face. While Julia was still paralyzed in mortification, Jin promptly turned on the tub faucet and then activated the shower head...utterly and literally disregarding the fact that she was sitting right there in it. The young scientist hastily climbed out to prevent herself, her clothes, and her belongings from getting completely soaked. Then she ran out the bathroom and slammed its door, breathing heavily as she leaned against it. At least she wouldn't be forced to sit through Jin Kazama's shower time, as well.

Later on, Julia found out that contrary to conventional assumptions about virile masculinity, Jin loved cleaning and grooming his body. Well actually, the Mishima boy was meticulously mindful of cleanness and tidiness in general - certainly more than she was. Right after his self-training sessions, he would take almost 10 minutes showering. Then she'd hear him scrubbing the tub thoroughly for another 5 or 6 minutes. And finally, he'd a nice, long bath...splashing around and sighing in contentment for almost 30 minutes. When Julia went back in, she was surprised by the lack of humidity and steam...he bathed in cold water.

Further, Jin would wipe everything clean and dry after his personal usage - The bedroom floor of sweat after his workout sessions; The top of the toilet bowel clean after he urinated; The wash basin after he finished brushing his teeth, washing his face, and shaving; The bathroom floor after he finished showering and bathing; The bathtub basin and sink of any hair. On top of that, Jin made his bed first thing in the morning, and folded his clean clothes into impeccable stacks. Julia never cared to do either, unless she had invited guests over at her place.

On the other hand, the Mishima boy never bothered to put the toilet seat down unless he needed it down, nor wipe the interior of the tub for her convenience after he finished bathing. To avoid getting herself wet after his bath time, Julia would either dry the tub with one of her bath towels, or simply sit on the inner side of the tub until its interior dried itself.

The young scientist herself had uptight standards regarding hygiene - bodily and indoor environment, too. However, she was only semi-concerned about tidiness - as long as belongings or furniture were semi-organized, acceptably maintained, and locatable. Compared to Jin she was almost a slob...or rather, Jin was a neat freak compared to typical young men his age.

Julia found herself compelled to follow suit in terms of drying the wash basin and bathroom floor of any stray water drops, fearing that Jin will force direct confrontation with her over it. Fortunately and abnormally, she stopped shedding any kind of hair on her body.

And unlike her apparently immodest roommate, Julia locked the bathroom door whenever she was using the toilet, showering, and even when brushing her teeth.

Aside from Jin's body-cleansing time, the young scientist would only rush out to grab her food tray from its cell-door slot-opening and carry it inside the bathroom tub - after ensuring that Jin already took his and had already settled down to eat - and then slide her finished meal utensils back through the slot. Otherwise, to deposit her dirty laundry down a shaft - too small for her to try escaping through, of course. Or to grab her clean laundry to stuff inside her luggage, and whisk a new set to change into after showering...she didn't give a crap that she'd be wearing wrinkly clothes all the time - not around her captors, and definitely not around Jin Kazama. And the rest of the time other than using the toilet or brushing her teeth, she remained in the bathtub with the shower curtains tightly drawn - she slept in it, studied in it, ate it in, did small workouts in it, and of course, showered in it.

Without Lee's overcritical eye hovering about her wardrobe choice, Julia was free to wear the oversized, baggy casuals that comfortably concealed all but her hands, feet, head, and neck. And don those huge plastic glasses her employer-friend so despised.

Jin, on the other hand, never had an article of clothing covering his upper body. He'd wear combat training pants, sweatpants, loose trousers, or just a pair of boxers, but never a shirt or undershirt. Julia figured it was because of the handcuffs that were never removed from his wrists...those manacles made fitting his chained arms through any garment armholes cumbersome and pointless. Besides, the chamber was always a comfy room temperature.

Julia quickly learned how to avoid running into a completely unclothed Jin. The Mishima boy would unfailingly shower after he was done with self-training and wiping the floor of his sweat. She'd rush outside the bathroom some 10 minutes after his workout-induced grunts and yells stopped, then huddle in a far corner with her back turned, as he discarded his sweaty clothes straight into the laundry shaft. She'd wait until he emerged from the bathroom and put on a clean pair of boxers or pants from his drawers, before she rushed back into her hiding haven.

And the young scientist sorely hoped such will be the most interaction to occur between her and Jin for the next 7 days.

*****
Jin's chamber cell, 18:57 pm...

Half-sitting on his bed, Jin felt his insides prickling with exasperation as he watched his cellmate shut herself back right into his bathroom, after hastily depositing her emptied meal tray and eating utensils through the tray slot.
He loathed the idea of being the one to initiate a directly interacting relationship, but she was being extraordinarily difficult with her stubborn quirkiness.
The girl is a potentially vital human resource in taking apart G. Corp. to its core - Kazuya included. He needed her unconditional cooperation and obedience until she outlived her usefulness to him.
On one hand, she wanted G. Corp. down - at least as much as Lars did. On the other, she implicitly made it explicitly clear that she wasn't going to do so via any of Jin's bidding. Unlike Eddy Gordo - who had been just as unwilling but still 100% dutiful working under the Zaibatsu - Jin could foresee that with their current interpersonal status, she'll indefinitely strive to rebel against any of his orders via any indirect means possible...until he gives up out of sheer frustration, and lets her deal with G. Corp. her own preferred way.
Well, she'll soon find out how wrong she is. He'll soon enough get a proper rise out of the girl for her to retaliate, and when she does, he'll slam her to the floor and stomp on her non-stop - physically, verbally, psychologically - until her already badly damaged psyche becomes broken into complete subjugation.
The Mishima boy never was a fan of employing cruelly provocative tactics, even when he actually despised or outright hated the target. But this stupid girl is leaving him no choice...

Jin's train of thought was suddenly interrupted by the sound of his heavy cell door sliding open. The escort guards stood in the doorway.

"Kazama, forgot it's lab checkup day? Get moving. The hotel maids are already waiting out here to sweep up your suite while you're gone." The leader escort hollered. "Where's Chang? Still hogging the bathroom?"

"I have no idea where that Stray had wandered off." Jin replied tersely as he slid off the bed.

The bathroom door opened, and Julia tentatively emerged. "What do you want?" She asked the escorts in a none-too-friendly tone.

The leader escort scoffed. "You got hearing problems, Chang? Periodic trip to the research lab for checkups, while your cell gets its weekly cleaning and maintenance. Every time today and the day after the next, each week. Now move."

*****
Agency Hallway - W. Exclusive Prison Ward, 19:16 pm...

Julia was made to walk in front of the guard escorts and right behind Jin, who in turn followed the guard escort.

"Hey, Chang." One of the escort guards called out in a snide tone. "All we see you wearing out of the shower are those homely, prudish T-shirts and sweats. You not into men? Or you asexual like Kazama here?"

"Yeah." Another escort piped up. "Shame, you'd have a sizzling hot sex life...seriously, I've never seen such perky-round melon D's and firm round ass that jiggle on that lithe a body. And believe me, I can tell when they're all 100% home-grown, Chang - like yours."

Julia grimaced, and forced herself to quell the burning humiliation and indignation rising within. These two assholes...they're the same men who monitor us 24/7.

"No shit? Damn, and I thought the broad always layered up in sloppy wear 'cause she had nothing to flaunt!" A third guard exclaimed unabashedly.

"You're seriously missing out, man. That cute and silky-fluid but unbelievably sexy curvaceous torso. Plus those perfect and gorgeous long legs. She's a friggin goddess, some Aphrodite incarnate for sure. And by gods, she's just-right dainty and slim on the top, too - for a girl with a full jutting rack, flaring round hips, and round shapely thighs like hers. 'Cause chicks I've seen with large boobs and large hips usually have broad shoulders, huge torsos, and thick arms to go with 'em." The second escort stated. "And I swear - she's always shaved and waxed so deliciously clean in all the right places, but no one ever sees her doing any trimming."

"C'mon, why do you think she's going to the labs with Kazama? Who'd imagine those smooth little muscles on her soft lean limbs and oh-so-tenderly toned body's capable of generating that man-power...not to mention how those pretty little hands could pack such a punch. My jaw's still hurting like a bitch where she uppercut me a few days back!" The first guard complained.

Julia felt a modicum of wry amusement and accomplishment amidst her furious embarrassment. She recalled that during her martial arts learning and training, she'd over-exerted and injured herself several times, post-puberty - when certain developing body parts and structures of a girl tend to hinder physical ambitions. Especially with a highly power-based set of combat styles like hers, which also required unusual overall-body athleticism, agility, and even graceful acrobatics. Her Tai chi basics, along with self-applied knowledge of both force physics and bio-kinetics played a helpful role in assisting her body and mind adapt into genuinely competitive vehicles for those fighting arts.

When she started attending the Iron Fist Tournaments, she'd always been tempted to ask if those fellow female fighters - virtually all who possessed even more slender, most of them even more petite bodies, and many of whose combat styles entailed large degree of strength like hers - had to go through similar experiences. Michelle had openly denied that she ever encountered woman-athlete related biological inconveniences...but her adoptive mother always had a stubborn habit of denying or refusing personal info she didn't like to recall, anyways.

"Hey now, she's more than making it up to you with those free shower time shows, isn't she?" The second guard countered the first cheerily, breaking Julia's momentary emotional reprieve. "Almost better than quality live porn - and the best part is that it's our job to watch it!" The young scientist stifled a heavy exhale as crude snickering ran through the men behind her.

The leader escort sighed irritably and half-turned his head. "You men done with the girl-talk? Or will I have to write you all up for unprofessional conduct?" The snickers ceased abruptly, and the escorts remained respectfully silent the rest of the way.

*****
Agency Research Lab: Paranormal Species Division - Main Entrance, 19:24 pm...

Julia surveyed the lab surroundings...they were uncomfortably reminiscent of her old G. Corp. workplace. Lab workers bustled about with equipment and odd specimen. Unlike with Kazuya's corporation, there were signs of no humans being used as experimental subjects. Well, other than herself and Jin, that is.

"Dr. Laroft? Your favorite specimen's arrived for his weekly checkups. We've also brought that new girl you've been bouncing 'round all month to get your hands on." The leader escort announced dryly.

A very attractive woman in her late 20's-to-early 30's - who wore a long lab coat, calico-framed glasses, and tied her wheat-golden blond hair in a French twist - spun around, her pale azure eyes lighting up like blue Christmas bulbs when they fell upon Julia. Dr. Laroft quickly excused herself from two employees she'd been talking to, and approached with excited strides.

The doctor looked the leader escort guard and smiled. "Thank you, Captain Lawson. I've been looking forward to meeting Ms. Julia Chang for quite some time now."

The leader escort smiled back. "Watch yourself with the girl, Doctor - she's a wild one. Displayed quite a bit of physical misbehavior on her first day here."

"No worries, she'll have no reason to act aggressive around me." Dr. Laroft dismissed in a playful tone. "Now, if you men will excuse us, I'll be having my hands full with my long-awaited guest today."

Dr. Laroft finally turned to face Julia and offered an outstretched hand. "How do you do, Ms. Chang? Juliette Laroft. Head of Paranormal Species Research unit." The blonde announced with alacrity. She then leaned her head closer to Julia's.
"I never could understand the Agency's push for all staff to learn self-defense, other than the use of basic firearms, tasers, and tranquilizers. Due to the nature of my work and position, I stay strictly guarded in the research lab 24/7 - and thus learning any martial arts is a waste of precious research time." Laroft flippantly stated to Julia in a hushed voice.
"I'm sure you share my sentiment, Ms. Chang? After all, your kung-fu skills proved worthless when G. Corp. security staff apprehended you as an informant, just a few months back - didn't they?"

Feeling more than a little offended and awkward, Julia uncomfortably accepted the older woman's hand, and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Laroft." The young scientist forced a polite smile.

Laroft turned to look at Jin, who was standing right beside her with his usual impassive expression. "Mr. Kazama...I've gotten word that you and Ms. Chang have been paired up as roommates. How's that working out?" The research head inquired casually.

"She's a sick-minded and offensively invasive voyeur. Who hides in the bathroom all the time, just so she can get a peek at me butt-naked." Jin deadpanned, before Julia could even open her mouth.

Laroft burst in loud laughter upon the remark. Julia herself felt like bursting with sizzling chagrin and resentment.

"Ah well, can't blame any normal heterosexual female for being a stalking pervert around you, sweetheart. Especially when you walk around half-nude all the time, boasting such a gorgeous body and handsome face to go with it." Laroft replied gaily. She then nodded her head at the two employees she'd been talking to earlier.
"You are familiar with the drill by now, Jin-honey? Please follow my assistants. They'll supervise your series of tests and scans this time. Ms. Chang will require my full attention for today."

What a shameless, blatant liar, that Kazama. Julia inwardly seethed. Well, whatever...I'm gonna talk Dr. Laroft into letting me switch out for solitary confinement, even if it'd be a real prison cell. Here goes.

The young scientist cleared her throat as Jin was led away. "Ah, Dr. Laroft...I really, really cannot stand living in the same quarters with Jin Kazama." She started when she got the research head's attention. "Please...relocate me anywhere, as long as it has the most basic washroom facilities. I'll happily sleep on the floor, if I can just be locked alone."

Dr. Laroft looked at Julia with a brief flicker of curiosity and puzzlement. "I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Chang...my authority is strictly confined to overseeing your experimental tests and results. I cannot do anything about your lodging or other personal matters." She replied in a business-like tone.

"Doctor...surely you know the right people to talk to? Please help me. I urgently insist." Julia gave Laroft a clear, meaningful look: "I won't back down or cooperate, till you do something about my request".

The research head sighed. "You'll need to talk to Luscienter Marnix Martus regarding your request. Just this morning they appointed him general supervisor - regarding all developmental matters pertaining to you."

Julia cocked her head. "So this new supervisor, Martus...how can I reach him? Or when do I get to meet him?"

Laroft scoffed. "Well, I can have a memo about your request sent to his office. But if I know Luce...he'll dismiss any requested meeting, unless he personally deems them necessary to show up in person. Or if they're direct orders from his own superiors-"

"-'Luce'?" Julia gulped, feeling the blood draining from her face. "Bespectacled, dark strawberry-blonde hair, deep blue eyes, around 5'7'', and thinly built? That's 'Luscienter Marnix Martus'?"

"Ah. You've already met him." Laroft put a hand on her left hip. "Yes. Everyone refers to that interrogation specialist as 'Luce' for some odd reason - it sounds nothing like his full name. You'd think it'd stand for 'Lucius' or 'Lucian', or maybe even 'Lucifer', wouldn't you? Oh well, I'll just write up that memo now-"

"...f-forget the memo and my request, Doctor. Thanks anyway." Julia muttered hastily, willing her weakening knees to stand their ground. Relax Julia, relax. Laroft said it herself...that man won't bother to show up, unless he feels an absolute need to. Oh, the spirits protect me...

Laroft raised an eyebrow at Julia, then shrugged. "All right, if you say so. Now, please follow me so we can start your tests and scans."

*****
Agency Research Lab: Paranormal Species Division (P.S.D.) - East Examination room, 19:48 pm...

Julia had various bodily samples taken for the tests - nothing out of the norm, just like any comprehensive medical exam from a hospital. She was also required to lie down on various exam tables and tubes with her clothes off, or strapped in different experimental apparatus. The whole exam session took almost two hours, but nothing felt particularly painful or uncomfortable. The young scientist also got to chat with Dr. Laroft in the mean time.

"My late mother shares your given name, Ms. Chang...her name was Julia Marian Laroft. She and my father never married." The research head informed her casually. "And coincidentally - like you - she was an avid environmentalist. Except her interest focused upon the sea and its inhabitants. My mother was a marine biologist."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Doctor. She must've been an extraordinary woman." Julia offered in a courteous voice.

Laroft gave her a smile without warmth. "Well, I'm not necessarily sorry for my loss, Ms. Chang. When I read your profile, your experience at G. Corp...I wondered how much you and my mom had in common, as far as personal ethics go. I know you chose to do the right thing regarding the Devil Gene project in the end - at the cost of your dreams of reforestation, no less. But what really convinced you?"

"I don't understand what you're getting at, Doctor." Julia replied, feeling a confused and apprehensive sense of indignation pricking at her throat. "Would you care to elaborate?"

Laroft leaned against a nearby lab counter. "My mom loved the ocean. More than anything - including me and my dad, of course. Most of my upbringing was done by my grandma - while mom herself obsessively engaged herself with sailing, submersibles, and marine zoologist work.
"Then mom's obsession took on a darker tangent when several species of dolphins faced extinction, due to oceanic pollution. She grew desperate to start an ocean clean-up project, along with funded efforts to re-populate dolphins and tone down whalers."

The research head chuckled humorlessly as she recounted. "To get the money, my mom turned to exploring the land, instead - hunting for exotic treasure to thieve to fund her scientific research and environmentalist goals. In a way, I guess she became some female version of Indiana Jones...except she had a tad fewer scruples on her adventuring conquests. Her ends of countering pollution and saving ocean life may have been noble, but her means to do so were definitely not.
"Globetrotting to underdeveloped areas, outright stealing precious artifacts or treasure from various villagers or tribes around the world - already plagued by poverty and exploitation from corrupt bureaucrats, mind you - then selling them to the black market. Some of her conquests included outright robbing young child laborers who were forced to slave day and night, under inhumane conditions. But mom obviously didn't care much about human children, because she knew - yet repeated her thievery methods again and again. All for the sake of her great love for the ocean and all its inhabitants.
"One day, mom went off for another exciting adventure - to steal from thieves who steal from the rich...located somewhere in Japan...and was never heard of again - nor was her body ever found. She allegedly met her end at the hands of self-proclaimed Robin Hood Ninjas, or something like that. Rumor has it that our top special agent, Raven, is personally familiar with their current leader."

"...must've been the Manji clan. And their leader always takes on the name 'Yoshimitsu', after a legendary cursed sword he or she must bear - at the risk of the bearer's soul, it's been claimed." Julia provided softly. "My friend and former foster guardian - he's been a cop for decades - had once investigated a mass slaughter of the clan by his own corrupt ex-partner."

Laroft only shrugged in response, apparently uninterested. "Probably. At any rate, it doesn't matter who or what took my mother's life...she'd already devolved into a single-minded extremist, long before she got herself killed. And after mom's death, I vowed to invest my talents someplace where they keep scientific ethics within certain limits. It was only fate that I was recruited by the Agency."

The research head then looked straight at Julia. "I heard that the CEO of Violet Systems invested a sizeable sum in your reforestation project, not too long ago. Quite lucky of you to have found such a generous benefactor for your scientific goals, Ms. Chang."

Laroft's tone suddenly became even cooler than before. "And forgive me for asking so bluntly, but I really wish to know...what was the real reason that motivated you to destroy the Devil Gene project and sacrifice your dreams of reforestation? Were you worried that you wouldn't be there to enjoy your lands of resurrected greenery...should the Devil Gene project succeed, and Devil-mutated humans go on a human genocide spree to claim supremacy? Or the possibility that Mother Nature would've become even more endangered by propagation and control of Devil Gene in humanity's hands?"

The young scientist felt her eyes twitching at Laroft's inquiry. She closed them and willed down the acerbic retort threatening to pour from her lips...

*****
Julia's Flashback: G. Corp. Database Center - approximately two years ago...

Several months during her first time employment at G. Corp., 20 year-old Julia discovered a promising potential solution for forest rejuvenation in her GENOCELL project team's data...thanks to Dr. Abel's skillful leadership and relentless push for results. Despite the fact that they still had some ways to go from promising potential to actual realization - more research, more time, and more accumulated data to invest in...for the first time in Julia's life, her life-long dream-to-come-true seemed so close, so within reach.

However, the young scientist couldn't bury her head in the sand anymore, either...G. Corp. research was definitely using unwilling humans - some of them underage orphans - as their experimental specimen for other project divisions. She and her fellow team of scientists were assured that the human specimen will not be harmed...they'll only have innocuous samples taken from them. None of them were that naive or dense, though.

A handful of the young scientist's conscientious GENOCELL colleagues openly announced that they were going to contact authorities, to investigate exactly what their company's human experiments truly entailed. They never came back to work the next morning, and apparently had perished in 'most unfortunate' accidents.

G. Corp. had not attempted to mask any of the 'coincidental misfortunes' as mere accidents to the rest of its employees. Those deaths were a thinly veiled warning - a clear setting of examples.

Julia wasn't particularly afraid of G. Corp.'s death threats - she knew she could easily hack into the human experimental divisions and steal indictable data to pass to Lei Wulong, all the while maintaining her anonymity. Except doing so would very well mean the permanent termination of G. Corp. research - including the project that held the key to desert reforestation.

Innocent and helpless humans were getting harmed or even killed every day, and those scientists with courageous morals were being silenced by death.

But G. Corp.'s continuing project was also the only chance to save Arizona from rapidly becoming a desert wasteland - and an irreversible one at that!

Fed up with the struggle between her personal conscience and her personal dreams, Julia called Lei and confided him about her dilemma...knowing he understood just how important saving Arizona's ecosystems is to her - and hoping they'd be able to work out some compromise.

When they were first discussing her dilemma over the phone, Julia could still lucidly recall how much Lei's curt harshness had stung her:

"Let me get this straight, Kiddo..." Lei had stated incredulously. "Innocent people are being used as disposable lab animals, and employees trying to do justice for them getting murdered. And you're still too hung up over your dreams of forest revival...to even attempt a low-risk criminal evidence leak?"

"Lei...you understand how important reviving forests are to me, to Michelle...to the whole world in the long-run! I know you do! Please, there must be something we can do about G. Corp.'s human experimentation issues - without sacrificing the GENOCELL project's progress. We just need to put our heads together..."

"...you don't have your priorities straight, Kiddo." Lei's voice suddenly grew quiet, almost toneless. "Let's put the matter in another perspective...you'd also deem prostituting 8-year old children to rich old pedophiles a justifiable means to get adequate researching funding too, wouldn't you? After all, the suffering and life-long trauma of those kids would be necessary sacrifices for the long-term greater good of the Earth."

Hearing Lei's words felt like a wall of bricks collapsing upon her. "I-I don't believe this, Lei. That was..beneath low. That was-that was sewage low. Something like that coming from you-"

"-was it really? Well, then let's stop wasting our breaths and cut to the chase. You either help with the evidence and putting a stop to those human atrocities ASAP. Or you find your own way to swim in ignorant bliss while you pursue your personal agenda, because I sure as hell won't be helping you with that." It was the first time she heard Lei use such a cold, hard voice.
"You're an independently functioning adult now. I can't impose my own sense of ethics on you, so do whatever you want." He then hung up before Julia could reply.

It took almost two more days for the emotionally distraught young scientist to recollect her senses and plan a final move - a personally acceptable compromise between her personal wants and her moral stress. She'll steal as much of the GENOCELL data as possible to continue developing the reforestation project on her own, while simultaneously gathering potentially incriminating evidence from the G. Corp. divisions involved in human experiments.

Julia was shocked when she realized that GENOCELL and the human experiments were directly tied to each other - they were both interrelated halves of a comprehensive project...alteration and propagation of Devil Gene upon humankind. G. Corp. was planning to plague humanity with a mutation serum that'd devolve their minds and psyches into insane, blood-lusting human bio-weapons.

It finally hit the young scientist how short-sighted and self-centered she'd been preoccupied with her reforestation dream. No tree in the world would be worth growing - regardless of how wondrously big, strong, or leafy - if its roots came from such an evil source.

Julia destroyed all of GENOCELL's sweat, tears, and blood right in front of Dr. Abel - and she didn't regret a moment of doing so...not an inkling of heartache or mourning for her "sacrificed dreams". Lei was right all along - choosing between her personal dreams and personal conscience shouldn't have been an internal dilemma in the first place.

The young scientist also realized that it was the real reason she sought out her cop friend so early on. Deep down, Julia knew needed the right person to cattle-prod her senses, to forcefully steer her away from personal temptations and into doing the right thing. And Lei was just the person who can smack her out of her own B.S. denial with the right response.

Almost a week later, Julia worked up the courage to contact Lei again - she explained why she couldn't gather and provide the incriminating evidence for him, why she had to destroy it all then and there. Lei was disappointed but understanding, and they soon reconciled their relationship.

*****
Present Reality: Back in Agency Research Lab's P.S.D. - East Examination Wing...

Julia re-opened her eyes and took a deep, weary breath. "No, Doctor. Believe it or not, one of my trusted confidantes managed to bring out the proper integrity within me."

Laroft peered at her dubiously, then shrugged. "If you say so. But now that your reforestation research project is under way again - albeit headed by another environmental biologist, as you currently have to focus on the Mishimas - do you have any more dreams or aspirations left after G. Corp. and Heihachi Mishima are taken care of? Perhaps focus on learning more about your true heritage, now that we have a lead on it? Start your own family?" The research head inquired curiously.

Julia mulled a bit on how to reply. The young scientist wasn't that fond or trustful of Dr. Laroft, but she wanted to avoid offending her experimental overseer - just in case the latter is the type who makes things harder than necessary, out of spite.

"I'd like to raise war orphans." Julia finally responded. "There must still be many parentless young children, due to Kazama's world-wide war more than a year ago."

I want at least two adopted daughters, the young scientist privately thought to herself. And name them "Ingrid" and "Benevolencia" respectively, to honor two of Kazama's tragic war casualties I know about.

Laroft chuckled. "Ah, so you'd like to follow your adoptive mother's footsteps. 'Michaela' - that's her name, isn't it? I also heard that she didn't stay single or childless, though - biologically speaking, that is."

Julia looked down. "No, Doctor...it's 'Michelle'. And she didn't remain a wife or a biological mother for very long, either." The young scientist muttered quietly.
"As for myself, I can't bear children, even if I wanted to. My annual gynecologist tests have firmly confirmed that I was born - and will remain for the rest of my life - 100% infertile. I cannot biologically conceive by either natural or artificial means...I was born with a set of significantly defective eggs."
The young scientist then turned to Laroft. "What about you, Dr. Laroft? Hoping to leave the Agency and start your own family one day?"

"Oh, not for me." Laroft laughed, holding her hands up. "Like my mother once was, I'm married to my profession. My research results are my children. Except I'm not going to repeat mom's mistake - bringing an unwanted human baby into this world."

The research head then picked up a file that lab personnel dropped on the counter beside her, not too long ago. She flipped through the file pages, and stopped at one of the articles.
"And yes, we know all about your previously diagnosed infertility, Ms. Chang - we had the reports whisked from your gynecology clinic. Test results from an hour ago indicates some very interesting news regarding your current state of fertility now." Laroft remarked, her eyes still on the report.
"Here's the good strange news - your egg defections have inexplicably been making self-correcting developments, since...well, around the time we first 'excavated' Jin Kazama after his assumed death, and had him taken here several months back. Estimated possibility of becoming naturally pregnant as of now is still under 10%...but slowly and very surely increasing."

The research head then turned the page. "The not-so-great strange news. Test results indicate that some...unidentifiable component in your chromosomes strictly limit gender determination of your born children. You're capable of bearing only daughters...no sons or any gender in-between and outside."
Laroft squinted at the report. "Fascinating. It's just like the case with Mishima chromosomes - except the gender limitation is switched, of course." She muttered more to herself than to Julia.

Julia's eyes perked towards Laroft's direction. "You mean the Mishimas are genetically wired to produce only sons? That there's no coincidence, no Mishima female-child abortion or infanticide involved - after more than some hundred generations?"

The research head turned to Julia. "Well, the latter was probably the case before the Mishima's supernatural chromosomal mutation occurred." Laroft then bore an amused smile. "Reports gathered on Mishima family history include a certain legend. During Medieval Japan, one of Jin's ancestors - a powerful feudal lord - once made a pact with a regional demon-god for three wishes:
"First, that all his descendants inherit special power and talents: Superhuman endurance, strength, and aptitude in combat; Strong intelligence and intuition in sociopolitical matters; Excellent resourcefulness in management and business affairs.
"Secondly, all of his kin are to be fertile and actively heterosexual, or at least bisexual...most importantly, every one of his progeny must inherently possess irresistible sex appeal to capitalize on those traits." Laroft winked slyly at Julia.
"Finally - like I mentioned earlier - that any children with the Mishima bloodline will be sons...and only sons. Of course, that foolish feudal Mishima lord didn't realize there was a huge catch for his granted wishes, until it was too late to renounce...his immensely-blessed, male-only descendants will also be burdened by a terrible curse - a curse that will fill their hearts with immorally self-seeking ambitions, and pit generation against generation with deadly strife.
"It is said that Jinpachi Mishima - Heihachi Mishima's father - was the very first descendant to successfully defy that alleged Mishima curse. And apparently, a small handful after him started following suit."

The research head's amused smile turned into an odd grin. "I do wonder...should you one day recover your fertility and impregnate yourself by a Mishima, whose supernatural chromosomal power would prevail? Will you bear a daughter, a son, a hermaphrodite...or maybe a genderless offspring? Perhaps the ensuing chromosomal struggle between the parents will even destroy any chance of conceiving a Mishima child by you, Ms. Chang..." Laroft thoughtfully stroked her chin with her nail-polished fingers.

"And has the 'sons-only' legend been scientifically confirmed by all surviving Mishima, Doctor?" Julia hastily changed the subject. The current topic was giving her a bad case of goose bumps.

Laroft half-folded her arms. "Oh, about that...our agents managed to steal frozen sperm samples a while back, from both G. Corp. and the Mishima Zaibatsu. We've confirmed that Heihachi and his two sons possess such chromosomal traits, strong and persistent.
"As for our darling Jin..." The research head suddenly looked like she was trying to stifle laughter. "...we can't even get the boy to have an erection. Nothing seems to work on him. We've tried all possible types of visual and physical stimulus, combined with the most powerful aphrodisiacs - they only make him drowsy. Then we attempted male hormonal injections, coupled with ejaculation-forcing drugs...zero effect on him whatsoever.
"Later on, we discovered - via testicular extraction - that some unidentifiable factor is completely hindering any and all of the boy's sperm generation. That same factor appears to be linked to an odd dysfunction in his male hormones, which is constantly neutralizing his libido...and only his libido."

"In a nutshell, Jin Kazama is a 100% infertile asexual." Julia remarked dryly. Ling Xiaoyu would be so disappointed. I'll bet Kazama never revealed his true sexuality to his girlfriend, so as to spare her feelings and preserve their mutually caring relationship. Or considering her unique ingenuousness and unconditional love she displays on TV, Ling probably isn't capable of comprehending such a concept.

Laroft scoffed. "We'd conclude so, too...except we have two pseudo-scientific 'experts' who come by here occasionally, both claiming otherwise. One of them is some middle-eastern mystic who has connections with Raven, and who possesses quite a snarky attitude. I can only recall that her name starts with a 'Z'. The other is one of ours: Agent Valkyrie, a 2-year newbie agent teenager, of all things...with matching intolerable manners, and huge fan-girl of Agent Raven."

The research head lifted one manicured hand in a derisive gesture. "These two 'paranormal specialist' girls staunchly insist that Jin is neither naturally asexual nor infertile. Rather, his asexuality and infertility is the result of his maternal Kazama heritage at work, against his inborn Devil Gene - suppressing all his hormonal libido and reproductive cells out of necessity, given that his human soul still struggles with the Devil's within him. And should his Kazama side somehow become liberated from its duty of countering the evilness in Devil Gene, the boy will be exploding with erotic desire and production of fecund sperm for women."

Dr. Laroft suddenly leaned near Julia again, wearing a mischievously conspiratorial smile. "I do hope that tidbit of info won't serve as a turn-off from your roommate's delicious 24/7 half-nudity. It's not his fault." She whispered to Julia in a playful voice.
"Those mandatory handcuffs make it terribly inconvenient for him and us to bother with shirts. Though with that thickset body rippling with beautiful muscle tone, I can't imagine any straight female complaining." A tiny giggle escaped the doctor's lips.

Julia turned and blinked owlishly at the head researcher. "Doctor...you do know that Kazama's an atrocious war criminal? He's responsible for thousands of lives, and ruined even more over the course of one single year. Shouldn't knowing that be more than enough of a turn-off?" The young scientist wrinkled her nose in distaste.

Dr. Laroft rolled her eyes and threw up her hands in mock exasperation. "Oh, you're such an uptight killjoy, Ms. Chang. Why not sit back and enjoy small pleasures for what they are? I'd be flirting shamelessly with that boy every visit...if only he wasn't confirmed an asexual by hard test results."

As if you're not doing that already. Julia thought in disgust. And thank the heavens for ME that he is one...and no, I'm not in any way or form trying to fool myself, or basking in denial! And thankfully, they were wrapping up with the day's experiments. The young scientist had enough of Laroft's company for the day.

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 5

*****
Inside the bathtub of Jin's chamber cell bathroom, 8:32 am...

Julia was startled from her sleep by the loud crash-splatter from outside in Jin's cell entrance. She sighed resignedly as her stomach cried pitifully from hunger pains, and her chest burned from acid reflux. That was the noise of Jin tipping over her meal tray, along with all its contents. He'd been at it every meal time, starting with yesterday's breakfast. She slowly forced herself to get up - this continuing malnourishment was taking its toll on her basic body strength.

The first time the Mishima boy ruined her meal, Julia had thrown open the bathroom door - alarmed, anxious, and puzzled. She saw that her uneaten breakfast had been knocked to the floor, into a big messy spray of food and scattered meal utensils. And Jin was sitting against the wall, staring at her intensely - in a place and position where he could directly observe what she'd do.
The young scientist had just stared at her ruined breakfast for a few minutes, dumbfounded and at a loss with how to react. She then slowly turned, grabbed a bunch of paper towels, and mechanically cleaned up the mess - spotlessly. She felt Jin's eyes still fixed on her after she finished cleaning, disposing, and quietly shut the bathroom door behind her.

And that was exactly how yesterday's lunch and dinner went as well. None of the staff said or did anything about Jin's recent tactics, and neither did she - other than emerging from the bathroom with wads of paper towels, and cleaning the mess without a bite of food. Except Julia sensed some agitated impatience emanating from the Mishima boy, mounting each time she cleaned up without complaint about the food he spilled.

The young scientist grunted as her stomach rumbled painfully...she hadn't eaten a thing for 24 hours straight. Apparently, her constant hiding in the bathroom wasn't enough for Jin's need of private space and solitude. He's clearly attempting to force Agency personnel into moving her out of the room - by threatening to starve her to death.

Well, whatever...she'll go with it. If the Mishima boy's starving tactic actually did work, she'd be just as happy as he'd be - perhaps even more elated than him.

Still, Julia wished to minimize potential long-term damages to her digestive system in the mean time. She needed to eat at least a little something.

So when she emerged from the bathroom to clean the mess this time, she first washed her hands clean before grabbing a handful of paper towels. The young scientist then bent down and carefully flung the tray aside...picking up and nibbling at the morsels of food piled on top, the bits that hadn't been dirtied by the floor. She heard Jin making a loud scoffing noise...but it sounded full of annoyed disappointment, rather than derision or spite.

Maybe he'll step on my lunch to ensure I eat nothing again. Julia mused to herself grimly as she cleaned up the mess and went back into the bathroom.

*****
Inside the bathtub of Jin's chamber cell bathroom, 12:38 pm...

It had been almost 40 minutes since their lunches were served, and the anticipated clatter-splatter noise never came. Instead, there was only the sound of television news. Rubbing her protesting stomach, Julia finally decided to get up and investigate.

The young scientist opened the bathroom door a slit and peered outside. Jin apparently long finished eating and disposed of his tray. His eyes were glued onto the TV. And Julia's own tray of food was still on the cell door's meal slot - completely untouched.

Without thinking, Julia swung open the door, rushed to her undisturbed lunch and grabbed it, then bolted back to the bathroom - slamming the door and locking it this time. Could he have put something sharp or unhygienic in here? The thought instinctively crossed Julia's mind, but she shook it away. She forced herself to eat as slowly as possible, despite her immense hunger...both to check for any odd tastes or sensations in her mouth, and to ensure she doesn't overburden her already hunger-weakened digestive system.

See, now...Jin Kazama's not that bad of a human being.A voice deep within Julia's heart suddenly chimed out. He's not like those Switchblade bullies back in middle school...he still has compassion.

Bullying an individual via her food, versus randomly killing countless civilians...are those two actions remotely comparable? Julia inwardly retorted.

Jin Kazama's willful deeds were atrocious, no doubt...but his ultimate intentions were honorable. Lars openly thinks so himself. Jin was trying to sacrifice his own life to wipe Devil Gene out of existence, and to save humanity from itself! That inner voice piped up again.

Shut up. Lars is a disastrously naive judge of character. Kazama happily bloodied his hands of so many innocent civilians, just so he could finally be free of the monster plaguing his life! And no matter what his real intentions were, so far he's behaved like nothing but an unconscientiously self-centered asshole! Julia shot back.

Deep down inside this cruel asshole, your first and only true love is still alive! That Jin's gonna bust his ass trying to right things and people he wronged, then gladly accept an unpleasant death as reward of his hard work...The inner voice tried again.

Shut up! If Kazama really has a conscience, then any premature death is too good for him! If he doesn't, then he fully deserves what's coming! Julia countered.

You don't mean that! The inner voice pleaded.You still love that pure unrelenting soul born into an evil body, from an evil family always trying to kill him, and with an evil spirit constantly tormenting him! You can't deny that the Jin you saw years ago is still there...just got himself lost and misguided...like you once were, and-

Shut! Up! Don't compare me to that...that monster! Julia inwardly spat.

You truly love Jin, even though he's never done anything good to you! That inner voice relentlessly insisted.You love him more than that silly girl Ling Xiaoyu ever will. You're fully conscious of his most hateful side, and you don't lie to yourself about it - like Ling keeps doing to herself. You only lie about your true feelings for him, because you can't bear to think-

Shut up! Shut the fuck up! Julia soundly slammed her forehead against the wall in pure agitation. Ouch. That head bash was going to give her a nasty bump and a migraine...but at least it shut that infuriating inner voice up.

No...no. I never once fell in love with Ji-Kazama. The young scientist assured herself. For who he was, what he was...like Ling did, and still does. I don't even know him as a person. I simply got infatuated what I thought he represented, and turned out to be dead wrong. Then I projected those self-delusions of "romantic love" onto Lars, as means of escapism from that crumbled tower of disillusionment. Well, this is reality...

*****
Jin's chamber cell, 12:42 pm...

Sitting against the bed, Jin turned from the TV and stared intently at the bathroom door, where his cellmate had darted beyond with her untouched tray of food, and shut it. Apparently, her attitude and routine had not been shaken by his recent provocations.

The Mishima boy initially couldn't bring himself to believe it when he first sensed it from the girl, during their first acquaintance in the Agency base, when she and Lars were still squabbling with them over his Boskonovitch robot ownership - but there was no doubt or denying it now. Much more subtly but also much more profoundly than for his half-wit half uncle, this girl held deep feelings for him...feelings of genuinely loving yearning.
And she clearly abhorred those feelings for him to the core, as much as she abhorred being in his very presence. This screwed-up girl with her screwed-up feelings was trapped in some bizarre psychological state of helplessly involuntary longing for him...mixed with scorching resentment and self-loathing towards the fact that she possessed such emotions towards a human abhorrence like himself.
In hindsight, it's hardly a wonder why she was so hellishly persistent on avoiding eye contact - or any kind of direct contact - with him, as if her very soul depended on it.

Having been around Xiaoyu long enough, Jin was immediately able to perceive those feelings glimpsed from his roommate's always-averting eyes...this girl also once persistently longed for his affections from afar with an overpowering intensity and admiration that bordered on idolization - for mind-boggling reasons he couldn't fathom.
Unlike his Chinese friend-admirer, the American girl never ventured to approach him or disclose an inkling of her feelings for him. And at the same time, this girl was also sensibly mature and self-honest enough to fully acknowledge to herself of his atrocities, the monster he'd become...and now openly condemns his very being. Yet it was all too clear that - however broken they were now - she still couldn't eliminate those old feelings of unwillingly devoted hopefulness, care, and yearning towards him from her psyche.

Those feelings the girl exuded towards him were mangled but vastly deeper-rooted versions of how she looked at his half-uncle. And also disturbingly akin to how Xiaoyu looked at him.
Though in contrast with Xiaoyu's all-too simple and pure infatuation, this girl's dysfunctional yearnings for him were far more complex, severely maimed, and inextricably tangled up with darkly bitter disillusionment.
It was plain obvious the girl also loathed to death the fact that such broken love for him unwillingly continues to exist within her heart, and arose whenever she couldn't avoid his presence...as if those loving feelings were some vile, unexorcisable life-long curse - some incurable emotional disease that she simply couldn't recover from, however hard and long she tried to.
And despite her wholehearted attempts to transplant those past longings for him onto his half-uncle instead, she was apparently only partially successful at best.

How did the girl come to harbor such strong feelings for him? They've been nothing but strangers all along, until the day she was lured into the base by his adopted uncle's detainment. He knew that he's consistently been an anti-social jerkass towards everyone, always buried and single-mindedly obsessed in his own personal affairs after the loss of his mother - and even more so after his grandfather's cold-blooded betrayal...only making mild exceptions towards Xiaoyu, her friend Miharu, and Hwoarang.
And all that before he became the monstrously cruel and spiteful war criminal who caused everyone misery for no reason.

This girl wasn't the type to fawn over a man for his good looks - she's too deep and down-to-Earth for that, so much he can perceive from her own lack of interest in style-related seduction and conventional fashion-related attractiveness. So what did she find in him from way afar - from his total awareness, that made such strong and undying yearning towards him?

It also bothered Jin endlessly how she stupidly refused to...no, no, no. NO. He most certainly didn't desire her attention on a personal level - he's way above childish attention fanatics like Xiaoyu or Hwoarang.

He wasn't the least curious or interested in understanding her bewildering and utterly screwed-up emotions towards him...OR her quirky and dysfunctional character. Well, save learning about them to manipulate her for his personal mission, of course.
He must be mindful at all times...she is to be his sacrificial pawn that he must deceive and coerce into loyalty, forever take his steep fall into the gorge of his war atrocities, then thrown to the Agency's wolves once she's fulfilled her part of his mission - all without a second thought or a half-second of regret.

Yes. He's simply forcing her to acknowledge him for purely practical purposes...that's right, experimenting on her too. To see if he can evoke any supernatural response from within her via extreme provocation - if the Agency's theories are true, she may even become a temporary bio-weapon against Kazuya's forces. Given that her original alien species wasn't built for combat, she should also be easier to obliterate than Ogre, once she fulfilled her usefulness to both him and the Agency's research labs...to ensure her biological assets won't ever fall into the wrong exploitive hands, among other things.

But most importantly of all, break her thoroughly, then reconstruct and maneuver it to his advantage - until she becomes his weak-minded servant for him to manipulate and control in any way - for as long as he needs her alive and functioning.
He must use any means possible, no matter how shameless or ruthless. For the necessity of the world's survival. Take advantage of her lingering feelings for him, and milk out her emotional devotion and affection to him...which that idiot Lars Alexandersson thankfully failed to-

In a panicked attempt to will away that unfinished thought and the accompanying sentiments, Mishima boy dug his trimmed fingernails so deep into his palms, bit his lower lips so hard, that blood trickled down from his hands and mouth. But his iron-firm will could no longer contain those terrifyingly vulnerable and unfamiliar feelings, that were bursting from his heart and mind:
That girl openly loves, trusts, desires Lars Alexandersson without condition, simply because his half-wit half-uncle is a nebulous reminder of what he himself was...and actually still is, deep down inside. A rare girl like her - intelligent, sensible, deeply caring and loyal to her companions, competent in combat and unusually talented in applied science, curiously modest, unimpressively dressed for an attractive young woman, possessing high ethical standards like Lars Alexandersson - yet possessed the pragmatism to remain level headed at trying times...and despite blows from her painful past traumas and threatened loved ones, she still held her ground more steadfast than the military-experienced Mishima had. It didn't make sense, how she always swooned in childish elation every moment his half-uncle made a gesture to protect her alone, or moved close to her physically and emotionally. And squandered such tender adoring gazes with those enticingly beautiful eyes of hers, onto that pathetic example of a Mishima Zaibatsu head...what else could his cellmate possibly see in his half-uncle, other than a shadow of the Mishima boy himself?

Another foreign emotion started searing through his insides at that particular musing, unbearably irritating like a horribly itchy and burning rash. Immediately followed by a bizarre feeling of inexplicable resentment and hostility towards his half-uncle...a feeling he could only describe as some infantile deprivation, coupled with a subtle yet intense want. Nothing like the throbbing grief and vengeful anger, when his mother was taken from his side.
Not really the deep cherishment and fiercely protective instincts towards his two foolishly loving friends, either.
No...it was a simple pure feeling that he somehow deserved, somehow owned that girl and her affectionate devotion in the first place - as unbelievably ludicrous as such a notion sounded. And had a superficial but immense primitive urge to seize both girl and redirect her love back onto him...some toddler-like need towards a coveted thing.

Was he...afflicted by...jealousy? Him, Jin Kazama, of all humans in the world? Harmless, wistful envy - towards other people with loving family members and normal lives, maybe even towards his two ingenuous friends Xiaoyu and Hwoarang - he wouldn't deny.
But such a childish petty emotion like jealousy? And over a female he's barely acquainted with?

The Mishima boy squeezed his eyes shut and slammed his forehead several times with both palms. He then demanded his stubborn will regain control of his mind and heart - via deep shaky breaths, forced emptying of all thoughts, and hasty relaxation of his whole body. Jin reopened his eyes as he calmed down.

If only the girl wasn't so innocently fragile, that would be much easier a task, and much easier not to waste his time wondering what fate the Agency ultimately has in store for...no, NO. Not again. The difference it was clear as day. Xiaoyu had a near-sacred purity and fragile innocence that warranted protection from genuinely malicious evil. This girl in contrast...she grew up as a long-suffering, lame wretch. And however they choose to dispose the girl, it'd be a mercy-end to her miserable existence, anyways.

Just another living soul, a single soul to shamefully manipulate, blackmail, and then cruelly sacrifice - for the freedom and safety of the world, from the Mishima and Devil. An already broken soul, perhaps beyond repair like his own.

Jin sat still on his bed, blinking blankly for several minutes, then shook his head in self-anger. No, he shall not stoop to exploitation of sincere affection. The Mishima boy had been willing to be many of the vile things his father and grandfather was...likely even more, but an intentional and self-serving betrayer to genuine trust he will never be.
Thus, the only way to go is more bullying - notches up in the cruelty level - which should also help bludgeon those unwanted affections out of her system, so she wouldn't be burdened with it.
On the plus side, she would finally look up to stare at him straight in the eyes. He'll finally be able to get a good close-up at her unusually vivid hazel orbs - those iridescent, spirited eyes that she mercilessly teased him with to no end...by constantly keeping her face down or turned away in his presence.
But of course by then, he wouldn't be able to see anything else, other than suppressed hatred and utter defeat, directed at him in her eyes...

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 6

*****
Inside the bathtub of Jin's chamber cell bathroom, 09:21 am...

Julia finished the last of her breakfast. She sighed with contentment, and got up to deposit her emptied tray outside. Jin hadn't caused her a moment of trouble since yesterday morning...he spilled her last meal back then.
Her mood felt near optimistic as she exited to the chamber cell. Maybe I'm harboring a false sense of security, but...what can I accomplish by worrying, anyways? Why not consider the possibility that Jin finally got tired of trying to get me forced out, and has accepted my efforts to stay out of his living space? Julia lightly reminded herself as she stepped out of the bathroom.

*****
Jin's chamber cell...

The young scientist froze when she saw Jin standing right by the deposit slot, leaning one arm against the door and staring straight at her with a ominous smirk on his face. He obviously had been waiting there for a bit.

Oh shit. Julia stood there still as a statue for a moment, debating whether she should turn back and lock the bathroom door for a while...but if Jin meant business, he no doubt could easily break it down. Should she just go ahead and confront him, see what the hell he wants? The thought of doing the latter caused Julia to break her gaze from him, and stare at the tray she was holding...lest she starts giving off signs of her increasing anxiety.

"...so you were the one behind the destruction of G. Corp.'s first Devil Gene project. I overheard you bragging to impress my half-wit half-uncle about it, when he and Alisa got you out of G. Corp. for my adopted uncle." The Mishima boy's scornful voice floated closer and closer...then Julia saw his bare feet stopping less than 3 feet in front of her.
"But something doesn't add up. Why would Kazuya's corporation take back a dangerous saboteur...and on top of that - not keep one suspicious eye on her from the start, allowing her to leak months and months of confidential company information? I know my lowlife father isn't management material, but he's not that hopeless either."

Not taking his gaze off the young scientist's averted eyes, Jin stepped closer to reach behind her and shut the bathroom door. He then shifted - using his wide frame to stand between the bathroom entrance and the space in front of her, effectively backing her against the corner.
"What are the dirty details that you omitted from your account to your beloved Mishima knight, Stray? Did you take out all the security cameras beforehand, kill off any present or potential witnesses, then make the whole thing look like a deadly database combustion accident?"

Julia took two hyperventilated breaths. Don't interact with him. Don't interact with him.

She abruptly made a large leaping side-step forward, but Jin apparently anticipated the move. He half dashed right in front of her path almost simultaneously - like a defending basketball opponent - causing a startled jolt to run through the young scientist's body.

The Mishima boy swatted the food tray out of her hands - hard enough that the contents hit her face, then the floor with a chorus of clatters.

Jin strode towards the young scientist menacingly, this time actually causing her back to collide against corner wall. "I. Asked. You. A. Question. What the hell is your problem, Stray? Where's that self-righteous outspokenness you'd been making a public show of - in front of your beloved Lars Alexandersson and his beloved human imitation? So there's the truth...you're a spineless coward and lying hypocrite all along."

Julia heaved deep breaths, still keeping her gaze downcast. The young scientist felt a burst of adrenaline urging her to move, but she squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to ignore the instinct.

"Hey." Jin uttered as he suddenly yanked her forward by her sweatshirt collar, causing her head to snap back. Before Julia could register what was happening, a sharp pain burst against her left cheek and she was staggering across the room, spluttering in shock. The Mishima boy had given her a mean jab on the face. Then he grabbed her by her shoulder-sleeve before she fell, and violently jerked her back towards him and on her unsteady feet.

"Heihachi's ludicrous 'chivalry' rules forbid hitting any female tournament participants in the face, or injuring any of their womanly parts - under threat of immediate disqualification. Were you aware of that little piece of trivia?" A mildly disoriented Julia heard the cruel smirk in Jin's voice. "But now it's time for you to welcome reality."

*Whack*

This time, the Mishima boy scored a hard one against her nose and right eye. Her huge glasses were crushed up by the blow, and its remnants fell to the floor. He caught her by her shirt-collar before she collapsed. There was a long, still pause after Julia regained her footing this time - as if he was waiting for her to retaliate in kind, and she for the next hit.

"Pathetic. Do you lose your backbone entirely in the face of competent opponents, Stray? Is that the real reason why you needed to be rescued from G. Corp.?" Jin scoffed when the young scientist doggedly remained silent and unmoving.

*Whack*

Julia felt pain flooding her entire lower jaw, and a few inner left teeth being knocked loose. Jin didn't bother grabbing her shirt to steady her this time, and she tumbled across the floor.

With a heavy grunt, Julia rolled to her stomach and attempted to get up. But something large planted itself on the back of her head and smashed her face right into the floor...and the young scientist didn't know whether Jin had used his foot or hand. Because by the time she managed to lift her face from the floor, she saw Jin crouched right in front of her.

"What's the matter? Too busy fighting back your tears?" The Mishima boy asked in a spiteful voice. He suddenly gripped the back of her shirt collar, hauled her roughly to her feet, and pushed open the bathroom door.

*****
Inside Jin's chamber cell bathroom...

Jin violently dragged Julia into the bathroom, and forcefully held her upright in front of the wash basin. He grabbed the back of her hair, forcing her to look at her own reflection in the cabinet mirror. Her face was beaten almost beyond recognition. Even without her glasses on, and with only one functional eye, she could make out her wounds quite clearly:

The young scientist had huge bulging bruises bloating up her cheeks; Big, blotchy bumps on her forehead; A severely swollen and bruised eyelid over very blackened right eye - forcing it tightly shut; Badly torn and bleeding left lip; Left jaw black-blue from fracturing; Mouth painfully ajar and chin slightly crooked from mild jaw dislocation; Nose was broken and bleeding from both nostrils. Julia couldn't stop panting, however much each breath hurt her whole face.

"Look at yourself, Stray. You think you'll ever score Lars's affection with this face, right here? In case you're too deep in denial to realize, my half-wit uncle's sense of love is deranged and superficial. Human bodies are...too natural and imperfect for him, so he obsesses with a robot whose face and body are artificially molded into unnatural perfection." The Mishima boy taunted. He then threw her aside, slamming her against the bathroom wall.

Could've been a lot worse, actually. I sampled Kazama's strength before in the tournaments - he could've easily caused permanent mutilations, and really broken my face beyond repair. Julia thought to herself numbly as she weakly got to her feet.

"Too scared to face the facts about your life...are you going to hide from reality for the rest of your life, Stray?" Jin's continuing verbal abuse cut into her awareness.
"You refuse to direct your grudge towards those truly responsible for your wretched experiences, because you're a pride-less and cowardly weakling about loneliness. Your adoptive mother child-prostituted you, because she deemed you disposable goods compared to her biological son. But you went crawling straight back to your backstabbing caretaker. That is, after you got on all fours for your sick rapist to lick up all his self-amusing charity - like an affection-whore with no sense of dignity or self-honor. "

The Mishima boy's voice had taken on an odd tone. It sounded like he was trying to mask a heartfelt resentment and reproachful tirade with some unnatural, forced-out spite and derision. And failing at each subsequent word.

"Your useless ICPO friend couldn't defend you from the jaws of society's rich scum, nor did he ever bring any kind of justice for Rochefort's victims. And yet you're rigidly opposing me - as thanks for taking down Rochefort - on behalf of some brainlessly idealistic law enforcer who did nothing for you." Jin let out a brief, unnatural-sounding sardonic laugh. "You pitiful lot live deeper in denial than Boskonovitch's robot."

The young scientist felt herself starting to tremble uncontrollably with burning fury at his words. What the fuck would you know about me, you mass-murdering motherfucker? Fuck you Kazama! Fuck! You! Fuck you to hell!

"Unnrrgh..." Julia managed to stifle her impulsive verbal retorts. Her face injuries helped.

After a moment of silence, the Mishima boy tried again. "Come to think of it, why haven't you ever tried giving Rochefort some just desserts? You definitely possess the resources and aptitude for some payback. Are you incapable of vengeful anger? Or was it you secretly enjoyed all those intimate moments with your child rapist, Stray?" Once more, Jin's cruel verbal provocation leaked out a strange personal harshness and bitter accusation.

Julia's eyes finally snapped up to Jin's. Her inner rage and pain were at the verge of actualizing themselves against their provocateur, and the Mishima boy knew it - lips curving into a small triumphant smirk, he took a casual self-defensive stance.

No. No. I won't give this fucker what he wants. Ever. Reacting on sheer intuition, Julia snatched the metal pen clasped in her pocket with one hand, then plunged it straight through her other hand - impaling the pointed utensil between her middle palm bones. And it hurt like hell...enough for her to momentarily forget her raging impulse to charge at Jin.

The beaten-up young scientist doubled over, preoccupied in trying to catch her breath amidst her cries - freakish noises of sobbing laughter. Julia learned from her little foster sister that the spot was a non-crippling pressure point for excruciating and incapacitating pain. And public displays of grotesque self-harm, coupled with eerie-sounding noises, had been her oft-used method to scare off most of her bullies, way back when she was still in middle-school.

Some students back then bullied her simply because they could, and were maliciously rotten to the core - like the Switchblade gang, whom she'd eventually beaten to death or into cripples.
Others had attempted to bully her because they needed an external outlet for their own miserable lives...and her show of creepy antics - especially self-inflicted injuries - were usually more than enough to deter their interest.

When Julia regained her wits after several prolonged minutes, she realized that Jin had been standing there and watching her all along...silent and still as a statue. She then saw him turn and soundlessly walk out of the bathroom. Mission accomplished. She inwardly congratulated, amidst the intense pain she caused herself.

*****
Jin's chamber cell...

Striding out of the bathroom, Jin pursed his lips into a tight line as he swiped up his handheld media device from his bed and pushed some keys on it. When the Mishima boy heard the dial tone, he put the device against his ear like a cell phone.

"Mr. Kazama...what can we help you with? Did you injure yourself during your workouts again?" A woman's voice sounded from the device.

"No, I need someone to pick my cellmate up for medical treatment. She injured herself by stabbing her hand with a pen. Among other things." Jin replied in a deadpan voice.

"Oh...Ms. Chang? All right. We'll get one of the security guards to escort her here. He should arrive at your door within five minutes." The woman told him.

*****
Inside Jin's chamber cell bathroom...

Leaning her head against the bathroom wall, Julia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe she ought to get up and start washing off the blood, applying a cold-wet paper towel against her bruises, or even just sit there and work on extracting the pen still impaled through her left hand...something. But the young scientist felt so very tired - as if she just won a very close match against a powerful opponent.

Funny, because she hadn't been fighting back at all...the mental fatigue must be from the dangerously effectual provocations Jin dealt her this time round, then the agonizing pain she forced herself through. A hard-won victory without using her fists or any words. She deserved several minutes to relax.

"... pick my cellmate up for medical treatment. She wounded herself..." The Mishima boy's impassive voice pierced Julia's attention, and she opened her eyes, forcing herself to lean forward and peer outside the bathroom door.

Jin was talking on his handheld media device...about getting her some medical attention?

*****
In the hallway, right outside Jin's chamber cell, 5 minutes later...

The leader security guard, Captain Lawson, had come alone to escort Julia to the medical center. "Chang, get over here. I'm taking you to medical." Lawson barked from the chamber cell doorway. "And I know that aside from your right eye and left hand, the rest of you is intact. You'll have to pick yourself up like a big girl."

There was a moment of silence, then shifting noises and the sound of Julia grunting from the bathroom. The injured young scientist emerged and walked steadily towards the opened cell door amidst her injuries, gently supporting her pen-impaled hand by the wrist. The leader guard cringed slightly when he saw her.

When the young scientist stepped out into the hall, her escort suddenly paused to throw a chiding glare at Jin.
"Since you went through the trouble of getting medical help for your cellmate, Kazama...you might as well apologize to Chang for beating her up over no reason, too."

Jin scoffed. "I'm only sorry that she's beyond pathetic." He responded in a toneless voice.

Julia didn't realize she'd been gazing at the Mishima boy until he spoke. She automatically broke eye contact.

Her escort sighed heavily and turned away. "Fucking little shithead." Lawson muttered to himself and Julia, but made sure his voice was loud enough for Jin to hear, too. He then locked the Mishima boy's cell door behind them.

"You can still see enough with your left eye to walk around, can't you? Even without your specs?" The leader guard asked gruffly, and Julia gave him a slight nod. "Good. This way to the Southwest Wing Medical Center."

The young scientist trudged behind her escort, but her mind was occupied by thoughts of Jin...even when they reached their destination medical center, and medic staff started fussing over her injured face and left palm.

That split-second Julia made eye contact with the Mishima boy, she caught a spark of rage, sorrow, and self-hatred...a seemingly endless ocean of them. Julia realized Lars was right. Jin Kazama wasn't - and still isn't quite - a wholly cold-blooded monster who permanently lost his human capacity for grief, remorse...and even righteousness.

It was then the young scientist realized that she simply isn't capable of mustering any real personal hatred towards the Mishima boy, however hard she tries...nor should she need to. He's already shouldering his epically failed campaign against evil and the Devil Gene.
Plus all the sacrifices he forced the world to make for naught - countless deaths and destruction. He has nothing left in life to love or embrace - no dreams, nothing to look forward to in life - nothing except peacefulness in lifeless oblivion.
The world rightfully hates his very existence, and he has to live with that fact every second of the day. The only thing keeping him sane is the determination to rid his evil father once and for all - and with death as the only consolation reward.

Obviously, the only person left in the whole world who still gives a whole-hearted damn about Jin's welfare with her full sincere heart...Ling Xiaoyu. His surpassingly devoted and naive girlfriend of undying faith - Julia would wager her life that Jin Kazama would rather Heihachi Mishima successfully take out Lars and reclaim all of the Zaibatsu, than have his clueless little sweetheart learn the horrible truths about him.

The young scientist herself still has real dreams and goals to fulfill - save the forests, protect the Earth, and learn who she really was. Her slate was still clean...deservedly so, and she can keep on moving forward in life - despite the psychological handicaps that her childhood and adolescent ordeals created for her.
She still had many people who sincerely cared about her - some of them knew her darkest and most shameful secrets, yet still fully accepted her. She had Lei, Wuji, Aunt Tiffany, Michelle, Asuka, Lee...and Lars. Compared to Jin Kazama, she was genuinely fortunate and blessed.

Most importantly, she was getting out of this hellhole in 4 days...Lee and Lars will find some way to protect her from recapture. If they can't, living as a fugitive for the rest of her days is still preferable to her current captive life right now.

But she seriously had to stop feeling so pained and sad for the Mishima boy. Tragic or not, he is what he is - an unforgivable mass-murderer...and whatever possibly sympathetic or justifiable motivations he may've had for committing his atrocities, his intentional actions still make him no less an amoral extremist.
Jin's perpetual psychological torment - if he really was in one - is arguably deserved. Plus, he'd probably strangle her dead out of wrathful indignation, should he learn that she actually felt sympathy for him.
His ultimate fate is actually a liberating and most desired personal goal, where he can finally find true peace and real contentment for his over-worn soul. It sounded pitiful and tragic as a personal happy ending, but apparently that's often how reality works.

There's no reason to feel sorry for Jin Kazama...nothing to feel for him at all, except wary guardedness for her own sake.

So Kazama never intended to drive me out of his private living space in the first place. Julia pondered to herself. In fact, he'd wanted me here with him all along, for some reason...to torment, terrorize and intimidate, until I utterly fall apart from within. Then render me into a broken-minded human tool, for him to control...his next Eddy Gordo.
Well, either that or he just needed some human company to vent his miseries upon - punching bag style.
But I'll continue to avoid interacting with him, no matter what he tries next...I can take it. I will take it. Just four more days, and so long Jin Kazama - wherever fate will take me...and you.

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 7

*****
Jin's chamber cell...

Jin had his room all to himself again, while his cellmate was still "convalescing" in the medical center...or so they claim. She probably did require some minor surgeries for her hand and face wounds...but the girl was steadily developing a superhuman recovery rate. And though her rapid self-healing abilities still had ways to go from his own, it - coupled with the Agency's sterling medical tech - shouldn't keep her away for more than half a day.

The girl somehow persuaded them to let her stay in the medic center for an extra day...solely to prolong her time away from him. She'll be back tomorrow night, the Agency medical center had told him over his handheld media-cum-communicator device.

They once again strongly advised him - likely on her behalf - to reconsider his request of shared room arrangements...which he promptly hung up his media-phone device in response, like last time. No...not yet. He needed to get through to her first, make it permanently clear who's she to work for with unquestioning devotion...like Eddy Gordo once did for him.

He spent nearly all day time self-training in the mean time...more fiercely than usual, with extra rage in his strikes. He hadn't watched any TV or sit quietly to strategize since her temporary absence.

That godforsaken, overly-obstinate girl. Contrary to his spoken accusations, she was far from a weakling or an oblivious idiot. Her psyche was no doubt severely defiled and deranged from her ordeals as a child and young teen...but her soul somehow maintained an unmistakable sense of pure strength and determination. Pure strength and determination, like Lars Alexandersson's, like Hwoarang's, like Xiaoyu's, like his mother's...and like his former self's. The girl's way of using that strength was highly unconventional and easily mistaken as mere, pitiful brittleness of willpower...but he knew better.

Her detailed bio provided how she, as a mere child, was forced to refrain from laying a self-defensive finger on her ruthless and persistent aggressors, even when their bullying tactics became life-threatening. And the girl had resourcefully persevered for more than a year back then, intact...all for the sake of her sickening excuse of a drunkard guardian - who turned out to be a backstabbing traitor to her cluelessly loving and devoted adoptive daughter in the first place. And up to now, the girl was using her adapted idiosyncratic and strength in "weakness" approaches against him, obviously viewing him as one of her junior-high student bullies.

The girl's quirky character both drew him in and unnerved him - it felt foreign, repulsive, and compelling, all at the same time. It roused baffling feelings of bitter envy within him, mixed with an almost irresistible allure. They were so very different, yet also so very similar in dealing with their miserable lives and fate's cruelties.

And like with any other human being, Jin felt no particular biological-based draw towards the girl - from base biological instinct alone, that is. Still, he couldn't deny that she was quite...pleasant and refreshing to look at. Like some nice scenery or ornamental artpiece.
Unlike most other attractive females he'd been personally acquainted with, this girl's skin tone was shades darker and deeper than his own...and unlike the traditionally favored Snow White-pale skin, her dusky complexion possessed its own unique beauty - a radiant, vibrant richness.
Like those openly lecherous monitoring-cum-escorting guards had implied, her flesh was so very smooth and tender...even though he never saw her unclothed like they did, he could feel it on her lovely face that he bashed in yesterday.

And he liked her excessively long and incredibly soft twin braids of that deep crimson-brown...he liked them more than he really ought to. He found her plaited pigtail hairstyle adorably cute on her - he had a weak spot for girls who wore pigtails, as he discovered during his time spent with Xiaoyu. Still, he liked it a lot more when the girl let her hair loose - those unbelievably silky and lustrous maroon locks made her look strikingly beautiful in their completely unrestrained, unadorned cascade form.
Well actually, he really could do without her shabby fashion choice. He can tolerate her too-plain and sloppy clothes. But those offensively huge, circle-round glasses of hers - those unspeakable plastic specs were not forgivable. He had an inexplicable urge to crush those hideously over-sized eyewear when he first saw her wearing them.
And despite the constant close contact he forced between them, she still managed to deny him a good look at her captivating eyes, the whole time - only granting him glimpses of those beautiful expressions and colors of her soul-windows. In contrast to his own stone-cold and steel-hard narrow eyes - complemented by dim, impervious, plain medium-brown orbs...her soft but keen and spirited eyes held big round pupils that shimmered with mesmerizingly vivid colors and possessed an enticingly warm, soulful depth.

...wait, why in the six hells is his mind entertaining all this hilariously absurd garbage? As if he's leading an over-leisurely life, with zero personal troubles or afflictions to deal with? Such matters about the girl are infinitely far and below his real concerns right now, they shouldn't even have entered his mind in the first place!
And the fact that she is ultimately to become his scapegoat for his worldly crimes. Forcing her live out her remaining imprisoned life at the Agency's research center - perhaps for some years or merely a few days, depends on how long her experimental value lasts - and then prompted discarded...the Mishima boy felt his heart skip a few beats.

Jin cursed furiously under his breath. There's no denying it - he's not only losing his natural ability of focusing all his attention solely on his own problems, but also his conditioned ability of doing what's necessary, at any cost or regardless of anyone he has to harm to any extent...mostly without even having to bat an eyelid.
The latter ability...his invaluable ruthless and brutal sense of pragmatism he had Nina Williams forcefully drill into him - that took masses of literal blood, sweat, tears, and vomit in the process...all to attain that firmly rooted, self-numbing conviction.

It all started when the girl came here, into his life...well no, not entirely. His failure to eliminate Devil Gene had already dwindled him into almost half the determinator he'd been since his mother's death. But the girl is definitely making his inner deterioration much worse.

The Mishima boy looked at the hand that injured his cellmate, then balled it into a tight shaking fist. He felt his fury mounting dangerously - both towards that girl for making him feel this way, and towards himself for hurting her like he did.
Because deep down inside - even as his consciousness vehemently denied such a notion - he knew that he'd made his blows a tad harsher than intended...out of some irrational surge of emotion. That a chunk of the force he used on the girl was instigated by her misplaced affectionate devotion, towards his half-wit half-uncle - and to a lesser extent her exalted moral guardian cop.
Forcing his cellmate into looking at her own bruised-up reflection in the mirror...doing so hadn't at all been necessary, and nor had the action crossed his mind before. It had been a spur-of-the-moment angry impulse that he somehow mindlessly followed. He could only recall thinking at the time that he had to dissuade the girl, from her open longing towards Lars Alexandersson. And the most disturbing part of it all, that need to dissuade had nothing to do with his personal mission against his enemies...

JULIA & JIN AS CELL-ROOMMATES: DAY 8

*****
In the hallway, right outside Jin's chamber cell, 20:32 pm...

After the leader guard opened the cell door, Julia apprehensively hesitated at the doorway for several seconds. Except for a small handful fading bruises scattered around her face, it had recovered back to normal. There were mini-surgical adhesives plastered across her nose bridge and around her right eye, and a thin bandage wrapped around her left palm. The medical center sent her back with extra bandages and a roll of medical tape.

"Listen Chang, next time fucking Kazama feels like beating you up again...at least aim a hard one at his balls, alright? You pack a decent punch and kick, I know from firsthand experience." Her escort muttered dryly. "Don't be such a wuss around that self-satisfied asshole."

The young scientist gave Captain Lawson a tremulous smile. The leader guard turned out to be quite a considerate and generous gentleman, despite his gruff demeanor...her escort actually went out of his way to fetch her a pair of her glasses from the chamber cell - her favorite huge, round-framed plastic specs - when she was staying at the medical center.

Then Julia took a deep breath and stepped into the chamber cell. The young scientist started looking around, and suddenly froze when she turned to her left. What she saw put her in enough shock that she didn't hear the cell door shutting and locking behind her.

The bathroom - or what used to be a bathroom - was demolished. The door and walls separating the bathroom from the main cell chamber had been shattered clean, as if pounded down by a powerful sledgehammer. Only small, jagged pieces of the bathroom's outer wall remained intact - otherwise, the bathroom had been effectively converted into joint open space with the rest of the cell. The torn-down bathroom door and broken blocks of concrete was scattered across the floor.

Julia remained rooted at her spot for a minute or so, before anxiously stepping towards her ruined personal sanctuary from Jin...eyes darting right and left for the Mishima boy himself. But her cell-roommate was nowhere in sight. Was he taken to the labs on sudden notice? Or in some detention for damaging Agency property?

The young scientist warily ventured into the demolished bathroom and turned on the lights. Everything else was intact...except the bathtub. Like the outer bathroom wall, the outer bathtub surrounds had been reduced to a pile of acrylic.

The shower curtain, which had been pulled half-closed, was suddenly thrown open. Julia jumped almost a foot backwards, stifling a startled yell.

Jin Kazama emerged from behind the curtain, apparently waiting for her via a game of peekaboo. He had a fierce, almost angry-looking, smirk on his face.

"How do you like the artwork, Stray? It took less than a half-hour. And room maintenance is going to take longer than usual the next time they come by." The Mishima boy greeted her in a mocking voice as he started striding towards her.

The young scientist whipped around to run off on pure instinct, but Jin lunged forward and grabbed her arm, brusquely yanking her back. He roughly shoved her against the inner bathtub wall.

After a momentary desperate struggle to pry herself free from his grasp, Julia found herself forced into a slumped position against the bathroom wall. And to her horror, Jin was straddling her and pinning his body against hers to keep her immobile.

The Mishima boy suddenly leaned his face only inches from hers. When she tried to turn her head away, he grabbed her by the chin to force her to face him.
When she still tried to avoid looking at him by averting her eyes, he grabbed hair at the back of her head in a painful clutch, nonverbally demanding her direct eye contact.
Julia felt tears forming by themselves as she looked into his smoldering, piercing brown-coal orbs - and involuntarily attempted to close her eyes several times...only to be forcefully reminded to fully open them and align her gaze straight back to his penetrating stare, by his violent pulling of her hair.

Jin's eyes gazed deeply into hers, intensely probing - as if trying to thoroughly scrutinize her psyche. Several times, the young scientist thought she caught fleeting traces of subdued rapture and wistful admiration in those unreadable brown eyes...but quickly dismissed them as figments of her panic-induced hallucinations.

After a few minutes...which felt like an eternity to Julia, the Mishima boy suddenly spoke. "Do you need to relieve yourself this particular moment? Because this may take a little while." He inquired in a soft, casual voice.

When Julia didn't answer, his fist clenched her hair again, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Answer me, Stray. You need to use the toilet? Because it wouldn't be pleasant if you accidentally soiled yourself...or get any of it on me." Jin repeated a little harder, a little louder.

"...no." Julia managed to croak out the reply.

Jin's lips curved into a small smirk at her response. "Good...we can talk, then." He suddenly released her hair.
Julia whimpered and automatically squeezed her eyes shut, but Jin didn't force her to reopen them again. Instead, the Mishima boy roughly pushed a side of her face against the wall, his large palm pressing against her cheek.
He leaned his face against her ear, so close that his lips lightly brushed it. Julia felt herself shuddering involuntarily at the contact.

"You think you can keep on avoiding me? While we're constantly living in the same cell? You know, I don't care for company anymore than you care for my presence. But your oddities are seriously starting to get on my nerves. My most basic daily routines have become intolerably disturbed and complicated by your vulgar fetish for bathrooms." Jin half-whispered in an interrogative tone. He was obviously expecting some kind of answer from her.

Squirming futilely against the pain and discomfort of his vice-like hold, Julia dimly wondered if she'll end up with truly serious injuries this time round...and whether her cell-roommate will bother calling for medical help again. She then amazed herself by blurting out the resentment on her mind.

"What's stopping you, Kazama?" Julia spat in a weak but acerbic voice. "Has the Agency threatened to confiscate your TV or big luxurious bed, as penalty for killing unwanted cellmates? If you're trying to force me to do it to myself, you're wasting your time."

Jin slightly threw back his face and let out a brief laugh - an amused but bitterly sardonic laugh, which prompted the young scientist to open her eyes wide in her surprise. The Mishima boy then dropped the palm that had been pressing her cheek against the wall.

After a few moments of regarding her in silence, the Mishima boy lifted her drooping chin with his fingers, turning her head around to face him again...this time with a startling gentleness.

"...what is it that makes me so unbearable to you, that you cannot even stand to look me in the eye? What is it that you have lost in the war I waged against the world?" Jin's tone was suddenly devoid of derision, hardness...and apathy. The young man's deep voice sounded so sincere, so curious...and almost tenderly sympathetic. There was just something so familiar about that tone - it aroused within Julia a bittersweet feeling of deja vu, a deep acheful yearning...

*****
Julia's Flashback: Julia Chang's 2nd Tournament participation - 3rd match opponent, Jin Kazama...

"...forgive me". Three years back, that brief personal moment with Jin Kazama - whom she encountered first time in person - flashed lucidly in her mind. The Mishima boy had greeted her with cold hostility, ruthlessly defeated her, then spared her a remorseful, heartfelt apology...

*****
Back to the present, Jin's chamber cell bathroom...

Julia felt some inexplicable rage surge within her. Sociopathic bastard is mocking me. She shouldn't give half a crap that this unrepentant mass-murderer and her cruel provocateur - of all people - was mocking her. But something about his abrupt tenderness clawed furiously at her heart and rational mind.

"Get...away...from me!" She snapped savagely, and suddenly resumed struggling with wild, fierce determination. Julia vaguely heard Jin scoff, and there was a definite smirk in it. He abruptly lifted himself from Julia, causing her to lose balance in surprise, and collapse to the floor by herself.

When Julia recollected herself and opened her eyes, she saw Jin crouched in front of her, staring straight at her face. He was bearing that cruel, spiteful smirk on his face again...the smirk he bore in his Zaibatsu warlord in video footages.

"I'll make you a deal, Stray. Defeat me fair and square with your fists...then I'll have you kicked out of this cell room. That's a promise." The Mishima boy announced to Julia in a ridiculing tone. He then suddenly swiped her huge plastic glasses right from her face with one hand, and crushed it to pieces in his bare fist.
"I should mention that your taste in fashion is beyond pathetic, too." He added matter-of-factly.

Before Julia fully registered that he just broke her second set of huge specs, Jin stood up and suddenly tore the shower curtain clean off the pole. He then tossed the shower curtains onto Julia, covering her from head to toe in the large white fabric.

The young scientist saw the Mishima boy strutting out as she was furiously pulling the curtains off herself.

JULIA & JIN AS CELLROOMMATES: DAY 9

*****
Jin's chamber cell, 21:01 pm...

After Jin had demolished the bathroom walls and bathtub, he continued using the facilities as if there was nothing wrong with them...except he no longer bathed. And after his shower, he didn't bother to wipe the resulting flood-puddles on the bathroom floor.

Julia was forced to follow suit. She sometimes felt Jin staring intently at her as she used the toilet or shower...no doubt to make her uncomfortable. If her cell-roommate's plan was indeed to wear off her emotional fortitude, it was gradually working.

They both well knew that her odds of defeating him in a fair hand-combat fight were at most 30 to 100. And even if by some miraculous series of coincidences that she does actually defeat him, there's no way she can trust him to keep his word.

With her walls of privacy destroyed, Julia could no longer hide in the bathroom. She instead huddled in a corner near the cell door, farthest away from Jin's active living space - his bed, the television, the bathroom, and the open space where he did his self-training. Thankfully enough, the Mishima boy was obviously content to leave her alone, as long as they stayed in the same open space. He resumed ignoring her presence and going about his own routine.

Well, she won't be having to put up with all this bizarre discomfort for long. Tomorrow, she'll...

Julia was suddenly aware of footsteps approaching from outside. The cell door was then unlocked and opened.

"Hey there, Chang. One of our agents would like a small chat with you. In the briefing room." It was the leader escort. Julia got to her feet and walked to the opened doorway.

"Agent? Is it Raven?" The young scientist asked curiously.

"No. But don't worry, this one's a decent gal. She won't bite." Her escort reassured her in his gruff tone.

Jin kept his eyes glued to the television news. "How long will I get the room for myself?" He called out without turning around.

The leader guard huffed. "Lighten up now, you bipolar whelp. You've got at least thirty whole minutes of recess." The escort retorted before closing the cell door behind himself and Julia.

Julia was led into a mini theater-like room, occupied by only one person sitting in the front, working on her laptop. To her surprise, it was Nadiya Pak - the professional agent that had been sent to aid Lars.

Nadiya looked up. "Ms. Chang. Have a seat right here, if you please." She dismissed the guards with a jerk of her head.

Julia hesitantly walked over and slid in the seat right beside Nadiya. The older woman propped up Julia's foldable seat-desk and placed a small brown paper bag on it.

"I bought this for you from a pastry shop on my way back. I hear Americans like coffee and doughnuts. The coffee's gotten cold by now, though. And no one from the Agency snuck any experimental solvent in it, so enjoy." Nadiya said nonchalantly without looking at her.

The young scientist stared at the bag for a moment, before tentatively retrieving its contents. Indeed, there was a small lidded cup of plain black coffee and a sugar doughnut wrapped in wax paper. She turned to Nadiya.

"This wouldn't happen to be some 'good cop, bad cop' act, would it?" Julia asked with none-too-friendly wariness.

Nadiya paused and stared at Julia coolly. "Believe what you want, Ms. Chang. But if that makes a negative impact in your cooperation, then Luce will be doing this Q&A with you instead - like he was originally scheduled to."

Julia blanched and stifled a gulp at the thought. "You're Martus's superior?" Then after a moment of silence, "Have you been replaced from your Yggdrasil-Zaibatsu post?"

"No, Raven persuaded Luce's superior for me fill in for him. And I'll be going back aiding Alexandersson again once I finish some misc reporting, including with you. My assistant will hold up there just fine." The professional agent then turned her laptop screen in Julia's direction. "Do you recognize this person?"

On the screen was a close-up image of a beautiful Asian girl around 13...14 years old at most. The young girl looked so familiar, a slightly older version of the Asian tweenager she glimpsed in that Ogre nightmare so many days back. This teen had golden-apricot skin tone, angelic round-almond eyes with dark chestnut orbs, a diminutive straight nose, pretty round lips, and thick jet-black hair. She still adorned her fringe-cut hair with the same ribbon-top hairband and banded side-ponytail.

Julia slowly shook her head, and absent-mindedly started nibbling on the doughnut. "Who is this kid?"

"She's recently made quite a few appearances - stealing the samples of Ogre that Heihachi Mishima kept for R&D, as well as infiltrating G. Corp. and governmental organizations to sabotage top-secret information on the extraterrestrial 'Fighting God'." Nadiya replied.
"According to our database matches, she was born and raised in the Vietnamese countryside. Her name is Vo Thi Binh. Self-made professional child thief, who smuggled her way out of her home country three years ago. Exceptionally skilled forger of handwritings, signatures, and identity prints."

Nadiya laid an elbow on her seat-desk. "Very peculiar individual, this young girl. Her parents claim her whole time was spent helping out on the farm, house chores, or studying at school. She and her family had zero contact or experience with martial arts. Yet when she was escaping Heihachi's pursuing troops, Ms. Vo displayed an amazingly broad mastery of combat discipline and escape artist intuition."

The agent then brought up a media player, showing live footage of the young girl effortlessly defeating a number of Zaibatsu guards in her way. "There, you see...Little Miss Vo here is a highly experienced expert in Silat-Melayu, traditional Vovinam, Savate, and Cuong Nhu. She's also seen employing attack moves from a very odd and diverse mix of martial arts artillery with deadly skill and efficiency - traditional Kalaripayattu, traditional Vajra-mushti, traditional Sqay, Varma Kalai, Senge Ngwa, Bokh, Sanchin Kata, Muay Boran, traditional Hwa Rang Do, Taekkyeon, Palgi Kwon, Bokator, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, traditional Xinyiquan, traditional Changquan, Baguazhang, Huaquan, and traditional Taichiquan."

"Also interesting to note this," The older woman continued. "We've witnessed this Vietnamese teenager employing a few moves resembling a very primitive variation of Mishima fighting style. Indicating that she's been around during the early stages of the Mishima Karate's conception, and then successfully seduced a practicing Mishima son via a Celestial Fairy Avatar.
"Though like other size-and-strength-based martial arts she's been using - little Vo did some very ingenious self-modifications to the Mishima's male-exclusive martial art to accommodate her petite and frail body, while optimizing its combative essence and effectiveness."

Nadiya turned off the media player. "Agent Valkeryie's communication with the spirits concluded that this child-thief possesses a non-Earthly soul, one that can transition through multiple lifetimes and different human incarnations - without losing any of its conscious and accumulated memories. And that Vo has some inextricable ties with you. Unfortunately, Agent Valkeryie isn't able to tell whether those connections are benevolent or malevolent in nature...that, and we currently don't have the time or resources to investigate this young newcomer in-depth. Kazuya Mishima's being enough of a pain as is."

"...Vo. Could she be something like me? One of my species, or..." Julia let it hang.

"No. Agent Valkyrie confirmed that the soul inhabiting Ms. Vo's body is that of your and Ogre's Creators, currently reincarnated as a young adolescent of Vietnamese descent." Nadiya replied in a dismissive tone, without looking at the young scientist. "Unfortunately, we don't have any further information than that as of now." The Ukrainian-Korean agent added sharply before Julia could open her mouth.

Neither women spoke or moved for a few moments. "Ah...and how is Agent Valkeryie doing at Lars's base?" Julia inquired, trying to dispel the awkward silence.

The older woman let out a small sigh. "Like Raven predicted, Iab's proven herself quite useful when Kazuya Mishima makes a personal appearance. The nature of her metaphysical powers bear similarities to the Kazama psychics, but hers isn't as strong or effective as the latters' - she has some ways to go.
"That, and her professional attitude needs much improvement. She begrudges the fact that she's transferred away from Raven, and takes her bitterness out on Alexandersson. She has made an immature habit of speaking only Norwegian or occasionally Swedish around him and his troops - then when he asks her to talk in either English or Japanese so that others can understand, she openly derides him about having forgotten his native maternal tongue."
Nadiya's lips curved into a small smile. "Mr. Alexandersson is most unexpectedly patient toward Iab's childish antics, contrary to the impression of an impulsive hotheaded soldier the first time you lot came to this base."

"...he's had enough practice with Alisa Boskonovitch." Julia muttered in a dry tone. After a moment of silence, the young scientist decided to venture with the pressing curiosity in her system.
"How coincidental that Iab...I mean Agent Valkyrie has attained quite a large assortment of very different martial arts styles as well, especially for a mid-teen. Just like this Vo kid." Julia started carefully. "I remember reading her bio that Valkyrie had mastered like 10 martial arts, which don't share similar form-based origins - including some imitated style of Mishima karate, as well?"

A hesitant look crossed Nadiya's face, then the older woman sighed. "Iab underwent some...transhuman enhancements. Before she joined the Agency, and then after. There were other, how should I put it, pre-conditions and pre-customizations put forth before she was put into existence. Her combat-related instincts, endurance, and martial arts aptitude are at least 11 times that of a normal human's.
"Iab learned most of her military-based MMA at a very young age. She then trained in ninjutsu because of her emotional attachment to Raven. Most of her other unarmed combat arsenal incorporate fighting styles our current Mishima enemies and their allies are known to practice, giving her a basic means to counter them. The remainder she learned to broaden her own combat horizon, or simply as fancies."

"...and you're saying that your bio-enhanced teenage agent has absolutely nothing in common with Celestial Fairies, Ogre, or their Creators? Besides, why didn't the Agency send out this Agent Valkyrie to aid in Kazama's global war last year?" The young scientist blurted out incredulously.
"Why involve her now, after irreparable devastation has already been done - when everyone against G. Corp. or Heihachi Mishima is scrambling for damage control?"

Nadiya closed her eyes momentarily. When she spoke again, her stoic voice was tinged with restrained sadness. "No. Iab has zero biological or genetic ties to the extraterrestrials of your heritage. I'm not clear on the details, but Iab herself once confided in me - that she was the product of a gene-splicing technique by one of your Creators. Some long-time and stealth arrangement by Angel - Devil and Azazel's arch-nemesis.
"Despite what you've seen of her usual demeanor, Iab is in fact...well, perilously volatile and unstable. In terms of conventional social means, that is. And the means which the Agency or any military organization would require her to behave. We were forced to keep Iab strictly indoors during Jin Kazama's war, as there was a huge risk she'd start fighting against the wrong side. And ruin everything.
"Apparently Angel thought so too, as Iab claimed that Guardian-Deity of Purity bent many of Her own sacred boundaries to ensure Kazama slew Azazel himself, without any of Iab's assistance or intervention-"

"-why are you telling me so much about your fellow agent's personal background?" Julia cut in with a skeptical tone, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "Any sane and rational intellectual would've easily concluded the whole Angel-Devil-Azazel matter as conflicts among advanced human bio-enhancements or evolved or mutated living forms, hidden from the world in the form of myths.
"And despite the strange supernatural events that even I can't deny, this whole thing about 'Celestial Fairies' and Ogre as some godly bio-creations of an alien race which can transplant its souls into new-born humans...sorry. I don't have reason not to suspect the Agency's trying to blindside me from what's really going on in reality, with some elaborate superstitious hodgepodge."

Agent Pak fished out a pen from her blazer, and started twirling it adeptly between her fingers. She looked up straight ahead, her own eyes narrowing slightly.
"I don't have time to waste on your skepticism. You'll be finding out yourself in the near future whether any of my claims are reality-based or otherwise. That is, unless you insist to blindfold yourself with denial and elaborate scientific excuses all the way through - though I doubt you'll be that thick-skulled." The older woman responded in a cold matter-of-factly tone.
"As to why I'm divulging at length about Iab's character...you'll be interacting with her on a semi-frequent basis later on, both directly and indirectly. I'm warning you not to provoke her with bodily threats of any kind, or interfere whenever you see her doing anything controversial - that's the fastest way in causing her to 'ruin everything'. Just like Lei Wuji - officer Lei Wulong's niece and your foster sister - Iab follows her own set of survival rules and personal values...incomprehensive to most that aren't their kind."
Without breaking her distant stare ahead, Nadiya paused long enough to allow Julia to recover from her astonishment, but began speaking again before the young scientist could open her mouth.

"Born and conditioned under very specific circumstances - where there is a nanometer-fine line between optimally serving the world and humanity, or destroying both and yourselves." The older woman's voice softened.
"IabNtxawm Laursen, Julia Chang...and perhaps even Jin Kazama. You three are not meant to love or be loved, at least in your current lives. Or else you'll end up tearing up the one your heart cherishes most, from the inside out - and leave your lovers as broken souls for the rest of their lives." Nadiya tilted her gaze downward. "Or so Zafina claims."

Who's Zafina? Julia momentarily wanted to inquire, but knew she'd sound like an annoyingly over-talkative toddler...or even Alisa during her inquisitive bouts - both of which she'd loathe to be viewed as. Besides, she didn't really care to acquaint with any new Agency members - given that she'll be bailing out of their base pretty soon.

"Your life goals ruined your love life too, Ms. Pak? " The young scientist suddenly asked the Ukrainian-Korean agent in a careless manner. "By the way, your background must've been unusual, too - given your own myriad set of foreign languages, not to mention high achievements in both practical combat styles and various technical fields."

Instead of a cold-shoulder response Julia was expecting, Nadiya truthfully answered her personal questions in a casual tone, as she put the pen away and turned back to her laptop.
"No, my estranged husband and I strongly disagreed on how our skills should be optimized, to best serve the world. He had insisted on continued service to conventional organizations like the military, while I wanted more...freedom in exercising my talents, including the Korean-style martial arts he and his father taught me. Our marriage eventually lost its meaning, and we decided to give each other space...likely just procrastinating the inevitable divorce.
"And my father was a multi-lingual ambassador from South Korea. He had wanted me to follow his footsteps."

Both Nadiya Pak and Agent Valkeyrie had the Iron Fist Tournament's three linguistic requirements - "Japanese", "English", and "Mandarin Chinese" - listed on their resume. Julia recalled. One wonders why they were never sent as backup tournament participants for Raven, while he took care of more important missions...

The agent then pulled up another photo image on her laptop. "Look at this one, Ms. Chang. You should recognize at least two people here."

Julia's eyes widened as she looked at the photo. There were four people in the photo - and she recognized all but one. Lei, his British friend Steve Fox, Christie Monteiro, and another young blonde kid...the four were hastily exiting one of G. Corp.'s labs, and got themselves caught on surveillance camera.

"I don't recognize this person, but I know the rest," Julia replied a bit shakily, pointing at the unfamiliar blonde. "Why are they there? Do you know where they are now?"

"She's Eleonore Kliesen. Who shares the same biological father, Leon Kliesen, with Fox." Nadiya replied. "We got hold of this G. Corp. image three days ago. I traced the group yesterday - they safely got back to the ICPO branch that Lei Wulong works in." Then the agent added wryly, "And it turned out 'Super Cop' Lei wasn't even aware that the three youngsters had been secretly tagging behind him in the G. Corp. base all along, after he 'strictly' ordered them to let him go alone."

Julia let out a deep breath of relief. "Thank goodness."

Nadiya's fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly tempted to rebuke the young scientist over her immediate mollified reaction - but apparently decided against it. Instead, the agent sat back slightly. "Ms. Chang...can you think of why Monteiro might still be traveling with Detective Lei's group?"

Julia momentarily felt uncertain and conflicted, then sighed. "As far as I know, Christie should be seeking out Nina Williams - Kazama's former bodyguard, who is suspected of causing Eddy Gordo's death. Williams has also been on the top Lei's to-arrest list for quite a while."

"Really? Monteiro won't be getting anywhere with Williams by tagging along with that group right now. Detective Lei is currently working on collecting incriminating evidence against Kazuya Mishima. We believe that Fox and Kliesen are aiding Lei...the half-siblings most likely motivated by vengeance for Kliesen's murdered mother, Emma." Nadiya peered at Julia.
"Lei and Monteiro paid Alexandersson's faction a non-hostile visit last night. We initially suspected she was there to seek either Williams, or the ex-Tekken rebel responsible for her older sister's death."

Julia cocked her head. "Lars? Christie's sister? How?"

"You do know about Ingrid Monteiro, don't you? The elder Monteiro sister ran away from home in her early teens, right into a life of crime. Learned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a Bakom-based fighting style, and the street fighting variety of Vale Tudo, while she was out making her own living.
"Then Ingrid joined the private military sector for several years as a mercenary, where she picked up the military martial art LINE. Many months ago, she was sent to attack Kazama's then-4th Special Forces unit guarding a weapons warehouse. She was doing fine too, until one of Alexandersson's fellow insurgents shot her in the head...presumably by accident." Nadiya supplied.

The agent then suddenly seemed to have recalled something important and turned to her laptop again. "Come to think of it, I don't believe we have the combat specifics on your profile yet, Ms. Chang...no, we don't. Let's input that into our database now. What martial arts styles are you proficient in?"

"Kempo." Julia replied distractedly. So technically speaking, Lars is the one responsible for Ingrid Monteiro's death? Who'd have thought.

Nadiya turned to stare at Julia. "Are you talking about American Kempo or Japanese Kempo, Ms. Chang? And last I reviewed your tournament footages, I've only seen you using Chinese-based martial arts." The agent remarked dryly.

Julia blinked for a second, then looked sheepish. "All right, I practice Quan Fa. It's just that every non-Chinese I've so far bumped into only knew its Japanese equivalent name, so I use the term 'Kempo' by habitual impulse. And if you want specifics, my primary expertise lies in Xingyiliuhequan. I'm also well-versed in modern Changquan and Sanshou."

"You are unnaturally agile and acrobatic with such physically demanding arts, Ms. Chang...and you possess extraordinary physical endurance. That is, considering your relatively...athletically-disadvantaged bodily attributes." The agent remarked offhandedly.
"Not to mention you wield unusually high power output and dexterity in your upper-body strikes - especially against formidable male opponents with immensely thicker and burlier physiques."

"Do you really believe so, Ms. Pak? You should look at your fellow female agents...and yourself into a full-length mirror - unclothed. Not to mention those other females who participated in the Iron Fist Tournaments. When it comes to effectively utilizing male-competitive combat qualities from a classically feminine body, I'm not really the odd girl out." Julia countered in a sardonic tone.
"Plus, most of those male fighters possess far-fetched nimbleness for their broad and thickly muscled bodies...Agent Raven included. Reality can be logically confusing at times, can't it?"

"Hm." Nadiya then quickly changed the subject. "And you acquired no combat skills from your super-cop foster guardian, famed master of the Five-Forms himself?"

"...Lei's father had taught me some Longquan basics before he passed away. Nothing from Lei himself, other than fundamental firearms handling - he was too busy with his work." Julia replied tersely.

Nadiya uploaded the updated program to the Agency's database. "Thank you, Ms. Chang. That's all I need from you." She was about to turn off her computer, but Julia suddenly held her hand in front of the monitor.

"Wait, Ms. Pak. Martus once told me that Laurent De Rochefort had another favorite child victim in the past. Do you have anything on her?" The young scientist asked in a hopeful voice.

The agent sighed and crossed her arms. "Ms. Chang. Surely you understand that you're in no position to request confidential information. I'm not trying to be petty here-"

"Please, Ms. Pak." Julia's tone turned pleading and insistent. "It's been nothing but hell for me in here...if you weren't made aware, I'm forced to share a cell with that war criminal Kazama, of all people. Give me a little something to divert my emotional claustrophobia - and help my sanity."

Nadiya stared at her for a moment or two, before shrugging and turning back to the computer. "All right, Ms. Chang...I'll give you a brief bio of your 'fellow' Rochefort victim. But you don't get to ask any questions this time." The Ukrainian-Korean agent replied curtly as she pulled up another profile.

"The other 'Rochefort favorite' is Divina Galit Amaranto, a 27 year old mother of three, and of Filipino descent. Widow of Lauro Amaranto, who died of lung cancer at 51. Has a 7 year old son with Lauro Amaranto - Lauro Jr., a 15 year old daughter - Malaya Galit - by an unknown father, and 24 year-old stepdaughter - Mercedes 'Mercee' Amaranto." Nadiya summarized.
"Mrs. Amaranto is currently the successor of her late husband's business empire, Amaranto Petroleum...one of Rochefort Enterprise's top competitors. Ever since Jin Kazama raided Rochefort's oil fields and crippled the latter's assets, she has aggressively moved in for hostile takeover of Rochefort's empire."

The monitor downloaded an image of a beautiful woman in her mid-to-late 20's, wearing an immaculately fashionable businesswoman suit. She had creamy light-mocha skin, heavy-lidded almonds with liquid-chocolate orbs, a narrow straight nose with a slightly round smallish tip, and midnight-black hair cut into a short, stylish pageboy. The Filipina possessed a sultry baby-face with soft sensual features, but her gaze was piercing and dangerous.

"Divina Galit was the second love-child from her father's numerous affairs, due to a tryst with one of his underage students. Unlike her other illegitimate half-siblings, Mr. Galit was forced to take her into his own household when her biological mother committed suicide over his abandonment, and her family threatened to expose his actions to the school he taught at. As Mrs. Galit already had four children to care for, and money was already tight in the Galit household, they could barely afford another mouth to feed. Thus, Laurent De Rochefort's appearance was almost considered a god-given blessing...except to Divina, of course.
"Rochefort started on her when she was 9-10 years of age. But unlike your adoptive mother, little Ms. Divina's parents didn't put such a suppressed facade of their guilty deeds for the money - and the Filipina child grew quite...rebellious towards both parties. The Monaco magnate was allegedly taken by the challenge of 'taming' this wild mare at the time, seeing how long he stuck with her difficult attitude. Within weeks of putting up with Rochefort, Divina ran away from home - never looking back - long before Rochefort was done with her. She lived on the streets for almost 3 years..."
Nadiya's voice suddenly trailed off to a pause, then she shook her head with a frown before continuing.
"...and then Divina returned to her parents' side in order to obtain academic studies and martial arts training. When she secured her own financial independence, Divina left her parents for good. It wasn't long before she found and successfully seduced her would-be husband Lauro, who financed higher education and credentials for her - initially as his protégé, then as his wife and heiress.
"Mrs. Amaranto is quite an intellectual prodigy as well...she secured a Masters in Business Administration, Masters of Accountancy, Masters in Information Systems, Masters in Finance, and a Masters in Forensic Science. Recently, she passed the Bar Exam and obtained her J.D."

"On top of academic achievements and business acumen, Mrs. Amaranto snatched the national MMA gold for 3 consecutive years. She's quite an enthusiast in the Filipino martial arts. Her combat specialty is Pekiti Tirsia, plus a Panantukan-Sikaran hybrid style; she's also highly proficient in Kuntaw-Silat, and Dumog." The Ukrainian-Korean agent complemented.
"Divina passionately persuaded both birth daughter and stepdaughter into learning Filipino self-defense. Malaya Galit followed her mother's expertise of Pekiti Tirsia, Panantukan-Sikaran, and Kuntaw-Silat. But Mercedes Amaranto chose to focus on Yaw-Yan kickboxing instead as her main arsenal, after mastering Panantukan-Sikaran."

Nadiya then turned off her laptop and started putting it away. "The Amaranto CEO has been a generous financial benefactor to Alexandersson's faction of the Zaibatsu. Presumably because Heihachi Mishima was one of Rochefort's top business partners while he ruled the Mishima empire."

Divina Amaranto is a major supporter of Lars's faction? She shouldn't be too hard to locate. "That really helped, Ms. Pak. I much appreciate your extra time...and your assistance of Lars's faction, of course." Julia promptly said as the agent was leaving the room.

Nadiya suddenly halted at the doorway and half-turned to the young scientist. "Ms. Chang. Personal vengeance isn't for everyone. It didn't work out for me, and unlike you - I had to learn so the hard way." The agent suddenly stated in a solemn, sincere voice.

It took a moment for Nadiya's underlying intention to register into Julia's mind. By the time it did, the Ukrainian-Korean agent was already gone, and guards were standing in the doorway to escort the young scientist back to her room. Nevertheless, Julia still whispered her belated heartfelt reply. "Thank you."

I have to get some good rest tonight. Tomorrow night will be my big night...my ticket out of here. Julia thought to herself, as she walked up to the guards to be escorted back to Jin's cell chamber.

The young scientist's brows knitted in thought. Lee or Lars's places are no longer safe options for her escape destination, seeing how the Agency has already lent out some of their best human assistance to support the latter. She'll have to try Lei.

The Agency might get through to the ICPO quite easily, but at least Lei will understand what is going on. He can help support and advise her with her internal moral dilemma...

A/N:

I had Jin act with oddly & confusingly ambivalent, abusive, and sometimes outright violent bullying towards Julia.
It was meant it to show his inner struggle with his lingering cruel persona, insistence of completely retaining his sense of ruthless pragmatism, fearful denial, confusion, & resistance towards his mounting personal feelings towards her. The next chapter he'll be softening up to Julia considerably more, then he'll quickly start devolving into a hopelessly mushy & over-obsessed sucker for her in Chapter 5 and beyond.

About Jin's current refusal to address Julia by her (first or last) name, it is meant to demonstrate his unfamiliarity & desire to maintain personal distance towards her.
Jin's current tendency to address Julia as "Stray" isn't wholly meant to be a derogatory insult...and is connected to his early childhood (revealed in next Chapter's end). Starting chapter 6, Jin will began to call her by a personal pet name he derived from her given name, and sometimes by her proper given name.

Jin may seem quite OOC, especially due to lack of shown focus on his canon self's obsessive and single-minded concerns over Kazuya, Heihachi, Devil Gene, etc.
Not intending to portray that Jin isn't still preoccupied with strategizing to rid his arch nemeses - it's just that I don't feel like writing those thought processes out. I'm bad at thinking up strategic planning.
Plus, I want to portray Jin here as starting to get fed-up with fate's constant disappointments and approaching his breaking point.
He's psychologically burnt out & feeling dreary hopelessness, due to his seemingly utter failure/meaningless sacrifices (of his Azazel Campaign).
Therefore, he'd be more easily distracted & emotionally open/vulnerable to other new developments in his environment. And of course, this is why I have Julia thrown straight into Jin's life, right at his most desolate.

Julia will also be shoving back much harder against Jin in the next Chapter (and in some portions of the future Chapters, when she perceives him to be a jerkass), for all the crap she's been putting up from him this Chapter.

Regarding Julia's dream sequence at the Chapter beginning...the contents are meant to be some foreboding warnings of significant "things to come".
I'll admit that the implied "Gaia's vengeance" part of her dream was meant to be a jab at canon Julia's overly-obsessive devotion towards Mother Earth and Nature. Backstory of OC Dr. Laroft's mother (down below) was also partially meant to be a jab against Julia's "nature-lover" persona.
I actually do believe in the importance of environmentalism...it's just that the stereotypical nature of canon Julia's character annoys me. Julia Chang's of Native American descent, so by default her character has to be all about protecting nature and its greeneries.
More "foreboding dreams" will be coming for another several chapters.

About the OCs Dr. Laroft & her mother...they're a reaction to some personally loathed aspects of canon T6 Julia Chang.
I'll admit that back story about Dr. Laroft's mother (Mrs. Julia Marie Laroft) was meant to bash canon SC Julia Chang's revealed purpose of venturing into Yoshimitsu's lair, and her canon T6's scantily-clad thieving explorer persona/wardrobe in general. That, and Dr. Laroft's veiled haranguing at Julia Chang about the boundaries of scientific ethics.
Canon SC Julia's thieving motives to "fund research" (and her childishly catty insult at Anna Williams, but that's to be addressed much later on) seemed uncharacteristically low, even for her canon character.
I have nothing against the original Lara Croft from Tomb Raider...Croft is a cool and solid character in her own right.
Like explained above, it's T6's canon Julia portrayal that annoyed me. And the fact that I fell in love with Julia's character because of her generally introverted, mellow, plain and geeky persona.

About the lecherous escort guards' exposition on Julia's much more conventionally feminine form (as verbal sexual harassment, in-story): That was meant to counter her recent physical portrayals in TTT2 & SFxT (large bulging biceps, thick arms, thick waist, wide shoulders, & superhuman physical strength/endurance that overwhelms average-sized male fighters'). Besides, in this story Julia is meant to possess some sex-goddess-like figure as a plot device (first detailed in Prologue 3 and further explained in following chapters), which she won't if I have her keep all her big-boned thickness and muscularity from canon.
My version of Julia will also be shown to have definite disadvantages & vulnerabilities against powerful male opponents - especially when it comes down to pure physical strength alone.
I do appreciate the fact that canon Julia is one of the physically strongest female fighters in the Tekken series, and that she's apparently one of the only two women who fight properly & seriously (punching, not slapping).
But Julia's post-T6 game portrayals as some female Hercules/She-Hulk bruiser - and the notion of her as a stocky, burly female wrestler...I'd probably keep those attributes if I was pairing her up with large-sized male fighters (King, Marduk, Miguel, Ganryu, etc.) or another female. Jin Kazama is neither.
I modeled Julia's modified-for-story figure after Chun-Li and Juri Han from SFxT, as well as Arcee from Transformers G1. Though I personally feel that Julia already possessed a slightly heavier lower body and rounded thighs to begin within her canon character designs, anyways.

Concerning the 5 new OCs:

Dr. Laroft & Captain Lawson will be playing a relatively minor & semi-recurring role from here up to Chapter 5 or 6, and then fade into obscurity after.

Dr. Laroft's mother isn't intended to be mentioned/referred to again. Her character was inspired by The Rundown and Deep Blue Sea.

Vo Thi Binh will be making semi-frequent appearances until much later on in the story, where her character importance will become central. She'll be playing a significant role in Julia's upcoming life, and Julia's whole heritage mess in general.

Divina Galit Amaranto is meant to be a relatively minor character who'll pop up here and there. One of her daughters will be a more significant plot device.

Julia's re-recruitment by G. Corp. (after her sabotage of its GENOELL project in the past) will be explained in the next chapter.

Julia's opening dream sequence was inspired by Green Legend Ran, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa (Manga), Doomed Megalopolis, Dragon Ball Z, & Final Fantasy 8.

Julia & Jin's interactions in this chapter were inspired by Kare Kano (Manga), Kodomo Omocha (Manga), GTO (Manga), Hana Yori Dango (Manga), Naruto & True Romance.

Julia's self-harm tactics were inspired by Sailor Moon (manga), Rurouni Kenshin (anime), & Heathers.

The names "Chencho", "Lawson" and "Lauro" were chosen based on the name "Lars".

The names "Benevolencia/Benecia" & "Chencho Javier Santiago" were created with help of Google Search, Google Translate, X-Men, & The Coldest Winter Ever (Souljah).

The name "Laroft" is a portmanteau of "Lara Croft". Again, nothing personal against the original Tomb Raider protagonist.

The name "Lawson" was found with help of .

The name "Vo Thi Binh" was chosen with help of Google Search & Wikipedia.

The names "Divina Galit Amaranto", "Mercede", "Malaya", & "Lauro" were chosen with help of Google Search & Count of Monte Christo. I admit that I don't know whether these are plausible/authentic Filipino names.

The term "Determinator" was borrowed from TV Tropes.

The fighting styles Silat-Melayu, Vovinam, Savate, and Cuong Nhu, Kalaripayattu, Vajra-mushti, Sqay, Varma Kalai, Senge Ngwa, Bokh, Sanchin Kata, Muay Boran, Hwa Rang Do, Taekkyeon, Palgi Kwon, Bokator, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Xinyiquan, Changquan, Baguazhang, Huaquan, Bakom, Vale Tudo, Xingyiliuhequan, Changquan, Sanshou, Yaw-Yan, Panantukan, Sikaran, Pekiti De Mano, Kuntaw-Silat, & Dumog were found and chosen with help of Google Search, Wikipedia, & Tekken Wiki.