Disclaimer: I do not own Dead or Alive or Ninja Gaiden, they are owned by Team Ninja and Tecmo.

Middle of Ocean

Ship

4:02am

"Sir, we have lost control!" shouted one of the scientist in the room.

"Increase the dosage! I need him alive!" shouted Donovan as he walked over to the machine which housed Hayabusa.

"Sir! If we increase the dosage we may lose him!"

"We are losing him now! Do as I say!" shouted Donovan.

Hayate continued to watch in horror, he had to stop this, but did not know how. He did not want to tamper with the machine in any way that might hurt Hayabusa, but he could not just stand by and watch.

He took a deep breath, finally deciding to not let his lifelong friend suffer any longer. Hayate emerged from the shadows, tossing two kunai's at the scientist's heads killing them both. Before Donovan could turn to face Hayate, a kunai lodged itself into his shoulder. Donovan screamed in pain as he fell to the ground, clutching the kunai in his shoulder.

Hayate stood above him, obvious anger on his face, "what have you done!"

"You ninja, always in places you don't belong," said Donovan angrily. Hayate grabbed his collar and lifted him up readying another kunai.

"I asked you a question!" shouted Hayate as he pressed the blade against Donovan's neck, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"

"You wont kill me," said Donovan with a light grin, "not if you want to save him."

Hayate threw Donovan at the foot of the machine, "get him out."

Donovan stood and walked over to the center computer, typing the commands with one hand as he still held his shoulder in the other. Hayate looked at Hayabusa through the machine, he looked peaceful from what he could see, but it was not likely the truth.

"I never planned for you to be here, I seem to have greatly underestimate you," said Donovan as he continued typing.

"You have, and you will regret it," said Hayate bitterly.

"Too bad someone else did plan for your arrival," said Donovan with a smile. Hayate cocked his eyebrow confused, but then understood fully when he heard the loud bang followed by a bullet hitting him in his lower back.

"NO!" shouted Donovan, "Christie! I need him alive!"

Christie emerged from the door at the rear of the room, a smoking Walther p99 in her hand.

"Must of slipped," said Christie simply as she walked to Hayate who clutched his bleeding stomach. The blood dropped freely from his mouth as he tried to maintain his breathing.

"Get the medical team in here now!" shouted Donovan into a radio. Christie walked above Hayate and knelt over him.

"Not long now love," said Christie with a wicked grin on her face.

"Yo..you..ll...nev...never," mouthed Hayate.

"...get away with it? We already have," said Christie who began laughing maniacally. Hayate's vision slowly began to blur, but he continued holding on. Suddenly, the computer next to Donovan began to beeping. Donovan looked at the monitor and sighed.

"Hayabusa has entered into a full coma, we have gotten very little from him. Maybe this one will prove more cooperative,"

"What are you going to do with him" said Christie as she pointed at Hayabusa's pod.

"We'll move him to storage with the others, he's no good to us right now. Meanwhile, we'll move him to room b and start testing," said Donovan as he stood next to Christie.

Hayate's was no longer able to hang on, his vision slowly faded to black. His last thoughts were of the people he had failed.

Hitomi, Kasumi, Ryu...I'm so sorry

Freedom Survivor

11:30am

"Maam, there is a call for you on line one, he did not give a name" said the speaker on Helena's desk.

"Thank you," said Helena as she picked up her desk phone, "hello?"

"You're a difficult person to contact," said the voice on the phone.

"Who is this?"

"Its Jahn Lee," said Lee calmly.

"Jahn, how are you?" said Helena.

"Fine," said Lee simply.

"What can I do for you?"

"Where can I find Victor Donovan,"

"What?" said Helena shocked.

"Victor Donovan as well as his partner Christie. The one from the tournament."

"Wh...Why do you ask?"

"I have some unfinished business with them both, I was told you may know where they are."

"Unfortunately I do not, I am in the process of searching for him as well."

"Why are you looking for him," said Lee curiously.

Helena was still confused by Lee asking about Donovan, her mind would normally wander to trap, but she did not think that would be Lee's intentions. She decided to come out and tell Lee the honest truth.

"I want him dead," said Helena as calmly as she could, the words just falling out her mouth as if someone else said them. Their was an uncomfortable pause afterwards which made Helena nervous.

"I think you and I need to meet then," said Lee simply.

"Why?" said Helena confused.

"Because we share a common goal"

Unknown Area

6:30am

Hayabusa ran for hours in the forest, he felt pure exhaustion and doom. He stopped and leaned on a nearby tree, attempting to catch his breath.

"You know the worst thing about hell?"

Hayabusa turned around fast and his eyes widened in pure fear. Kasumi stood next to him, a crooked smile on her lips as she wore the blood stained rob still from earlier.

"It never ends, it lasts as long as it has too, continuously torturing a person to the brink of insanity," said Kasumi as she held out her bloody hand, "welcome to hell my love."

Hayabusa felt his panic increase, it had been a long time since he could honestly say he was afraid, but just as fast as fear set in, acceptance of it followed.

"I have failed you Kasumi, I did not protect you as I said I would and now I am being punished for it. I know this is not you, only an apparition whose sole purpose is to make me regret what I have done. I accept my punishment and am ready," said Hayabusa as he closed his eyes and took hold of Kasumi's bloody hand.

Silence followed afterwards as Hayabusa awaited the worst, but curiously nothing happened. He opened his eyes and saw that he was alone again, clutching nothing but air. Kasumi was nowhere to be found, only the cold chilling wind of the forest.

Haybusa began walking forward, readying himself for anything that was about to come, but it never came. The feeling of fatigue gone, only to be replaced by emptiness.

As long as his feet would take him, he would keep walking...

For eternity

Hayate's eyes shot open as he woke up in a cold sweat. He looked around and saw that he was in some sort of motel room. He looked at the other side of the bed and his jaw dropped, it was Hitomi. She laid next to him asleep.

Hayate began to smile until he remembered Donovan and Christie, he found that his wound was nowhere to be found. He remembered some of the conversation that was said by Donovan and the other scientist's, particularly what Donovan said before he passed out.

move him to room b and start testing

The more he thought about it, the more is head hurt. He eventually shot up and moved to the single window in the room. He pulled back the tan curtains and looked out, the dark night sky stood above the empty parking lot.

Hayate tried to feel relieved, but everything felt so wrong. His head pounding on his nerves.

"Hayate? Are you ok?"

Hayate turned and saw Hitomi in bed still, a worried look upon her face. Hayate turned back to her and forced a smile.

"I'm fine," he lied, trying to conceal his pain.

Hitomi rose from the bed and walked over to him, placing her hand on his head.

"Is your headache that bad?" She asked genuinely concerned.

"How did you know I had a headache?" asked Hayate curiously.

"You had one earlier before you came to bed," said Hitomi as she walked in the bathroom. Hayate took a deep breath, trying to piece together what happened. He then felt a dropping feeling in his stomach.

Hayabusa has entered into a full coma

The words rang in his head like bells, causing his headache to worsen. He pinched his temples, attempting to reduce the pain.

"Hayate, take these and try to clear your head," said Hitomi as she handed him two pills and a glass of water. Hayate took the pills and drank the water.

"Thank you," he said as he walked back to the bed and sat, "where are we?"

"The motel, remember? We needed to stop and sleep before setting off again," said Hitomi confused. Hayate was confused by the situation as well, but his headache kept him from questioning anymore.

"Right, headache must have made me forget," said Hayate with a light laugh, he then remembered something else.

get away with it? We already have

Then he heard the laughter, that terrible laughter and her demonic eyes. His pain was slowly being replaced with rage.

"Hayate, you need to calm down," said Hitomi as she sat next to him, "your making it worse."

Hayate looked at her with a smile, "I'm sorry for worrying you, I just need to get some sleep."

With that, he lied down on his side and closed his eyes. He felt Hitomi lie next to him and wrap her arms around his waist. He tried clearing his mind, but more memories began flooding in.

Christie! I need him alive!

Must of slipped...Not long now love...love...love...love

He then saw Kasumi in his thoughts, her smiling face greeting him. Suddenly, she started bleeding from the top of her head, blood began pouring over her face.

She may have just joined our enemy willingly

The voice he recognized as Hayabusa's. Suddenly, Kasumi's eyes darkened and her once innocent smile became twisted.

We might not be able to save Kasumi from it

He slowly felt the rage begin to build to impossible heights, he balled his fist trying to maintain his composure, but the thoughts kept coming.

Eventually, Kasumi's face disappeared from his thoughts and was replaced with an injured Hitomi, blood all over her. She held her hand out to him as she began to speak.

I..I love you, I...I always ha...have

Hayate's eyes shot open as he jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, he turned on the faucet and began rinsing his face. He looked in the mirror and saw his reflection, he tried to stay calm but could not.

"Hayate, stop this!" shouted Hitomi. Hayate looked at her, he tried to keep his face calm.

"I'm sorry," he said calmly, trying to repress his thoughts.

"No you're not, you keep thinking about them," she said angered. Hayate cocked his eye confused.

"What do you mean?" asked Hayate.

"You keep thinking about everyone except yourself, I thought you loved me!" shouted Hitomi angrily.

"What are you saying Hitomi? Of course I love you," said Hayate still highly confused, he wondered why she was so upset.

"No you do not, forget Christie and Kasumi! Our happiness is more important," said Hitomi. Hayate began to piece together everything about the situation. He thought everything about his situation was to odd, he finally remembered everything.

"Donovan! I know this is you're doing! Where are you!?" Shouted Hayate angrily. He looked at the ceiling in complete rage over the situation.

"You have gone completely crazy!" shouted Hitomi, Hayate looked at her and pointed.

"You are not Hitomi, just an apparition created by Donovan to mess with my mind!" Shouted Hayate.

"If you refuse to be happy, then you refuse to live!" said Hitomi as she assumed a fighting stance. Hayate prepared himself for the attack.

I will NOT be your puppet Donovan!

"Hayate is harder to infiltrate than I thought he'd be," said Donovan.

"He is extremely injured sir, patients are harder to control when they are constantly clinging to life," said the scientist next to Donovan.

"That may be, but we cannot lose him as we have lost the super ninja, increase dosages and keep him alive! I want all the information in his head." said Donovan as he walked away.

"Yes sir!" said the scientist as he began working. Donovan walked out the room as stood in the hall.

Damn Christie, because of her carelessness, I may lose Hayate.

Donovan was angry at the new developments as he knew it could have gone so much smoother.

Perhaps Christie has outlived her usefulness

Streets of China

7:45am

Jahn Lee hung up the payphone, a small smile forming on his face. Lei fang looked at him confused.

"Whats wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing," said Jahn Lee simply.

"Then why are you smiling?" asked Lei Fang slightly annoyed.

"You ask to many questions,?" he said as he began walking.

"Well excuse me for being curious! We first spend over an hour at your "special" friends place and then you make a mysterious call to Helena. I wish you would just tell me what is going on."

"Helena could probably lead me to where the people who attacked me are, if you absolutely must know," said Jahn Lee annoyed.

"Good. Was that so hard?"

Jahn Lee shook his head in annoyance and began walking, Lei fang followed. For the last few hours, Jahn Lee talked to his contacts about Donovan and Christie. He heard rumors of business trip to the country and a ship, but nothing was more informative than the fact that Helena Douglas was also interested in them. Having a powerful contact like Helena would enable him to find them faster and to have his vengeance.

"Wait for me!" shouted Lei Fang, which continuously annoyed Jahn Lee. It was not that he did not want her there, it was the fact that he did not want her to see him when he was in this condition. He felt volatile and destructive, he wanted both Christie and Donovan dead for what they did to him. He did not want Lei Fang involved in this, bloodying his hands was enough without involving an innocents.

Of course, getting rid of Lei Fang was a whole other issue on its own. The woman was as stubborn as he was and would not be persuaded to leave easily. He also felt an attachment to the girl or even a form of protectiveness for her, he did not want her to bloody her hands for him or come to any harm on his behalf.

Jahn Lee at the time had no choice but to proceed, in hopes that Lei Fang would either lose interest or realize the danger of the threat.

"So where are we going?"

"We are going to see Helena," said Jahn Lee. Lei Fang nodded and looked down.

"How are you feeling?" she asked slightly blushing. Jahn Lee stopped walking and turned to face her.

"I'm fine...thank you," he said sincerely.

"Oh no..no problem, I'm just happy your ok," said Lei Fang as her cheeks became redder. Jahn Lee felt like doing more, but did not know how. He wanted to kiss her, to hold her close, but instead he stood there looking at her quietly. Lei Fang wanted to do the same but feared rejection. She did not want to lose what they already had, but she wanted so much more.

"Lets go," said Jahn Lee as he began walking, Lei Fang nodded and began walking behind him. Oh how she wanted to him to herself, she just had to build the courage to tell him the words...

I love you Jahn Lee

Unknown Location

2:45 am

Hayate crashed through the window and outside, he sprung back to his feet as Hitomi jumped through the broken window and stood in front of him. Hayate backed up into the parking lot, preparing to attack.

"You attack me so easily, did you ever love me?" asked Hitomi angrily.

"I don't love apparitions," said Hayate as he began to attack. He swung at Hitomi several times, but she easily dodged his attacks. She countered his last swing and kicked him in the stomach sending him onto his back, he quickly recovered and attempted to kick her in the side, but Hitomi caught his leg and threw him into the street.

Hayate stood back up and took a deep breath as he watched Hitomi walk over to him. He would not give up, he would not be a puppet.

Hayate swung at her face and ribs, but she dodged everything easily. Hayate grew angry, screaming as he continued swinging and kicking, but Hitomi would not be hit. Hitomi then swung back, hitting Hayate in the stomach with such force sending him back. Hayate held his stomach as he took several deep breaths. He tasted his blood in his mouth as he watch Hitomi walk slowly over to him. He knew this was the end, he could not defeat it.

"You have betrayed me!" shouted Hitomi as she stood above him.

"I...b...betrayed...no one," said Hayate between breaths, "you are not Hitomi!"

Hitomi said nothing as she kicked Hayate in the face, he flipped to his stomach in defeat. He awaited his doom as he felt the cold concrete on his face. His thoughts of Hitomi, the real Hitomi, flooded his mind. He wanted to see her one last time before he died, he worked so hard to protect her.

"Killed...in a...dream," Hayate said weakly as he closed his eyes, it was just then when he realized what he said. If this was a dream, then he could not be killed.

Hayate fully opened his eyes, the pain disappearing from his body. He stood up and turned to the fake Hitomi.

"You just wont stop will you!?" shouted Hitomi in anger.

Hayate stood looking at her, trying to take control of the dream.

"YOU CANT CONTROL ME!" Shouted Hitomi as she lifted her hand and prepared to hit Hayate. Hayate maintained calm and closed his eyes, focusing on the silence in his head. He began deafening his senses to the world around him. Seconds became minutes as he maintained the calm and silence of his mind.

He then slowly opened his eyes and saw that the world had froze, Hitomi stood before him with her hand raised but not moving. The world around him was in the same frozen state.

He had successfully stilled his mind.

"What do you mean you lost him!" shouted Donovan to one of the men in the large room which was similar to Hayabusa's.

"I...I don't know, he just disappeared," said the small man in glasses and a white lab coat, shocked as he pounded away at the keyboard in front of him, "we have lost control of the dream as well!"

"How is that possible!?" Shouted Donovan in anger as he looked at the pod containing Hayate.

"I dont know sir, he is not in a coma. Some how he has taken control," said the man. Donovan cursed to himself as he began to understand what happened. Hayate realized the power he held in his dreams and was now using it. He thought he would have more difficulty with the super ninja Hayabusa, but his guilt ridden mind and rage was his down fall.

"Sir, what should we do?" said the man, shaking Donovan from his thoughts.

"There is nothing we can do for now, once we get to the states we can integrate him to the main lab. From there we will be able to possibly regain control," said Donovan.

"What of the Super Ninja?"

"At this point, he is of no use. We can hope he awakens from his coma and we can continue testing. As it is now, we lack a proper lab to work in. We must be patient and wait," said Donovan as he crossed his arms. He waited a long time for this moment and it would not be taken from him.

All good things come to those who wait

Hayate began walking the road past Hitomi. As he walked, the building around him began to disappear and instead was replaced by several confusing things. Many different types of structures floated in the air. The once night sky replaced with a white endless void.

"Another lost soul eh?" Hayate turned fast towards the voice and saw a man behind him. The man was short with brown eyes and a bald head. He was pale white as snow and wore a white shirt and pants.

"Who are you?" said Hayate calmly.

"A wanderer, nothing more. Just a roamer," said the man with a British accent and slightly disturbing smile, Hayate felt uncomfortable with the man, "You look rather confused, must be a new addition."

"What do you mean?" said Hayate curiously.

"You look as if you are confused, usually tells us that you re new here"

"What are you talking about? Where is here?" said Hayate confused.

"Your either a comatose or asleep, stuck in their twisted world that they created. You must have been one of their test subjects. Testing the effects of Harpus eh?"

"Harpus?" said Hayate confused.

"Oh...Oh you don't even know do you? They must have tricked you into participating, I pity you," said the man with a twisted smile.

"Speak clearly, you're not making any sense! What is harpus!?" shouted Hayate.

"A dream drug created by Americans they say, but no one really knows. I was a test subject for the drug, they promised me a short and wonderful dream, now it is a permanent nightmare. You are not alone here, many who have succumbed to the effects of the drug either accept the facade or wander as I do."

Hayate slightly panicked, almost losing the stillness of his mind, he began sensing the fake Hitomi closing in. He regained his composure, hoping for a better explanation.

"If whats you say is true and I am in a dream world, then how are you here?" asked Hayate curiously.

"I'm here because I am trapped, still connected to the machine in a deep coma. You and me are the same, trapped in their world until we awaken or are taken out of the machine. We are called ghost to them, living minds that wander in their machines."

"So any person connected to the machine is in this world? How can a machine hold a mind?"

"Harpus induces various effects but is nothing without the machine. The machine intensifies the harpus and instead of it acting as a regular halucegin, it become a prison which the machine controls. The harpus connects us and the machine houses us."

"So the apparitions I am seeing are just hallucinations?" said Hayate.

"No, those are part of your mind, the part that they can control. If you see anyone here that you know, then it is likely that it is in their control. The more you fight them, the stronger they will fight back." said the man.

"So the reason they froze is because my mind stilled?"

"Most people can stop them in their own way, you can accept them or fight them, but if you choose to fight you must have a plan on how to do it. You must regain control of your mind so that they have no control, those... things cannot work without your mind"

Hayate looked down deep in thought, if what he said was true, then maybe he could find Hayabusa.

"What if I needed to find someone?" asked Hayate.

"Oh it wont be hard, just put them in your mind and wander around what ever appears before you, you will find them eventually," said the man.

"Thank you...I am Hayate by the way,"

"Call me the wanderer, I feel its more...appropriate," said the wanderer with a sinister smile as he began to walk, "oh and one more thing, your mind has to be moving in order to locate your friend. By doing that though, the apparitions, as you call them, come back as well. Good luck too you Hayate."

With that, the wanderer began to walk on through the void leaving Hayate. Hayate could not believe what he heard, but it would make sense. The apparitions were fighting to keep in control of him, to scare him into submission. He would have to find a way to overcome them.

Regardless, all that was left to do was find Hayabusa. He needed to be prepared as he was about to release the apparitions, he had to fight them. Hayate closed his eyes and placed Hayabusa in his mind, he began sensing Hayabusa near by and unfortunately, Hitomi as well. He opened his eyes and gasped, he was now standing in a dark forest, the night sky could barely be seen by the thickness of the forest. He took a deep breath and began to walk, he did not know what lied ahead, but he would try and be prepared.

Our lives might depend on it

Freedom Survivor

Middle of ocean

4:44pm

Ayane stared at the sea feeling slightly anxious. She wanted to do something, but did not know what. The lack of contact from Ryu or Hayate was beginning to work her nerves. She felt useless, as if she needed to do something.

She hovered around the idea of following Archer and Eliot, but felt that it would be best for her to avoid them for a while. That left her with trying to find Donovan on her own.

She made up her mind, she would begin her own search of Donovan in California. She had minimal to go on, but she felt confident.

"You are still here?" said a voice behind Ayane, Ayane turned and saw Zack standing with his arms crossed, "I figured you joined your friends."

"Its none of your concern," said Ayane as she began walking away.

"Cmon baby! No need to be angry, just trying to start-up a conversation," said Zack with a smile.

Ayane stopped walking and sighed, she knew he did not mean any harm. She kept seeing flashes of Eliot throughout her mind, she needed to take it easy.

"I'm not your baby," said Ayane as she walked back to him and crossed her arms.

"Thats a matter of opinion," said Zack with a large smile. Ayane felt her patience slipping.

"I wanted to see if you needed me to take you anywhere. Helena does not need me for anything and I'm quite bored. I figured flying with a beautiful woman should keep the day moving," said Zack with a large grin. Ayane was just about to go off until she realized that she could use a ride to her destinations.

"Alright then, but if you touch me in any weird way I will kill you!" said Ayane.

"I wouldn't think of it," said Zack happily. Ayane nodded and followed Zack, she really did not know where to start, Los Angeles was a big place."

But its better than doing nothing

Authors notes: Thank you all for the reviews and sorry for not updating more quickly, still getting over the holidays. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this chapter and had a wonderful holiday season as well, till next time :D