Operation Precious History

By: maninblue88

Copyright Notice: This story takes place within the fictional universe of the "Shenmue" game series. Therefore, all characters, locations, story references, and so on are the official property of Sega and any other associated entities, unless otherwise indicated via copyright notices in other chapters.

Spoilers: Well, I'm not going to lie, pretty much the entire story of the first "Shenmue" game will be spoiled throughout the course of the story.

This story in its entirety is Rated "M" due to some language, a certain level of gritty, violent content, and a scene of implied sexuality.

Author's Note: Well, everyone, here is yet another passion project of mine! As I'm sure some of you might have figured out if you read my first story "Respite", then you guys know how much I still love and respect "Shenmue". I played the first "Shenmue" game way back in 2000 when the Sega Dreamcast console was the hottest new thing around (however briefly), and when I played "Shenmue", young 12-year-old me was immediately hooked by the game's immersive and detailed nature, as this was something pretty much unheard of at the time. For the purposes of this story, one of the game's NPC characters usually seen walking the streets in Dobuita will be the main protagonist, but Ryo Hazuki will be involved in what goes on, just not to as much of an extent as his own journey was during the actual game. I humbly ask that you do with that what you will, but please, no judgement or hate. Just try to enjoy the story and thank you all in advance for taking the time to read, follow, and review!

Chapter 1: The Day the Snow Turned to Rain

MJQ Jazz Bar
Dobuita Neighborhood
Yokosuka, Japan
November 29, 1986
9:45 PM

"Hey!" a very drunk man said as he tripped over the leg of the pool table at the upscale MJQ Jazz Bar in the busy neighborhood of Dobuita, located in the Japanese city of Yokosuka. "You blocked my shot!" he hollered through slurred words and with potent whiskey breath.

25-year-old United States Navy Seaman James "Jimmy" Larkins had, unfortunately, surpassed being tipsy 3 whiskey cocktails ago, and was now trying to pick a fight with civilian Navy base employee Wilson Bonnett, as well as Wilson's friend and co-worker, Gilbert Flakes. Larkins was a white man who stood tall at 6'1, but he was no match for the only slightly taller and better built Wilson.

"Okay Jimmy!" Wilson said as he defensively put his arm across the seaman's midsection, "You've had enough, buddy! Let's go over here!" Wilson Bonnett was a tall, bald, 6'2 28-year-old African American man who was dressed in a heavy gray sweatshirt, dark jeans, and steel-toed work boots with sunglasses over his brown eyes.

Gilbert Flakes, meanwhile, was a 25-year-old white American man who was only somewhat shorter in height than his friend and co-worker, Wilson.

"Hey!" bar owner and bartender Takeshi Harai interjected from behind the bar, "Take it easy over there, guys!" Harai was a handsome 5'8 Japanese man with spiked dark hair who was clad in a tuxedo-style vest, dark pants, and dress shoes.

Gilbert then saw his opportunity to chime in, holding up his hands. "No worries, Takeshi-san" he said in a particularly apologetic tone, "We're just trying to cool him down. Do you have a phone?"

The bar owner nodded and reached just underneath the bar, coming back up with a brown rotary telephone, which he promptly sat upon the bar top.

Approximately 10 minutes later, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Cathy Wilkens entered the bar with two uniform-clad imposing male military policemen flanking her.

Cathy, herself a military police officer, was a fetching 5'9 blonde, white American woman who was dressed in some rather unassuming civilian attire. She wore a bright yellow zippered vest with a white and blue-striped shirt underneath, a blue skirt, and black combat boots.

Her gaze first turned to Wilson Bonnett when she noticed that he practically had the overly inebriated Seaman in a headlock. "What's going on here, Wilson?" Cathy asked.

While still trying to hold Larkins back, Wilson nodded to Cathy. "Hey Cathy," he said, "Looks like Jimmy here has had himself one too many again."

Cathy nodded in agreement. "I would say so," she replied before turning back to the two other MPs and gestured to Larkins with a slight head twitch.

The two male MPs promptly moved past Cathy and collected the drunk sailor from within Wilson's grasp and escorted him toward the entrance. "Damn it, Jimmy!" the taller African American MP said to Larkins, "How many times does this make?"

"How the hell should I know?" Larkins replied with his speech now even more slurred than before.

Once their prisoner had been escorted outside, Cathy turned her attention back to Wilson and Gilbert. "Are you guys okay?" she inquired, "He didn't hit either of you, did he?"

Both base employees shook their heads. "No," Gilbert replied, "He was just being an asshole after one too many cocktails. We're okay, Cathy, thank you."

"Will he be court-martialed for this?" Wilson asked.

Cathy shook her head. "Not for what happened here tonight," she replied, "No. We'll take him back to the harbor base brig to sleep it off. However, if we catch him causing trouble off base again, I will submit a report to the Judge Advocate General's office and recommend some serious consequences."

Wilson nodded. "Got it," he said.

Cathy waved goodbye to the two friends. "Have a better night, gentlemen" she said as she exited the bar and went out to an unmarked white 1985 Toyota Hiace passenger van. The two MPs had loaded Seaman Larkins into the back and were ready to take him to the U.S. Navy base, which was located at the New Yokosuka Harbor.

"You guys ready?" Cathy asked as she hopped into the front seat beside the shorter, white MP who was behind the wheel.

The MP started the engine and drove off toward the harbor.

Bob's Pizzeria
Dobuita
December 3, 1986
8:15 PM

A few days later, Cathy was enjoying a slice of cheese and green pepper pizza at Bob's Pizzeria, one of the many popular nightspots located on Dobuita's bar street. Her evening had been a relatively slow and uneventful one, and she had spent most of the night walking up and down the busy streets.

The plainly dressed female MP was in the process of wiping pizza grease from around her mouth with a napkin when she sensed another person enter the restaurant and sit down next to her. She sighed and turned her head, fully intending to tell whatever drunken local or desperate sailor who had no doubt come in looking to hit on her to take a hike.

Cathy was then surprised to find that the person sitting on the opposite stool was a 5'7 Asian man who was very smartly dressed in what looked like a tweed business suit and brown leather shoes. His hair was cut in a very telltale military haircut.

"Petty Officer Wilkins?" the man inquired.

"Yes," Cathy replied, "I'm going to guess by that haircut that you're some kind of base personnel."

The man nodded before reaching into his jacket and producing a set of wallet identification credentials and a big gold brass badge displaying the official seal of the U.S. Naval Security and Investigative Command agency. "I'm Special Agent John Kondo," he said, "I'm with the NSIC's 'Operation Precious History' task force."

Cathy nodded and shook hands with the agent. "Pleasure to meet you, Agent Kondo" she kindly replied, "But I have to ask, what does a special task force investigating stolen Asian antiquities want with me?"

"To welcome you to our team," Kondo bluntly stated.

Cathy was once again taken aback by this statement, giving Kondo a look of pure confusion. "What?" she said, "Lieutenant Bellis didn't mention anything about a possible reassignment."

Kondo gave her a nervous grin in response. "That's because Chief Petty Officer Desmond only gave your lieutenant the offer to have you join us about thirty minutes ago," he explained.

"My initial mission when I was assigned to Japan was to keep an eye on sailors frequenting the bars here in Dobuita," Cathy said in her own tactless tone, "And that's what I'm out here trying to do. Again, I ask you, Agent, why do you guys want me?"

"Because we've obtained some pretty good intelligence that you've come in contact with some of the sailors who we suspect are involved with the thefts we're tasked with investigating," Kondo said, "Desmond thinks your first-hand experience and knowledge of the area both make you an excellent asset. So, how about it?"

Cathy sighed. "Fine," she said, "But I want to talk with Lieutenant Bellis first thing in the morning."

Kondo put both hands up. "Fair enough, ma'am" he replied, "I'll pick you up at six a.m. Where can I find you?"

Cathy finished the last bite of her pizza before replying. "I'm staying at the Okayama Heights Apartments down the block from here," she replied, "I'll meet you out front."