9:35 P.M:
"I need the ER prepared, pronto!"
"All hands on deck!"
"We have multiple bodies inbound! This guy's in grave shape!"
New York's Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital was in a delirious frenzy as nurses and doctors scrambled to restore order. First responders burst through the entrance pushing a gurney, the occupant's injuries seemingly critical. Every doctor on shift could be heard shouting orders needing several tools for an emergency procedure as the stretcher entered the ER.
The unconscious body was pulled onto the operating table before two nurses carefully stuck needles in each arm. Multiple monitors flicked on to show the patient's vital signs, a middle-aged doctor charging a defibrillator.
"Clear!" he yelled.
The head doctor placed each paddle on the patient's chest. A sudden jolt brought the entire body upward before crashing back down on the table — no sign of movement. That prompted the doctor to try again until given a response.
Raven laid unmoving with three bullet wounds in his chest.
Waiting Room:
Several of the United Nations' top soldiers were riddled in soot, nursing various injuries from the melee that occurred a few short hours ago. No one said a word, some replaying the battle they barely escaped.
Sitting in a chair near the group was the UN's secret organization leader, her stare catatonic. She possessed faded scars on her otherwise flawless face, a mixture of black and blonde braids fixed into a ponytail with the rest shaved off at the back and sides. The woman wore a revealing bodysuit outlining her figure with pauldrons, gauntlets, a faceplate, greaves, and a low blue muffler - a ninja sword safely sheathed away on her back.
Master Raven slumped in her chair with an absent gaze at the opposite wall. Her uniform was ripped in several places, a crimson streak running down her forehead. She had suffered a mild concussion, a separated left shoulder, and two cracked ribs. She's fortunate that was all after fighting against Nina Williams.
Heihachi sent her and the Tekken Force to find Jin Kazama's whereabouts, who failed to rid himself of the Devil Gene after slaying the beast known as Azazel. They weren't the only party to obtain this knowledge as the Russian super-soldier Dragonuv closely trailed the Zaibatsu's movement. It led to each faction converging at the same location. Thus, the United Nations wasted little time sending their top two agents to intercept each group. Nina was near the vicinity and engaged Master Raven amidst the chaos. They battled fearlessly, with neither able to gain a decisive advantage. Raven himself was caught in a deadly battle with Dragonuv.
A loud bang from the hospital's entrance startled the occupants as a group of men marched in. Nearly all the UN higher-ups headed for the bedraggled group, with a middle-aged Caucasian man in his mid-forties at the forefront. Adorned in a dark business suit, the man known as Dwight Jones stormed over to the soldiers who saluted their boss.
"What happened out there!? One of our best agents is bleeding out on an operating table! I want answers!" Jones demanded.
One UN soldier stepped forward. "Sir, we were caught in the crossfire with the Russian military and the Mishima-"
"I'm well aware of that!" Jones blatantly cut him off. "It was supposed to be a simple surveillance mission!"
Angered, Master Raven shot out of her chair and got in his face. "Don't shout at my men! You want someone to yell at; it's me!"
Dwight immediately softened his hardened gaze, not surprised by the outburst. Master Raven deeply cared for her troops and would do anything to ensure their safety, even if it meant risking her neck.
"It's my fault this happened. I was fighting Nina Williams when Raven and the others needed my assistance. Russia's errand boy and his men then joined the fray. At that point, I finally retreated. We were able to ward them off despite being outnumbered. But... gunshots rang out. Raven saw what was happening and pushed me out of harm's way, exposing himself to enemy fire."
Master Raven winced before grabbing her separated shoulder, eyes shut tightly at reliving that horrid scene.
The stern gaze on Dwight's face disappeared altogether. After a thoughtful pause, he turned his attention to the other soldiers. "All of you, go get treatment."
None of the agents bothered putting up an argument and did what they were told, shuffling their way to the medical area. Master Raven was about to leave until Dwight raised a hand to stop her.
"I'd like to speak privately if you don't mind, agent."
His request offered no protest. Master Raven followed Dwight to where the doctors were performing emergency surgery on Raven, unable to muster the courage to even glance at the door. Her mouth trembled in angst as one of her subordinates was on his possible deathbed.
Dwight sighed, placing a hand on his agent's shoulder. "Tatyana..."
That startled the ninja. He never used her real name at any point during their tenure together.
"Don't blame yourself over what transpired." Dwight eyed her with a taxed gaze. "I gave you this mission to find out info on Kazama, unaware I led you all into a death trap. Thus, I failed to think about the consequences of my brashness. Tonight's events fall on my head."
His attention shifted toward the double doors as if he could see Raven's half-dead body. "All agents involved in this mission will be placed on medical leave for a few weeks, yourself included. We'll monitor Raven's condition and alert you when we know something."
"But-" Tatyana prepared to argue.
"Go home and rest after you receive the proper medical care."
Jones' insistence as he walked away left her bewildered. Before he reached the exit, Tatyana stopped him with a question she might not like the answer that followed.
"Sir, if he doesn't make it... what do you plan to do with the rest of the agents?" It took every ounce of willpower not to let her voice waver.
Dwight put both hands in his pockets and turned to face her. "They've tied my hands. I may have no choice but to disband the team."
The words cut through the kunoichi's soul as her sword would through even the strongest metal.
"I sincerely apologize, Tatyana."
The conversation ended as Dwight retreated to his car. Tatyana was left alone, thoughts running rampant through her mind.
'Why?' She pondered before reluctantly having her injuries tended to. 'Why would he throw himself into danger to save me?'
The impending silence served as an ominous answer.
Manhattan, NY: 1:16 A.M.
Tatyana strode back to her apartment on the Manhattan outskirts after changing her attire into something more comfortable: black jeans, flats, and a long-sleeved white shirt. Her mission uniform was zipped away in a duffel bag, and her sword latched to her back as usual. She took out a set of keys and unlocked the front door.
The enormous, spacious loft lavishly displayed a beautiful city view from one of New York's full-scale apartment complexes. Its kitchen was stocked with dishes, glasses, and a mini-fridge containing potent liquor for 'one of those nights.' Tatyana typically wouldn't partake in drinking herself into a stupor, no matter how bad her workday went.
Tonight would be an exception.
Hunching down, Tatyana heaved a frustrated sigh and grabbed a whiskey bottle as she dragged herself into the living room. She plopped onto a brown cushioned chair in front of a large flat-screen TV, the remote atop a glass table. She turned the system on before pouring herself a glass of liquor with her non-injured arm.
"In tonight's news, chaos roamed the Bronx streets as Russian soldiers, the Mishima Zaibatsu, and the United Nations Special Forces collided in a deadly struggle. The battle lasted for nearly an hour before authorities arrived at the scene, trying to quell the violence that has gripped the world for over two years," the news anchor commented.
Watching the report on tonight's bloodshed put Tatyana in a foul mood. Heck, just listening to it annoyed her. The anchor's words went in and out of her ears as she took a sip, the whiskey aftertaste burning her throat.
Try as she might, that gruesome scene wouldn't leave her mind.
Seven hours ago:
Raven had come out of nowhere before shoving Tatyana out of the way, defenseless as three bullets penetrated his chest cavity. She hastily got up and stopped herself from screaming while catching her fallen teammate, dark blood oozing from his wounds. Without hesitation, she ordered three men to carry him to the nearest hospital before returning to the fray. Tatyana then paled when a giant tank operated by the Zaibatsu fired a deadly missile, obliterating two city blocks. None of her subordinates perished in the blast after ordering them to retreat, much to her relief. Only soldiers from the Zaibatsu and Russian armies died in the crossfire.
When the flames lessened, Tatyana, Nina, and Dragonuv opposed each other with steely gazes. The stare-down lasted briefly as Dragonuv slowly disappeared in the smokescreen, leaving the two women alone.
Nina turned to analyze her female counterpart. "You gave me a run for my money. We'll have to do this again sometime." The blonde assassin then displayed a fake smile. "Sorry about your boyfriend."
It took Tatyana's God-given restraint not to slit Nina's throat. However, Raven and the others remained her top priority. Displaying a nasty glare, she teleported from the scene and arrived near the hospital. Upon entering, she saw Raven's near-lifeless body lying in a small blood puddle, an assortment of bandages patching his chest to stop the bleeding.
Tears slowly slid down Tatyana's face, unnoticeable to anyone.
Cursing to herself, Tatyana drained the entire bottle, not bothering to use her glass. She leaned forward and covered her face with both hands, two fingers rubbing against her temples in aggravation.
Tatyana couldn't understand why her top subordinate undertook such a reckless act to save her life rather than fight off the onsight bogeys. Raven was unquestionably loyal, a benefit and detriment depending on a bystander's point of view. He completed any daring mission placed upon him without complaint and rarely made mistakes. Seeing him disregard his health and welfare went against everything Tatyana perceived about her silent subordinate.
That still loomed as a mystifying factor.
She was more than capable of defending herself, hence why she was named their agents' group leader. Raven could've easily continued onward while recommencing her brutal fight against Nina. Moreover, Tatyana knew if attaining mission objectives meant leaving their comrades to fend for themselves, Raven wouldn't hesitate to do so. It was their responsibility if their given task failed, not his.
'Out of all the times to not follow his strict beliefs, why did Raven sacrifice himself? Was I not aware?'
If Raven perished, Tatyana would never determine why he shielded her from certain death, a prospect she didn't want to fathom. Her first inklings were to sober up, drive toward the hospital, and demand an explanation despite her injuries. Two things posed as deterrents: the liquor she greedily consumed and the fact Raven wasn't in any shape to communicate.
Reluctantly, Tatyana stumbled upstairs into her bedroom before crashing onto the king-sized bed. Tonight's mission and the whiskey prevented her from changing into her night attire. She surrendered to the building stress, anxiety, and a new emotion as her eyes belatedly succumbed to darkness.
Heartbreak.