Chapter 8: Aftermath
CHINA, HONG KONG – PHARMACY: 25 JUN 2013
The radio and the television stations all blared the public service announcement. "A State of Emergency has been declared. Please return to your homes. More news will be issued when it is available." The message was repeated in several languages; Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Korean. Then the message would start again in Chinese.
An hour after the compound had been cleared by the League, the streets had slowly been cleared of moving people. Only the dead stood to watch over the streets of Hong Kong. The roads were mostly clear. There were a few times they had to stop the van to move a body out of the street to drive through.
The League spread through Hong Kong and found all remaining members of Shrieve's faction. They were easy to find. They had been vaccinated and were moving into the city. The citizens of Hong Kong were afraid and had barricaded themselves in their homes… if they still lived.
With the last of Shrieve's faction removed, the rest of the League retreated. Hisan and his students returned to the small pharmacy where they left the Yamashiros. Akio had died in the arms of his parents. Tatsu was crying and singing a Japanese lullaby as she rocked the body of her son. Maseo was looking grave as he held the chilling hand of his only child. Mei looked on with grief as the boy she had come to care for had passed.
Hisan took in the sight so similar to his grief. His reason for joining the League was not too different from that of these parents, but he knew that vengeance would not serve their pain. They had their justice. It would not stop the heartache.
"There is a man who has survived the plague," Hisan told them. "He has offered to cremate the bodies of those with living loved ones."
Tatsu looked up. "Some others survived?" she asked.
Hisan nodded sadly.
"It is the way of nature," Mei replied softly. "No matter how deadly the contagion, some will always survive it. They will pass that ability on to their children. It is how humans have survived plagues in the past."
"Do we know how many survived?" Maseo asked with his eyes on Akio.
"My people are looking," Hisan replied. "The People's Republic of China has sealed the area. They are not allowing anyone in to look yet. Many people on the outside edges of the harbor survived. There were more people who survived at the mountain edges of Hong Kong as well. My people are mapping the survivors they have found."
"The ocean breeze may have helped disperse the contagion, but it also helped dilute it," Mei replied with a nod. "The ones near the mountain did not receive enough of the virus to get sick. It was like they got vaccinated instead. I would worry about the ones near the harbor. They may not have been exposed. They could still be susceptible to the virus."
"You seem to know quite a bit about this, Mei," Sah-him said.
Mei smiled at him. "I am a medical student. My studies were interrupted by Fyers, but I was able to continue when I returned," she replied. "I decided to focus on trauma because of our experience, but a doctor needs to know about diseases as well."
"Your studies have served us well during this tragedy. I would like to keep a part of Akio with me," Tatsu said. She looked at Hisan. "Take us to this survivor."
"Come," Hisan said.
Maseo gently picked up the body of Akio with Tatsu close to him and they followed Hisan out of the pharmacy.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, HONG KONG – VARIOUS: 30 JUN 2013
SAH-HIM (OLIVER)
The rest of the week, Sah-him and Dafdae were sent all throughout Hong Kong to assist the survivors of the plague. To return to some semblance of normal. Most were in some form of shock. By the second day, the People's Republic of China felt that enough of the biological agent had dispersed that they were able to send in emergency response teams in full hazmat suits. By that time, Hisan's people had vaccinated the remaining survivors. They had a physician explain the vaccine to the emergency response teams and provide a sample.
The League spent hours clearing the main roads through Hong Kong of bodies and crashed vehicles to allow the emergency response teams quick access to the whole city. They had cleared their safe houses of all League material and stored it on their aircraft. When China resumed flights at Hong Kong International Airport, their aircraft snuck away.
The rest of the League members finished out the week in Hong Kong. Tatsu and Maseo were despondent. Maseo had taken to moving the bodies of the fallen plague victims. He avoided Tatsu. Tatsu relied heavily on Mei for emotional support, since her husband was nowhere to be found. Finally, she had enough of Maseo avoiding her. She sought him out.
Tatsu strode toward the group of men moving the fallen bodies at the side of the road. She could see Maseo with Sah-him and Hisan.
"Maseo!" Tatsu called as she neared him. =I must speak with you= she declared in Japanese.
"Tatsu," Maseo replied, sounding empty. =I have nothing to say= he replied in Japanese.
You do not have to say anything= Tatsu replied in anguish. =I want my husband to hold me. To be with me. I need you, Maseo. I love you.=
I am not worthy of your love= Maseo replied. =When I am with you, I am only reminded of how I failed my family. How I failed our son. I cannot be with you.=
Tatsu let her tears fall from her eyes as she watched Maseo return to the bodies of the fallen.
I am responsible for this= Maseo said softly. =I am only a shadow of myself.=
I will always love you, my husband= Tatsu replied. =Conquer the self and you will conquer your opponent= she quoted a proverb to him in Japanese.
Any ground is good enough to be buried in= Maseo replied in a proverb also in Japanese.
Tatsu sobbed. =I will wait for you, Maseo= Tatsu told him. =Come to me when you are ready.= Then she turned and walked away from him with her shoulders shaking in grief.
Hisan watched as both Tatsu and Maseo split apart. Maseo didn't even look at Tatsu as she walked away. At least he has the comfort of knowing that she lives, he thought. Perhaps he can channel his grief as I did. He has seen how we work. He has worked with us.
"Maseo," Hisan said while reaching out a hand in comfort. "I cannot offer you what you seek. No one can, but I can offer you a place to stop evil. You have worked with Sah-him, Dafdae, and I. Would you be willing to consider using your skills and knowledge to preserve balance? To stop evil?" he asked.
Maseo looked at Hisan and then at Sah-him. "You are training him, correct?" he asked sadly.
"Yes," Hisan replied. "Sah-him and Dafdae were accepted by our people. We are approaching their sixth month of training."
"You try to stop this…" Maseo waved his arm at all the dead bodies lined up in the street.
"Yes," Hisan replied. "It is our purpose."
"Then yes," Maseo replied. "I will go with you. I will see if your people will accept me." He looked down at his feet. "I cannot end my own life, but I have no desire to keep living. I hope I can be useful. To have a purpose would be useful."
"Very well," Hisan replied. "We are leaving tonight. I will introduce you to the others this evening. You will not start training until the new year, but you will have time to reflect on your loss. I hope the Source can help you find a better path… like I did."
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, NANDA PARBAT: 30 JUN 2013
SAH-HIM (OLIVER), ALDIRE (LAUREL), YAD ALQADAR (THOMAS)
The League members with Maseo escaped the cordon put in place by the People's Republic of China. They headed to an Airport to the south of Hong Kong. In the dead of night, they were able to secure transportation to the new airfield. They met their private plane there. Once airborne, they were told they could change into their gear. They would be landing at the airfield that they left before. Maseo was surprised to see the now familiar dark uniforms of the League with the familiar faces.
When they landed a few hours later, the trainees were told to stow their things, bathe and rest. They would meet with their individual teachers for a briefing on the last month's actions. Until then they were to meditate on their actions to discuss with their teachers.
Aldire, Yad Alqadar, and Sah-him all dropped their things in their room and stripped off to bathe. When they returned to their room, Aldire had the other two move all the mats together on the far side of the room. Then she hung her robe and snuggled into her new nest. Alqadar soon joined her and then Sah-him. They fell asleep in a pile of warm bodies each seeking the comfort of living flesh after the horror of Hong Kong.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – RECRUIT CLASSROOM: 1 JUL 2013
SAH-HIM (OLIVER), ALDIRE (LAUREL), YAD ALQADAR (THOMAS)
The next day after the morning meal, the trainees did a brief bout of training in hand-to-hand combat to help them release tension and stretch some of their muscles. Then Sikiyn brought them to the carpeted room with the other three instructors; Tasrukh, Yasrukh, and Hisan.
"Good morning, Trainees," Sikiyn greeted them.
"Good morning, Teacher," they chorused.
"This last month was a little more intense than we usually expect our trainees to encounter," Sikiyn replied. "Usually, you will not encounter this kind of evil until you begin your advanced field training with the various branches. The Source decided otherwise for our group." He looked at each of them. "I know from what I observed in my own students, you did well."
"To that end, we are here to update you on the progress you have made during your basic League training," Yasrukh said as she stood next to Sikiyn. "Each of us is here to talk to our two students. To let them know what areas they did well in; What areas do they need to improve upon; What knowledge they should look to add to their skills for use by the League while they are at advanced field training."
"If you will split into the proper groups," Tasrukh instructed. The trainees immediately shuffled around to the pairings they had been in the last month.
Sikiyn walked over to where Yad Alqadar and Sahalia were located. "You both did well. You do not need to be nervous," he chastised them. "You are aware of how the month of events worked toward the final tragedy, but are you aware of how you both worked to make that tragedy less?" he asked them.
"We did?" Alqadar asked.
"Yes," Sikiyn replied. "I will start with you, Alqadar." He sat down before the two of them. "The first week we were in Hong Kong you were instructed to learn stealth. To hide in plain sight. You did so, but you also were able to note odd things that did not belong in Hong Kong. You are American. You noticed other Americans trying… poorly… to hide in Hong Kong."
"I did," Alqadar noted.
"I then instructed you to determine who these Americans were and to infiltrate their compound when you discovered it," Sikiyn replied. "You did all of this well. Your only limitation was in technology use. If you did not have the password for the computer, it was a block of plastic. You will need to gain basic hacking skills when infiltrating suspect organizations."
"I was limited," Alqadar noted with a nod. "I was worried about being found. I tried to make do with paper copies."
"Those were a start," Sikiyn replied. "The digital copies would have made finding the links to the vaccine manufacturers easier."
"Then it is a skill I require," Alqadar replied firmly.
"Sahalia," Sikiyn turned to the other recruit. "You had a harder time with stealth, but an easier time with infiltration. In this case, you appeared to be just another member of their faction and walked right into their compound. Your hacking capabilities were superior to Alqadar, but your accent could not be hidden."
"That's shan," Sahalia replied in a heavy Scottish accent.
"That's reality," Sikiyn replied. "You can look like you belong all you want, but if you don't sound like you belong, then your infiltration will be discovered. You will need to work on your stealth. You are able to do most of the basic skills now, but work on them while in the field. Definitely work on disguising your accent."
"I will then," Sahalia replied with a nod.
"Good," Sikiyn replied. "You have been assigned to your field branches. The Fasir are here to collect you. You will leave tomorrow." He gave them both a smile. "Yad Alqadar, you have been assigned to Shakwa al Ghul. Qirsh is your Fasir. Sahalia, you have been assigned to Makhlah al Ghul. Dam Dhib is your Fasir. May the Source guide you both."
Across the room in another group, Yasrukh approached her two students. "It is good to see you two again," she greeted Aldire and Tayir Alfiniq.
"We didn't do enough," Aldire said grimly. "All those people…"
"Aldire," Yasrukh chided. "You are not evil. You did not push the evil source to commit this act. Do not take the blame for their actions. The Source only allows us to do so much. We cannot blame ourselves for our limitations. We can only strive to do better."
"Yes, Teacher," Aldire replied contritely.
Yasrukh smiled. "You both did well against this evil source. You were barely learning stealth and infiltration. Yet look at what you DID accomplish. Tayir, you were the one who found that the manufacturing company was creating a new vaccine and procured a sample. Aldire, it was your suggestion to check the other pharmaceutical companies for similar activities. I was not suspicious at the time. I figured it would be good infiltration practice."
"Why were you not suspicious?" Tayir asked. "I thought you had tasked us because you had suspicions."
"Hong Kong has many minor evils," Yasrukh replied. "Few are source evils that require the attention of the League. The city is crowded and has many nationalities. It is a good place for you to learn your stealth and infiltration skills. I had little reason to think there was an evil source nearby. It was one of the other instructors who discovered the plot by the Triad to obtain the bioweapon. They consulted with us."
"Then you suspected an evil source?" Tayir asked.
"No," Yasrukh replied. "The Triad is motivated by greed. They are a little evil, but the bioweapon was deemed important to retrieve. They would see the ARGUS mission succeed."
"ARGUS? Not the League?" Aldire asked in confusion.
"Yes," Yasrukh replied with a smile. "The little evil could be dealt with by outside authorities. They would secure the bioweapon."
"But that didn't happen," Aldire replied morosely. "An evil source got the bioweapon and used it."
"Yes," Yasrukh agreed. "We learned too late that the evil source was using ARGUS to acquire the bioweapon. They killed all the ARGUS agents, but one. We freed the ARGUS Director from the evil source."
"How did we not know?" Aldire asked anxiously.
"Aldire," Yasrukh replied. "We had the pieces of the puzzle. We were just unable to put them together in time. For whatever reason, The Source allowed this to happen."
"I have a hard time accepting that," Aldire replied.
"Then talk to the Qas," Yasrukh advised. "This will not be the first evil source you encounter. Nor will it be the last time you fail to stop one. You must be able to move past this horror and continue the fight. The balance depends on us to continue the fight."
"Now," Yasrukh said more firmly, "Your review. Tayir, you surpassed all the basic standards for stealth and infiltration. Your technology hacking skills were adequate for this mission. I would look to add to them for any additional infiltration missions. Aldire, you also surpassed all the basic standards for stealth and infiltration. Your technology hacking skills were superior to any other trainee I have seen. You should add to this skill. It is an area the League can use."
"Thank you," Tayir replied.
"Thank you, Teacher," Aldire replied.
"You have been assigned to your field branches. The Fasir will collect you tomorrow and then you will leave." She gave them both an approving smile. "Tayir Alfiniq, you have been assigned to Daghn al Ghul. Hamsa is your Fasir. Aldire, you have been assigned to Qarn al Ghul. Khafifa is your Fasir. May the Source guide you both."
In a third part of the room, Hisan approached Sah-him and Dafdae. "Good morning, Trainees," he greeted them.
"Good Morning, Hisan," Sah-him replied.
"Good Morning, Teacher," Dafdae replied with bright eyes.
"How do you both feel to be back here at Nanda Parbat?" Hisan asked.
"Relieved," Dafdae replied. "I have always heard of the outside world, but I did not know it was so crowded and noisy. Even late into the blackness of night, there is light and noise."
Hisan chuckled. "The whole world is not as noisy as those two cities," he told Dafdae. "Hong Kong… was a special kind of noisy. It will be again. Sah-him?" he asked.
"I don't know exactly how to describe the feeling," Sah-him relayed. "In Hong Kong, I felt like I was trying to walk with my eyes closed, but here… I feel like I can open them here. I don't understand that feeling."
"Hum." Hisan replied. "How did you feel on Lian Yu?" he asked.
"Scared. Cold. Afraid," Sah-him replied.
"But that same feeling you just described, were your eyes open or closed?" Hisan asked pointedly.
Sah-him closed his eyes and thought back to this time on the island. "Um… Like I was learning to open them?" he replied in question.
"Yes," Hisan remarked. "That was the first place you could see ghosts. Have you ever seen ghosts in Starling City?" he asked.
"In Starling?" Sah-him asked him in surprise. "No. Not once. I just knew if I was home or not. Even this time, I knew I was home… I felt… welcome."
"Interesting," Hisan replied. "While you were in Hong Kong, were you compelled to look in a specific direction, for whatever reason?" he asked. He wanted to clarify his idea. He knew that Nyssa suspected that Sah-him was Ruya. The feelings Sah-him was describing could be used to describe someone trying to use their sight untrained.
"Like a light that caught my eye?" Sah-him asked in clarification.
"It could appear that way," Hisan remarked cryptically.
"Yes," Sah-him replied. "Several times something would catch my attention. It usually turned out to be important. Like finding the packet for the courier, the guys that attacked us on the docks, or finding Mei at the market."
"Then Nyssa was correct," Hisan replied. "Ghosts do surround you. It makes me feel better about sending you to the Venom. But first, your review." He turned a paternal smile at Dafdae. "Dafdae, you have exceeded all stealth skills. Your infiltration skills are also commendable. Your technology skills are more than adequate at this level in your development. I would work at your exposure to the outside world more. You have been too limited in the creche. As you see more of the world, perhaps you will see a skill you wish to develop to an even greater degree. I can see you will do great things."
"Thank you, Teacher," Dafdae smiled at his praise. "I will do my best to learn more about the outside world in my next assignment. You have taught me a lot."
"You have been a delight to have as a student," Hisan replied. Then he turned to Sah-him. "Sah-him, you have greatly improved on your stealth and disguise. Your infiltration was more than adequate. Your use of technology was also more than adequate. It is the use of the Ruya that will need to be developed more. I cannot help you with that." He gave Sah-him a sad smile. "I have no ability in that gift myself. I CAN recognize it in my students. That you were able to use this gift even without training…That is very impressive. The ghosts will assist you, as they did in Hong Kong. Learn how to use this gift."
"Gift?" Sah-him asked. "I was skeptical when Nyssa talked about ghosts," Sah-him replied. "But in Hong Kong… I felt something… That led me to Mei. Something warned me of the attack. You're right. If it is a gift, I need to learn how to use it properly."
"Good. You have been assigned to your field branches. The Fasir will collect you tomorrow and then you will leave." He gave them both an approving smile. "Sah-him, you have been assigned to Daghn al Ghul. Hamsa is your Fasir. Dafdae, you have been assigned to Qarn al Ghul. Khafifa is your Fasir. May the Source guide you both."
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – RECRUIT QUARTERS: 1 JUL 2013
SAH-HIM (OLIVER), ALDIRE (LAUREL), YAD ALQADAR (THOMAS)
Aldire, Sah-him, and Yad Alqadar spent the rest of the day with the priests. Aldire sought wisdom and comfort on the deaths that had surrounded Hong Kong. Sah-him sought answers to what his gift meant and how it was to be used. Alqadar sought information on what the different branches of the League were and what they each specialized in.
That evening, they each made their pensive way back to their room to seek comfort in each other. Needing to be with others that knew them and cared that they were alive.
"I just feel so lost," Aldire said, softly. "There is so much evil in the world. It is hard to understand why someone would do something like that on purpose."
"I know," Sah-him agreed. "Just look at us. We were just lost in an accident. Nature sunk our boat. Do men really have to make things worse?" he asked them.
"Nature may have sunk the yacht," Alqadar replied. "But it was evil men who did what came after; Ivo and Fyers."
"Yeah," Aldire replied. "One was insane. One was greedy. What was this one?" she asked.
"Power hungry, ignorant, and possibly insane," Sah-him replied. "He was a fanatic. He said he was doing it because China was too powerful. He thought that this would destroy their economy and their military."
"Seriously," Alqadar replied. "I don't get that one at all. I sort of get how someone can be motivated by greed. I totally understand that you cannot get insane people to think properly. That is why they are insane, but that… China's military isn't even stationed in Hong Kong. They would be completely unaffected. Their economy… black eye at best."
"Is that really what he said?" Aldire asked.
"Yes," Sah-him replied. "He was really fanatical about it too. Didn't like the US owing China debt. Hell, everybody owes everybody debt in the global economy. That is how economies work."
"Maybe he really was insane?" Aldire asked. "He wasn't making much sense. He attacked and killed American agents. That doesn't speak too well to his sanity."
"Not really, no," Alqadar replied.
"At least he didn't release it in Starling," Sah-him replied with a sigh of relief.
"What?" Aldire demanded in surprise at the statement.
"I had to go back to Starling," Sah-him told them sadly. "Infiltrate QC. That was hard. Not… difficult, but seeing photos… Sitting at dad's desk… It hurt."
Aldire reached over and hugged him close. "What happened?" she asked.
"We had to get information on the Triad auction," Sah-him relayed. "Their agent worked for QC. Kept his files on the company server. That is how we found the auction and got the Omega back from the Triad." He sank his head in his hands. "While we were in Hong Kong, that was all I could think about. Shrieve could have released the Alpha-Omega in Starling."
"But he didn't," Aldire replied firmly. She used some of the techniques the priests had been using on her. Trying to get her to accept only the facts and let go of the possibilities.
"No, he didn't," Sah-him agreed.
"You brought him back to Hong Kong where we already had the best defense in place," Alqadar told him. "It was not perfect, but it was something."
"Yes," Sah-him agreed again. "All of our teams helped to minimize his damage. To reduce his evil."
"Evil that we should not have to face until we go to our next assignments," Alqadar told them. "I think we did pretty good for untrained Shadow Warriors."
"Half-trained," Sah-him replied. "We go for our next assignments tomorrow."
"Half-trained," Alqadar agreed. "Where were you two assigned? I am being sent to the Shakwa al Ghul, the Demon's Spine."
"Qarn al Ghul," Aldire replied. "The Demon's Horn."
"Daghn al Ghul," Sah-him said. "The Demon's Venom. Hisan said that they would be the best at teaching me to use my sensing gift… the ghost seeing thing."
"Sensing?" Aldire asked. "It has a name?"
"Yeah," Sah-him replied. "I felt something while I was in Hong Kong, but it was like I was blind and trying to see. Hisan said that it was me trying to use that gift with no training."
"The Demon's Venom," Alqadar replied. "They do focus on magic and sensing quite a bit. They also focus on poisons, stealth, and diversions. You should get some good training there. They are centered in Central and South America."
"Other side of the world… literally," Sah-him replied.
"What about me?" Aldire asked.
"The Demon's Horn?" Alqadar asked.
Aldire nodded.
"The Horn is more focused on technology and infiltration. They are probably sending you there because you have already shown an aptitude for technology," Alqadar replied. "They are mostly concerned with the advanced nations in Europe and North America."
"I think you are right," Aldire replied. "They would send me where I could hone the skills I have shown an aptitude towards."
"Which is why I am wondering why they are sending me to the Demon's Spine," Alqadar said in question. "They focus on stealth, infiltration, and information gathering. Does that sound like me?" he asked them.
"Actually, it does," Sah-him replied. "Not the small pieces, but the tactical and strategic parts. You have a mind that tries to solve the largest puzzle from the fewest pieces. I think that is an unwritten part of this training. You are being evaluated at finding the solution to complex problems."
"You know," Alqadar said in consideration. "The Spine covers the greatest geographic area. Africa, Australia, and Oceana. Their members would have to be able to think tactically and strategically. That area is just too large to expect rapid backup."
"Thus allowing you to hone those skills," Aldire replied with a grin. "I'm going to miss you both."
"I will be with you," Sah-him told her. He tapped her heart. Then he turned to Alqadar. "Soul bound," he said as he tapped his heart as well. "Never apart."
"Never apart," Alqadar agreed.
"Soul bound," Aldire finished.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
END PART 02
CONTINUED IN PART 03
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~