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 while pushing a gurney, the occupant's injuries seemingly critical. Every doctor on shift could be heard shouting orders requiring 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!"
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 a response was given.
Raven lay unmoving with three separate bullet wounds.
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 complexion, a mixture of black and blonde braids fixed into a ponytail with the rest shaved at the back and sides. A revealing bodysuit outlined her figure with pauldrons, gauntlets, a faceplate, greaves, and a low blue muffler - a ninja sword safely sheathed 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 temple. She had suffered a mild concussion, a bruised left shoulder, and two cracked ribs. She's fortunate that was the extent after fighting against Nina Williams.
Heihachi sent the Irish assassin and his Tekken Force to locate 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 faction to obtain this knowledge, as the Russian super-soldier Dragunov closely trailed the Zaibatsu's movement. It led to a convergence at the exact location. Thus, the United Nations dispatched its top two agents to intercept each group. Nina was near the vicinity and engaged Master Raven amidst the chaos. They battled fiercely, neither able to gain a decisive advantage. Raven himself was caught in a bout with Dragunov.
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. "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 if it meant risking her neck.
"I was engaged with 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 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. "All of you, go get treatment."
None of the agents bothered putting up an argument and did what they were told, shuffling to the medical area.
Master Raven was about to leave until Dwight raised a hand to stop her. "I'd like to speak privately, 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 her top subordinate was on his possible deathbed.
Dwight sighed, placing a hand on his agent's shoulder. "Tatyana..."
That startled the kunoichi as he never used her real name 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-"
"Go home and rest after you receive the proper medical care."
Jones' insistence left Tatyana bewildered. "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. "They've tied my hands. I may have no choice but to disband the team."
His words cut through the kunoichi's soul as her sword would through even the thickest metal.
"I sincerely apologize, Tatyana."
The conversation ended as Dwight retreated through the exit 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 Raven throw himself into danger to save me?'
The impending silence served as an ominous answer.
Manhattan, NY - 1:16 A.M.:
Tatyana strode to her apartment on the Manhattan outskirts after changing into a more comfortable attire: black jeans, flats, and a long-sleeved white shirt. Her mission uniform was zipped away in a duffel bag, and her sword latched on her back as usual. She took out a set of keys and unlocked the front door.
An enormous, spacious loft lavishly displayed a beautiful city view from one of New York's full-scale apartment complexes. Its kitchen had 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 before dragging 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 on the system before pouring herself a glass 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 nearly an hour, its violence gripping the world for over two years," the news anchor commented.
Watching the report on tonight's bloodshed put Tatyana in a foul mood. Just listening agitated her. The anchor's words went in and out of her ears as she took a sip, the aftertaste burning her throat.
Try as she might, that gruesome scene wouldn't vacate her mind.
Several hours ago:
Raven had appeared 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, Tatyana ordered three agents to transport him to the nearest hospital before returning to the fray. She then paled when a giant Zaibatsu tank fired a deadly missile and obliterated two city blocks. None of her subordinates perished in the blast, much to her relief.
When the flames lessened, Tatyana, Nina, and Dragunov opposed each other with steely gazes. The stare-down lasted briefly as Dragunov slowly disappeared amid the inferno, leaving the two women.
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, Tatyana saw Raven's near-lifeless body lying in a small blood puddle, an assortment of bandages patching his chest to stop the bleeding.
Unnoticed tears gradually slid down Tatyana's face.
Cursing to herself, Tatyana drained the bottle without regard before leaning forward to cover her face with both hands, fingers rubbing against each temple.
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.
Tatyana was more than capable of defending herself as 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. 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 facts posed as deterrents: the liquor she consumed and Raven wasn't in any condition 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.