Shades of Gray
#4
Sisters
Kristie Lynn Higgins
SHADES OF GRAY: Sisters
Text Copyright © 2008, 2011 by Kristie Lynn Higgins
Cover Art Copyright © 2008
Smashwords Edition
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I have foreseen the Closing Of Days, the dreadful time that will destroy the world. The Twilight begins not with a shout or a bang, nor with the raging of armies, nor with the soft influential words of a rising tyrant, but with a smile and a tear of sorrow.
From the Assembled Works
Ginn L. Irynkissgthie
525 B.D.C.
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Chapter One
Sisters?
"The hardest thing..."
"I’ve been on the run for over a year, living a bleak existence. Cold... Lonely... I'm surrounded by blackness like the Dry Clouds that plague the Dark Half of the planet. I have no place to call home and no family to claim as my own. All I know is the hunt. I'm to destroy or be killed. Run, hide, or die... What kind of life is this? What's the purpose of my being? Am I more than the Pandora Project? Am I more than some test subject pushed to no fathomable end? Is there more than this bleak existence?"
The year 32 A.D.C...
October 25...
Monday...
11:04 P.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...
Nexus Apartments...
Apartment H...
Minutes before the end of Book Three...
Kat slept on the couch in the living room as her body repaired from a battle she had with Stephanie.
“The only peace I find is when I enter a trance called the Drifting Time. It's brought on by a mysterious Music Box that plays Unfinished Melody. Around 525 B.D.C., a composer named Ginn L. Irynkissgthie created the tune, but never finished it. It is like me. I feel incomplete, that something's missing. There has to be more, more than this bleak life.”
“What does this tune have to do with me? Who gave me the Music Box? And why? I received a note from someone called R.G. at the same time. Was it this mysterious person who gave me the Music Box? I don’t know. I'm so frustrated. There are more mysteries than answers.”
Sitting at a small kitchen table, Kim sipped on chamomile tea. The liquid no longer steamed, now warm with time. She sat there, contemplating all she had learned that day as she thought, “Before Katharine came into my life, all I worried about was not messing up on one of my Life Closings. Now everything's so different. I still can’t believe it.” She glanced at the couch. “What are the odds that I would stumble across her on one of my assignments?” Kim stirred the tea. “I still can’t get my head wrapped around it. I have a sister. A sister!” She looked to the couch again. “And it’s Katharine. Before, I couldn't even imagine being related to her. I hated that I had to keep her around and despised the time I spent with her. But now...” Kim stared at the liquid. “Now it's different.”
“The loneliness... The sense of not belonging... All that, it’s changed. Even before I found out Kimberly was my sister, I felt a connection with her. Felt like I had come home. I can face anything now, knowing I have family. I'm a part of something and that makes me feel happy.”
11:22 P.M...
“I wake with a start. Something's beeping, as if warning me of danger. I'm groggy, so I ignore it for a few seconds. The beeping persists, so I sit up and look around. The sound's coming from my backpack. Careful of my injured leg, I position myself so I can grab the pack. That's when I notice Kimberly moving to the front door. A.C.S. had informed her someone was there. I remove the tracking beacon and then my heart sinks. Oh my gosh! Stephanie has found me! This realization wakes me completely up as if I stepped into a cold shower. I shake off the chill of fear and prepare for a fight."
"I grab my gun and limp to the entry, shouting at Kimberly, but she doesn't hear me in time. She opens the door and there stands Stephanie grinning ear from ear. One of her hands is behind her back. What does Stephanie have? A gun? I don't have a clear shot. I move to the side, looking for an opening."
"Stephanie glances at me then looks back to Kimberly. What's she doing? She drops the hand that was behind her back. Stephanie isn't holding anything. She spreads her arms wide and tells Kimberly her name. I hear myself shout for Kimberly to get out of the way, but Kimberly doesn't move."
"Kimberly wants to know why she's here. Stephanie replies to her."
"The hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do...”
“My heart skips a beat. Did Stephanie just say she was Kimberly’s sister? No. I grip the gun tightly. That can’t be true. I’m her sister. I belong to her family. It’s a trick. A dirty one. I need to be on my guard. What's Stephanie up to? Why would she say such a thing?”
“What?!" Kim exclaimed. "Who are you really?”
Kim then wondered, "Hades! What's this person doing? Is she out of her mind showing up making such wild claims? And how did she know to find me here? Is she a Closer? Has Voice sent another assassin after me? I have to know before I eliminate her."
Stephanie answered, “As I had said, I’m Stephanie. Stephanie Griffin.” She looked past Kim and saw Kat aiming at her. Stephanie waved at Kat as if they were old friends and looked back to Kim. “Are you going to let me in? I came to see both of you.”
"Stephanie Griffin?" Shocked, Kim stood there as Stephanie pushed her way in. Kim noticed the gun in the newcomer’s back waistband and reacted. "Sister my asp!" Kim pressed her thumb against a fingerprint reader on the box, the lock released, and she quickly opened it. Kim aimed the PPK at the newcomer and ordered, “Hold it right there! Do you really think you can barge into my home?!”
"Why? What's up?" Stephanie winked at Kat, enjoying the game and turned to face Kim. She raised her hands, seeing that Kim aimed at her. Stephanie acted insulted, “Is this anyway to greet your sister?”
“Katharine, get her weapon,” Kim ordered.
She then wondered, "What's this woman up to? How would she even know I was looking for my sister?"
"Okay." Kat limped over and removed the gun. She took a few labored steps back, keeping her own gun leveled on Stephanie.
“Okay, I'll play your game. If you’re my sister, why did you come armed?” Kim asked.
Stephanie kept her hands raised. “It’s a dangerous world out there. You know there have been reports that Un-Men are rampaging through Noir. A girl has to keep herself safe.”
“Okay... If you’re my sister, where have you been all this time?” Kim glared at her suspiciously. “Why show up now?”
“Is Kimberly entertaining the idea that Stephanie's her sister?” Kat wondered, appalled by the notion. “No. Kimberly has to know it’s a lie. Right? She doesn't have any doubts that I'm her sister. Or does she? Does she have doubts? If she does, why not tell me to begin with?”
Stephanie shifted her weight, slightly dropped her arms, and answered Kim’s question, “I never knew I had a sister. I recently found out. I know you won't believe me on my word alone. So I'm prepared to prove that I’m your sister.”
“How’s that?” Kim never wavered from her aim. One wrong move and she would shoot Stephanie.
“Don’t trust her,” Kat warned. “We should have security come get her.”
“No need for them. As I was saying, I can prove my claim.” Stephanie lowered one of her arms and thrust the hand forward toward Kim.
“What?” Kim asked. “What’s that supposed to do?”
“Nothing. I want you to test my blood.” Stephanie paused and continued. “Come on, test my blood. You have a Stable-flux R.B.C. kit, right?” She pointed her head at Kat. “That’s why you believe she's your sister. She has the Stable-flux R.B.C. in her blood stream. Well...” Stephanie grinned wickedly. “I do too, but the difference is, I’m your sister.” Stephanie wiggled the fingers of her extended hand. “So, do you have one? Do you have a kit?”
Kim glanced into the kitchen where her purse laid. “Yes, I have one left.”
“Well, test my blood. Test my blood and you’ll see.”
Stephanie contained her elated laughter that wanted to burst forth as she thought, “This is way more exciting than I imagined. Striking blows at Pandora's emotions is much more fun than physical blows.”
She said, “Come on do it. You’ll see. You’ll see I’m your real sister.”
Chapter Two
The Delivery Man’s Reaction
Apartment G...
“Pucking machine!”
Zax Olympus surveilled Apartment H. He had ordered takeout and had been eating it. For the moment, he wasn't doing anything, but watching the monitors. Perplexed, he ran his hand through his hair. “What’s wrong with you? Why won't you work? I need to know what's going on! Cerberus is there!"
“Oh man. Work! Work!” He smacked the top of the TV that showed a snowy picture. “Puck! Work already. There isn’t any reason why you should be fizzing out on me.”
“Pucking work!” Zax smacked the top again, the picture cleared, and showed video of the kitchen. Kim sat at the table drinking tea. “There. Pucking machine.” Dim lights lit Apartment G and classical music played in the background from a radio in the living room. Zax studied the image. “Looks like I didn’t miss anything. But why is Cerberus there?”
He watched as Kim got up and answered the door. He watched as Stephanie entered Apartment H.
“Oh, man. Don’t trust her Katharine. Look! Look! She has a gun! Watch out!” For several edge of his seat minutes, Zax stared without blinking. Fixated, he watched all the way to the point where Stephanie said to test her blood. “No way,” he thought as he tried to eat the Orange Chicken with chopsticks. Without looking at the food, he chased a chunk of meat across the rice with the wooden utensil. “Stephanie can’t be Kimberly’s sister. Katharine is.” He couldn’t peel his eyes away from the monitors. “It would crush Katharine. It would be so devastating for her if she isn't.” Zax thought of something else. “Why's Katharine acting so weird around Cerberus? Have they encountered each other before? Oh, man. Is that why Cerberus was at the apartment the other day?” He shook his head. “There has to be more. Katharine acts as though she’s afraid of Cerberus. She acts like she's afraid of what she’ll do.” He dropped another orange chunk on his uniform. Zax glanced down at the mess. “Ah...” He looked at the chopsticks. “I hate these things. I need a fork.” He quickly searched through the takeout bag and found one. “That’s better.” He turned his attention back to the monitors. “So what’s up between Katharine and Cerberus? What’s their history?”
Chapter Three
Stable-flux R.B.C. Test
“The hardest thing...”
“My heart's in my throat like some rough jagged rock. I pace like an agitated tigress, glaring at my enemy as she prepares to give a sample of her blood. I grip my gun with one hand. Sheez... This is so wrong and has to be a trick. I shake my head as Stephanie pricks her finger, and a drop falls into the small slot on the test stick. This is a trick because it can’t be true.”
“My knee hurts, but I ignore the pain and keep pacing. Other things need my attention. I have to watch Stephanie. I have to make sure she doesn’t do anything to Kimberly. I need to watch her till the truth comes out. I fist my empty left hand, knowing there can be no other actuality. I’m Kimberly’s sister. What Stephanie said is some evil lie. The Stable-flux R.B.C. Test will prove it. I grip my gun even more. Once the truth comes out, then I... No. Then we can deal with Stephanie. Discover her real plan.”
“I calm myself. I can’t let my anger distract me, but I still pace like a tigress, an injured tigress. But why make up such a lie? Why not just try to kill me? What is she after? I glare at her again. Why can’t I stop clenching my hand?”
11:49 P.M...
Apartment H...
Kim and Stephanie sat at the kitchen table as a small egg shaped timer ticked away the seconds.
Tick... Tick... Tick...
The sound was maddening to Kat as she wondered, “Hasn’t it been five minutes yet?”
Stephanie smugly watched Kat, enjoying the grief the unknown caused her foe. She thought, “This is turning out better than I could imagine.” Her yellow backpack rested on her lap. Stephanie unzipped a compartment and reached her hand inside. “No need to kill Pandora yet.” She groped for something. “Not when this is way more fun.”
“I wish Katharine would stop pacing,” Kim thought. “It's not helping the situation. Actually, I should have made Stephanie leave the moment she started ranting lies. Something's not right about her. And I know all of this has to be upsetting Katharine. It's only been a few hours since I told her she's my sister and then this woman shows up.” Kim eyed Kat. “But there has to be more. Katharine acts as if she knows this woman. If she does, who is Stephanie really? Should I be more concerned with why this woman's here?” Kim glanced at the timer. “Why am I not more suspicious of Stephanie? Why did I so easily give in and administer the test instead of kicking her out? Is it to prove that she's lying? Is it to prove to myself that I'm right about Katharine?”
The timer rang with a loud ring, breaking the tension in the room, but only for a second.
Taking a deep breath, Kim looked to the long rectangular test stick. Her blue-green eyes widened in disbelief. “It’s positive.” Kim was so sure the woman was messing with her. “Stephanie has Stable-flux R.B.C. in her bloodstream,” Kim said.
She then wondered, “But how? The substance was supposed to be rare. And this happened over thirty years ago. Could some one else have been present during the First Cross-Gate Event that was pregnant?”
“The hardest thing...”
"I don't care what the test stick says," Kat shouted. “That doesn’t mean she’s your sister!” Desperate, she pointed the gun at Stephanie and accused, “Maybe she did something to the test, did something to make the results positive.” Kat tightened her jaw. “Anyway, just because these Staple-flux R.B.Cs. are in her blood, if it’s true, it doesn’t mean she’s your sister.”
“Is that a fact?” Stephanie crossed her arms. “You know that goes the same for you.”
“What?!” Still pointing the gun, Kat limped to the end of the kitchen and leaned on the counter for support. “What did you say?”
From the table, Stephanie thought, “This is too easy. Look how effortlessly I upset Pandora.”
She replied, “I was saying, because you have these R.B.Cs. doesn’t mean you’re her sister either. Anyway–” Stephanie put a hand to her hip. “–which of us looks more like Ms. Griffin?” She pointed to herself then to Kat, “Me or you?”
“What?” Kat snapped, glanced at Kim, realizing she never considered how different they looked. Kat, most would say, was plain looking, and yet the two of them were pretty. She ignored these facts, turned to Stephanie, and barked, “What are you trying to say?”
“Come on, look.” Stephanie grabbed a clump of her own golden locks. “I have blonde hair and blue-green eyes and so does Ms. Griffin.” She let go of her hair. “And you, you have brown hair and hazel eyes.”
“What does that prove?” Kat snapped again.
“That I’m...”
“For Ares' sake! Enough!” Kim shouted as she stood. She couldn’t take their bickering. It was bad enough all of this mess was happening. She didn’t need to hear them squabbling. Kim walked over to Kat and gently lowered Kat's gun hand. “You need to calm down.” She leaned over and whispered in Kat's ear, “I’ve never seen you this way. What’s wrong?”
“It’s...” Kat uttered and calmed herself as she allowed Kim to lower her arm.
Kat then thought, “Do I tell Kimberly that this woman is an experiment like me? That the Council sent her to kill me? I’m not sure. Stephanie should know that would be the first thing out of my mouth. So what does she have planned to combat our history? I don't know. So, I think I should wait. See if she reveals her scheme.”
“It’s nothing,” Kat said. “I’m sorry I got so upset.”
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing,” Kim yelled.
"Okay. I don’t trust this woman,” Kat said. "She showed up out of the blue." She whispered, "How does she know you're looking for your sister?"
“I don't know, and I also don't trust her,” Kim whispered, turned to Stephanie, pointed, and shouted, “And you! You’ve done nothing but taunt Katharine.” Kim walked back to the table, placed her hands on the top, and leaned toward the younger woman calmly sitting in her chair. “I want to know, so tell me. Why?” Kim glanced back at Kat. “Do you know each other?” She focused on Stephanie. "And why did you really bring a gun here?” Kim straightened and took a few steps back. “I’m not buying the Un-Men explanation.”
“That’s a lot of questions.” Stephanie removed her hand from the backpack. “We will ask Kat.” She looked to her, kept her hand out of sight of Kim, and showed Kat what she held.
Kat gasped inwardly and watched as Stephanie pulled a pin out of a RGD-50 (an egg-shaped high-impact grenade). “What is she going to do?” Kat wondered. “Is she going to kill us?!”
“Go ahead, tell Ms. Griffin,” Stephanie urged. “Tell her where we met.” She paused when Kat said nothing and then asked, “What’s a matter?” She gripped the RGD-50, knowing all she had to do to trigger the timer was release the grenade. “Does a three-headed dog got your tongue?”
Chapter Four
Enter The Doctor
11:53 P.M...
Rising Sun Sector, Gaming Vicinage...
Neon signs lit up the sidewalk in front of the Un ga ii Casino as excited people walked the streets laughing and ready to gamble with their credits. A few people left the casino, complaining of their losses and tight slots.
A curly black haired man placed a doctor’s mask over his mouth and nose and approached the entrance. He wore a stethoscope.
A gadoman or guard stopped him before he entered. The husky gadoman stood six foot ten, weighed about two hundred and eighty pounds, and spoke with a deep Japanese accent. “I cannot let you go in wearing that mask.” He pointed to an ebony sphere above them in the roof’s overhang. Within the sphere was a camera. “You must remove it so the security station can see your face.”
“Really?” The curly haired man wore blue scrubs. He set down a doctor’s little black bag, he’d been carrying, put a hand to his mask covered mouth, and mumbled something.
“Nani?” the husky gadoman asked what.
“Oh.” The man dropped his hand. “Sorry, the Doctor has a bad habit. The Doctor was saying that the Doctor was quite new at this.” He scratched the top of his head and the black curly wig moved slightly. “Guess the best course of action would have been to go into the bathroom and put on the disguise.” The man reached into the little black bag.
The gadoman drew his weapon. “Hands up!” He tapped an earpiece, connecting to control. “Send back-up to the second front entrance.”
“Oh so sorry.” The man removed a business card and handed it to the tall Japanese man.
Wary, the gadoman lowered his gun, took it, and glanced at the card. A picture of a stethoscope was on it along with a barcode. “You are a Life Closer?”
“Yes, a Closer.” The man offered his hand.
The gadoman raised a dark eyebrow and said okay, “Oke. First time I had an assassin introduce themselves to me.”
The gadoman then thought, “And one that talks about himself in the third person.”
He blurted, “Wait!” He raised his gun, aiming at the strange man. “Am I your Mark?”
The Closer waved his hand. “No. No.” He shook his head and the curly wig shifted. “You aren’t the Closing.” He pointed. “The Mark’s inside.” He adjusted the wig so it sat better on his head.
“Oh.” The gadoman lowered the gun as a second then a third gadoman rushed up. “You would not lie to me, would you?”
Appalled, he waved his hand again. “Of course not, the Doctor would never.”
The husky gadoman looked to the other two guards and pointed to the man. “He claims to be an assassin. Is one of you carrying a Guild Scanner?”
“Hai,” the second gadoman answered yes. He was a five foot two Japanese man. He removed a H.H.C. linked to the Assassins Guild, took the business card, and scanned the barcode.
The third gadoman, a hakujin or white man, asked, “He actually told you he was an assassin?”
“Hai,” the husky gadoman replied.
“Why?” The Closer tilted his head. “Is something wrong with that?” He put a finger to his chin. “The Doctor’s memory isn’t the best. The Doctor tends to forget the little things.” He blinked a couple of times, tilted his head again, and repeated, “Why? Is something wrong with that?”
“Yeah.” The hakujin thought this man couldn’t possibly be an assassin. “Aren’t you Life Closers supposed to move among the shadows? Blend in?” The hakujin motioned to the man’s outfit. “Not stick out.”
“Oh... Like the Doctor said, the Doctor is new at this.”
“The ID checks out.” The second gadoman handed the business card back to the Closer. “He is the Doctor, a Life Closer.”
“Still...” The husky gadoman moved forward. “We cannot let you in, knowing you are going to kill one of our guests.”
“Really? Hmm...” He scratched his chin through the mask. “I guess that means the Doctor will have to kill all of you.”
The three panicked and drew their guns, aiming.
Irritated, the Closer stood his ground, glanced at his little black bag, cracked his neck, and turned back to them. “You’ve got to be kidding.” He reached down and picked up the bag. “You think you’re going to kill the Doctor.” Infuriated, he bugged out his eyes. “Fools! Do you know why they call the Doctor, the Doctor?”
Nervous, they shook their heads.
“Think about it. The Doctor is the Doctor among assassins. Removes the malignant tumors, the cancers of society, and does it with precision. The Doctor is the giver and taker of life.” He gripped the handle of the medical bag. “Do you really think you three can take the Doctor?”
They looked at each other as the Closer patiently waited for their response. He held back his fury, after all, he was a professional.
The husky gadoman put a hand to his earpiece as someone from the security station spoke to him. He nodded his understanding. “Hai.” He wiped sweat from his upper lip as he looked to the crazy Closer, not sure what he would do to their response. “Lower your guns.”
“What?!” the hakujin uttered. “Are you out of your pucking mind?”
“No. Now do as you are ordered,” the husky gadoman commanded as he lowered his weapon.
The second gadoman and the hakujin followed.
The husky gadoman said, “The owner of the casino has given the assassin permission to enter.” He looked to the ebony sphere above them. “We are not to interfere with the assassin's work.”
They stepped aside and allowed the Closer to walk by them.
The Closer looked to the ebony sphere, nodded his gratitude to the camera, glanced once more at them, and entered.
The hakujin moved to the side of the husky gadoman and whispered, “Talk about a pucking freak.”
“But he is a bold one,” the husky gadoman said as he turned and watched the Closer through the glass doors. “He is attempting a Closing in a crowded area with no apparent back-up.”
“Okay.” The hakujin shrugged. “So, he might have brass ones, but he’s still pucking nuts. I mean really. Who talks like that?”
Chapter Five
Father Knows Which
October 26...
Tuesday...
12:51 A.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Business Vicinage...
Sphinx Corporation Third Branch Office...
The Chairman somberly stood in his penthouse. He wore a dark gray suit. He was in excellent shape for a man in his late sixties. The Chairman had the body of a fifty year old athlete. He removed a gray tie and threw it on a coffee table. His abode took up the entire top level of the Third Branch Office known as Level 1. He stood in almost total darkness in the living room. Since the Third Branch Office rose a mile in the sky, the Dry Clouds engulfed the upper levels. No light from the city below penetrated the dark mass of the barriercumulus. Only the light from the TV power button and other electronic devices were on.
“I have another daughter,” he thought as he raked his hand through his hair. “One I believed I'd lost over thirty years ago. I still can't get my head around it. I have another daughter.”
Every once in a while, purple electricity surged through the Dry Clouds, lighting up the swirling mass. It showed through the large windows of the penthouse. This awe filled display of vigor and ferocity didn’t distract him from his contemplation. His eyes blankly stared off. “Hades. I don't have the best relationship with my one daughter. How am I going to relate to one I know nothing about? Will she even like me? I don't even know if Kimberly likes me. For that, I blame myself.”
The Dry Clouds appeared almost normal from below. They looked very thick and puffy, unless it stormed. Inside the mass of clouds, it was an entirely different story. No, it was an entirely different world would be a better description. They moved about like thousands of flying dragons. Some of them drifted about in their splendor. Others battled each other for dominance.
“So what do I do about my second child? What do I do about a daughter I should have protected, but I didn't? Sphinx took her away from us. Now... I've found her. No, that's incorrect.” He ordered, “Lights dim.”
A faint light came on in the living room area of the penthouse. He moved to a recliner chair and sat, continuing to stare at nothing. He thought, “I didn't find her. All I found was the project name she is under. Kimberly's the one who found her sister. How? I don’t know. Could it be she had already run into her? Is that why she left my office in such a hurry? Was she going to meet with her sister?”
Restless, he stood, went to a beverage cart, and poured himself a glass of scotch. “My biggest concern now is the future. What will the Vice President and/or President do? I will have no problems if they weren't involved. It would be a lot better for me if neither of them were involved with the conspiracy to steal my daughter. But what am I going to do if one of them was involved?” The Chairman swirled the amber liquid in the glass. “If they have kept this secret all of this time, what would they do to me to continue keeping it? Do I have enough power to go up against one or both of them? No. Not with the way things are set up now.”
The Chairman looked to a picture of Kim when she was eighteen. “I still can’t believe it.” The frame sat on a shelf. “I have another daughter.” His thoughts drifted back to a conversation he had with his old friend, Ryan Gorden. "And how did Ryan know? He's up to something, but what? I’ll have to worry about that later. For now... I know her name and what project she goes by. I also know that she's at Kimberly's right now. But... Why haven’t I gone to Kimberly’s? Why have I not at least called her?” The Chairman looked at his wrist watch. “It’s late. I'll have to wait till morning. The lateness of the day doesn’t answer why I'm so hesitant.” He removed his suit jacket and walked toward his bedroom. “What am I afraid of? Do I fear I'll also alienate my other child?”
Chapter Six
The Doctor’s Mark
12:17 A.M....
Rising Sun Sector, Gaming Vicinage...
Un ga ii Casino...
The sound of slots and people shouting at the tables filled the large room. The Doctor gripped the handle of the bag and headed for the Blackjack tables. The stethoscope around his neck bobbed with his movements along with his curly black wig. He removed a H.H.C. from the little black bag, pulled up the Life Closer file, and looked over the picture of the Mark. “A male in his late fifties.” The Doctor read the file’s information. “He is a business man. A Mr. Toto. The file states he’s a regular here.” The Closer scanned the crowds. “He usually has two bodyguards with him. They should be easy enough to deal with.”
Guests of the casino moved out of the way of the odd man wearing scrubs and a mask. Some of them wondered if he was part of a show. He quickened his pace, knowing surprise would not be on his side for long. He needed to find the Mark and take him out.
He spotted Mr. Toto at a Blackjack table. One bodyguard or yojinbo stood beside him, observing the game, and the other yojinbo stood behind him, watching the crowd. The yojinbo standing next to the Mark was huge, larger than the husky gadoman the Closer ran into earlier. The bodyguard may have been a sumo wrestler in his earlier years. The other yojinbo, small and lanky, was most undoubtedly quick on his feet.
“The Doctor will need to take out the bodyguards first,” he thought, opened the little black bag, placed the H.H.C inside, and removed a syringe. He pulled the cap off with his teeth and spit it on the floor. He made his way around the crowd so that the Mark and the enormous yojinbo watching the game didn’t see him. The Doctor ran up to the short thin Japanese yojinbo, jabbed the syringe in his neck, and injected the solution.
The yojinbo pulled out the syringe with one hand and removed his gun with the other. He aimed, convulsed as his eyes rolled back, and fell to the floor as foam frothed around his mouth. A woman screamed, and the crowd backed away. The Doctor continued his run and headed for the enormous yojinbo. He removed his modified stethoscope.
The yojinbo turned, but not before the Doctor jumped on his back and used the stethoscope to choke him. He modified the stethoscope by threading wires through the rubber tubing, giving the instrument the strength he needed to complete the deed. The yojinbo grabbed at his back as the Doctor hung on, pulling on the stethoscope with all his might. The yojinbo grabbed his wig and pulled it off. The Doctor managed to keep his mask on through the tussle. The yojinbo’s face turned purple then blue, and he collapsed to his knees. The Mark fell out of his seat as he saw the Closer attack the last yojinbo. The yojinbo slumped forward, dead, and the Doctor released him. The yojinbo fell to the floor face first with a loud thud. The Doctor continued to the Mark as the crowd parted further. Several women gasped, a man or two looked as if they might jump in and help the Mark, but no one did.
“Help me!” Mr. Toto scampered through the people, looking for an escape. “Someone help me!”
“Oke people.” The husky gadoman, who had been guarding the front entrance, arrived along with the other two. He ushered the crowd back, giving the Closer the space he needed. The husky gadoman said, “This is official Assassins Guild business. Nothing to panic about. Move on please. Everything is under control.”
A few people left, but most of them stayed. They were glued to the horror they knew approached Mr. Toto. The hand of death wasn't far behind him.
The Closer picked up his bag, removed the H.H.C., read the screen, cleared his throat, and stated through labored breath, “Mr. Toto, the Katana Corporation has decided that you violated your contract with them.”
“What do you mean?!” Mr. Toto exclaimed.
“Your shipments of computer chips were junk. They lost hundreds of thousands of credits with the recall they had to issue. So, under the Life Closer Clause of your contract with them, the Doctor is authorized by the Assassins League to terminate your life.” He placed the H.H.C. back in the little black bag and set it on the floor.
“No, no! Don’t!” Mr. Toto knelt on his knees and begged, “I will make amends. I will make amends!” He started crying.
The Doctor cracked his knuckles. “You look a little ill. Maybe you should have the Doctor take a look at you.” He ran up to the man, pushed him on his back, jumped on his stomach with his knees, and forced Mr. Toto’s shoulders down with his hands. “Maybe a little mouth to mouth?”
Mr. Toto grunted as the Closer landed on him. He looked horrified when he made his comment about mouth to mouth. “What? You're mad!” Mr. Toto tried to get free of his grip, but couldn’t budge. Terrified of his own demise, tears ran down his flushed face.
“Don’t worry, you aren’t the Doctor’s type. We’ll forego the mouth to mouth and go right to chest compressions.” He made a fist, clasped it in his left hand, raised both of them above his own head, and thrust down, hitting Mr. Toto in the breast bone. He did this several times.
The crowd gapped at the attack, frozen in place as if they were watching it on TV. They watched it as if it wasn’t real.
Mr. Toto fought off the Doctor at first, but with each attack he weakened and soon laid there quietly as he pummeled him. The Doctor ceased, stood from him, reached into the bag, and removed another syringe.
“No fainting.” He thrust the syringe into his heart. “How about a little adrenaline?”
Mr. Toto’s eyes widened. He gasped and sat straight up.
“That’s better.” The Doctor punched him, and he fell back, nose bloodied. “Now for the surgery.” He removed a scalpel, breast bone cutters, and rib spreaders. He ripped open his shirt, and buttons flew across the casino floor, pinging on the tile. The Doctor picked up the scalpel and cut across his sternum.
Mr. Toto screamed, kicked, and punched at him and finally knocked him away. Blood trickled from the incision.
“Ouch!” He rubbed his jaw where Mr. Toto kicked him. “Well, the Doctor doesn’t need this, if the Doctor’s to work.” He reached into his bag, removed a third syringe, and jabbed the needle in his arm.
Mr. Toto fought the drug at first, but soon succumbed to it and fell asleep.
The Doctor grabbed the rib cutters and placed the tip on his sternum. A woman gasped and the husky gadoman turned around.
“Oi!” the gadoman shouted hey. “What are you doing there?” The gadoman pointed to the sharp instrument and glanced at the rib spreaders.
The Closer paused from his work and looked up. “The Doctor is going to remove his heart.”
“Not on the casino floor!” The gadoman moved away from the crowd to him. “There are guests here.”
“But the Doctor always takes the heart. It’s part of the Doctor’s calling card.”
The gadoman shook his head. “Absolutely no.”
The hakujin pulled away from the crowd in case he had to support the husky gadoman.
“Really? The Doctor isn’t happy about this.” He stood quickly, and the two pulled their guns.
“But the Doctor guesses the Doctor is in someone else’s business. It is during operational hours. Fine then.” He removed a gun from his little black bag and shot Mr. Toto in the head. “The Closing is complete. A Guild Prep/Cleanup Crew will be here shortly to take care of the mess.” He removed the H.H.C. from the bag, opened Mr. Toto’s file, and marked it Closed as he headed out of the casino.
Within a few minutes, the Guild Prep/Cleanup Crew arrived and they were dressed in biohazard gear. The three member crew removed the body and cleaned the area so that it appeared nothing graphic had taken place.
The hakujin walked up to the husky gadoman. “That Closer was crazy.”
“I believe you are right. He is not bold, but mad.” The gadoman remembered the incident at the entrance. “What Closer introduces themselves? And comes in wearing a disguise that draws attention?”
“Yeah.” The hakujin holstered his gun. “Aren’t Closers supposed to work in the shadows? Aren't they supposed to leave no trace they were there?” The hakujin glanced at the crowd still gathered. “That guy might as well have come in with a camera crew for all the secrecy he worked under. Over fifty people saw him shoot the Mark. He's pucking crazy.”
The gadoman nodded. “The Doctor is mad and deadly.”
Chapter Seven
The Ploy
“In shock, I gasp. Oh my gosh! That’s a grenade! Is Stephanie mad?! She'll kill all of us with that thing. I exhale, and my heart races as I hold my Beretta at my side. I'm too afraid to move. Should I raise the gun? My speed and accuracy with weapons is uncanny. I glance at Kimberly, who waits for my answer. She wants to know where I know Stephanie from. I breathe in. I consider the gun again. No, I can't. I face Stephanie. My heart's pounding harder. I could kill her, but never reach Stephanie's side before she releases the grenade. My sister could die. My anger returns, not that it ever left. What will I do? Sheez. I sigh, unsure and distressed.”
“A thought hits me like a speeding hover train. Why, if Stephanie is Kimberly’s sister, would she threaten to kill her? I inhale. This proves it! I’m her sister. Stephanie's a fake. For as long as it takes me to exhale, I'm happy. I'm overjoyed. I'm no longer afraid. But I can’t stay in the moment forever. I breathe in as my anger rushes over me again, and it turns to rage. It is a rage I've never felt before. Stephanie just threatened Kimberly! I narrow my eyes and grit my teeth. No one threatens my family!”
12:19 A.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...
Nexus Apartments...
Apartment H...
Kat swallowed hard, eyeing the olive drab colored RGD-50. The grenade had no external ribbing, except for a lateral ridge where the two halves joined. She thought “No, Stephanie isn’t going to kill us. At least not yet. She wants me to lie.” Kat looked to Kim. “Stephanie wants me to lie or she’ll hurt my sister.” Kat tightened her jaw. “That’s why she came here. Stephanie knows I’ll do anything to protect Kimberly, just like I would do anything to protect Chad.” She assessed the situation. “There’s no way I can take Stephanie out without her dropping the grenade. What do I do? Do I lie to Kimberly? Or do I tell her this is Cerberus, and she works for the Council?” Kat fisted her hands. “This is the experiment who tried to kill me.” She sneered. “And the only reason Stephanie claimed to be Kimberly’s sister is so she could get in here. And I was careless. I let my guard down thinking we were safe, and because of that, I might as well have been the one who let her in. Sheez! I should have shot her at the door. Killed her on the spot. But I hesitated.”
“Katharine?” Kim folded her arms, calmly waiting on a reply. “Where do you know Stephanie from?”
“What do I say? Do I lie? Do I lie to my sister? I shouldn't, but if I don't we're all dead.”
Kat tightened her jaw, controlling the urge to lunge at Stephanie.
“I know. I’ll start with the truth.”
She answered Kim, “I met her at Preacher’s funeral and again at Melissa’s safe house.”
“I realize something, and it shocks me. This woman who hurt my leg and who has been trying to kill me, she... She saved someone precious to me. I focus on my failures at Melissa Odin's safehouse when the Un-Men attacked me. Sheez. He would've gotten hurt or worse if Stephanie had not been there.”
She told Kim, “She saved Chad’s life.”
“I even told Stephanie I owed her a debt. How could I have been so wrong about her? No. That’s not right. I did have my doubts. From the start, I wondered why she had appeared at Preacher's funeral and then later at Melissa's safehouse. But after she saved Chad, my gratitude overpowered my suspicions.”
“She did,” Kim replied to her and turned to Stephanie. “Are you a bodyguard?”
“Yeah, you can say I’m a hired gun. I'm one of the best in the business.”
Angry, Kat muttered, “One who can’t shoot the broad side of a mega-building.”
Stephanie snarled. “What did you say? I can't what?!”
“For Ares’ Sake! You both act like children.” Kim stood, grabbing her tea cup and saucer. “It’s late and there's nothing more we can do tonight about this issue.” She said to Stephanie, “Maybe you should go, come back in the morning, and we can get to the bottom of this.”
“Go?” Stephanie said as if surprised. “Go where?” She acted insulted. “You’re kicking your own sister out and at this time of night? I could be wandering the area all night looking for a hotel. Don’t you have a spare room I can stay in?”
“NO! Don’t do it Kimmie. Don’t give her the spare bedroom, the one you promised I could stay in. Don’t let her play you. See through her deception. That room's mine. It's mine. Please don't give it away. It represents that I've finally come home. Don’t give it away to a fraud. See through her lies. I'm your sister. Tell her she has to leave. Tell her to never come back.”
"I'm so confused. What do I do?" Kim wondered as she considered her answer. “Can I send her away not knowing if Stephanie is my sister? If I do let her stay, what kind of message am I sending to Katharine? It will seem like I don’t believe she's my sister. That would be cruel.” Kim shouted within her mind, “Hades! This is so hard.”
She finally decided and said, “You can stay, but all I can offer is the chair over there.” She pointed with the cup to a black leather recliner.