Gone But Not Forgotten (chapter 10) [FIC]
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:30 am
The tunnel was rather long.
Kaname trudged along, feeling a little tightness in her calves. She hadn’t been getting very much exercise over the past few months. As one might expect, that didn’t sit too well with her.
“Just another reason to love my life,” she grumbled to herself. She wondered how the sports teams were doing at Jindai High School. She wondered who had taken her place as Student Council Vice President and Class representative. She wondered an awful lot of things.
“You know, I’m quite glad that you mentioned Paradise Lost,” Leonard said. “I think you might benefit by reading it again, with the right perspective.” He tossed his hair in a way that almost made Kaname jealous.
“Which you are going to tell me, no doubt.” Kaname fought the urge to strike at an Arastol that kept pushing her when she slowed down.
“Naturally,” Leonard said, with a laugh. “You still don’t realize how the world is your oyster. You need only let go of your past life, and all of those things you were taught. They only limit you and hold you back.” He stopped, turned, and took her face in one hand. “You’ll thank me some day.”
“I’m sure,” Kaname said, making a face. She swallowed hard and held her breath, feeling a phantom touch of resonance. She clenched her fists, seeing the smug look on Leonard’s face.
“Gadhva pudhe vaachli Geeta, Kaalcha gondhal bara hota,” Leonard said, laughing. “It's no use wasting wisdom before a fool who thinks and acts like he is the only correct person in the world. But in this case, it should be ‘she’, right?”
“You really are an annoying and conceited jerk!” Kaname said, failing in her attempt to stay calm. “And those are your finer points.”
“She will yell louder than ever, that her words are wiser, and make more sense.” Leonard finished off the meaning behind the Indian proverb. “I suppose you have to be correct then. What ever shall I do?“
“Twit!“ Kaname said, nose in the air. She frowned. It almost felt as if she were bantering with him instead of defying and disrespecting him. She had to be careful that she never stepped over that line. While there actually were things that were impressive about the stuck up loser… stuff she would actually like in any other guy… she could never forget who and what he was, as well as what he had done.
“Don’t ever lose that girlish charm of yours.” Leonard waved his hand, making Kaname even angrier. “You look so lovely when you have these little tantrums of yours.”
Kaname almost shouted. She didn‘t. That would only give him satisfaction.
“As I was saying, while Milton might be overrated, his subject matter is fascinating. The Rise of Man. The temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan. Their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. You and I will have a better outcome, I can assure you that.”
“Don’t bet on it!“ Kaname caught sight of something ahead of her. It was yellow and plastic. What was it? “Geez. I always used to grumble when I couldn’t get Sousuke to talk.“ She frowned. Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut. Knowing Leonard, that would make him even more talkative. Arrogant dweeb. “I guess you see yourself as Lucifer, right? He was real proud too, thinking he could overthrow God. He was wrong."
“Satan is the most intriguing and compelling of the characters, but I do not see myself in his role.” Leonard said.
“Uh huh. That‘s the way I picture you,” Kaname said, a sour look on her face. She tried to keep her face pointed straight ahead while she moved her eyes. The yellow object tuned out to be a utility knife, left behind by workers. There were other items as well, but that one prompted her to act. Making certain she wasn’t seen, she pocketed the small tool, its blade retracted. “He was intellectual, but had no morals. He was overly proud. He was fraudulent and deceitful. He also took the form of a snake."
“Hmmmm. Which one of us talks too much?” Leonard took out a cell phone and called a small Amalgam enclave near Port Kelang. The organization kept its ECS capable helicopters near Malaysia’s principal port, in a series of warehouses that also held Venom Arm Slaves and the machinery needed to keep them running. “Where was I? Yes. I see myself more fit for the roll of Adam. He was strong, intelligent, and rational. Before the Fall, he was as perfect as a human being could be. However, he was still flawed, as he sometimes indulged in rash and irrational attitudes. I lack those encumbrances, fortunately.”
“Sure. I believe you. Mister Perfect. The same guy that’s running off with his tail between his legs.” Kaname said.
“Anyone can have minor setbacks, my dear. Even me.” Leonard asserted. “Adam’s pure reason and intellect were lost as a result of the Fall. Man was never able to converse with angels as near-equals again, after he succumb to temptation. But in my case…” he was interrupted.
“Well, if you’re Adam, then you’re going to fall some day too, right?” Kaname certainly hoped so. And, if Fate was fair, it would give her the chance to push him! “Too bad…”
“I don’t make a habit of failing or falling,” Leonard said. “Like I said, anyone can stumble now and again. But, the race is never in doubt. Mithril made itself an annoyance. You saw what happened to them.” He stopped again, smiling. He glided slowly over to Kaname, causing her to step back and press against the wall.
Kaname prayed he wouldn’t run his hands over her again. He might discover the knife. The hallway seemed to waved, growing in size, the details blurring. She felt drawn to Leonard again, even though she fought with every bit of her will.
“Adam’s only weakness was his feelings for Eve.” Leonard pushed the hair away from Kaname’s face with both hands, leaned over, and placed a kiss on her lips. “After Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, he decided to do the same, realizing that if she was doomed, he must follow her into that doom, or else he would lose her.” He ran a finger down her chin, along her throat, and left it resting just above her cleavage. “I won’t ever be so foolish.” His eyes widened for a moment. He brought his hand to his head. “My, aren’t you full of surprises.” He laughed, amused and unconcerned.
Kaname put her hand to her chest. She had tried her hand at influencing Leonard’s mind. There had been the lightest of touches, like the sensation of a feather crossing her thoughts. She had been a candle, trying to snuff out the sun.
After what seemed to be an endless walk, the passageway finally ended at a rather nondescript looking garage. The two door enclosure, connected to a small residence that was purchased by Amalgam officials, was situated near Federal Hill, one of the remaining green areas of the city. There was no reason for anyone to have the little-used house under surveillance. Likewise, the small white Perodua Rusa GX 1600 minivan, a five year old ‘multi-utility vehicle’, shouldn’t draw any undue attention. The windows were darkened; but, while unusual, that fact would not scream ‘escaping Amalgam bigwig inside’.
“I guess the maid service doesn’t reach this far,” Kaname said, feeling a bit creeped out. A number of large spider webs were draped across the side of the garage the Arastol pushed her towards. The robot retreated far enough down the tunnel, so as to be out of sight when the garage door opened.
“Regrettably not,” Leonard said, accepting a key that one of the human guards handed him, after running much of the distance as quickly as he could. “Aside from a few aides, no one even knows this route exists.” He didn’t mention the fact that the workers who constructed this little project had disappeared, unable to tell anyone what they worked on.
As the silver-haired man flipped through the various keys, Kaname frowned, rubbing a sore spot on her head, remembering that her hair had gotten caught earlier. That recollection, plus the odd feeling of the utility knife in her pocket, brought a drastic idea to mind.
Were the Arastols watching her? If they were, did they have enough intellectual ability to understand unusual and unexpected behavior? She hoped not. The robots were truly amazing; but, there was only so much that they could do.
‘OK, girl. You can do this. It will grow back.’ Kaname clenched her teeth, ducked down some, and extended the blade on the tool. Wondering if her little trick might work, she quickly cut through a large amount of her hair, holding the severed locks in her hand. Hearing the automatic door lock on her side open, she quickly tied the hair to the door handle. She had taken the hair from her left side. Driving the van, Leonard should remain oblivious, as long as she looked straight ahead.
Once the two of them were seated, Leonard pushed a button on an automatic garage door opener, put the vehicle in gear, and then headed off down the road. Knowing that the main thoroughfares would be crowded, he chose a roundabout route that would bring them to their destination in a reasonable amount of time.
“Well, I guess this dark cloud may have a silver lining,” Leonard said. “This gives me a chance to spend some quality time with you, outside of those stuffy manor buildings.” He pulled to the side of the road, letting a number of police cruisers pass by, their lights flashing and the sirens mute. “I must apologize, seeing that you rarely got so see much of Kuala Lumpur.”
“I won’t lose any sleep over it,” Kaname said brusquely. Truth be told, she wished that she had been able to see more than Carcosa and the various Amalgam facilities. It was a fascinating city in its own rights; but, after her stay, she would never want to come back as a tourist. In fact, she might ‘X’ the name off of all of her world maps when she got home. “It’s not like I wanted to be here anyway…”
“Ahhhhh. Well, no worry… your attitude will change in time.” Leonard spoke as if that was predetermined. “For the visitor passing through Kuala Lumpur, the mix of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai and other cultures native to Malaysia can be extremely daunting to take in, much less understand in any comprehensive or coherent fashion.” He grinned, seeing Kaname fold her arms across her chest and scowl. “Like many Southeast Asian metropolises, Kuala Lumpur is a city of contrasts and dazzling contradictions. Cookie-cutter commercial outlets stand beside repositories of rich cultural heritage, while the architecture of break-neck global capitalism looms over ramshackle neighborhoods bursting at the seams with the buzz of local culture and life.”
“Wonderful,” Kaname said, completely deadpan. “I’ll recommend this place to all my friends.” She pursed her lips. “Do you think we could stop, so I can pick up some postcards?”
“You’ve seen plenty of the Batu Cave and the Petronas Towers.” Leonard said, ignoring her quip. “You probably would have enjoyed a chance to visit the Central Market. The colonial architecture has been thoughtfully preserved and extremely well maintained, and is the highlight of the market; but, the knick-knacks sold there make for perfect Malaysian gifts. No doubt your father and sister would be glad to know you still care about them.” That little malicious aside ought to serve as a good reminder.
Kaname opened her mouth to retort, but didn’t take that bait. Instead, she began fidgeting, wondering how Ayame and her father were doing.
“Practically down the street from Central Market lies Petaling Street, the heart of the city's bustling Chinatown. It's there that Malaysians and the tourists mingle, looking to buy all sorts of goods. Police make rather desultory efforts to chase away the more flagrant rule violators who set up in the middle of the street." Leonard smiled, seeing the irritated look on Kaname's face. "When tired shoppers stop to rest their feet, perhaps at one of the many Chinese tea stalls, they have an opportunity to observe the cat-and-mouse game the vendors play with constables.”
“Sort of sounds familiar,” Kaname said, smirking. She was glad to see Leonard on the run, even if he didn’t seem too concerned. Her smile faded. She wondered if Sousuke had been part of the attacking force. The likelihood of that wasn’t great, right? How could he have found out where she was? If he was part of the force, he would have just missed her! Wasn’t that kind of thing the story of her life!
“Hardly,” Leonard said, a touch of annoyance in his otherwise perfect voice. “This is more like a bunch of petty criminals striking at a well-established crime syndicate. It might make the fools feel big; but, it won’t amount to much.”
“If you say so,” Kaname said, rolling her eyes in dramatic fashion, and then starting to whistle. She felt a brief moment of triumph, seeing Leonard’s hand twitch on the wheel. But, she nearly bit her tongue, when he used his Whispered abilities to influence her, almost like a mental tranquilizer. That effect vanished quickly, as if Leonard knew that she had scored a few points by making him react, and stood to rack up even more if he responded too forcefully.
“Look over there, off to the left.” Leonard’s voice was smooth and stress-free again. “As you might already know, that is the K-L Tower. It's used as a telecommunication tower, and also houses a revolving restaurant. There is an extraordinary mirror mosaic at the mezzanine level, donated by the government of Iran. It’s a sublime example of the geometric elegance of Islamic art. If you had been a bit more… cooperative… you might have been able to see it.”
“Wow!” Kaname said, facetiously. “Be still my beating heart.” She looked up at the lit tower building. She wondered what kind of sights she would be getting used to in the next city she was dragged to. Leonard hadn’t dropped any hints as of yet. There was no way to know what country she would be waking up in the next day. She dreamed about that kind of care-free lifestyle when she was younger; but, it no longer held much charm for her. The remark about being ‘cooperative’ had her tensing up. She knew just what he was talking about.
This unsuspected change of address would merely be a short reprieve for her. The next time that she found Leonard in her boudoir… and in her mind… she would lose more than just another freedom. It just wasn’t right! She never got involved in enjokosai or any form of ‘compensated dating.’ She would never go for that mind of thing. It just wasn’t decent. At Hayashimizu’s request, she and Sousuke had gone undercover, finding Saeki Ena and other Jindai girls working at the C & J brothel.
Why did she have to be trapped in this kind of situation? Aside from going on rare dates with Fuwa-sempai and other boys… and setting aside the time she had spent with a certain soldier …she hadn’t had much experience with guys.
Again, she found her heart in her throat. She was beginning to feel very anxious, almost to the point of feeling dizzy. Her stomach was queasy. How she wished that she could escape! If she ever ended up with a gun in her hands, she wondered if she could bring herself to shoot Leonard. He deserved it!
“Yes, Kuala Lumpur is a city caught in a metropolitan limbo. It wants to be Singapore, but at times feels more like Bangkok.” Leonard smiled as he prepared to needle Kaname gain. “By the way, do you know that a young sergeant from Mithril was spending time in Bangkok, instead of coming to Malaysia to rescue you?”
“What?” Kaname was caught off guard by that. She almost turned to face Leonard head on, giving him a good view of her butchered hair.
“The last time any of our agents caught sight of the young man, he was indulging in his one and only pastime. Killing.” He shrugged. “No, that was not all. He was also teaching others to kill. Commendable, don’t you think? Too few people go out of their way to share what they know these days.”
“He…” Kaname felt that sinking feeling in her stomach again. Why did she even let that kind of thing get to her? “That’s…” She felt herself trembling ever so slightly. Had Sousuke truly given up on her? Was he living the life as a mercenary soldier, herself and Mithril forgotten? Did it really matter? Jerk. Moron. Baka. Big stupid head.
“It’s alright. Nothing to trouble yourself with, really… seeing that you’ve gone from the outhouse to the penthouse, so to speak.” Leonard ran a hand through his hair, looking up at the well-lit Petronas Towers. In a few minutes, they should be safely within his suite of rooms, whether or not any opposing soldiers were still on the grounds. “Much like this city has, actually. This is all a far cry from the city’s low-key origin. The poor tin miners who crowded the slimy banks of those two rivers never would have imagined that within a century and a half, Kuala Lumpur would have metamorphosed into one of Asia’s most vibrant and compelling cities.”
“OK… fine… whatever…” Kaname was feeling a bit edgy and uncertain, wondering if Sousuke had simply lumped her in with the countless people that had come and gone in his rather hard life. Her shoulders straightened, when she tried to snap out of her sudden funk. “That was really great. Do you have a cup or a bowl or something? Some place I can leave a tip for you?”
“Remarkable… truly remarkable…” Leonard laughed. “My dear sister would have broken down long ago. But, not you…” He reached over and ran a hand along Kaname’s leg. “I chose very well…”
Looking out the window, Kaname swallowed hard. The streamer of hair was blowing upward now, different than before. The car was moving slowly, as Leonard approached their destination. There must be some strong gusts of wind outside. She leaned closer to the door, trying to block sight of her impromptu flag. “Don’t… don’t do me any more favors…”
As the car entered the driveway of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kaname noted that police officers were busy removing large yellow barricades. Things must have taken place rather quickly here. Still, it was surprising that the authorities would let anyone enter the buildings who weren’t already there.
“There will be a checkpoint, of course” Leonard said, guessing her thoughts. “But, my I.D. will get us in easily enough, no matter what kind of situation they have. There was nobody here to put up an armed resistance. Everyone should have submitted to a search peacefully. Things should be under control.” Sure enough, the guards scrutinized his pass. A call to the security center revealed ‘Leonard Tesla’ as a V.I.P. They waved him in with their glowing batons.
“K-…” Kaname bit her lip. As the van drove past one group of onlookers, she noticed someone familiar. It had her eyes going wide. Kurz Weber! Did that mean Sousuke could be nearby? Not necessarily. If Sousuke had been off on his own in Thailand, he might not realize that his fellow SRT member was still alive.
“Yes, I recognize the young man with the flowing blonde hair.” Leonard had seen Kurz as well, and was familiar with the faces of everyone who had been part of the Tuatha Da Danaan‘s crew. He slowed the van, knowing that the men outside wouldn’t recognize them. “Tempted to jump out? It might be your last chance. If you stay, I’ll choose to think that you care about me…” His mind was working quickly. Did the presence of someone who was a member of Mithril suggest some form or large level operation? Was this something he should be particularly concerned about? No, this nothing more than a patchwork quilt of soldiers, gathered together to strike a blow against a common foe. It was a rather futile gesture, as they would find out in due time.
“You…” Kaname put her hand on the door handle. If she could notify Kurz quickly enough, could he shoot Leonard before he sent some kind of signal that might get her family and friends killed? “If only…” She removed her hand. There was no way that she would take that risk. It was so hard, sitting there, seeing one of the people who had helped rescue her in the past, unable to allow herself to be saved. “I’ll never care about you. Ever. You can control my mind, but not my heart. You’re pathetic.” There was no sign of Sousuke or Melissa, or anyone else she knew.
“Really? I was there for that kiss too, remember?” He moved along the driveway when security personnel waved him along. “You’re one of those people who sound certain on the outside, but are full of doubts inside. Once this excitement is over, you’ll realize the truth.” If she didn’t, he’d change what the truth was for her. It shouldn’t prove too difficult. He had played her masterfully, a little at a time. Sure, his pride was a little bit stung at her conscious refusal. But, the game was exciting in other ways. Amalgam had been patient and had planned well, crushing Mithril. In the same way, he would have what he wanted from Miss Kaname Chidori.
When the van pulled into a private parking space in the four-level underground parking garage, Kaname let her breath out in a loud whoosh. Starved for air, she hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath.
“Over this way,” Leonard said. “We’ll be taking the maintenance elevator. I just happen to have a key card.” He held a colorful piece of plastic between two fingers. “When I set a pre-recorded disc playing, anyone watching the security monitors will think the lift is still empty.” He cocked his head, an eyebrow rising. “You can make all the noise you want. That’s been taken care of too.” He smiled. “Interesting hairdo.” Walking over to the passenger side door, he nodded. “Clever. I think when we get to Singapore, we’ll get your hair cut short. That’s the current style there. It’s a good time for a tour of our holdings in the Four Tigers." That last was a reference to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. the term ‘Tiger’ has become synonymous with nations that achieve high growth by pursuing an export-driven trade strategy.
Kaname put a hand to her head. Her eyes narrowed. The jerk might just do that, whether or not she wanted to. Some day he would get his comeuppance. If there was any justice at all in life, he would get what’s coming to him!
The interior of the spacious maintenance elevator had a faint odor of Indonesian clove cigarettes. Leonard chose to stand directly in front of the doors, as if he hadn’t a worry in the world. Kaname stood in one of the rear corners, looking up at the read-out as the floors passed by. When it stopped at the 22nd floor, her heart began beating rapidly. Could that be one of the soldiers searching the building? Were they still doing that? There were a lot of offices, after all.
“Hmmmmm. No time for socializing…” Leonard placed his special key card in the high priority slot. The elevator resumed its climb without admitting anyone.
Kaname found that she was having difficulty breathing. She was anxious again. Being so close to possible rescue on a number of occasions was beginning to wear on her. She tried to calm herself down, not wishing to do something impulsive that might end up getting someone she cared for hurt. For most people, family and friends are their greatest blessings. For Kaname, in a way, they were as much her jailer as Leonard was. If she could stop loving the people who were precious to her, it would be a different story. But, she never wanted to do that.
She wondered if Sousuke had forgotten her. She wasn’t his family. The two of them had never formally announced any kind of relationship to their classmates, or to each other for that matter. But, he had seemed to care about her. It wasn’t just wishful thinking. He probably felt about her in a way he had never felt about anyone else before.
What did that mean, though? He had lost his family. Everywhere he went as a youth, he lost people who mattered to him. Did that mean he would get used to that kind of thing? Now that they were away from the school, and Mithril was gone, would he have any reason to think about Kaname Chidori?
The numbers kept advancing. 30… 31… 32… 33… 34… 35. Only a small number of floors to go, before the readout showed ‘43’. After that, they would make their way to the room. Leonard would get the things he needed. An ECS-hidden Amalgam helicopter would arrive and spirit them away, before anyone knew what had happened. No doubt they would then make their way to Singapore for a while, and things would begin all over again. She would be pressured into be a traitor to mankind once more. Leonard would continue with his serious advances, making a perfumed puppet out of her. Would it ever end?
When Kaname and Leonard were safe within the confines of the suite, they noticed that things were out of place. File cabinets were open. Papers were scattered across the floor. A few wires were draped over the large polished desk, useless now that the PC had been confiscated. Deep gashes were present in the wooden paneling, and a fireman’s axe lay on the splinter-covered carpet.
“You’d think, with the rent that they charge us, the building owners could at least afford to pay for a good maid service.” Leonard wasn’t surprised to see that the room was in a shambles. The minute digital cameras spread about in the recesses nail holes gave a good view of the room. His operatives at the port manned a bank of view screens, and had a good idea of the events that had taken place throughout the area. “And this mess… it’s a sign of poor upbringing, I suppose. Your mother taught you to put things back the way you found them, right?”
“Yes.” Kaname tossed her hair. She didn’t like her mother being mentioned by Leonard. “She also told me never to grow up to be a cold-hearted amoral slime ball, too.”
“Ahhhh. Memories…” Leonard went about his business. The top of the desk actually lifted up, once a series of magnetic locks were released. Underneath the thick slab of wood, a large view screen lay flat, angled upward by the push of a button. There was also a built in keyboard on the exposed surface, along with numerous slots, ports, and disc trays. “Cookies. Home-made cookies. It’s been so long since I remember the taste of those.” He looked over at Kaname. “Perhaps that’s another thing you can work on, when we get you set up nicely again.”
“That…” Kaname closed her mouth. She clenched her fists. A lot of the things she once held dear had been spoiled when she had been forced to do them in captivity. Up until this point, however, she hadn’t done any cooking. She didn’t want her joy in that ruined too.
“Well, isn’t this a funny coincidence.” Something on the floor near the foot of the desk caught Leonard’s eye. He bent over to scooped some memos together with some photographs, sliding them back inside a folder that had been tossed on the floor. “I believe that I mentioned something to this effect, earlier.” He caught Kaname by surprise, tossing the Manila folder to her.
“Huh? What’s this?” Opening the file, she wrinkled up her nose. The first photograph was that of a rather attractive girl with long red hair. She almost dropped everything. That face. It was familiar somehow. There had been a girl in her dreams one night. Yes, she had called herself Nami. She had wanted to assure her that Sousuke would be coming after her. How had that slipped her mind?
“It’s quite funny, you know.” Leonard said casually, keeping all signs of mischief and malevolence out of his eyes. “That someone as brutal and uncivilized as Sousuke Sagara keeps wining the heart of Whispered women. I must say, you seem to be taking it well.”
“It?” Kaname asked, eyes narrowing.
“Being last years model, so to speak. Red hair is rather fetching, I think. Especially when its on someone as attractive as her. Who could possibly blame a young man for getting close to someone like that?” Leonard turned his attention back to the computer console, and began entering the commands that would lead to the extrusion of the all important core system.
“You’re lying,” Kaname said, bending the folder some when she clenched her hand. “If she wanted Sousuke to herself… and he wanted to stay with her… I never would have seen her in…” She stopped. It was probably wise to keep that dream secret from Leonard. “This picture…” One photo had slid out from behind the others. Nami was blushing, leaning up close to Sousuke’s back. He seemed to be in good spirits. “How could he look so happy…” She whispered those last words to herself.
Shaking her head violently, trying to chase away feelings of doubt and despair, she began skimming through some of the documents. Sousuke’s name figured prominently, as did that of someone called Michel, supposedly a member of France's Generale de la Securite Exterieure, an agency responsible for military intelligence, strategic information, electronic intelligence, and counterespionage outside the borders of the national territory.
She stopped reading. Not by choice. The power went completely out. As a result, the small generators producing a repulsive magnetic field failed to operate, allowing the massive desktop to fall back down with a resounding ‘wham’.
“What is this!” Leonard barely managed to keep from getting both wrists broken, pulling his hands out in time. “There’s no reason for this now, after those idiots are done rummaging through the building.” His normally cool demeanor was somewhat ruffled. He could lift the wooden slab up again, since the locks were not functional. But, power was needed to disengage the core, and to make certain that the memory would remain intact. He turned to look at Kaname, a perturbed look on his face. “It could have been that little trick of yours. But, knowing the state of the utilities around here, they must have put the order in for a shut down before their insertion. It’s probably only being gotten around to now.”
“So that means the blackout probably won’t last long, when they get word that the power can be put back on.” Kaname felt uncomfortable, sitting alone with Leonard in the dark. Looking out of the windows, she noted that the electricity to Tower One was still on. The view was spectacular, as the building looked like a large glowing jewel of sorts. But, she was in no state to appreciate that.
“One would hope,” Leonard said, frowning. Looking out the window, he noted that traffic lights were out on the streets within view. Police were manually directing vehicles. “It looks like the engineers allowed the back-up systems to go on next door. So, you may be right. When they get word from officials that the black out is no longer necessary, we should be back in business. Ah well… a smooth sea never made a skilled mariner, I suppose.” He seemed to glide through the darkness, as if he was one with it.
Kaname instinctively took a few steps back, almost falling when her legs banged against the edge of the room’s large and ornate couch. Oh great! Just the place she wanted to be. A couch. The only worse thing would be a bed. Before she could step away, Leonard blocked her path of retreat.
“It seems to me, that we need to find a way to pass the time.” Leonard reached out a hand and cupped Kaname’s face. “Alone. In the dark.” He smiled, feeling her shiver. “Mmmmm. Looks like dawn is almost here.”
“But…” Kaname felt the telltale signs of Leonard’s mental touch. She couldn’t help but remember that he had promised to visit her in her room again, before dawn. “We can’t…” Unwillingly, she found herself beginning to lean towards him again. “Not here…” No! She had to fight this! “Why are you doing this to me.” That came out in an anguished rush.
“Why?” Leonard cocked his head, as if he were asked a simple question by a child. “There is a Malay proverb. A piece of incense my be as large as the knee, but unless burnt, emits no fragrance. You are something rather unique. But, unless someone lights the fire within you, your special nature will never be realized.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to be the one to do it.” Kaname struggled with the urge to rub up against him.
“No one else deserves you,“ Leonard said. He placed on hand on her hip. “She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; she is a woman, therefore to be won.” Quoting Shakespeare, he made it a point to brush her with his Whispered abilities. “I’ve heard that Emotional intimacy is one of the most wonderful experiences any person can possibly have. Sharing one’s thoughts and feelings with another. Being deeply seen and known. Sharing love, passion, laughter, joy… everything…” Those words carried echoes of something he had said the other day, in this very room
“It’s…” Kaname swallowed hard. That was the kind of thing she wanted. She had been so frustrated with Sousuke subconsciously, because he once seemed incapable of fulfilling her in that fashion. But, while she longed for some kind of intimate connection, she did not want one with Leonard. Just the same, even a faint bit of resonance made the idea seem tantalizing. “No… not…”
“Why are you afraid of intimacy, Kaname Chidori?” Leonard whispered that into her ear, brushing his lips across her skin. “Is it a fear of rejection… of losing the one you get close too...” He pressed lightly against her, causing her to cling to him or fall prone on the couch. “You need not worry about any of that with me.”
“You… but…” Kaname didn’t dare let go of his robe, lest she end up in a compromised position. But, she also found that she didn’t want to let go. His thoughts were brushing against her more forcefully than his body was. It was just like before, on the veranda. She was finding it hard to hold on to the truth, the fact that she hated him and didn’t want anything to do with him. “I want…” No, she didn’t. She didn’t want. She didn’t!
“Or, might it be a fear of engulfment… of being invaded…of being controlled and losing yourself.” He slowly put one hand behind her back, and leaned his mouth close to her. “Avoiding relationships leads to loneliness and lack of emotional and spiritual growth. I know you want to grow better, stronger. So… what can I do to help you move the two of us beyond the fear of intimacy?” He eased her onto the couch, sitting on the edge and looking down at her face, wreathed as it was in darkness and shadow.
Kaname fought as hard as she could within her mind. But, she knew that would not spare her the anguish that she would feel later. Feeling like a traitor to herself… not to mention her family… Sousuke… everyone… she spread her arms wide and held them out to Leonard.
“I see,” Leonard said, with a slight smirk. “You surprise me. I hadn’t thought our relationship had come this far.” He ran a finger up along her body, bringing it around and across one breast before resting it on Kaname’s lips. “But, you have me in your spell? How can I hope to resist you? “Shifting his position, le leaned over and started a deep long kiss.
Part of Kaname’s mind was frantic. She remembered that she had the utility knife in her pocket. But, try as she did, she could not make her hand move for it. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Leonard’s neck. When he fondled and caressed her, she trembled uncontrollably. For a brief moment, her own attempts at creating some kind of interfering resonance had Leonard flinching.
“You need a lot of practice to make something like that work,” Leonard said. “Still, I’m very impressed. You are indeed the woman for me… my Eve…” He took his weight off of her. “You have so much clothing on. I think you might be far more comfortable if you removed it.”
“No… I…” Kaname fought again, but could only manage to get those words out. Slowly, she removed the first of the shirts that she had slipped on earlier. After that, Leonard kissed her again, fleetingly, before having her remove another layer. Finally, she was to the point that removing her blouse would leave her only with a brassiere on top. She hadn’t slipped out of her pants yet.
“Good. I find this very exciting, don’t you? Now you can…” Leonard blinked repeatedly, holding his eyes shut for a moment. The lights had come back on abruptly. Looking down at Kaname, he struggled with two competing urges. Things had been moving along wonderfully. The girl was eagerly awaiting his most intimate attention. But, they weren’t entirely safe there, and he needed to retrieve the information saved in the computer core. “This will have to wait for later, I’m afraid.”
As Leonard busied himself with the compact but very powerful computer system, Kaname slowly regained control of herself. That had been much too close. Standing up, she found that her legs were wobbly. She remembered sneering at some of the anime stories that Sousuke used to watch, thinking it stupid the way that characters kept finding themselves in difficult situations, only to escape at that last minute. Her face grew warm. That had been rather hypocritical, seeing how many close shaves that she had been through herself. How she would give anything for storybook rescue now!
Kaname lost track of time. She stared out of the immense windows, watching as the city beneath her came alive. She couldn’t help but think back to her days in Tokyo, wondering how her life might have gone, had she not been born Whispered.
Suddenly, there was a loud banging noise at the door and a jingling of the handle.
“KANAME!”
That was Sousuke’s voice. She wasn’t imagining it.
“KANAME, ARE YOU IN THERE!”
“That’s rather bothersome,” Leonard said, not even looking up from his task. Pushing a number of buttons, he sent signals to dormant Arastols spread throughout the building. After that, he put a call through to the security desk, thinking that human guards might serve as a useful back-up. He made a rather curt gesture with his hand, letting Kaname know that it was in everyone’s best interest if she remained silent.
Kaname walked over to the door. She put her hand on it, feeling the vibrations when Sousuke knocked again. ‘You big idiot… do you think Leonard’s just going to let you in…’ She was so very close yet again. So very close, yet so very far. If she opened that door, she could see Sousuke. But, if Leonard pushed a certain button on his console, a signal would be sent, and men would move in on the people she loved most in the world.
“KANAME!”
Sousuke’s voice was loud. He was shouting. No doubt half the complex had heard him by now. That is, if many people were around at this hour, especially after the bit of excitement that had taken place earlier.
“KANAME CHIDORI! CAN YOU HEAR ME!”
“Yes… this is Mr. Silver of Silver Industries. Level forty-three, Tower 2. We have a violent young man trying to gain access to the Suite. I’m worried that he might be one of the terrorists they were looking fore.”
After terminating his call, Leonard finished the sequence needed to remove the core. Taking out his cell phone, he checked on the ETA of the inbound helicopter. Pocketing the small cube he had extracted from the computer, he walked over to the window situated directly over the Sky Bridge joining Tower 2 and Tower 1. Pushing a button on a small hand held control, he caused the window to be released. Gusts of wind spun about the room, as the glass panel fell to the surface below.
“We can’t go out that way…” For a moment, Kaname had forgotten about the lay out of the building. Walking over to the opening, her hair spreading outward like the tentacles on a sea anemone, she looked down below, understanding. “You’re not telling me that we’re going to go out there, are you?” Sure. Why not! Wasn’t that something every girl wanted to do, walk around on some fifty-eight meter long structure in the gusting wind, one hundred and seventy meters above street level?
“Of course ,“ Leonard said, nonplussed. He pushed another button. The efforts of privately contracted building engineers came to play as a series of steps protruded from the sides of the Tower.
“IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, MOVE AWAY FROM THE DOOR. NOW!”
Sousuke’s choice of words had Kaname’s eyes going wide. It would be just like that moron to blow the door open or something. It would not be good to be standing where she was, if that was the case.
“Sousuke Sagara! You better not!” Kaname shook her fist at the door, too caught up in nostalgia to feel foolish. Somehow, getting irritated with Sousuke had washed away a lot of the bad feelings that had been clinging to her after her close call with Leonard.
“Kaname?” Sousuke’s voice was much quieter that time. “Kaname, you have ten seconds. Then, there will be a large explosion.”
“Ooooh… just you wait, mister…” Kaname made her way to the space once filled by the missing window. She could readily believe that Sgt. Sousuke Sagara of Mithril would set a bomb at the door she was being held behind. What she had trouble believing was that he was really there.
“That is now eight seconds, Kaname. I will return when the door is down.” Sousuke’s voice grew faint. Soon thereafter, the sound of automatic weapons fire could be head.
“Baka,” Kaname said under her breath, worried. Who was firing? Sousuke? Soldiers with him? Security guards? Or, could there be some of those damn robots here?
“Some people never change,” Leonard said, calmly walking over to the edge of the Sky Bridge. Looking over at the side of Tower 1, he saw a number of Arastols scaling the building, much the way that French urban climber Alain ‘Spiderman’ Robert had done. That adventuresome man had used only his bare hands and feet, with no safety devices of any kind. He had been stopped at the 60th floor, just twenty-eight floors away from the ‘summit’. No one and nothing would impede the robots.
Not long after Kaname’s feet hit the roof of the Sky Bridge, an explosion sent tremors through the steel.
“Sousuke,” Kaname whispered.
Kaname trudged along, feeling a little tightness in her calves. She hadn’t been getting very much exercise over the past few months. As one might expect, that didn’t sit too well with her.
“Just another reason to love my life,” she grumbled to herself. She wondered how the sports teams were doing at Jindai High School. She wondered who had taken her place as Student Council Vice President and Class representative. She wondered an awful lot of things.
“You know, I’m quite glad that you mentioned Paradise Lost,” Leonard said. “I think you might benefit by reading it again, with the right perspective.” He tossed his hair in a way that almost made Kaname jealous.
“Which you are going to tell me, no doubt.” Kaname fought the urge to strike at an Arastol that kept pushing her when she slowed down.
“Naturally,” Leonard said, with a laugh. “You still don’t realize how the world is your oyster. You need only let go of your past life, and all of those things you were taught. They only limit you and hold you back.” He stopped, turned, and took her face in one hand. “You’ll thank me some day.”
“I’m sure,” Kaname said, making a face. She swallowed hard and held her breath, feeling a phantom touch of resonance. She clenched her fists, seeing the smug look on Leonard’s face.
“Gadhva pudhe vaachli Geeta, Kaalcha gondhal bara hota,” Leonard said, laughing. “It's no use wasting wisdom before a fool who thinks and acts like he is the only correct person in the world. But in this case, it should be ‘she’, right?”
“You really are an annoying and conceited jerk!” Kaname said, failing in her attempt to stay calm. “And those are your finer points.”
“She will yell louder than ever, that her words are wiser, and make more sense.” Leonard finished off the meaning behind the Indian proverb. “I suppose you have to be correct then. What ever shall I do?“
“Twit!“ Kaname said, nose in the air. She frowned. It almost felt as if she were bantering with him instead of defying and disrespecting him. She had to be careful that she never stepped over that line. While there actually were things that were impressive about the stuck up loser… stuff she would actually like in any other guy… she could never forget who and what he was, as well as what he had done.
“Don’t ever lose that girlish charm of yours.” Leonard waved his hand, making Kaname even angrier. “You look so lovely when you have these little tantrums of yours.”
Kaname almost shouted. She didn‘t. That would only give him satisfaction.
“As I was saying, while Milton might be overrated, his subject matter is fascinating. The Rise of Man. The temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan. Their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. You and I will have a better outcome, I can assure you that.”
“Don’t bet on it!“ Kaname caught sight of something ahead of her. It was yellow and plastic. What was it? “Geez. I always used to grumble when I couldn’t get Sousuke to talk.“ She frowned. Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut. Knowing Leonard, that would make him even more talkative. Arrogant dweeb. “I guess you see yourself as Lucifer, right? He was real proud too, thinking he could overthrow God. He was wrong."
“Satan is the most intriguing and compelling of the characters, but I do not see myself in his role.” Leonard said.
“Uh huh. That‘s the way I picture you,” Kaname said, a sour look on her face. She tried to keep her face pointed straight ahead while she moved her eyes. The yellow object tuned out to be a utility knife, left behind by workers. There were other items as well, but that one prompted her to act. Making certain she wasn’t seen, she pocketed the small tool, its blade retracted. “He was intellectual, but had no morals. He was overly proud. He was fraudulent and deceitful. He also took the form of a snake."
“Hmmmm. Which one of us talks too much?” Leonard took out a cell phone and called a small Amalgam enclave near Port Kelang. The organization kept its ECS capable helicopters near Malaysia’s principal port, in a series of warehouses that also held Venom Arm Slaves and the machinery needed to keep them running. “Where was I? Yes. I see myself more fit for the roll of Adam. He was strong, intelligent, and rational. Before the Fall, he was as perfect as a human being could be. However, he was still flawed, as he sometimes indulged in rash and irrational attitudes. I lack those encumbrances, fortunately.”
“Sure. I believe you. Mister Perfect. The same guy that’s running off with his tail between his legs.” Kaname said.
“Anyone can have minor setbacks, my dear. Even me.” Leonard asserted. “Adam’s pure reason and intellect were lost as a result of the Fall. Man was never able to converse with angels as near-equals again, after he succumb to temptation. But in my case…” he was interrupted.
“Well, if you’re Adam, then you’re going to fall some day too, right?” Kaname certainly hoped so. And, if Fate was fair, it would give her the chance to push him! “Too bad…”
“I don’t make a habit of failing or falling,” Leonard said. “Like I said, anyone can stumble now and again. But, the race is never in doubt. Mithril made itself an annoyance. You saw what happened to them.” He stopped again, smiling. He glided slowly over to Kaname, causing her to step back and press against the wall.
Kaname prayed he wouldn’t run his hands over her again. He might discover the knife. The hallway seemed to waved, growing in size, the details blurring. She felt drawn to Leonard again, even though she fought with every bit of her will.
“Adam’s only weakness was his feelings for Eve.” Leonard pushed the hair away from Kaname’s face with both hands, leaned over, and placed a kiss on her lips. “After Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, he decided to do the same, realizing that if she was doomed, he must follow her into that doom, or else he would lose her.” He ran a finger down her chin, along her throat, and left it resting just above her cleavage. “I won’t ever be so foolish.” His eyes widened for a moment. He brought his hand to his head. “My, aren’t you full of surprises.” He laughed, amused and unconcerned.
Kaname put her hand to her chest. She had tried her hand at influencing Leonard’s mind. There had been the lightest of touches, like the sensation of a feather crossing her thoughts. She had been a candle, trying to snuff out the sun.
After what seemed to be an endless walk, the passageway finally ended at a rather nondescript looking garage. The two door enclosure, connected to a small residence that was purchased by Amalgam officials, was situated near Federal Hill, one of the remaining green areas of the city. There was no reason for anyone to have the little-used house under surveillance. Likewise, the small white Perodua Rusa GX 1600 minivan, a five year old ‘multi-utility vehicle’, shouldn’t draw any undue attention. The windows were darkened; but, while unusual, that fact would not scream ‘escaping Amalgam bigwig inside’.
“I guess the maid service doesn’t reach this far,” Kaname said, feeling a bit creeped out. A number of large spider webs were draped across the side of the garage the Arastol pushed her towards. The robot retreated far enough down the tunnel, so as to be out of sight when the garage door opened.
“Regrettably not,” Leonard said, accepting a key that one of the human guards handed him, after running much of the distance as quickly as he could. “Aside from a few aides, no one even knows this route exists.” He didn’t mention the fact that the workers who constructed this little project had disappeared, unable to tell anyone what they worked on.
As the silver-haired man flipped through the various keys, Kaname frowned, rubbing a sore spot on her head, remembering that her hair had gotten caught earlier. That recollection, plus the odd feeling of the utility knife in her pocket, brought a drastic idea to mind.
Were the Arastols watching her? If they were, did they have enough intellectual ability to understand unusual and unexpected behavior? She hoped not. The robots were truly amazing; but, there was only so much that they could do.
‘OK, girl. You can do this. It will grow back.’ Kaname clenched her teeth, ducked down some, and extended the blade on the tool. Wondering if her little trick might work, she quickly cut through a large amount of her hair, holding the severed locks in her hand. Hearing the automatic door lock on her side open, she quickly tied the hair to the door handle. She had taken the hair from her left side. Driving the van, Leonard should remain oblivious, as long as she looked straight ahead.
Once the two of them were seated, Leonard pushed a button on an automatic garage door opener, put the vehicle in gear, and then headed off down the road. Knowing that the main thoroughfares would be crowded, he chose a roundabout route that would bring them to their destination in a reasonable amount of time.
“Well, I guess this dark cloud may have a silver lining,” Leonard said. “This gives me a chance to spend some quality time with you, outside of those stuffy manor buildings.” He pulled to the side of the road, letting a number of police cruisers pass by, their lights flashing and the sirens mute. “I must apologize, seeing that you rarely got so see much of Kuala Lumpur.”
“I won’t lose any sleep over it,” Kaname said brusquely. Truth be told, she wished that she had been able to see more than Carcosa and the various Amalgam facilities. It was a fascinating city in its own rights; but, after her stay, she would never want to come back as a tourist. In fact, she might ‘X’ the name off of all of her world maps when she got home. “It’s not like I wanted to be here anyway…”
“Ahhhhh. Well, no worry… your attitude will change in time.” Leonard spoke as if that was predetermined. “For the visitor passing through Kuala Lumpur, the mix of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai and other cultures native to Malaysia can be extremely daunting to take in, much less understand in any comprehensive or coherent fashion.” He grinned, seeing Kaname fold her arms across her chest and scowl. “Like many Southeast Asian metropolises, Kuala Lumpur is a city of contrasts and dazzling contradictions. Cookie-cutter commercial outlets stand beside repositories of rich cultural heritage, while the architecture of break-neck global capitalism looms over ramshackle neighborhoods bursting at the seams with the buzz of local culture and life.”
“Wonderful,” Kaname said, completely deadpan. “I’ll recommend this place to all my friends.” She pursed her lips. “Do you think we could stop, so I can pick up some postcards?”
“You’ve seen plenty of the Batu Cave and the Petronas Towers.” Leonard said, ignoring her quip. “You probably would have enjoyed a chance to visit the Central Market. The colonial architecture has been thoughtfully preserved and extremely well maintained, and is the highlight of the market; but, the knick-knacks sold there make for perfect Malaysian gifts. No doubt your father and sister would be glad to know you still care about them.” That little malicious aside ought to serve as a good reminder.
Kaname opened her mouth to retort, but didn’t take that bait. Instead, she began fidgeting, wondering how Ayame and her father were doing.
“Practically down the street from Central Market lies Petaling Street, the heart of the city's bustling Chinatown. It's there that Malaysians and the tourists mingle, looking to buy all sorts of goods. Police make rather desultory efforts to chase away the more flagrant rule violators who set up in the middle of the street." Leonard smiled, seeing the irritated look on Kaname's face. "When tired shoppers stop to rest their feet, perhaps at one of the many Chinese tea stalls, they have an opportunity to observe the cat-and-mouse game the vendors play with constables.”
“Sort of sounds familiar,” Kaname said, smirking. She was glad to see Leonard on the run, even if he didn’t seem too concerned. Her smile faded. She wondered if Sousuke had been part of the attacking force. The likelihood of that wasn’t great, right? How could he have found out where she was? If he was part of the force, he would have just missed her! Wasn’t that kind of thing the story of her life!
“Hardly,” Leonard said, a touch of annoyance in his otherwise perfect voice. “This is more like a bunch of petty criminals striking at a well-established crime syndicate. It might make the fools feel big; but, it won’t amount to much.”
“If you say so,” Kaname said, rolling her eyes in dramatic fashion, and then starting to whistle. She felt a brief moment of triumph, seeing Leonard’s hand twitch on the wheel. But, she nearly bit her tongue, when he used his Whispered abilities to influence her, almost like a mental tranquilizer. That effect vanished quickly, as if Leonard knew that she had scored a few points by making him react, and stood to rack up even more if he responded too forcefully.
“Look over there, off to the left.” Leonard’s voice was smooth and stress-free again. “As you might already know, that is the K-L Tower. It's used as a telecommunication tower, and also houses a revolving restaurant. There is an extraordinary mirror mosaic at the mezzanine level, donated by the government of Iran. It’s a sublime example of the geometric elegance of Islamic art. If you had been a bit more… cooperative… you might have been able to see it.”
“Wow!” Kaname said, facetiously. “Be still my beating heart.” She looked up at the lit tower building. She wondered what kind of sights she would be getting used to in the next city she was dragged to. Leonard hadn’t dropped any hints as of yet. There was no way to know what country she would be waking up in the next day. She dreamed about that kind of care-free lifestyle when she was younger; but, it no longer held much charm for her. The remark about being ‘cooperative’ had her tensing up. She knew just what he was talking about.
This unsuspected change of address would merely be a short reprieve for her. The next time that she found Leonard in her boudoir… and in her mind… she would lose more than just another freedom. It just wasn’t right! She never got involved in enjokosai or any form of ‘compensated dating.’ She would never go for that mind of thing. It just wasn’t decent. At Hayashimizu’s request, she and Sousuke had gone undercover, finding Saeki Ena and other Jindai girls working at the C & J brothel.
Why did she have to be trapped in this kind of situation? Aside from going on rare dates with Fuwa-sempai and other boys… and setting aside the time she had spent with a certain soldier …she hadn’t had much experience with guys.
Again, she found her heart in her throat. She was beginning to feel very anxious, almost to the point of feeling dizzy. Her stomach was queasy. How she wished that she could escape! If she ever ended up with a gun in her hands, she wondered if she could bring herself to shoot Leonard. He deserved it!
“Yes, Kuala Lumpur is a city caught in a metropolitan limbo. It wants to be Singapore, but at times feels more like Bangkok.” Leonard smiled as he prepared to needle Kaname gain. “By the way, do you know that a young sergeant from Mithril was spending time in Bangkok, instead of coming to Malaysia to rescue you?”
“What?” Kaname was caught off guard by that. She almost turned to face Leonard head on, giving him a good view of her butchered hair.
“The last time any of our agents caught sight of the young man, he was indulging in his one and only pastime. Killing.” He shrugged. “No, that was not all. He was also teaching others to kill. Commendable, don’t you think? Too few people go out of their way to share what they know these days.”
“He…” Kaname felt that sinking feeling in her stomach again. Why did she even let that kind of thing get to her? “That’s…” She felt herself trembling ever so slightly. Had Sousuke truly given up on her? Was he living the life as a mercenary soldier, herself and Mithril forgotten? Did it really matter? Jerk. Moron. Baka. Big stupid head.
“It’s alright. Nothing to trouble yourself with, really… seeing that you’ve gone from the outhouse to the penthouse, so to speak.” Leonard ran a hand through his hair, looking up at the well-lit Petronas Towers. In a few minutes, they should be safely within his suite of rooms, whether or not any opposing soldiers were still on the grounds. “Much like this city has, actually. This is all a far cry from the city’s low-key origin. The poor tin miners who crowded the slimy banks of those two rivers never would have imagined that within a century and a half, Kuala Lumpur would have metamorphosed into one of Asia’s most vibrant and compelling cities.”
“OK… fine… whatever…” Kaname was feeling a bit edgy and uncertain, wondering if Sousuke had simply lumped her in with the countless people that had come and gone in his rather hard life. Her shoulders straightened, when she tried to snap out of her sudden funk. “That was really great. Do you have a cup or a bowl or something? Some place I can leave a tip for you?”
“Remarkable… truly remarkable…” Leonard laughed. “My dear sister would have broken down long ago. But, not you…” He reached over and ran a hand along Kaname’s leg. “I chose very well…”
Looking out the window, Kaname swallowed hard. The streamer of hair was blowing upward now, different than before. The car was moving slowly, as Leonard approached their destination. There must be some strong gusts of wind outside. She leaned closer to the door, trying to block sight of her impromptu flag. “Don’t… don’t do me any more favors…”
As the car entered the driveway of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kaname noted that police officers were busy removing large yellow barricades. Things must have taken place rather quickly here. Still, it was surprising that the authorities would let anyone enter the buildings who weren’t already there.
“There will be a checkpoint, of course” Leonard said, guessing her thoughts. “But, my I.D. will get us in easily enough, no matter what kind of situation they have. There was nobody here to put up an armed resistance. Everyone should have submitted to a search peacefully. Things should be under control.” Sure enough, the guards scrutinized his pass. A call to the security center revealed ‘Leonard Tesla’ as a V.I.P. They waved him in with their glowing batons.
“K-…” Kaname bit her lip. As the van drove past one group of onlookers, she noticed someone familiar. It had her eyes going wide. Kurz Weber! Did that mean Sousuke could be nearby? Not necessarily. If Sousuke had been off on his own in Thailand, he might not realize that his fellow SRT member was still alive.
“Yes, I recognize the young man with the flowing blonde hair.” Leonard had seen Kurz as well, and was familiar with the faces of everyone who had been part of the Tuatha Da Danaan‘s crew. He slowed the van, knowing that the men outside wouldn’t recognize them. “Tempted to jump out? It might be your last chance. If you stay, I’ll choose to think that you care about me…” His mind was working quickly. Did the presence of someone who was a member of Mithril suggest some form or large level operation? Was this something he should be particularly concerned about? No, this nothing more than a patchwork quilt of soldiers, gathered together to strike a blow against a common foe. It was a rather futile gesture, as they would find out in due time.
“You…” Kaname put her hand on the door handle. If she could notify Kurz quickly enough, could he shoot Leonard before he sent some kind of signal that might get her family and friends killed? “If only…” She removed her hand. There was no way that she would take that risk. It was so hard, sitting there, seeing one of the people who had helped rescue her in the past, unable to allow herself to be saved. “I’ll never care about you. Ever. You can control my mind, but not my heart. You’re pathetic.” There was no sign of Sousuke or Melissa, or anyone else she knew.
“Really? I was there for that kiss too, remember?” He moved along the driveway when security personnel waved him along. “You’re one of those people who sound certain on the outside, but are full of doubts inside. Once this excitement is over, you’ll realize the truth.” If she didn’t, he’d change what the truth was for her. It shouldn’t prove too difficult. He had played her masterfully, a little at a time. Sure, his pride was a little bit stung at her conscious refusal. But, the game was exciting in other ways. Amalgam had been patient and had planned well, crushing Mithril. In the same way, he would have what he wanted from Miss Kaname Chidori.
When the van pulled into a private parking space in the four-level underground parking garage, Kaname let her breath out in a loud whoosh. Starved for air, she hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath.
“Over this way,” Leonard said. “We’ll be taking the maintenance elevator. I just happen to have a key card.” He held a colorful piece of plastic between two fingers. “When I set a pre-recorded disc playing, anyone watching the security monitors will think the lift is still empty.” He cocked his head, an eyebrow rising. “You can make all the noise you want. That’s been taken care of too.” He smiled. “Interesting hairdo.” Walking over to the passenger side door, he nodded. “Clever. I think when we get to Singapore, we’ll get your hair cut short. That’s the current style there. It’s a good time for a tour of our holdings in the Four Tigers." That last was a reference to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. the term ‘Tiger’ has become synonymous with nations that achieve high growth by pursuing an export-driven trade strategy.
Kaname put a hand to her head. Her eyes narrowed. The jerk might just do that, whether or not she wanted to. Some day he would get his comeuppance. If there was any justice at all in life, he would get what’s coming to him!
The interior of the spacious maintenance elevator had a faint odor of Indonesian clove cigarettes. Leonard chose to stand directly in front of the doors, as if he hadn’t a worry in the world. Kaname stood in one of the rear corners, looking up at the read-out as the floors passed by. When it stopped at the 22nd floor, her heart began beating rapidly. Could that be one of the soldiers searching the building? Were they still doing that? There were a lot of offices, after all.
“Hmmmmm. No time for socializing…” Leonard placed his special key card in the high priority slot. The elevator resumed its climb without admitting anyone.
Kaname found that she was having difficulty breathing. She was anxious again. Being so close to possible rescue on a number of occasions was beginning to wear on her. She tried to calm herself down, not wishing to do something impulsive that might end up getting someone she cared for hurt. For most people, family and friends are their greatest blessings. For Kaname, in a way, they were as much her jailer as Leonard was. If she could stop loving the people who were precious to her, it would be a different story. But, she never wanted to do that.
She wondered if Sousuke had forgotten her. She wasn’t his family. The two of them had never formally announced any kind of relationship to their classmates, or to each other for that matter. But, he had seemed to care about her. It wasn’t just wishful thinking. He probably felt about her in a way he had never felt about anyone else before.
What did that mean, though? He had lost his family. Everywhere he went as a youth, he lost people who mattered to him. Did that mean he would get used to that kind of thing? Now that they were away from the school, and Mithril was gone, would he have any reason to think about Kaname Chidori?
The numbers kept advancing. 30… 31… 32… 33… 34… 35. Only a small number of floors to go, before the readout showed ‘43’. After that, they would make their way to the room. Leonard would get the things he needed. An ECS-hidden Amalgam helicopter would arrive and spirit them away, before anyone knew what had happened. No doubt they would then make their way to Singapore for a while, and things would begin all over again. She would be pressured into be a traitor to mankind once more. Leonard would continue with his serious advances, making a perfumed puppet out of her. Would it ever end?
When Kaname and Leonard were safe within the confines of the suite, they noticed that things were out of place. File cabinets were open. Papers were scattered across the floor. A few wires were draped over the large polished desk, useless now that the PC had been confiscated. Deep gashes were present in the wooden paneling, and a fireman’s axe lay on the splinter-covered carpet.
“You’d think, with the rent that they charge us, the building owners could at least afford to pay for a good maid service.” Leonard wasn’t surprised to see that the room was in a shambles. The minute digital cameras spread about in the recesses nail holes gave a good view of the room. His operatives at the port manned a bank of view screens, and had a good idea of the events that had taken place throughout the area. “And this mess… it’s a sign of poor upbringing, I suppose. Your mother taught you to put things back the way you found them, right?”
“Yes.” Kaname tossed her hair. She didn’t like her mother being mentioned by Leonard. “She also told me never to grow up to be a cold-hearted amoral slime ball, too.”
“Ahhhh. Memories…” Leonard went about his business. The top of the desk actually lifted up, once a series of magnetic locks were released. Underneath the thick slab of wood, a large view screen lay flat, angled upward by the push of a button. There was also a built in keyboard on the exposed surface, along with numerous slots, ports, and disc trays. “Cookies. Home-made cookies. It’s been so long since I remember the taste of those.” He looked over at Kaname. “Perhaps that’s another thing you can work on, when we get you set up nicely again.”
“That…” Kaname closed her mouth. She clenched her fists. A lot of the things she once held dear had been spoiled when she had been forced to do them in captivity. Up until this point, however, she hadn’t done any cooking. She didn’t want her joy in that ruined too.
“Well, isn’t this a funny coincidence.” Something on the floor near the foot of the desk caught Leonard’s eye. He bent over to scooped some memos together with some photographs, sliding them back inside a folder that had been tossed on the floor. “I believe that I mentioned something to this effect, earlier.” He caught Kaname by surprise, tossing the Manila folder to her.
“Huh? What’s this?” Opening the file, she wrinkled up her nose. The first photograph was that of a rather attractive girl with long red hair. She almost dropped everything. That face. It was familiar somehow. There had been a girl in her dreams one night. Yes, she had called herself Nami. She had wanted to assure her that Sousuke would be coming after her. How had that slipped her mind?
“It’s quite funny, you know.” Leonard said casually, keeping all signs of mischief and malevolence out of his eyes. “That someone as brutal and uncivilized as Sousuke Sagara keeps wining the heart of Whispered women. I must say, you seem to be taking it well.”
“It?” Kaname asked, eyes narrowing.
“Being last years model, so to speak. Red hair is rather fetching, I think. Especially when its on someone as attractive as her. Who could possibly blame a young man for getting close to someone like that?” Leonard turned his attention back to the computer console, and began entering the commands that would lead to the extrusion of the all important core system.
“You’re lying,” Kaname said, bending the folder some when she clenched her hand. “If she wanted Sousuke to herself… and he wanted to stay with her… I never would have seen her in…” She stopped. It was probably wise to keep that dream secret from Leonard. “This picture…” One photo had slid out from behind the others. Nami was blushing, leaning up close to Sousuke’s back. He seemed to be in good spirits. “How could he look so happy…” She whispered those last words to herself.
Shaking her head violently, trying to chase away feelings of doubt and despair, she began skimming through some of the documents. Sousuke’s name figured prominently, as did that of someone called Michel, supposedly a member of France's Generale de la Securite Exterieure, an agency responsible for military intelligence, strategic information, electronic intelligence, and counterespionage outside the borders of the national territory.
She stopped reading. Not by choice. The power went completely out. As a result, the small generators producing a repulsive magnetic field failed to operate, allowing the massive desktop to fall back down with a resounding ‘wham’.
“What is this!” Leonard barely managed to keep from getting both wrists broken, pulling his hands out in time. “There’s no reason for this now, after those idiots are done rummaging through the building.” His normally cool demeanor was somewhat ruffled. He could lift the wooden slab up again, since the locks were not functional. But, power was needed to disengage the core, and to make certain that the memory would remain intact. He turned to look at Kaname, a perturbed look on his face. “It could have been that little trick of yours. But, knowing the state of the utilities around here, they must have put the order in for a shut down before their insertion. It’s probably only being gotten around to now.”
“So that means the blackout probably won’t last long, when they get word that the power can be put back on.” Kaname felt uncomfortable, sitting alone with Leonard in the dark. Looking out of the windows, she noted that the electricity to Tower One was still on. The view was spectacular, as the building looked like a large glowing jewel of sorts. But, she was in no state to appreciate that.
“One would hope,” Leonard said, frowning. Looking out the window, he noted that traffic lights were out on the streets within view. Police were manually directing vehicles. “It looks like the engineers allowed the back-up systems to go on next door. So, you may be right. When they get word from officials that the black out is no longer necessary, we should be back in business. Ah well… a smooth sea never made a skilled mariner, I suppose.” He seemed to glide through the darkness, as if he was one with it.
Kaname instinctively took a few steps back, almost falling when her legs banged against the edge of the room’s large and ornate couch. Oh great! Just the place she wanted to be. A couch. The only worse thing would be a bed. Before she could step away, Leonard blocked her path of retreat.
“It seems to me, that we need to find a way to pass the time.” Leonard reached out a hand and cupped Kaname’s face. “Alone. In the dark.” He smiled, feeling her shiver. “Mmmmm. Looks like dawn is almost here.”
“But…” Kaname felt the telltale signs of Leonard’s mental touch. She couldn’t help but remember that he had promised to visit her in her room again, before dawn. “We can’t…” Unwillingly, she found herself beginning to lean towards him again. “Not here…” No! She had to fight this! “Why are you doing this to me.” That came out in an anguished rush.
“Why?” Leonard cocked his head, as if he were asked a simple question by a child. “There is a Malay proverb. A piece of incense my be as large as the knee, but unless burnt, emits no fragrance. You are something rather unique. But, unless someone lights the fire within you, your special nature will never be realized.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to be the one to do it.” Kaname struggled with the urge to rub up against him.
“No one else deserves you,“ Leonard said. He placed on hand on her hip. “She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; she is a woman, therefore to be won.” Quoting Shakespeare, he made it a point to brush her with his Whispered abilities. “I’ve heard that Emotional intimacy is one of the most wonderful experiences any person can possibly have. Sharing one’s thoughts and feelings with another. Being deeply seen and known. Sharing love, passion, laughter, joy… everything…” Those words carried echoes of something he had said the other day, in this very room
“It’s…” Kaname swallowed hard. That was the kind of thing she wanted. She had been so frustrated with Sousuke subconsciously, because he once seemed incapable of fulfilling her in that fashion. But, while she longed for some kind of intimate connection, she did not want one with Leonard. Just the same, even a faint bit of resonance made the idea seem tantalizing. “No… not…”
“Why are you afraid of intimacy, Kaname Chidori?” Leonard whispered that into her ear, brushing his lips across her skin. “Is it a fear of rejection… of losing the one you get close too...” He pressed lightly against her, causing her to cling to him or fall prone on the couch. “You need not worry about any of that with me.”
“You… but…” Kaname didn’t dare let go of his robe, lest she end up in a compromised position. But, she also found that she didn’t want to let go. His thoughts were brushing against her more forcefully than his body was. It was just like before, on the veranda. She was finding it hard to hold on to the truth, the fact that she hated him and didn’t want anything to do with him. “I want…” No, she didn’t. She didn’t want. She didn’t!
“Or, might it be a fear of engulfment… of being invaded…of being controlled and losing yourself.” He slowly put one hand behind her back, and leaned his mouth close to her. “Avoiding relationships leads to loneliness and lack of emotional and spiritual growth. I know you want to grow better, stronger. So… what can I do to help you move the two of us beyond the fear of intimacy?” He eased her onto the couch, sitting on the edge and looking down at her face, wreathed as it was in darkness and shadow.
Kaname fought as hard as she could within her mind. But, she knew that would not spare her the anguish that she would feel later. Feeling like a traitor to herself… not to mention her family… Sousuke… everyone… she spread her arms wide and held them out to Leonard.
“I see,” Leonard said, with a slight smirk. “You surprise me. I hadn’t thought our relationship had come this far.” He ran a finger up along her body, bringing it around and across one breast before resting it on Kaname’s lips. “But, you have me in your spell? How can I hope to resist you? “Shifting his position, le leaned over and started a deep long kiss.
Part of Kaname’s mind was frantic. She remembered that she had the utility knife in her pocket. But, try as she did, she could not make her hand move for it. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Leonard’s neck. When he fondled and caressed her, she trembled uncontrollably. For a brief moment, her own attempts at creating some kind of interfering resonance had Leonard flinching.
“You need a lot of practice to make something like that work,” Leonard said. “Still, I’m very impressed. You are indeed the woman for me… my Eve…” He took his weight off of her. “You have so much clothing on. I think you might be far more comfortable if you removed it.”
“No… I…” Kaname fought again, but could only manage to get those words out. Slowly, she removed the first of the shirts that she had slipped on earlier. After that, Leonard kissed her again, fleetingly, before having her remove another layer. Finally, she was to the point that removing her blouse would leave her only with a brassiere on top. She hadn’t slipped out of her pants yet.
“Good. I find this very exciting, don’t you? Now you can…” Leonard blinked repeatedly, holding his eyes shut for a moment. The lights had come back on abruptly. Looking down at Kaname, he struggled with two competing urges. Things had been moving along wonderfully. The girl was eagerly awaiting his most intimate attention. But, they weren’t entirely safe there, and he needed to retrieve the information saved in the computer core. “This will have to wait for later, I’m afraid.”
As Leonard busied himself with the compact but very powerful computer system, Kaname slowly regained control of herself. That had been much too close. Standing up, she found that her legs were wobbly. She remembered sneering at some of the anime stories that Sousuke used to watch, thinking it stupid the way that characters kept finding themselves in difficult situations, only to escape at that last minute. Her face grew warm. That had been rather hypocritical, seeing how many close shaves that she had been through herself. How she would give anything for storybook rescue now!
Kaname lost track of time. She stared out of the immense windows, watching as the city beneath her came alive. She couldn’t help but think back to her days in Tokyo, wondering how her life might have gone, had she not been born Whispered.
Suddenly, there was a loud banging noise at the door and a jingling of the handle.
“KANAME!”
That was Sousuke’s voice. She wasn’t imagining it.
“KANAME, ARE YOU IN THERE!”
“That’s rather bothersome,” Leonard said, not even looking up from his task. Pushing a number of buttons, he sent signals to dormant Arastols spread throughout the building. After that, he put a call through to the security desk, thinking that human guards might serve as a useful back-up. He made a rather curt gesture with his hand, letting Kaname know that it was in everyone’s best interest if she remained silent.
Kaname walked over to the door. She put her hand on it, feeling the vibrations when Sousuke knocked again. ‘You big idiot… do you think Leonard’s just going to let you in…’ She was so very close yet again. So very close, yet so very far. If she opened that door, she could see Sousuke. But, if Leonard pushed a certain button on his console, a signal would be sent, and men would move in on the people she loved most in the world.
“KANAME!”
Sousuke’s voice was loud. He was shouting. No doubt half the complex had heard him by now. That is, if many people were around at this hour, especially after the bit of excitement that had taken place earlier.
“KANAME CHIDORI! CAN YOU HEAR ME!”
“Yes… this is Mr. Silver of Silver Industries. Level forty-three, Tower 2. We have a violent young man trying to gain access to the Suite. I’m worried that he might be one of the terrorists they were looking fore.”
After terminating his call, Leonard finished the sequence needed to remove the core. Taking out his cell phone, he checked on the ETA of the inbound helicopter. Pocketing the small cube he had extracted from the computer, he walked over to the window situated directly over the Sky Bridge joining Tower 2 and Tower 1. Pushing a button on a small hand held control, he caused the window to be released. Gusts of wind spun about the room, as the glass panel fell to the surface below.
“We can’t go out that way…” For a moment, Kaname had forgotten about the lay out of the building. Walking over to the opening, her hair spreading outward like the tentacles on a sea anemone, she looked down below, understanding. “You’re not telling me that we’re going to go out there, are you?” Sure. Why not! Wasn’t that something every girl wanted to do, walk around on some fifty-eight meter long structure in the gusting wind, one hundred and seventy meters above street level?
“Of course ,“ Leonard said, nonplussed. He pushed another button. The efforts of privately contracted building engineers came to play as a series of steps protruded from the sides of the Tower.
“IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, MOVE AWAY FROM THE DOOR. NOW!”
Sousuke’s choice of words had Kaname’s eyes going wide. It would be just like that moron to blow the door open or something. It would not be good to be standing where she was, if that was the case.
“Sousuke Sagara! You better not!” Kaname shook her fist at the door, too caught up in nostalgia to feel foolish. Somehow, getting irritated with Sousuke had washed away a lot of the bad feelings that had been clinging to her after her close call with Leonard.
“Kaname?” Sousuke’s voice was much quieter that time. “Kaname, you have ten seconds. Then, there will be a large explosion.”
“Ooooh… just you wait, mister…” Kaname made her way to the space once filled by the missing window. She could readily believe that Sgt. Sousuke Sagara of Mithril would set a bomb at the door she was being held behind. What she had trouble believing was that he was really there.
“That is now eight seconds, Kaname. I will return when the door is down.” Sousuke’s voice grew faint. Soon thereafter, the sound of automatic weapons fire could be head.
“Baka,” Kaname said under her breath, worried. Who was firing? Sousuke? Soldiers with him? Security guards? Or, could there be some of those damn robots here?
“Some people never change,” Leonard said, calmly walking over to the edge of the Sky Bridge. Looking over at the side of Tower 1, he saw a number of Arastols scaling the building, much the way that French urban climber Alain ‘Spiderman’ Robert had done. That adventuresome man had used only his bare hands and feet, with no safety devices of any kind. He had been stopped at the 60th floor, just twenty-eight floors away from the ‘summit’. No one and nothing would impede the robots.
Not long after Kaname’s feet hit the roof of the Sky Bridge, an explosion sent tremors through the steel.
“Sousuke,” Kaname whispered.
Ah well, but DD does make up for it in quantity, and by daring to go where no other brave soul has gone before! 