To those who requested me to continue this series, thank you.
This chapter does not begin where the last part leaves off. This
is technically a background piece to introduce some of the plot
threads and a few of the characters. That's what will happen for
the next 5 chapters. Yeah, if you noticed why it's starts after
seven chapters it's an artistic symbolism kind of thing.
On with the story !
Disclaimer:
Some events and people referred to below belong to
the great Naoko Takeuchi. All the others are products
of my deranged imagination and way too many episodes
of X-Files, Mission:Impossible and other related material.
************************
A kitten pawed the multi-faceted crystal as it contemplated
it's image within it. Pushing and prodding it like a ball of yarn,
the cat enjoyed itself, meowing constantly. That is until the
crystal fell from it's perch on the table.
Clinking upon the carpeted floor, it rolled until it stopped at the
far wall. The kitten blinked as multicolored motes of light glowed
from within the crystal. Then it glowed brightly as a shaft of light
projected an image into the air. The best way to describe it was
something like a three dimensional hologram of a young looking
handsome man , with rakish blond hair and dressed in a suit and
trenchcoat looked forward, a bit of a smile on his face, sky-blue
eyes glinting from an unseen light.
"Hello. Testing. Testing.1.2.3. Hello ? Hello ?" The man said as
he looked at something unseen, as if he was talking to a video
camera.
"OK, Fredericks gave me this crystal before I left Kyoto. Told me
to use it as my log or something. I hope this baby works. Ahem."
He said as he cleared his throat and straightened his somewhat
rumpled clothes.
" My name is Hino Shiro. To have been able to have access to this
crystal means that you are part of the Agency. I am the new Chief
of Tokyo Operations and also the new Head Chief of the Asian
Theater of Operations Branch for the Agency. This is my first entry
into the official log of Operations and Status of the Asian and Tokyo
branch."
" The status is I should say pretty rusty. We all know that the Agency
is a small organization of at least a thousand people and they are
divided across the globe, according to branches. Asia has always
been a troublesome spot for us. To illustrate that fact is currently for
the entire Tokyo area, I only have five active agents and for Japan in
it's entirety I only have twenty people to respond to situations. The
state of things is deplorable, since Asia is fast becoming a hotspot for
the things that the Agency is known to deal with. I already have plans for
reactivation of reserve agents and recruitment of a couple dozen or so
more. I will report more after perusal of the files of my predecessor."
The scene flashed for a moment. Then it returned with the same man,
now wearing a black sportsjacket and street clothes. He had a slightly
happier look to him than thelast time.
" Secondary log for Asian Theater of Operations Branch and Tokyo
Operations. I have finished reading the files and am delighted to have
found a few prospective agents and information on the inactive agents."
" One, a certain Hanayoka Kaori, currently in a coma in Tokyo General.
Her description matches the profiles of an individual listed under the
files as Eudial. She was found near the bay, half-dead and unconscious.
She has been kept there for the past six months. I would ordinarily leave
this alone, but a month or so after her admission, she went into
convulsions and the room where she was staying was left in a state of
disarray from what seems to be an energy surge. This coincides with
the worldwide occurence of what is now called by the Agency as the
'Messiah Incident'."
" I will be visiting her and I will try using some of my healing magicks
to assist her in her recovery. I will also be checking on a certain perfume
store, that Agent Kayeda mentioned. It seems that the women who
run this store also match with descriptions of women who were seen
fighting the local superheroines, The Sailor Senshi, eight or so months
ago. Another note concerning the Senshi. It seems these Senshi are
the ones that have been in Agency records going as far as back as
the Establishment before the Fall and the Great Sleep. Thus a policy
of non-interference has been set. We will not interfere. Unless otherwise
ordered by the Overall Chief of Operations, we will neither help nor hinder
the Senshi in anyway possible. We may however find out their identities,
though all attempts so far by the Tokyo Branch, both magickal and mundane,
have been met with failure. Probably because we're understaffed and ill-
equipped for the job." He said that final statement with a hint of sarcasm.
"Anyway, I will be going into the field and reactivating a few agents. I'm
quite lucky Agent Kumada is living with my uncle at the shrine. One agent
back in full status and probably five more recruits. Since I will be in the
field, I may not be able to report in awhile. Until next time."
A flash. Another scene sprang up. The same man appeared looking a bit
frazzled, unkempt blond hair sticking out in various directions and his
suit was singed by burns and the trenchcoat was definitely not going to be
used in public anytime soon. But the same self-confident smile was there,
though annoyance flashed across his eyes.
" Note to self: Never. NEVER. Ever. Under any circumstances take on a daimon
with only a scalpel and while I'm low on energy. Trenchcoats like this are
expensive.One of Dr. Kamiya's prize specimens escaped the wards and
containment field set on it. Another one of my complaints to the Overall
Chief. Jeez, you think she'd at least care about Tokyo Operations Branch.
Hah, ' Don't worry, nothing's going to happen.', my ass. The green haired-
bitch acts like she's Sailor Pluto or something."
A weary sigh escaped his lips. " Excuse me for the rant but as you can see
this has not been one of my better days. We have recovered certain files
from a cache of a former deep-cover agent. Agent Gurio unfortunately had to
be mindwiped by Dr. Kamiya after being compromised. I saw him yesterday
and the mindblocks and the erasure seems to have no adverse effects on him.
We were able to pinpoint a secret base of the now defunct Dark Kingdom,
formerly operated by Nephrite of the Four Generals, through his files. It seems
Guriou dug a bit deep when he heard about his near redemption by his now
girlfriend Osaka Naru. He was mindwiped a few days before the reality distortion
wave hit. As he was not under our protection the memories of his work for
us has been irretrievably lost and only his files remain. Quite unfortunate since
according to the cache he was about to find out who the Senshi are. Well,
easy come,easy go. On the good side,I have been able to wake up Hanayoka-san
from her coma with the help of some potions. She's quite beautiful and it
seems she has residual magical energy in her. She'll be able to act as an
assistant to Dr. Kamiya when she fully recovers. She has already accepted
the terms outlined by me. The four Akayashi sisters have no magical
abilities whatsoever. The scans are quite positive on that one. Agent Kumada
has declined reinstatement into full active status, and requested that he be
assigned, as observer, to my uncle's shrine and the surrounding area. He
says it's because of the rising incidents of the paranormal. Me, I just think
he's in love with my nephew. Meanwhile, we will be relocating Tokyo and
Asia HQ to Nephrite's base of operations.So there will be a delay to my
reports." A happy sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes and looked
up at the ceiling. "Finally, a decent base of operations. Thank Gawd !"
Another flash. The scene has changed. The man is still there, but his clothes
have a distinct military cut to them. A black trenchcoat, suit and a fedora was
his ensemble. But unlike the other times this time he was not alone. His
companion was a beautiful red-haired woman in a labcoat. Her flame-red hair
was tied in three loose braids.
" Status Log. Tokyo Base of Operations is now operational. We have doubled
the staff to ten active agents and with the help of Hanayoka-san here," pointing
to his companion," have been able to augment our standing agents with basic
servitor daimons, a submissive daimon subgroup abandoned by Doctor Tomoe
, according to his notes because of their docility and weakness. We've used
them for basic base maintenance and standard observation duties." He looked
to Hanayoka for additions.
She nodded and started speaking. " Tokyo Base is 25% operational. We're
still trying to puzzle out the crystal technologies left by Nephrite and since
this science disappeared a long time ago and the Agency records are not
exactly scientific treatises, giving us only sketchy clues at what some of
the things here are. We've augmented some of the equipment here with
Agency equipment and some of the data from the recovered notes from my
former employer, Professor Tomoe." She says those final words in a harsh
tone.
" Overall we have everything under control. The next report will also be delayed
as there have been a few developments that will result in me being in the field
constantly and also that I am being summoned to a meeting of all seven
Continental Branch Chiefs along with the Overall Chief. In my absence, Hanayoka
-san wil be in charge of base operations while Agent Kumada will be in charge
of the field operations. That'll get him away from my nephew for awhile." He
finishes with a smile.
A flash and another scene appears. The man appears alone once again. His
clothes are unifoms of black with red trim. Gold epaulets in a strange design
were on his shoulders. His smile is still there but a bit grimness could be seen
in it.
" I brought the recording crystal along for the meeting since I had a hunch I'll
be using it. It seems I was right. I have been asked to do something by the
7th branch. A request for my help in a little operation. The Overall Chief has
voiced no objection. It seems I'll be making another one of my world-famous
moral decisions. The last time I did that an American president got shot in
Texas. I'll need help on this one." A low chuckle came from his lips. " Great,
my only moral guide's a sixty year-old lecherous priest."
The scene flashed. The man's image sprang up again, this time dressed in
his suit and trenchcoat. His face still held that same grim smile. Two file
folders are in front of him. A black envelope lies beside them.
" Status report. Everything's fine in Tokyo. This report is to detail what has
been requested by the 7th branch. I am going to outline what Fredericks
calls the Double project. After the destruction of D-point, it seems that
Fredericks sent agents into the area.They recovered four bodies. All of
them were Senshi. It seems the reality wave created another version of
their bodies. We are still unable to find out who they are. It seems the
disguise magic still exerts itself after death and with our current magickal
resources we can't break them."
He pauses and sighs. " Now comes my involvement." The man picks
up a file and opens it. He lifts a picture of a young bespectacled girl
smiling up into view. " Her name is Jennifer Kelly. She is about fourteen
years old. She is abnormally intelligent with an IQ of over 150. She plans
to be a doctor and has already passed the pre-med exams at UCLA. She
would have attended the first semester by now. I say _would_ because
she is currently in an ICU at LA General."
He picks up the second folderand holds it up, not opening it. " This is
Amelia Anderson's file. She is exactly the same like Jennifer Kelly.
Except for the short blue hair, 20/20 vision, excellent physique, she
is _exactly_ like Jennifer Kelly. She has no parents, lives with her
aunt and uncle in California. In all respects she is an average American
teenager. Except for the fact that she does not exist. This, " he
says as he holds it up ," is a folder of a very well-made lie."
" You ask what it has to do with this project. These are Fredericks'
findings," pointing to the black envelope. " To those who have already
read my file you are acquainted with my ability to extract heart
crystals with my bare hands. The Doubles project hinges on my
ability because of the findings. Fredericks found out that there is
a possibility that we can revive the Senshi bodies. The bodies lack
only a heart crystal, other than that they are totally fine. There is
a 75% chance of revival since the bodies seem to still hold magicks
that would help in it. The only problem is to find a compatible heart
crystal. Jennifer Kelly is the best candidate for a heart crystal donor.
The moral dilemma here is the fact that to initiate the procedure, we
have to take away -"
Shiro picked up the crystal and closed his gloved hand over it. He
had entered earlier and saw the crystal playing the records. He
glared at the kitten, which scurried off into the bedroom.
" Damned cats." he said with a chuckle.
Ringing came from the pockets of his trenchcoat. His hands dug
deep into the coat, pulling out a cel phone.
" Hino here.......Energy spike ?......Park...Near Tokyo Tower.....
OK,Kaori, I'll be there. Call in Kumada and the others too.......Yes,
I had a wonderful evening, too. Bye."
Shiro set the crystal once again on the mantelpiece. He pocketed
the cel phone and went out the door, leaving the room like it began.
A crystal and a kitten and no one else in the weak moonlight.
**********************
C&C is now being requested and MSTs too.
____________________________________________________________
' Writers are the torchbearers of civilization. We're set in a corner only we
can illuminate.Some of us are searchlights, able to cast a beam into the
far reaches of the human soul.Some of us are candles , barely able to
sustain a glow against the darkness. Nevertheless the words I write
are important, because light is additive. Another's light doesn't diminish
my own. Our lights together make us stronger.'
- (After much paraphrasing and reaaranging) Roger Martin
' ... there's a hell
of a universe next door ; let's go '
e.e. cummings ' Pity the Busy Beast Manunkind '
' How can a person live in a world where she can hear voices only she
can hear and visions that only she can see ?'
- (Paraphrasing) Shirley Jackson
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