Operation Crimson Sea
The Palace was absurd as it loomed above the town below.
It was a great sprawling complex that would have made sense
for as the seat of rulership for Imperial China but was
utterly preposterous for an island nation so small that every
geographer overlooked it as too insignificant to mention.
As he looked up at the central fortress curving around
the extinct volcano that was the heart of the island,
Doctor Neuman could still feel a pale shadow of the initial
awe he'd felt when moving into the abandoned outbuilding
set aside for his clinic. At the time he'd wondered how
such a thing could have been built in such a place.
Later, he'd come to realise there were some things he'd
rather not know.
As he arrived at the gate, the two guards grinned at him,
as he gasped, "I here for audience with Shiori-sama."
They found his ungrammatical Japanese very funny.
Everyone did, doubly so when he was short
of breath. The natives all tended to be physically
fit, a distinct contrast with his flabby bulk.
Although as fit or more, Shiori-sama was the only person
on the island who didn't seem to find him funny. Then
again, he'd yet to learn of anything she considered to be
funny.
One of them pulled out a flip phone in odd contrast to
his bare chest and sword, and spoke into it. He listened
for a moment, nodded, and told Neuman, "Kuro-sama will
come for you."
Kuro was a big fish in a small pond, although he didn't
look it. Wiry and nondescript, with a perfect poker
face, and a slight stoop that minimised his already average
height, Neuman could have made two of him. Despite that,
Kuro was one of the most powerful residents on the island.
Neuman bowed first, and Kuro's returning bow was a hair
less low. He said, "Shiori-sama has been awaiting your
report. I will take you to her at once."
Dr. Neuman's stomach was clenched tight as he followed
the smaller man. He swiped his handkerchief over his
face to mop up some of the sweat. There was no telling
how she might react. Her power was absolute here in her
tiny realm. If she didn't like his report, or suspected
that he had omitted something, he could vanish in a
heartbeat, never to be heard from, or asked after.
She lounged on a curiously carved stone throne as he was
led into her presence. An impressive looking woman,
ageless save for the streak of white in her black hair,
dressed in a silk robe that looked to have been hastily
thrown on. Her Japanese ancestry was obvious, although
her ancestors had left those islands centuries ago to
use this one as a base for their piracy. She bent
forward, eagerly as he came in, and asked, "Well,
Doctor? The results?"
He glanced at Kuro and she waved her hand impatiently.
"He already knows what's going on. Tell me."
Neuman bowed, reporting in English, "My lady, I have
completed my analysis of your test results. Although in
most ways your body, even your skin is that of a woman
in her late twenties, your reproductive system is
another matter.
Her facial expression was tightly controlled. "You are
saying that I am no longer fertile?"
His skin prickled as invisible power seemed to gather
around her. He hastened to say, "You are approaching
menopause but you still have the ability to conceive a
child."
"I take it that means not for much longer?"
"That is correct, my lady. If you wait for long, your...
ah...window of opportunity will close. By using
artificial insemination and some fertility enhancement
treatments I--"
Her eyes flared white, literally glowing with aggravation
as she declared, "Artificial insemination is _not_
acceptable! I find the idea repugnant. Still...I need a
suitable heir. My sons have failed me, so I must take
matters into my own hands." She paused, her eyes human
again, resting her chin on her bare knee as she thought.
"Kuro!"
He bowed. "Hai, Shiori-sama."
"I need an heir, or at least a worthy father for one.
We will host a tournament here. I'll make a list of
people I want invited. You fill out the roster to 16
with high caliber competitors. Have them here and ready
to fight in ten days."
Kuro's face was still blank except for a throbbing vein
at one of his temples. He bowed again.
"Well?" she demanded. "What are you two waiting for? You
have work to do!"
Doctor Neuman was happy to leave. He pushed himself to
the limit to get back to his clinic, gasping for breath and
sweat soaked by the time he'd made it back down from the
palace. He collapsed into his swivel chair, and recovered a
little as his computer booted up and loaded it's encryption
program. He began to type. His other employer would
be very interested in this. If nothing else, it would
offer an opportunity to smuggle the fruits of his labours
off the island before that madwoman found out what he
had done and killed him. Maybe he'd even be able to escape
from--
The voice from behind him startled him so much he nearly
fell out of his chair. "So, what did she say when you
gave her the news?"
Neuman wheeled around in his chair and glared at the
black clad figure. "Do you have to do that, Saibot?"
"It helps me keep an eye on you. What did she say?"
"She's going to host a martial arts tournament.
Apparently the winner will provide her with an heir,
one way or the other."
Noob Saibot dryly chuckled. "That's very convenient.
We can just raise the stakes. You've already informed
Talon?" At the fat man's frightened look he shook his
head. "Relax. My employer doesn't care how many masters
you serve, as long he gets what he wants. Now, how is
our patient doing?"
Neuman sighed, entered a command and Saibot watched as
as a panel slid open, revealing something that looked
like a cross between a microwave and an aquarium. He
looked inside at the finger-long humanoid form curled
up around an artificial placenta. "It looks like she's
coming along nicely, but with this news I can't wait any
longer. I'll take her." He carefully pulled it out of
it's compartment, ignoring the information display which
read: "BATTERY POWER".
"But you can't!" Neuman cowered a little at a glance
from the killer but insisted, "She'll abort without
someone qualified to handle this equipment. In four hours
she'll be dead."
"In four hours, she'll be with my employer, Doctor,"
Saibot calmly answered. "Your learning is nothing compared
to his wisdom and we just don't have time to rely on your
methods."
"But--"
"Don't test my patience." Darkness swirled around the
killer, and he vanished.
Neuman could feel an anxiety attack coming on. What would
he have to show Talon for his work? How could he explain?
He'd have to start another, and quickly, and just hope
the cloning process worked as well the second time.
He forced himself out of his chair. This was going to
be a long night.
Notes: Talon is from "Blue Sonnet". Noob Saibot is from
"Mortal Kombat"