There is a room.

It is about twenty feet square, and the ceiling is about twenty feet 
off the ground.  It is decorated like a warehouse and happens to be 
part of a much larger complex, but that is not important.  What is 
important is what this room contains.

It contains twenty stone pillars and one man.  The pillars are about 
ten feet high and range from one to five feet in diameter.  They are 
spaced randomly throughout the complex, although none are closer than 
two feet to the walls.  The man is Remy Forsythe, and he is currently 
training.

He has been training for a little over an hour now, although by this 
point you might not realize it.  In the beginning, he was running all 
over, flinging his hands all over the place in a pattern that only he 
could see.  Now, he was barely moving.  Occasionally he would take an 
exaggerated step like he was avoiding an invisible tripwire (he was), 
or he would strain against an invisible load like he was keeping a 
large yet incredibly precise amount of force on the invisible cords he 
held (he was).  Eventually he stood in the exact center of the room and 
allowed himself a smile as he yanked as hard as he could on the 
invisible cords.

He loved it when a plan came together.

All over the room, monofilament cords sliced through stone and whipped 
around in a glittering storm of razor sharp death.  The pillars were 
shredded into discs that tumbled to the ground messily, throwing up a 
small cloud of dust.

Remy didn't need to look to see that no disc was more than one foot 
high.  He had been very careful setting it up.

This exercise was more than just physical training, although few but 
Remy himself knew that.  In order to cut all the pillars at once like 
that, he needed to think ahead.  From the very first move, he had to 
know exactly where he was going and how he was going to get it to work.  
Much like life, really, although there was a great deal more 
improvisation.

Take Genji, for instance.  When Remy learned that the infamous "Yakuza" 
had been captured (the Maccivelli leader had, in fact, learned about 
this before the actual capture took place, although this was not due to 
psychic assistance; he had simply learned of all the plans and plots 
involved and made an accurate prediction as to which ones would be 
successful), he had immediately acted to turn things to his advantage.  
His plan was in place and running perfectly, and all he had to do was 
pull the strings tight and watch the rubble fall.  He really hoped that 
at least a few Black Pack members would be put out of commission, but 
no matter how it turned out, Remy knew he would be standing on top.

The Maccivelli leader left his ruined training hall to go pull the 
final strings.



Lieutenant Dougall sweated nervously and stared blankly at the video 
screen.  He could practically see his life flashing in front of his 
eyes.  Of course, Lord Forsythe had been very polite about it.  But his 
message was clear:

Mess up again and you'll wish the Black Pack had killed you.

The problem was that Dougall had already screwed up so much, he didn't 
have any options left.  Most of his men were dead.  His operations were 
either in rubble or confiscated by other greedy, opportunistic 
Lieutenants.  The shining star of his ideas, the brilliant plan he had 
made to disguise deadly weapons as harmless dolls, was utterly 
decimated.

Dougall had been thrilled when he learned that Lord Forsythe had given 
him a special operative, but when he learned that the operative was 
nothing more than a glorified puppeteer, hiding in the shadows and 
playing with floating pictures, Dougall had nearly given up hope.  The 
freak had better do what he had been ordered to do and nothing more; 
the last thing Dougall needed was some psycho in a gas mask to ruin 
everything.

Because there was still one card he had left, one last super brilliant 
weapon he could use...

"they will come," the freak had said, and when they did Dougall would 
see they got they welcome they deserved. 



Akiko mentally reviewed every part of her plan.  It was a bit of a 
habit, and though she rarely caught any problems, just reminding 
herself of what she was about to do before she started doing it was a 
good idea.  It would be stupid to screw up a plan because she turned 
right instead of left when she was distracted looking for cops.

Satisfied that she had everything down, Akiko readied herself.  Those 
fools really hadn't known who she was, to stick her in a medium 
security prison like this while awaiting trial.  One of the perks of 
total secrecy, she supposed...

There was one guard sitting at a desk right outside her cell.  No other 
inmates.  Only one security camera, and it was looking at the central 
hallway, not the cells.  It even swiveled, so it didn't always show the 
prison guard.

Pathetic, really.

Timing it precisely to avoid the camera in at the critical time, Akiko 
began to speak.  "Excuse me, but could you tell me what time it is?" 
asked Akiko politely from a prone position (specifically picked because 
it looked non-threatening) on her bed.

The hapless female cop checked her watch before turning her head to 
face Akiko.  "Two-fourty-AHhh..."  The scream trailed off before it had 
really begun as the cop's head fell back onto her desk, bleeding 
profusely around the metal cylinder embedded in her eye and, if Akiko 
was any judge, a good portion of her brain too.

The assassin jumped up from the bed and began picking the lock to her 
cell with her second (and much thinner) piece of scavenged metal.  She 
didn't even allow herself a bit of satisfaction at what a good shot it 
had been; afterwards, yes, but not while she had a job to do.

Getting her lock open took even less time than she had thought; despite 
its size and strength, it was not very sophisticated.  Checking the 
camera, Akiko jumped out while it wasn't looking and adjusted the cop's 
head so that she looked even more like she was sleeping.  Hopefully, 
the ruse wouldn't be discovered too soon, but it looked like no one had 
caught on yet.  Lax security once again.

Akiko made it to the evidence room easily, only having to kill one 
other cop.  Most of the staff were probably home and sleeping at this 
hour (which is obviously why she chose to escape now).  She almost 
broke into laughter when she found her stealth suit, but suppressed it 
and quickly slipped into the garment.  Her wound was healed enough to 
not bother her anymore, and the thin cut made by Gray could be mended 
as good as new.

She would not let this stand.  Either he or she must die for their 
battle to be over.

Akiko the Empty ghosted out of the prison and began to plot her revenge 
against the one they called the Silent Knife.




 tHe bLacK pAcK 


 
  Part 8, Day 10: ...And They All Came Tumbling Down
 

 
  Begun by Mads the Beast,
  This part by David Schwager
 



Sean Willis groaned.  It just didn't make any sense at all.  Why the 
hell was it so quiet?

He raised his head slightly and looked out across the station.  It was 
filled with policemen.  Policemen standing around chatting.  Policemen 
sitting at their desks and working.  Policemen sitting at their desks 
and chatting.  Everywhere you looked there were policemen.

Which seems to be normal fare for a police station, but it was the 
middle of the day, and over half of those policemen gathered here 
should be out somewhere policing.  Investigating crimes, hunting 
crooks, getting donuts, etc.  Instead they were just lounging around 
because, to be perfectly honest, there wasn't much of anything for them 
to police.

For the past few days there had been an incredible anti-crime wave.  
Crime rates had never been this low before.  In fact, it was 
theoretically impossible to get this little crime.  Sure, they still 
got the dregs: a few kids with ski masks and their dad's shotgun and a 
great idea to make money fast, or a jealous husband strangling his 
wife, but real organized crime had practically died out.

It was way too quiet.  Except for the occasional slaughter here and 
there, anyway.  THAT was the weirdest part.  There was obviously a war 
going on, probably a syndicate war.  "Lord Forsythe," that girl had 
said.  Officially, Forsythe didn't exist, but unofficially every cop 
knew he was the head of the biggest syndicate in America, Maccivelli, 
although only in the same way that they knew who was president (ie, it 
didn't actually matter to them, but they still needed to know just in 
case it came up).

If Forsythe was really involved, then there was a power here big enough 
to take on Maccivelli, which meant another huge syndicate.  With two 
huge powers like that clashing, you'd end up with plenty of body piles 
like the ones he had been seeing, but you'd also get hundreds of real 
nasty crooks in town all dressed up and with nowhere to go, so to 
speak, but since they were dressed up with automatics and grenades and 
shit they'd damn well make somewhere to go.  Which would mean crime 
WAVE, not crime DROUGHT.  Why would they all go underground like mice 
hiding from a cat?  It was like they were running away or something.

The problem is that running away doesn't make any sense.  One thing 
almost all syndicate members have in common is arrogance, and that 
leads to a boneheaded belief that other (equally boneheaded) thugs are 
somehow no match for them.  These are not people who scare easily 
unless they're looking down the barrel of a glock from two inches away 
and realizing that they shouldn't have left their gun at home today.  
If they were scared, it would take a god damn demon to do it.

Willis fell out of his chair hard, but barely even noticed the pain as 
he climbed shakily back into his seat.  Not a demon, he thought, THE 
Demon.  That would sure as hell clear a city of thugs as fast as they 
could bloody run.

Pieces began to fall into place.  A shipment from New Alcatraz.  
Military grade ammunition.  Some crazy chick with a stealth suit who 
managed to get herself ventilated despite being entirely invisible.  
The fact that every criminal with two brain cells to rub together was 
making for the city limits like Satan himself was after them.

After all, it wouldn't be too far a stretch.

Sean Willis rubbed his eyes and dismissed the notion.  It would explain 
things, but it couldn't actually be true.  After all, there was a 
reason people were still terrified of the Demon even after five years 
of incarceration.  No one would really be stupid enough to let him 
loose again.

Willis resolved to get some more sleep tonight.  He really needed it if 
he was coming up with crazy ideas like this.  It's not like that woman 
was good enough to need the Demon himself to beat her.  If she was 
really that skilled, then she wouldn't be sitting around in jail.  
She'd have already escaped.

"Yo, Willis!" came a shout from across the room.  "That chick you 
brought in for the Venkman murder?  She just busted outta the clink.  
Killed two cops too.  Chief wants to see you about it." 



Garrick Foster knew something was wrong as soon as he stepped into 
Alexander's room.  There was just a certain unidentifiable tension in 
the air.  Something had happened, he was sure about it.

The fact that the hacker's body was splayed out on the ground helped.

An idiot would have rushed in and shook Alexander awake, shouting stuff 
like "are you okay?" and generally making a target out of yourself.  
Garrick, while concerned for his friend's welfare, knew that running 
into something that could easily be a trap was a bad idea.  Besides, 
the giant was obviously still breathing and alive, so time was not 
critical.

Which is why, instead of being an idiot, Garrick woke up his other 
partners and carefully scoped out the Alexander's room for traps and 
enemies before Garrick walked in and woke him up.

"Ugh... Demon, dat you?  What the hell just hit me..." groaned 
Alexander.

"We were kind of hoping you could tell us," replied the Demon wryly.  
"Any ideas?"

"Nah, just hallucinations."  The hacker chuckled quietly.  "Someone was 
sending a virus into my ice, so I was gonna wipe my hard drive clean-"

"What, for just one virus?  Isn't that overkill?" asked Geraldine.

"It ain't the virus, I was worried about," replied the hacker.  
"Someone was sending it at me specifically, which means they know who I 
am and what my computer's net address is.  If they know that, then 
sooner or later I'll get swamped by every two-bit script kiddie wantin' 
to make a name for himself, not to mention Maccivelli.  It's better to 
just wipe it all out and start clean so they can't find me.  Which I 
was gonna do, but then all the cords in the room grabbed me and zapped 
me unconscious like a bad sci-fi movie."

Which naturally piqued Geraldine's interest.  "Ooh, can I see?  They 
all look plugged in to me.  Lemme take a closer look-"

As soon as she stepped into the room, she straightened like someone had 
just stuck an iron rod through her spine.  "Bomb!" she yelled, and dove 
back into the hallway to cower in a corner.

Despite what they might have thought of Geraldine's judgment, none of 
the other Black Pack members had gotten where they were by responding 
to shouts of "bomb" by looking around and asking "where?"  Garrick 
tossed his trench coat over himself and Alexander, Icy and Genji dived 
sideways in the hallway, and Richmond disappeared.

After a few seconds where nothing happened, Geraldine almost wished a 
bomb really had gone off.  "Er... my bad, I guess."  The others 
cautiously got up and looked around suspiciously (except Gray who 
dropped down from the ceiling like nothing had happened).

"Ger... al... dine..." growled Garrick from between tightly clenched 
teeth.  "Don't you remember when mom told you the story about the boy 
who cried bomb?"

"I always believed the story to be about the boy who cried wolf," said 
Genji hesitantly.  "Was I incorrect?"

"No, but mom's version was actually cried bomb," replied Geraldine.  
"You could say it was a fairy tale with an explosive ending."

"GERALDINE!" yelled the Demon.

"Ah, sorry!  But it's just that it felt like a bomb was about to go 
off," Geraldine apologized sheepishly.  "It's fu-"

"Language!" yelled Garrick.

"-freaking creepy," finished Geraldine.

"How can it possibly feel like a bomb going off?" Garrick growled.  "Do 
you see massive fiery explosions anywhere here?"

"Not like it's going off, like it's about to go off," the explosives 
expert explained.  "Look, you know how bomb defusing is as much an art 
as a science?  Well, that room feels exactly like it does right after 
you cut the red wire and right before it blows up because all the wires 
are really dummies and the real detonator is in a tiny hollow in the 
casing that your mentor yells at you for missing and... uh, yeah, 
anyway, it's creepy as he- er, heck."

"Don't bombs go off instantly?" questioned Garrick grumpily.  He had a 
feeling he had already lost the argument, but like all older brothers 
that wasn't going to stop him from going on.

"Nah, there's about half a second before the explosives heat up enough 
to go boom," explained Geraldine smugly.  "It's generally just enough 
time to throw the thing away and duck.  If you have good reflexes, 
anyway."

"Okay, whatever, point made," Garrick shrugged.  "Anyway, nothing's 
exploding, so it's probably just your imagination."

"Oh, I don't know, Demon, sir," said Gray with his usual cheerful 
smile.  "There is a certain... charge... to the air.  Surely you can 
feel it as well?"

Garrick Foster, aka the Demon, killer of hundreds and feared by 
thousands (possibly even killer of thousands and feared by millions), 
knew when he was beat.  That didn't mean he had to like it, of course.

"Well, I feel something," he grumbled, "but it sure as hell isn't a 
bomb.  Anyone else have any idea why this place feels like lightning 
just hit?"

"Well, I got zapped unconscious," offered Alexander with a wry grin, 
"but that charge should be gone by now.  The only way you'd still feel 
it is if the whole room got zapped, and by the whole room I mean every 
air molecule here.  Or at least most of'em.  I dunno what would cause 
that."

"A really big zap?" suggested Geraldine.

"I told you, it doesn't matter how big the zap is," repeated Alexander 
with the patience born of having to deal with Geraldine before.  "The 
electricity would have to be shot through the air.  It probably has 
something to do with what I saw- oh, shit, holograms!  Of course a 
hologram field would leave a charge in the air!"

Garrick shook his head.  "Holograms are flashy and stupid-looking.  
Even sis could tell that they're fake."

"Hey!" yelled his sis.

"No, I was being zapped at the time!  I couldn't've told time if I was 
looking at a watch.  So the projector must be..."  Alexander trailed 
off and looked around the room as if searching for something.  Then he 
brought one finger up to his lips in the classic 'shhh' gesture, while 
using his other hand to point at the floor.  "I dunno," he said out 
loud.  Everyone understood the message: the room below us, and we're 
probably being listened to.

"Huh?  Then why're you -umph!" Geraldine said before her husband's hand 
clamped down over her mouth.

Well, almost everyone understood it.

Garrick mouthed 'three minutes' silently, and Gray dragged his wife off 
to their room to explain things to her more clearly.

Then Garrick mouthed 'right now' to everyone else.



Three minutes later, Geraldine and the Silent Knife arrived to find the 
other four party members rooting around a rats nest of wires and 
machinery that made the back of your TV look neat and orderly.  To be 
honest, they probably got the better deal, but Geraldine still 
complained a lot.  When they finally found the control console, 
Alexander sat down and spent a good ten minutes cracking into it.

"This is screwed up," he said succinctly.  "Whoever did this security 
was damn good, maybe almost as good as me, but it seems like they 
purposely left holes open."

"In other words, they want you to find something in there and they 
don't want you to know they want to find it," summarized Icy.

"Yeah, except they're real bad at it.  Like they're underestimating me 
or overestimating themselves."  Alexander paused.  "Or maybe it's all 
an elaborate ruse to make us think that... no wait, look at this shit!  
I can get by this by just changing the time stamp.  Does he think I'm a 
moron?  No way would a ruse that elaborate be made this sloppily.  
Someone's overconfident.  There, I'm in."  He leaned back and turned to 
face his audience.  "So, whaddya want to know?  Ooh, I'm thirsty, could 
you gimmie that?  Thanks."  The hacker grabbed a canteen hanging from 
Geraldine's side without waiting for an answer and started to spin open 
the top before it was grabbed back.

"No idiot, don't drink that!" the young girl screamed.  "Never try to 
drink unidentified liquids being carried by bomb experts!  This stuff 
is deadly."

Sensing that his wife was waiting to be asked, Gray did so.  "What is 
it, dear?"

Geraldine visibly puffed up.  "It's a kind of custom gel I made.  It 
burns hot and fast; a little dribble can eat through most any locks, 
walls, or whatever you want to open up at the moment.  In a pinch, you 
can even use it as a low-grade explosive if you have enough."

"Poisonous?" asked Alexander hesitantly.

"Extremely," confirmed Geraldine with a hint of smugness.

"Glad you had the cap on tight then.  So, Demon, watcha want to know?"

"Anything, of course," responded Garrick.

"Well, let's see," began Alexander as he turned back to the computer.  
"This whole rig is operated remotely, although I imagine someone had to 
bring all this equipment up.  It ain't just holograms either, there's a 
big electric zapper they used to knock me out.  I dunno who was using 
it though.  Wait, nevermind, it's right here: this thing was being 
controlled from a small business downtown.  One of the most important 
local fronts of the Maccivelli.  Let's see what else I can find... 
maps?  Hmm, not very detailed, just room assignments- oh shit.  Shit 
shit shit shit."

"What?  What what what what?" asked Geraldine anxiously from the back 
of the crowd.

"Remember how I said we was supposed to find this, Demon?  Well, look 
over here."  Alexander pointed to something onscreen.

If you were close enough, you could see in big red letters: Jail Cell, 
occupant Kaoru Oritsuin.



Six heavily armed men and women stood outside a small, entirely 
unremarkable (unless you knew what to remark on) office building.

"It's a trap," warned Icy.

"Well duh, of course it's a trap," snapped the Demon.  "It's the most 
obvious trap in the world and we're going in all guns blazing because 
we don't have a god damn choice.  Ready, Genji?"

"I was birthed ready, is how you Americans say it, yes?"

Richmond shrugged.  "Close enough."

It would make the world a much neater (if maybe not much nicer) place 
if there was a simple scale of evil, running from Ghandi to Hitler, and 
everyone fit nicely somewhere along it.  The truth was that there's a 
lot more gray area than most people like to think about.  Garrick 
Foster, for instance, was not a very nice or good person.  He killed 
people.  Lots and lots of people.  When he controlled a syndicate, he 
ran guns and drugs and lots of other products that can ruin lives 
because people paid him money to do it.

However, it is said that there is honor among thieves, and this is 
absolutely true.  It's just that not every thief has the same type of 
honor.

For instance, Garrick has plenty of rules he lived by.  He never forced 
drugs or guns on people who didn't want them.  He never started 
conflicts to increase the prices on his wares.  And he never killed 
innocents if he could help it.  He never took hostages, he never killed 
the families of traitors, and he never, ever, under any circumstances, 
hurt a pregnant woman.

Which is partly why he was so pissed at Remy.  It felt like someone had 
just broken the unspoken rules of conduct that kept syndicate warfare 
from turning into a bloodbath of nationwide destruction.

"Okay, game plan people," said Garrick as he mentally loosened himself.  
Get rid of the anger, it doesn't help.  Get rid of the anger, it 
doesn't help.  Get rid of the anger, it doesn't help.  "Me and Genji'll 
take point.  Icy, give us support.  Gray, scout ahead.  Alexander, 
cover our backs.  We'll head straight for the cell on the map, and if 
she's not there... we'll work something out."

"What about me?" asked Geraldine.

"Stay out of our way," growled the Demon.  "It's gonna get messy."  Oh, 
to hell with it.  Anger felt GOOD.

Garrick Foster kicked down the door and started shooting.



As far as daring commando raids go, this was not really one for the 
history books.  Besides the rather weak resistance in the foyer, the 
Black Pack only met the occasional group of soldiers, all of whom were 
dispatched quickly.

The helpfully labeled jail cell was underground on B5.  The only way to 
get there was by taking the main elevator down to B3, getting off and 
going all the way across the complex, and then taking a second elevator 
down to B5, whereupon you need to go all the way back across the 
building until you're right under the first elevator.

Geraldine wanted to just blast right through the floor, but this was 
vetoed by other party members who had rather more respect for their own 
lives.

Garrick noticed something was wrong when they were almost to the second 
elevator.  "Gray, what the hell are you doing?" he asked none too 
nicely.  "You're supposed to be scouting, but you haven't moved since 
we got here."

"Ah, well, there's so few enemies that I didn't feel it necessary," 
replied Gray smoothly.  "I just feel that I have better things to do 
with my time."

Garrick almost yelled at the blade master before he caught the subtext: 
it's better for me to be here than there.  And then the Demon noticed 
how Richmond Gray was holding the handle of one of his knives.

The Silent Knife never drew a weapon unless it was needed.

Garrick shut up.

The guards at the elevator were taken care of by a grenade, a quick 
burst of handgun fire from both Genji and Garrick, and a few sniper 
rounds.  Then everyone glared at Geraldine for screwing up their aim 
with a grenade.

"Well, sorry!" she whined as they squeezed into one of the elevators.  
"But come on, you can't deny it was a good throw, right?  It arced just 
over their baracade, and boom!  Sent one guy flying right over the top 
too.  Right?  Right?  Oh, don't glare at me like that bro.  Hey, honey, 
you coming?"

"Oh, the elevator looks a little crowded," said Gray as he smiled.  
"I'll just wait for the next one.  Don't worry, just go on without me.  
You won't even know I was missing."

"Don't be silly, there's plenty of room," responded Geraldine.  "Just 
squeeze in next to me, right?"

"No, I wouldn't want to cause anyone discomfort.  Just go on, I'll be 
right down."  Gray smiled even more than usual, as if that alone would 
convince anyone.

Garrick shrugged and let the elevator doors close, mildly surprised 
that Geraldine didn't protest more.  After a few seconds, she spoke up.  
"Do you think it was Akiko again?" she asked.

"Wha- Huh- How the hell'd you know what I was thinking?" yelled 
Garrick.

"Oh come on, I'm not that stupid," she replied.  "He had his knife half 
drawn the whole way down and he wouldn't move an inch away from us.  I 
know he doesn't draw his knife without reason.  So, do you think it's 
that invisible girl you told me about in the club?  Akiko the 
container, or whatever?"



"Akiko the Empty, I presume?" Richmond Gray asked of what appeared to 
be thin air.

"That is correct, Silent Knife," the thin air replied.  "How did you 
know I was here?"

Gray laughed slightly.  "Why, I would have to be blind to miss a woman 
of your beauty."

"You have nowhere to run to this time, Knife.  No girders to hide 
behind, no corners to run to.  Just a big empty stone room."

"Ah, you forget the rubble and bodies behind me.  Mostly my allies' 
work, of course, so messy.  But effective nonetheless."

"You have nowhere to hide, nowhere to run," taunted Akiko.  "I can see 
everything you do, but you can't see me.  You will die."

"Of course I will die," said Gray cheerfully.  "Everyone dies.  
However, it still remains in question if you will be the one to kill 
me."

"Then let us answer it," said Akiko as she launched a flight of her 
tiny needles.

Needles that the Silent Knife effortlessly sidestepped.

"Impressive," said Akiko as she moved stealthily to a new location, the 
voice software on her suit echoing it so as to make it seem like she 
hadn't moved at all.  "But can you do it again?"  Another volley, and 
another effortless sidestep.

"You shouldn't rush so much," suggested Gray.  "This is only our second 
date, after all.  I'm sure you can do better than that."

Akiko mentally cursed and moved.  Perhaps the voice software was 
defective?  Or maybe he was just good enough to hear through it.  
Whatever the case, he wouldn't be so lucky next time.  Aiming perfect 
for his lower back, she shot-

-and he dodged again, a single quick movement that left his coat 
hanging in the breeze, so fast you couldn't even see him move.

Akiko fired again and again quickly, but with no more effect than the 
first time.  Snarling, she began moving as rapidly as she could while 
remaining stealthy, firing at uneven intervals.  Left, right, even up 
onto the walls and ceiling, it didn't seem to make any difference.  
Every shot was precisely dodged with seemingly no effort at all.

Richmond Gray turned to face her, to face the invisible her that he 
should be able to see, and he said, "Do you want to know how I can do 
that?"

Mentally, she screamed YES, but her pride and honor would not allow her 
to beg out loud.  Instead, she moved slowly, as quietly as she could, 
to the left.

Gray's eyes followed her.  She froze, and so did his eyes.

"The thing most people don't realize," he said cheerfully, "is that 
every weapon has strengths and weaknesses.  There is no such thing as a 
perfect weapon.  Take your needles, for instance.  They are weaker and 
slower than bullets, but also smaller and without the flash and bang of 
guns.  A good weapon for someone like yourself who hides in the shadows 
as an invisible presence.  Better to give up power and speed to 
maximize your invisibility.  However, this choice creates new 
weaknesses even as it gives you strengths.  In this case, the slow 
speed of the needles gives me time to dodge after I hear them being 
fired."

"But how do you know where the needles are coming from?" Akiko nearly 
screamed.  "How can you tell where I am?"

The Silent Knife began to walk slowly forward, straight at Akiko's 
fearful form.  "The weakness of your suit," he said happily, "is sound.  
I couldn't take advantage of it at the club with all the terribly loud 
music, but in this place it is simple to hear your footsteps and keep 
track of your location."

"Th-that's impossible!  My stealth is perfect!  It's impossible for you 
to hear me!"

"My dear, you are wearing a suit of metal mesh and walking on stone.  
You are very quiet, but far from total silence.  You provide just 
enough sound for me to locate you."

"How can you hear me when I can't even hear myself?" asked Akiko as she 
desperately raised her arm and shot a last volley of needles at the 
slowly approaching figure.  He dodged aside and rushed forward the last 
few feet, twirling his knife to cut through Akiko's crossbow and press 
against her invisible throat in one fluid motion.

"That is because you are wearing a helmet of metal as well," finished 
the Silent Knife.  "You are really quite good, you know.  However, a 
true master of our arts should have a clearer understanding of their 
strengths and weaknesses and pick battlegrounds in light of that.  The 
last place we fought favored you, and you nearly defeated me.  This 
place favors me, and, well, you can clearly see the result."

"Kill me," pleaded Akiko.  "You have won twice now.  Honor demands that 
I die."

"Oh, don't say that.  Death isn't something you should be so eager to 
embrace."  Richmond Gray flashed her his most winning smile.  "To tell 
the truth, I was rather disappointed with your showing today.  I had 
much more last time."  Without his smile wavering an inch, he pressed 
his blade further against Akiko's neck.  The stealth suit swirled 
through various colors before it parted, and a thin trickle of blood 
ran down Gray's blade.  "Consider your throat cut, although I imagine 
you will somehow escape the clutching maw of the void and make a 
miraculous recovery from the brink of death.  Fueled by your unending 
desire to defeat me, no doubt."

Smiling, the Silent Knife re-sheathed his blade with a flourish and 
walked to the elevator, leaving a quietly sobbing Akiko behind.  Before 
the doors closed, he shouted back one more thing: "I hope you'll pick 
somewhere more suitable for our third date!"



"So, this is it?" said Alexander as the four Black Pack members and 
Genji stared at the metal double doors.

"My girlfriend is in there, yes?" said Genji.

"I still can't believe sis noticed that," said a dazed Garrick.

After Geraldine and Icy hit him, Garrick seemed to recover most of his 
wits.  "Okay, so we just bust in there and pray for the best?  You guys 
get back, since I'm the only one with bullet-proofing around here.  
Three, two, one, LET'S GO!"  A solid kick knocked the doors back, 
revealing a spacious, dark, and apparently empty room.  There were too 
many shadows at the back of the room for the Demon's liking, however.

At least until the floodlights came on, illuminating a balcony with two 
goons holding a tied up woman upright between them.

"AHAHAHAHA," laughed someone through an overly loud set of speakers.  
"WELCOME, BLACK PACK.  THIS ROOM SHALL BE YOUR DOOM, AS I-"

"Hey, Genji!" yelled the woman.  "What the hell took you so long?  I've 
been waiting for days!"

"HEY, WHAT ARE-"

"I apologize most profoundly, Kaoru-chan.  It was difficult to find 
you, and I was rather incapacitated for some time."

"WHO DO YOU-"

"Yeah, hah hah.  And I'm a little tied up now too.  Can you hurry and 
get me out of these things?  I'm sure this can't be good for the baby."

"LOOK, WOULD YOU-"

"Of course, dear."  With two quick bangs, the goons heads were blown 
clear off thanks to Genji's samurai revolver.

"YOU BASTARD-"

"Oh now look, I've got blood all over my clothes.  And who the hell is 
gonna untie me now, huh?"

"Remind you a bit of your mom, Demon?" joked Alexander.

"No way," chorused the Foster siblings.

"I can't imagine mom getting mad just because a little blood got on her 
clothes," said Geraldine.  "At least not if it was the blood of people 
who were tying her up and holding her hostage.  She'd probably cheer 
and try to frame the dress."

"What the hell are you talking about?" replied Garrick.  "I can't even 
imagine mom letting anyone tie her up and hold her hostage."

"Oooh, good point, bro."

"DO YOU MORONS-"

"I'm sorry dear, I'll be right up in a moment."

"You'd better be."

"OH, THAT'S IT!  IGNORE THIS, BASTARDS!"

A low rumbling sounded for a second, and then the entire back wall 
underneath the balcony exploded in a shower of stone shrapnel.  As the 
dust cleared, it became evident that the blast was not due to 
explosives, but rather due to a large tank that had driven through the 
wall like rice paper.

"It seems I may be a moment, Kaoru-chan," said Genji apologetically.

"Hmph.  Just make it snappy."

Now, back to the tank.

Well, calling it a tank really isn't all that accurate.  It did bear 
some similarities to one, and the base chasis and treads even belonged 
to one, but everything else was different.  Instead of the usual 
cannon, the swiveling top was attached to several gattling guns nearly 
as large as Alexander's.  Machine guns were welded to the front and 
sides in mounts with just enough swivel to hose down a good-sized arc 
of area rather than just one line.  To make the whole thing even 
better, the rear of the machine was covered with three large missile 
bays, like the kind you'd see on artillery pieces.  Just as a finishing 
touch, the sparks that occasionally came off the tank indicated that 
the armor was electrified.  No climbing up top to open the hatch on 
this baby.

The Black Pack dived sideways as the doorway was shredded with hundreds 
of bullets.

"PLAN?" yelled the Demon, making it clear he didn't have one.

"RUN!" yelled Alexander.

"WE CAN'T!  GIRLFRIEND!" yelled Genji.

"Well, I don't want the get in the way or anything..." said Geraldine 
snidely, although the effect was rather ruined when she had to dive 
clumsily to the side to avoid a spray of bullets.  Thankfully, the 
tank's design had forgone accuracy for abundance (there were lots of 
guns, but none could aim real well).

"You can beat it?" snarled Garrick.

Geraldine obviously was thinking about sticking to her sarcasm, but 
reconsidered when a bullet zipped over her head.  "Yeah.  Bro, with me.  
You three, distract him."

"And how do you suggest we do that exactly?" asked Icy.

Geraldine shrugged.  "Don't get hit.  Oh, and try to get him bragging.  
He seems pretty vain.  Now, c'mon, bro, let's get back into the 
hallway."

Icy considered her options.  On the one hand, banter wasn't her strong 
point.  On the other hand, neither was being shot full of bullets.  
"Hey, guy in the tank!" she yelled.  "I don't suppose you want to tell 
me your name?"  Even to her ears, it seemed like a fairly stupid thing 
to ask.

"HAH, CAN'T IGNORE ME NOW, HUH?  WELL, I'M LIEUTENANT DOUGALL, THE MOST 
LOYAL AND FAVORED LIEUTENANT UNDER REMY FORSYTHE..."

Icy listened as the voice continued to brag.  The tank's aim was 
visibly worse now.

This bantering was easier than she had thought.



"So," began Garrick slowly, "how're you gonna blow up that tank?"

Geraldine slowly walked down the hallway, looking at the walls.  "Oh, I 
dunno, I'm just a stupid, useless little girl who doesn't know 
anything, right?"

"Ah, hello, dear, Demon, sir.  How are you?" greeted Gray politely from 
where he had appeared.

"Ah, good timing, honey," said Geraldine without looking away from the 
walls.  "There's a guy with a tank in there we need you to distract.  
Go flash him that infuriating smile of yours and dodge all his 
bullets."

Gray smiled innocently.  "Whatever do you mean?  All my smiles are 
embodiments of cheer and happiness."

Geraldine did look at her husband this time.  "Yeah, that's exactly the 
one.  Go in there and piss him off,"

"Yes ma'am!" saluted Gray sharply before walking through the doors.  
Geraldine shook her head and resumed inspecting the walls.

"Sis...ter," growled Garrick.

Apparently finding what she was looking for, Geraldine ducked down and 
kicked open one of the metal panels in the stone wall that everyone 
usually just ignores.  She peered around inside contemplatively.  
"Well," she said as she grabbed something inside and pulled it out, "I 
was planning on using my Bergault Munitions AT HAP Rocket; that's anti-
tank heavy armor piercing, by the way."

Garrick frowned.  "I didn't let you buy that.  Too dangerous," he said.

"Why, I do believe you're right."  The thing Geraldine was pulling 
turned out to be a large bundle of wires (almost half a foot across) 
bound together by metal rings.  Continuing to pull, she brought it out 
until the bundle's end was in the center of the hallway.  "In that 
case," she continued, "I'll just use my Strome Armaments AV HAP SC Land 
Mine; that's anti-vehicle heavy armor piercing shaped charge, by the 
way."

Garrick's frown deepened.  "I know, and I didn't let you buy that 
either."

"Why, you seem to be right again.  Are we seeing a pattern yet, DEAR 
BROTHER, or do you want me to list five or so other examples?"

"Okay, okay, I get the message.  If we survive I'll buy you some more 
high explosives.  Now, what are you going to do about the TANK?"

Geraldine uncorked her canteen and spilled a small amount of clear ooze 
over the wires.  Smearing it to a fine coat, she flicked out her 
lighter and touched it to the bundle before jumping back, just quick 
enough to avoid burns from the flames that leapt up.  After burning for 
a few seconds, the flames died as fast as they had started, leaving a 
melted tangle of metal and plastic.

Geraldine stood up and admired her handiwork.  "Well, since I don't 
have the right weapons, I'll have to do this."

"And what exactly is this?" questioned Garrick as he grew ever more 
angry.

Geraldine rolled her eyes.  "It's a power main that I stripped of 
insulation and fused the separate wires together.  I wouldn't get too 
close, as there's enough current going through there to make you a 
crispy brown.  Now, it's time to gather up our distraction and run."

"Genji won't leave his girlfriend behind," warned Garrick.

"We'll come back for her.  I know the Japanese aren't good with things 
like strategic retreat, but if he doesn't come with us he's as good as 
dead.  HEY!  EVERYONE IN THE TANK ROOM HAD BETTER GET OUT HERE UNLESS 
THEY WANT TO DIE!"

There were a few seconds where nothing happened.  One, two, three...

And then the double doors busted open and out came Alexander, holding 
Genji and his girlfriend over one shoulder and his gun over the other.  
"JUMP THE WIRE!" yelled Geraldine, and Alexander just barely did in 
time, turning it into a sort of stumbling hop.  Icy and Gray were right 
behind the giant, and they leapt the wire far more gracefully (having 
been forewarned of the danger).  With everyone accounted for, they 
anxiously waited for the rest of Geraldine's brilliant plan.

"Run that way," she said, and sprinted off down the hallway.

"How'd you get Genji's girlfriend down?" asked Garrick questioningly.

"It's a... long story..." wheezed Alexander.

"We're... a bit... winded..." panted Icy.

"Wow, that must've been one hell of a tank to get you guys this tired, 
huh?" said Geraldine.

"Ah... the girl... she jests... baka..." moaned out Genji.  "My poor... 
abused... skull..."

"You were... right about... my smile..." grinned Gray.  "He seemed 
to... find it most... irritating."

The double doors chose that moment to be broken off their hinges as the 
tank began to charge down the hallway at full speed.  "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" 
came the voice from inside it.  "RUN FROM MY MIGHT, YOU COWARDS!  FEAR 
MY WHUMPAARGHOOM-"

It was a weird sort of double-explosion that you got to hear first from 
the inside, and then on the outside as the tank's hatch was carried 
into the ceiling (a distance of about four feet) on a large plume of 
yellow explosion.

Whoever was inside that tank was most certainly dead now.  It seemed 
remarkably fitting that his last words were a confident boast cut off 
by his own defeat, although no one could say quite why it felt that 
way.

The Black Pack collapsed to their knees, threat averted, except for 
Garrick, who just stared, and Geraldine, who calmly lit up a cigarette.

Garrick looked over at his sister.  "I think I speak for everyone when 
I ask... what the hell just happened, Geraldine?"

She shrugged.  "Simple, really.  I stripped a power main and when he 
ran over it, he got zapped with this entire building's worth of 
electricity.  Normally it wouldn't have been a problem, since a tank 
chasis is insulated against that kind of stuff, but the moron went and 
electrified it.  Which means that a generator was hooked up to the 
armor and was pouring electricity into it, but also that electricity 
could be poured into the armor and therefore into the generator.  I 
basically just gave that generator a few hundred thousand more volts 
than it could safely handle, and it blew up, taking out the tank from 
the inside.  Simple, really."

Abruptly, the lights went out, leaving the pack in total darkness with 
the exception of Geraldine's cigarette and the flames from the tank.

"Geraldine... did you just blow the building's power supply?" asked 
Icy.

"Uh... seems that way..." the girl responded.

"And how are we going to get back up without the elevators working?" 
Icy asked.

Geraldine paused to think about it.  "I'm guessing... with difficulty?"



Remy Forsythe smiled at the face on his screen.  Well, face might be 
too strong a word, since the only thing there was a gas mask.  But 
there was presumably a face underneath.

"So, if I understand your report correctly, Genji and his girlfriend 
are already back in Japan, correct?" asked the Maccivelli leader.

"yes.  they arrived by stealth helicopter several hours ago."

This wasn't exactly news for Remy, but it was always good to know that 
Wraith was telling the truth.  "And Dougall is dead?"

"the fool was destroyed in his own tank," confirmed Wraith.

"And, as per your mission, Garrick Foster is dead, correct?"

Ah, this was always the fun part.

"..."

"Well, Wraith?  Don't tell me that you... failed?"

"i was prevented from completing my mission by your puppet dougall.  
failure was not my fault."

"I had trust in you, Wraith.  I really did."  As far as Remy was 
concerned, a lie that big wasn't really a lie at all.  "I thought that 
Cyber Wraith never failed."

"i did not fail.  dougall failed."

"Trying to use excuses isn't going to work, Wraith.  You failed, and we 
never agreed what the punishment for failure would be."

"i will return my fee.  if you insist, i will even add a small amount 
of my own money."

"That just isn't going to be enough.  You see, your failure has cost me 
far more than simple money.  You cost me one of my best and most 
trusted Lieutenants."  It took every ounce of self-control to keep from 
bursting into laughter at that remark, but Remy somehow managed it.  
"The only way you can make up for your failure is to find someone 
skilled to work for me.  Not necessarily as a Leutenant like Dougall.  
Maybe... a hacker.  I'm awfully short of them these days.  Yes, a 
skilled hacker would be an excellent replacement.  Tell me, Cyber 
Wraith, have you ever considered dropping your contract work and 
becoming a full time employee?"

"i have no wish to be employed by you.  if you desire my services so 
much, you may contact me again by the usual means."

"Ah, you're making a terrible mistake."

"i do not believe so.  i rather prefer things the way they are now."

"Oh, I'm sure you do.  But the mistake I was speaking of is that you 
have a choice in the matter."

"i have no physical body where you can reach it.  the trick from last 
time will not work again.  you cannot touch me argh!"

The last strangled gasp came as a large arm snaked across Cyber 
Wraith's neck, bringing the hacker into a headlock.

"It seems you were mistaken on that account, Wraith.  I am looking 
forward to your work for me."

"how... did you find... me?" choked out the strangling figure.

"Ah, by using these communications, of course.  You are quite good, but 
you think far too highly of yourself.  Now, I hope you enjoy your job 
training.  Goodbye."

Remy laughed as the screen turned black.  His plan was a success on 
nearly all counts.  Cyber Wraith captured and soon to be turned to good 
use.  Dougall finally gone.  And best of all, the famed Yakuza, Genji 
Samanosuke, was freed from the clutches of those he hunted and ready to 
begun undermining the Japanese mafia once again.  Of course, there 
would be a small price to pay, but it would be well worth it.  And it 
would not be hard to blame Genji's escape on the Black Pack, possibly 
gaining valuable resources from the Yakuza bosses to aid in his fight 
against them.

Remy Forsythe was the head of the largest syndicate in North America, 
but that was a little small for his taste.  He wouldn't stop until he 
owned the only syndicate in the world.

Undermine others.  Plant seeds of distrust.  Gain as much power as he 
could.  Then take each country over one by one until they were all his.  
The Black Pack were a minor nuisance, and one that would be easily 
exterminated given enough time.  No need to switch methods on them just 
yet.

After all, they each only needed to lose once.  Let one bullet get too 
close.  Drop their guard at just the wrong time.  Get a bit too unlucky 
and have a piece of shrapnel stab through their heart.

They could only lose once, but Remy could lose as many as he wanted.  
There would always be more ready to fill the ranks, after all.



Author's Notes:

Whoo, that was a rush.  Barely got it finished in time, too.  I had to 
cut out a fairly large scene in the middle, but it was mostly just 
filler anyway.

I'm kinda unhappy with this part, since I was really busy this week and 
had to rush this thing in at the last moment to get it finished.  Typos 
and such are bound to abound.  I don't think I did most of the 
characters justice, especially Icy (whom I had big plans with yet they 
all fizzled).  Genji also got the short stick, but I'm less sorry about 
that.  Remy, Geraldine, and Gray all came out okay though, so that's 
good.  This was definitely Geraldine's moment to shine (mostly because 
she's been so useless lately, I decided to help her out).

Also, about mother Foster: for some reason, I keep obsessing over her 
and adding a bunch of references to her.  She's one of my favorite 
characters, yet she never actually appears in the series, and if I have 
my way she never will.  She works best as a sort of amorphous presence 
in the background, a frighteningly powerful matriarch without any real 
concrete knowledge of who she is.  Er.  I don't think I'm making any 
sense, huh?  Damn, I'm tired.

Last thing: I killed off Dougall because A) it was about time for him 
to die, B) I made him so I can damn well kill him and C) no one else 
wrote anything for him, so he probably shouldn't have been here in the 
first place.  I realized he probably wouldn't catch on (who really 
wants to write an action story where the principal enemy is a bumbling 
moron?), but included him anyway because I felt it made sense story-
wise for Remy to start off with the scraps.  Sort of a "what the story 
needs over what the author wants" kind of attitude which I try to 
subscribe to.  Also, special thanks to Mads for bring my head back to 
earth when thinking about whether to kill Akiko or not.  Really, 
killing people can be such a rush sometimes you hardly know when to 
stop.

David Schwager