Silence In Numbers: File One, page 11
Katsumi was unable to prevent a smile forming on her lips at the memories that brought up. “You could’ve warned the rookie, you know.”
Sano blinked. “I see… And how would that have been fun to watch?”
Katsumi laughed, shaking her head. “I’ve never seen someone so crestfallen by a reaction to a party. I had to pretend to enjoy it just for his benefit.”
“That was pretending to enjoy it?”
“Hey, give me a break. At least I tried.”
“Not very hard.”
“You’re asking a lot from me.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sano pushed off the doorframe and gestured towards the computer. “Anything new?”
Katsumi sobered with a sigh and shook her head. “I haven’t found anything, not even a suspect.” She glanced at him. “Did you get Law’s report?”
Sano grimaced. “Yeah, pretty disturbing stuff.”
“Needlessly so. What’s the point of going to such trouble? Why not just use normal explosives or something similar?”
Sano shrugged. “It’s an act of terror, right? I guess living bombs spread more terror.”
“Mmm.” Katsumi clasped her hands and leaned her chin on them. “I still don’t know what he’s trying to terrorize.”
“At this point I’d say you. The last attack was on you directly, wasn’t it?”
“And maybe the one before that as well.”
“Right. So I guess the only question is why.”
“If you’re going to come up with a list of people who may want to kill me, you’re going to need a lot of data space.”
“Yeah, that’s not exactly helpful.” Sano tapped his chin. “Maybe trying to kill you is just a reaction? The guy got worried we were gonna catch him.”
“Or he wants to take out the leading counter-terrorist in the city.”
“World.”
“City.”
“Country?”
“Fine,” Katsumi sighed. “The point is, if he wants to conduct terrorism here, our team is the main obstacle.”
“Oh, so he’s after the whole team now, is he?”
Katsumi raised an eyebrow. “You think it’s personal?”
Sano shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. This guy’s unpredictable as hell. Basically all I can tell you is that he’ll blow something up. It’s just that the last two times he did so he came kinda close to killing you, so either it’s a really bad coincidence or you’re his current target.”
Katsumi leaned back in her chair. “At least that’s better.”
“Yeah, who doesn’t love having their own personal terrorist? I know I’m jealous. Can’t wait until I’m popular enough to get one of my own.”
“You know what I mean, Sano.”
“Yeah. Less danger for innocents, more on you. Most people wouldn’t consider that a good thing, you know.”
“You would.”
“Yeah but I’m crazy. What’s your excuse?”
“I have an obsession with danger?”
Sano snorted. “Can’t argue with that one.”
Katsumi waved towards the door. “If I’m going to be a target for a madman, I need to learn more. Get out, you’re distracting me.”
“Fine, fine.” Sano backed towards the door, pointing at her. “You better get some rest soon, though.”
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
“If you don’t sleep that might be sooner than you think.”
“Lecture me some other time, Mother. Don’t you have work to do? And close the door on your way out.”
Sano grinned at her as he pulled the door closed. “Kids are so rude these days.”
Katsumi rolled her eyes as she looked back at her computer. She had pulled up every bit of data they had on the bombings and the victims, which wasn’t much. She had hoped that staring at the entire picture would make something come together for her or reveal some little detail they’d missed, but so far she’d learned nothing new.
In all honesty it was driving her crazy. While actively out in the field she was able to slip into an attitude fueled by determination and duty, and while with others she could put on a mask of slight distraction or focus so that they knew something was up but were able to assume it wasn’t that big a deal.
But when alone, when sitting in a dark room staring at a screen of the pitiful amount of clues she’d managed to collect, willing something, anything to appear and lead her towards her quarry, she could feel herself becoming less sane with every passing hour. She stared at the words until they blurred so much she couldn’t read them anymore, then wracked her brain for answers that simply weren’t there. There wasn’t enough to go on, to lead her anywhere. She knew she needed more information, but she wouldn’t get that until there was another bombing, and the fact that she had to wait for people to die before she could figure out how to protect them was practically taking a sledgehammer to her sanity.
Thirty-four… My big sister is getting so old!
The words drew Katsumi out of her self-hating reverie and brought a smile to her face. Why does everyone remember my birthday but me?
Because you’re really, really bad at focusing on yourself. Really, Sumi, you should try to be a little more selfish.
So what, I should just abandon my job for the day and spend it all with you?
Yes! Exactly! Now you’re thinking straight!
Katsumi laughed softly. That’s exactly what I want to do, Aya, but I can’t. I’m already going crazy here, I need a lead or something. I’d barely be able to enjoy myself.
She could hear Ayane sigh. Fine, work yourself to an early grave instead of spending all day with your shining star of a sister.
Maybe I should take lessons from you on focusing on myself more. You seem to be good at it.
Hey, I’m worth it!
Katsumi smiled. I won’t disagree.
In all seriousness, happy birthday, sister. I’m truly happy to celebrate your surviving your crazy death wishes and mad terrorists and evil spirits and giant demons for another year. I love you, Sumi.
I love you too, Aya. Thank you for keeping me strong and keeping yourself stronger. You know I’ll be up there at some point today, as I always am.
I look forward to it! We’re totally staying outside!
Katsumi smiled softly. Of course we are. Even if it’s raining. Now go back to sleep, it’s midnight. I don’t want you falling asleep on me when I’m there.
Ugh, you’re such a slave driver! You and your ‘caring about my health’ nonsense, I swear…
Katsumi laughed at her sister. Sleeping now, try to get some yourself, see you when I get there!
Katsumi sat back with a sigh, feeling better than she had earlier. She counted herself lucky that she and her sister had each other, and friends like Sano and the ones Ayane had that Katsumi had only met a couple times. Doing things alone made them a thousand times harder.
A small beep from her computer caught her attention. She’d received a message from an online chat program she never used, and the name on it was one she didn’t recognize, what appeared to be a random series of letters: ASDF. Frowning, she clicked on the window to read the message.
You’re still alive. I guess you think you’re smart, beating my attack.
Katsumi sat up ramrod-straight, her entire body tensing. She immediately began typing furiously, setting up a back-trace protocol that would follow the message back to the computer it had originated at. She also started a scan over her system to ensure nothing was breaking in or would be able to break in, and activated a program that would record all activity on her computer. It only took her a few seconds to start most of this, and in-between she typed a response to the message.
I’ve taken down terrorists and criminals worse and more brilliant than you could even imagine. Working in my jurisdiction was your last mistake.
She pressed enter and finished her set-ups before watching the message window anxiously until another beep announced the reply.
I don’t think so. You see, you don’t know who I am, but I know enough about you. You’ve got some real big weaknesses and they’re going to be easy to use to get you.
Katsumi typed back, trying not to let her emotions direct her responses.
It doesn’t matter what you know, you don’t stand a chance. Sooner or later I’ll find you and you’ll spend the rest of your life in a prison cell. All you’re doing is stalling the inevitable.
I disagree. I don’t lose.
Seems to me you lost in the subway.
A minor set-back. You’re the one stalling the inevitable now by staying alive. You’ll die soon enough. Trust me; you won’t be able to stop the next one.
He disconnected before she was able to respond to his last statement. She rapidly checked her back-trace and discovered with immense relief that it had gotten a location locked down before the disconnection. Katsumi shot up from her desk and threw the door open, shouting down the hall. “SANO! Get down to the car; we need to get going, NOW!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In a dark room lit only by the glow of six bright monitors sat a man who was still unknown to the world at large. He was shrouded in shadow both physically and figuratively, a status that suited him well for the moment but was destined to change soon enough. One of his monitors had recently shown a surge of activity on a computer belonging to one Katsumi Samakura, and a little investigation had led him to learn she’d just been contacted by the person who’d been giving her so much grief over the past few days.
A strange smile lifted his lips as he rested his cheek against the fist of one hand, browsing through tons of data on several of the screens with the other. “Looks like Round One is finally kicking off… Let’s review the players.” He lifted his hand and tapped a part of the screen, bringing up a large information page with pictures along the side, reading over the information displayed there.
Name: Samuel Lawrence
Nicknames: Law
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Birth Date: January 3rd 2029
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois
Citizenry: United States American
Current Residence: Araton Apartment Building, Apartment 112
Surviving Family: None Known
Cyber Percentage: 43%
Company: Aegis Corporation
Division: SIN
Rank: Sergeant First Class
Currently Serving Under: Captain Katsumi Samakura
Expertise: Demolitions and Heavy Weapons
“The old war buddy…” The man smiled. “Dangerous to any opponent using explosives, such as their current target. Blindly loyal to his Captain but he won’t be involved as much directly.” He closed the tab and opened the next page.
Name: Reno Hillford
Nicknames: Ace
Gender: Male
Age: 31
Birth Date: October 5th 2037
Birth Place: Phoenix, Arizona
Citizenry: United States American
Current Residence: Tusori Village
Surviving Family: Wife (Lenora, 29), Daughter (Lianne, 5), Parents, Two Sisters
Cyber Percentage: 5%
Company: Aegis Corporation
Division: SIN
Rank: Corporal
Currently Serving Under: Captain Katsumi Samakura
Expertise: Piloting / Transportation
“The family man. That could be a problem for him at some point.” The man tapped another screen, bringing up a report. “His low CP and relative weakness nearly caused his Captain’s death. Perhaps a weak spot on the team, perhaps not.” He moved to the next page.
Name: Rufus Ivanov
Nicknames: Ice
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Birth Date: July 18th 2031
Birth Place: Volgograd, Russia
Citizenry: Russian
Current Residence: Turin High-Rise Apartment Building, Loft Apartment 82
Surviving Family: Brother (Location Unknown, see File 487)
Cyber Percentage: 67%
Company: Aegis Corporation
Division: SIN
Rank: Specialist
Currently Serving Under: Captain Katsumi Samakura
Expertise: Assassination and High-Profile Infiltration
“Ah, yes, the expert.” The man smiled at the cold picture on the page. “Calculating and without the compunctions his current officer is restrained by. Possibly a weak link psychologically. I believe I have him marked as the most likely candidate in the event of a team betrayal.” He closed the page and opened the next one.
Name: Kurasano Lionel
Nicknames: Sano, Lion, Red
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Date: September 17th 2034
Birth Place: Itami, Japan
Citizenry: Japanese
Current Residence: Culsor Apartment Building, Apartment 6732
Surviving Family: Mother, Sister (Both living normally in Japan)
Cyber Percentage: 32%
Company: Aegis Corporation
Division: SIN
Rank: First Lieutenant
Currently Serving Under: Captain Katsumi Samakura
Expertise: Combat and Low-Profile Infiltration
“The second-in-command.” The man tilted his head and studied the page. “He doesn’t have quite as much experience as some of the others, so more thought must have gone into his placement. According to my other files his position was requested by Captain Samakura based on his history and psych evaluation reports… How very interesting. I don’t believe he is a weak link in any way. He will factor strongly in this round.” He switched over to the final page in this file. “And here we have our champion…”
Name: Katsumi Samakura
Nicknames: Sama, Boss
Gender: Female
Age: 34
Birth Date: March 27th 2034
Birth Place: Osaka, Japan
Citizenry: Japanese
Current Residence: Culsor Apartment Building, Apartment 6711
Surviving Family: None Known (Father went MIA, presumed KIA, see File 683)
Cyber Percentage: 83%
Company: Aegis Corporation
Division: SIN
Rank: Captain
Current Handler: M.
Expertise: Leadership, Investigation, Combat
“Hmm, I didn’t send any birthday regards. How rude of me. Let’s see… How will she do in this round? What do we know of her opponent…?” He tapped a window on another monitor, expanding it.
Name: Jerne Kintashi
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Citizenry: Japanese
Current Residence: Temporary Apartment in Tokyo
Cyber Percentage: 13%
Occupation: Data Translator for Goliath National Bank
The man inspected the page for a minute as his smile widened. “I give you… Three weeks. You’ll fit right into the schedule, I’m sure.” He was interrupted by a call on a phone which he drew out of a pocket and answered calmly. “Sigma.” He listened for a moment, smiling. “And no congratulations or well-wishes? Such terrible manners.”
He chuckled a few seconds later, tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Really? Are you sure about making contact that soon?” Another pause. “Well, I don’t plan to argue. The timing is good. You should try in… Two days. Mmm, yes, but it shouldn’t take long… Correct.” He waited for a few seconds, listening, before smiling. “Go ahead, then. Just remember not to bring me into it; I would be terribly disappointed if you ruined my introductions.”
He closed the phone, an eerie smile on his face as he watched new data scroll onto one of the monitors.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sano shook his head as he and Katsumi got out of the car, happy to be alive. On the way Katsumi had driven like a madwoman. He was, in fact, pretty sure there wasn’t a single road safety law in existence that she hadn’t broken in the short ride there. That alone was telling about her current state as she was usually a reliable, if a bit reckless, driver.
He silently thanked God that they hadn’t taken any flying vehicle as he looked up at the sign of the internet café they were heading for the entrance of. “So he was contacting you from here, huh?”
“Unfortunately,” Katsumi replied as she pushed through the doors. She and Sano showed their badges to the people inside. “Everyone remain calm and stay where you are. We’re in the middle of an investigation and have reason to believe our suspect was here recently.” Katsumi didn’t believe the terrorist would still be here. In fact, she’d half expected to find a smoking crater once she got here. Even now she and Sano were watching everyone in the place, worried that one of them would explode at any moment. They both drew their guns and moved around inspecting the café for anyone trying to hide, and then Katsumi managed to find the computer she’d been contacted from.
Before touching anything she and Sano did a sweep of the entire area for explosives. Katsumi then accessed the computer to learn every recent log-in had simply been “ASDF”. She looked up at the corner of the ceiling, pointing to the camera there and speaking to the owner of the internet café. “We’ll need the feed from that camera, and any others you might have.” The owner agreed, eager to help.
