Silence In Numbers: File One, page 34
He froze mid-text, blinking nervously. “Uh… I mean… Well, it’s kind of… Haha, you see, what I mean is-“
“Thank you,” she said, interrupting him.
He blinked again. “I… Um… You’re welcome.” Katsumi nodded and left, and he grinned, hopping up on his desk to do his ‘celebration dance’. “Who’s the man? I’m the man! Who’s the man? I’m the man!”
“That’s quite the spectacle,” Rufus said from the doorway, surprising Reno and causing him to fall off the desk, tumble over his chair and bring it and a shelf down with him, along with everything that had been on and in the shelf.
“Ow,” Reno said from under the pile of items. “I hate you.”
“I know,” Rufus said as he left. “I just like earning it.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Katsumi arrived exactly on time that night, as she always did. Unlike last time, this time she simply wore a white t-shirt and black jeans and jacket. She felt a lot more comfortable in general than the last time she’d been here as she walked up the porch steps and knocked on the door. The warm whites and yellows of the house were a bit more to her liking this time; they still exuded a strong feeling of family, but this time she let it reinforce the fact that there were good, loving families in the world, and this was one of them. Maybe even she and Ayane could live in a place like this someday, worry-free. Lenora opened it and smiled kindly. “Your timing is impressive,” she said as she stepped out of the way. “I’m glad you came.”
“I almost didn’t,” Katsumi admitted as she stepped inside. “I really want to be alone… But I thought this would be a good idea.”
“I hope so. I want to help, you know that,” Lenora said, shutting the door. “I just made a pizza. I hope that’s okay.”
Katsumi smiled. “That’s perfect. I don’t want a fancy meal or anything like that tonight.”
They just ate in the den, keeping everything simple. They had the TV on but neither of them was really watching it. The volume was kept low and it was really just there as a minor distraction. Katsumi needed those kinds of minor distractions sometimes to make emotions seem more distant than they really were. “I know you’re scared for Reno because of his job,” she was saying, keeping her eyes on the television. The screen was showing some kind of old black-and-white movie she didn’t know the plot to; Lenora apparently liked the “classics” channels.
“Every day,” the brown-haired woman said with a look at Katsumi.
“So you probably understand at least somewhat,” the major continued. “I react to fear with anger myself.”
Lenora nodded. “I heard you’ve been a little… um… short?”
“Is that what they’re saying?” Katsumi mumbled with a smirk. “Anyway, I’ve… It’s been a long time.” She looked at Lenora. “When Aya and I first started running, my first thought every morning was ‘we didn’t die last night’ and my last thought every evening was ‘we didn’t die today’. Every day had that chance; every day we walked the edge of a knife, praying we didn’t fall. He could’ve found us at any point, and he did several times. It was always a slim escape, a near-death experience. For the first few months we didn’t even try to think about the future. Looking back, I can see we didn’t think we’d have one.”
Lenora turned and pulled her legs up onto the couch beside her, focusing her attention on Katsumi. “But that changed?”
Katsumi nodded. “I got tired of nothing but fighting, running and hiding. It was unfair that all we did was survive, so I wanted to make it fair myself; Aya deserved a better life, she didn’t deserve having hers ruined just because of our father. One day I just… woke up, I guess,” she shrugged. “I decided we’d make our own happiness if no one was going to give it to us. After that things were better, happier. We started our own traditions, found ways to buy or make gifts for each other, called each move to a new location a ‘vacation’. Some of those days worry didn’t factor in, but it was always in the back of our minds. We’d relax, but stay alert. We’d smile and laugh, but glance at any passers-by cautiously. We’d have dinner in a nice restaurant, but sit in the back out of view of the windows. We didn’t let caution rule our lives, but it definitely guided them.”
“It sounds like that would get really stressful and tiresome.”
“You’d think so, but humans can get used to anything. It was sort of like…” Katsumi looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. “Have you ever gone through a long, extremely busy work day, focusing on getting everything done, and only once you get off work, get home and see your bed do you realize how tired you are?”
Lenora smiled. “I’m a nurse, of course I have.”
Katsumi nodded. “That basically happened to us. We did a lot of different things; eventually we joined the army, thinking Father wouldn’t follow us to a battlefield, and he didn’t. As we worked our way up the ranks we realized our Father had finally given up the decade-long chase, and that’s when everything hit us. We had to re-learn how to live like normal people, and neither of us have it down yet. That’s why we do things like pull a gun on people jumping out for a surprise birthday party, and reactively attack people who wake us up suddenly. We aren’t used to normal life and I don’t think we ever will be.”
“I can see how such a long, intense period of your lives could have such a strong effect. You seem to be doing a pretty good job of it, though.”
Katsumi sighed. “That’s the problem.” She rubbed her face tiredly. “I lost some of that armor I’d built up during that time. We expected danger, death and injury every single day. Not a year went by without both of us nearly dying. We got used to it. We hated it, but we expected it.”
Lenora’s expression changed to understanding. “So when this happened to Ayane, you weren’t prepared for it.”
Katsumi nodded. “It scared me a lot more because of that. And it was…” she laid her head back. “It’s stupid of me, but I’d begun thinking things were almost over. I let myself start thinking of what to do after. Aya and I were even supposed to go looking at a new place to buy and move into today.”
Lenora looked sad as she laid a hand on her arm. “That’s not stupid. You need something to look forward to or there’s no reason to fight. Reno talks about how seeing me and Lianne at the end of the day is what forces him to do everything right and with as much effort as he can. You can’t face someone like your father unless you remind yourself of the freedom and happiness that will come after you win.”
“You’re right, but the problem is it just adds more hopes for him to dash.” She looked at the brunette. “I don’t think I can beat him, Lenora... Every time I try one of us just comes closer to dying. Eventually he’s going to get tired of it and kill us, and I can’t do anything but watch it happen. It’s unfair, but in the end, what can you do when it’s reality that’s wrong?”
“I… don’t have an answer for you. I can tell you that you’ll win, but in the end I can’t know that. And we both know that the hero doesn’t always win in reality. All I can say is… None of us have ever met anyone stronger than you. I admire you, my husband admires you, and we know the others on your team do. The hero doesn’t always win, but somehow you always find a way to. So I guess you’ll just have to learn to trust yourself as much as your sister and the rest of us do.”
“Easier said than done,” Katsumi stated. She meant to say more, but a sudden headache was… Damn. Damn it. Not now. Give me an hour, please. Unfortunately it was intensifying quickly, but her practice kept it from showing on her face. “I should probably talk to her about it again… I should be over there soon anyway.” Katsumi stood, looking at her. “Thanks for having me.”
Lenora smiled. “Of course. I enjoy your company.” She led her to the door, opening it. “Tell Ayane I’m thinking of her for me, okay?”
Katsumi gave a small smile as she stepped out of the door. “Thanks.” As soon as the door closed she made for the porch steps and headed across the grass. Stress, intense emotion and injury had a way of making her sickness worse, and she’d had a heavy dose of all three over the last twenty-four hours. It seemed to be getting even worse because never before had it hit her this hard this fast. As soon as her feet hit the grass the world was already swimming, her car a confusing blur in her vision. She’d never be able to drive in this state. She pulled out her phone to call a taxi but it slipped from her weakening fingers to the grass below, and she couldn’t distinguish it from any other dark spot in the grass.
The pain seemed to double itself every second, distracting her further. She reached out and felt the cool metal of the hood of her car as she reached it. She tried to brace her arm on it and follow around to the door but her arm buckled under the weight. She collapsed against the hood and slipped to the pavement in front of her car, knowing that she’d never make it now. Aya… Going to be late… Sick… Can’t move…
Is it bad? Where are you?
Katsumi closed her eyes, glad, at least, to hear her sister’s voice. At my car… don’t know how long I’ll… be…
At your car where?! Katsumi? Damn it!
Too late. Sensation fled from Katsumi as the familiar darkness consumed her mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Reno laughed as he stood up from the table, grabbing his coat, phone and keys. “I never claimed I could do that, just that I could jump it.”
“Uh-huh,” Law said, unconvinced, as he downed the last of his drink. “You leaving so soon? Willing to risk the wrath?”
Reno grinned, holding up his phone to show the time. “No worries. It’s after eight, the boss left my house an hour ago, unless plans changed.”
Sano raised an eyebrow. “Willing to bet on it?”
“If he calls and asks if she’s gone yet, that will be a new level of cowardly, even for him,” Rufus said as he sipped from his glass.
“I’m not that much of a wimp!” Reno said defensively as he pulled on his coat.
“That means he knows his wife will protect him,” Law clarified.
“Damn right. And speaking of, it’s a night without the kiddo, no way I won’t take advantage of that,” Reno said as he wiggled his eyebrows, causing Law to laugh.
“Ugh, too much information, man,” Sano said with a shake of his head. He waved his hand. “Go, get out of here. Have fun.”
“You bet I will.” Reno left the restaurant and got on the road, trying not to speed, but failing as usual. His music blaring, his windows down, his long brown hair blowing, and his shades on even though it was night, Reno could have almost as much fun in a car as he could in a jet or helicopter. He made every turn perfectly and made no mistakes regardless of speed; it was his gift, really. He did, however, slow down as he entered his neighborhood, since an area with kids always made him drive like an old lady. As he approached his house his headlights fell on a sleek black car parked on the street outside it. His eyebrows rose in surprise as he drove around it and into the garage. “Huh, I guess she did stay late.”
He turned off the car and climbed out, whistling a tune as he headed for the front door. He opened it with a grin, stepping inside. “Yo, the man of the house is home! No insults in response to that statement, please!”
Lenora met him in the hallway, smiling as she kissed him. “Did you have fun?”
“Yeah, it was fine. I thought I might have a bit more fun here, though,” he grinned.
Lenora slipped her arms around his neck. “Really now? How so?”
“I’ll be glad to show you right after Katsumi leaves.”
Lenora smiled. “You’re in luck, then; she left over an hour ago.”
“Huh?” Reno frowned. “Then why’s her car outside? Did she drink a lot?”
Lenora blinked. “Her car’s outside? She didn’t drink anything.”
“Shit.” Reno moved away and went back outside with Lenora following. “Gotta be an explanation-“
“There!”
Reno followed his wife’s pointing and spotted the body in front of the car. “Shit… Shit, shit, shit,” he repeated as they ran towards her. “You didn’t hear any gunshots or sounds?”
“No, nothing!” They reached Katsumi and turned her over, noting that she was unconscious. Lenora checked her over but shook her head. “No blood, no new wounds. Reno, call an ambulance. Do you know what hospital Ayane is in?”
“I don’t, but Law does. I’ll call him after this,” he said as he pulled out his phone, dialing the emergency number. “What’s wrong with her? I mean, she’s alive, but…”
“Pulse is weak, breathing labored… She seems to be in pain…” Lenora lifted one of Katsumi’s eyelids. “She appears to be dreaming, which is unusual… This isn’t a seizure or heart attack… I’m not sure what this is…”
Reno paced back and forth with his phone to his ear. “Well then this makes no- yeah, hi! I need an ambulance sent to my location now, someone here is hurt or sick and we don’t know what with, but she’s unconscious.” Lenora looked up at him as he spoke rapidly, continuing his pacing. “Yeah. Yes, I know her, she’s a family friend. Yeah, I have it. Right, okay thanks.” He hung up and looked at Lenora. “Fifteen minutes. Should we get her inside?”
Lenora nodded. “If we can. I don’t see any injuries so we might as well make her comfortable.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
August 14th, 2051
Two girls, seventeen and fourteen years of age, had broken into a complex held by the criminal organization known as the Blue Shield. That was the information they had, anyway; whether or not the individuals currently searching the warehouse believed it was up for debate. The warehouse was poorly lit, but that had more to do with the two having taken out half the lights than it did poor planning. Crates and boxes of various sizes filled the building, leaving only thin aisles between them for the soldiers to move through. The girls weren’t in any of those.
Katsumi knelt atop a wide crate, nestled in the shadows between two taller ones. She watched two soldiers move past beneath her and looked across the aisle. Ayane was atop a stack of three crates, too high to be in any line of sight. Four soldiers had set up searchlights in the building, one on each side; they swept the bright floodlights across the piles of crates, meaning the two couldn’t trust some shadows to hide them. Each soldier had a headlight and special rifles that rapidly fired needles. They couldn’t fire standard ammunition, as this warehouse was full of munitions and the whole thing would be caught up in an explosion. In total there were nineteen soldiers; fourteen exploring the room and four operating the lights. The last one was this unit’s leader, organizing the whole thing. He was their target.
Katsumi nodded to the side and received a nod from Ayane in return. Katsumi dropped into the aisle behind the two soldiers that had passed them. She moved silently, approaching the one in back. No matter how quietly she did this, the one in front would hear something and look back, but that would be fine. Katsumi moved quickly; her left hand whipped around and hit the soldier in the throat as her right caught the hand holding his gun, one of her fingers slipping behind the trigger so it couldn’t be pulled. Her left arm instantly curled around his throat, choking him out now that he couldn’t make a sound.
The soldier in front turned at the small noise and his eyes widened as he brought his gun up, but Ayane landed beside him and caught his gun, twisting it to break his finger. Of course he yelled in pain, but that was preferred at this point; Ayane quickly spun his weapon and shot him with it, and Katsumi let the other now-unconscious soldier slip to the ground before picking up his weapon and killing him with it. Then the two were back up in the crates, racing as far as they could before slipping in between two crates as searchlights swept across their position towards the source of the sound. As soon as the lights were past they began moving to the side, taking up hiding places.
The soldiers that found the bodies seemed angry. Four of them climbed the crates, and they could hear others being ordered to watch the aisles around the area. From below them, between two crates she’d pushed apart to make just enough room, Katsumi watched as they unfortunately moved towards the spot her sister was hiding in. That wouldn’t work; she waited until the fourth soldier was passing her, then grabbed his ankle and yanked his leg down into the crevice she was in, breaking or twisting something judging by the sound he made. The other three turned and she leapt up on top, wrapping an arm around the soldier’s neck and turning his body to intercept the fire from the front two soldiers as she shot the third. The front two dropped from Ayane’s fire in the next few seconds, then the two sisters were up and moving again before the searchlights landed on the new bodies.
Six down. Katsumi paused to shoot one of the searchlight operators, followed by shooting out the light. They then ran towards another side of the warehouse, hopping from crate to crate before finding a new hiding spot. Seven down, eleven to go before the target was clear. Three soldiers ran beneath them and Katsumi loudly landed behind them. They spun around to see her, but two of them went down as Ayane shot them from the other side. The last one spun in confusion to find the new attacker and Katsumi easily gunned him down before disappearing back into the supplies. Ten down. Two soldiers moved carefully across the crates as they looked in each crevice with increasing caution.
It didn’t help, even though both sisters’ weapons were empty. As one of them looked into a dark spot Katsumi appeared in it and smashed the butt of her gun into his knee. As he fell forward with a cry she jammed the gun into the spot and caught his head, yanking it down so his neck landed on the edge of the gun, crushing his windpipe. She ducked back down as the other soldier began firing in her direction, hitting his ally more than anything. Ayane came up behind him, bashing the back of one leg. As he went down on a knee she kicked his gun from his hands and brought her own up against his neck from behind, pulling it tightly until he went limp. Twelve down. They grabbed the new weapons and moved; had to keep moving.
