[KI-11: the end of a spy]

Chapter 1: In Russia.- "Cutter must be enjoying that meat," thought L.O.S.S.'s (League Of Super Spies) own Agent KI-11, the agency's best operative. He had medals to prove it. At this time, he was observing his dog, cutter, eating a muscled black squirrel. The huge German shepherd ate with great relish, as if he wanted to hold onto every bite. KI-11 felt highly amused to watch this trained L.O.S.S. tracker dog act like a puppy with this one meal. He allowed himself a quick chuckle, and then glanced around, looking for someone who might have seen him. He turned his back. "A highly trained professional L.O.S.S. agent like me," he thought, "should NOT laugh at something as morbid as a dog eating a squirrel."

Suddenly, KI-11 heard the "flip-flip-flip" sound of a magazine being skimmed through. Slowly, he turned around, gun in hand. The gun was an SG-5 covert, a machine gun with a silencer, specially designed for use in the cold forests of Russia. It was equipped with a laser guide and scope, so he could NOT miss.  He looked over the ridge he was sitting on, and gasped.

He COULD NOT believe his good luck! Standing right underneath him, reading a Russian magazine, was a guard standing about 200 feet from the compound KI-11 was supposed to be infiltrating! He was SO happy; he almost let out a 'WHOOP!' of joy. However, he could NOT allow himself that liberty. If he made ANY sound, the guard would look up on the ridge; see KI-11, and KILL HIM ON SIGHT.

"Cutter, STAY." HE muttered to the dog. Cutter understood. Slowly, KI-11 took out the short kunai dagger he had bought in Japan a few years ago. It was a deadly device, able to be thrown as hard and fast as a bullet, or prick and cut like a thorn. Then, just as slowly, he crawled, spider-like, down the ridge.

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The guard was in low spirits. He had lost the engagement ring he was supposed to give to his fiancée. On top of that, his favorite bayonet for his AK-47 had been stolen. He suspected one of the cadets. <"Useless rabble,"> he thought, <"stole EVERYTHING they own!">*[Translated from Russian.]

That was the last remark he would ever utter. With a rasp of his last breath, he fell, face-first into the snow. Standing behind him was KI-11, who wiped his kunai knife on the guard's carcass. "Waste of a good knife thrust," He muttered. His almond eyes, black as a midnight sky, surveyed the area, and then flicked back to the Russian compound as KI-11 swiftly made his way there, rolling and weaving behind trees and snowdrifts all the way.

Chapter 2: The Compound.- There was a loud clanging on the compound door. A Russian guard, short and stocky, came out, armed with a SPAS-12 shotgun. WHACK!! The stock of an SG-5 covert came whizzing out of the snowy air and cracked the guard upside the head, putting a dent in his skull, EXACTLY in the center of the temple. The guard would not rise. KI-11 grabbed the man's gun and used it to jam the door open, by slamming it into the slide that the door came down on.
He went off at a sprint, making his way to the meeting room in which he was supposed to execute an assassination.  

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The meeting was being held. A tall man with a walrus-like face stood up and raised a hand to quiet the room. Everyone present feared and respected him. The man's name was Roschka (row-shi-ka) madavodac (mah-dahv-oe-dahk). He was a military genius, but had been recently "released from the military," as HE put it. However, everyone else knew what REALLY happened. Murder. He had murdered an officer over a simple quarrel about gun efficiency, and had also been caught in the act of embezzlement in his squad. THIS was the man KI-11 was supposed to assassinate, and the L.O.S.S. agent knew it as he peered out from behind the grate of a heat duct.

The weapon for the assassination was simple. A British Walther PPK, lightweight, decent firepower, and equipped with a silencer. KI-11 had asked for a laser guide, but the Bureau Of Weaponry (B.O.W.) said it would give away his position, making him an easy target for armed guards. So, grudgingly, he had had to agree with B.O.W.'s leader, Gear.

Slowly, he slid the PPK out of its holster, and then set its small, triangle-like sights directly on Madavodac's throat artery. Just as the meeting started, it ended.

RIGHT when Madavodac silenced the meeting-goers, he suddenly went stiff, and then fell face-first into his glass of wine, his throat oozing blood. Immediately, an alarm was sounded and armed guards left their locker rooms, dormitories, bathrooms, and the compound's first-class cafeteria to start patrolling the compound, each armed with an AK-47, machete, and a bullet-proof vest, each searching for their leader's assassin.

Chapter 3: HUNTED.- KI-11 was being HUNTED! The word rung in his head. HUNTED!! He sniggered at the thought of stupid amateur guards trying to bring down the best agent L.O.S.S. has. Swiftly, he slid down an air shaft, only to fly into an ELEVATOR shaft, and then stop a fourth of the way down, due to the issue of an elevator box coming back up the shaft. He opened the lid on the box's roof, took note of the guard inside, probably a cadet, judging from the way he held himself (WAY too loose and tired-looking), and dropped inside.

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The cadet never knew who broke his neck. All HE knew was that he was dead. KI-11 smirked, reloaded his PPK, and pressed the button that would take him to the compound's bottom level, level 12. THIS level was where they kept traitors, spies, and other rejects, and, every once in a while, the Russians would drag one of them out of the compound, and leave them to starve, FAR into Russia's frozen woodlands. THIS was where the SECOND part of KI-11's mission was to be done. KI-11's former partner [and mentor], D-13, was down there, and KI-11 was determined to break him out. "I hope I'm not too late!" He said (a hint of panic in his voice), as the elevator went back down to level 12. A few days ago, when KI-11 arrived in Russia, there had been an ad in the local newspaper, showing a picture of D-13, and the caption said *<"American spy is next victim of starvation execution! Execution is to happen this Thursday night, roughly around 12:00 P.M."> (*translated from Russian.) KI-11 thought back to that day as he checked his watch. 11:18 PM. 42 minutes left. Not too shabby. DING! The elevator's bell went off as KI-11 got to level 12. The elevator doors opened, and he stepped out.

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Positioned in a 10-pin-like formation, each with a dragunov sniper rifle and a storm M-32 single-handed machine gun, were six guards. "ALL of them have to at LEAST be privates or majors," thought KI-11 as he whipped out his SG-5 and PPK. Da-KOW!!! SPANG! BRAKKA BRAKKA BRAKKA!!!! Three things happened at once: First, one of the guards took a shot at him with his dragunov, only to end up shooting at empty air, because KI-11 had rolled behind a pile of crates of wine. Level 12 was also the store room for the cafeteria's food and beverages. Second, another guard shot at KI-11 with his storm M-32, but  HE TOO missed. Third, KI-11 dispatched 3 of the squad with his SG-5, INCLUDING both the guards who had tried to shoot him.

Suddenly, KI-11 withdrew a Japanese yakuza smoke bomb from his combat suit, and threw it STRAIGHT into the face of the first guard who charged him. BOOF!! The smoke bomb blew up in the guards face, and, BECAUSE of the smoke, the guard was INSTANTLY suffocated. The remaining 2 guards stood in the middle of the storage area, back-to-back, and all their guns at the ready (2 sniper rifles, 2 machine guns altogether). <"That freakin' American disappeared again!"> said one of the survivors. <"Shut up! He may have disappeared, but that doesn't mean he left this area!"> KI-11, however, HAD left that area, deciding to let the guards' fears get the better of them. "Besides," he thought, "I can always kill them on the way back up…"

He made his way to the prison sector, and then pressed a button on a small control panel. Instantly, a list of the prisoners, what cell block they were located, and what cell they were in popped up on the panel's screen. He went down to the 'D' section on the list, and then looked up 'D-13.' He went down to cell block 'D,' but then stopped.

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Directly in front of him, stationed around D-13's cell, were 4 guards, each of them armed with an Austrian M9K machine gun, each of them wearing a bullet-proof vest, and each of them most likely a captain or a general. But then again, who cares about rank?

KI-11 cursed his foolishness. "They probably guessed that I was after D-13," he thought, "because HE is the next victim of the starvation execution 'tactics'." KI-11 took aim with his PPK and shot the first guard in his throat. B-B-B-BLAM!!! The 3rd and 4th guards fired at him with their M9Ks, but KI-11 darted forward and tried grabbing the 2nd guard to use him as a human shield from their bullets. The guard was ready. He lashed out with his gun stock, nailing KI-11 in the ribs. KI-11 heard a distinct cracking sound above the din. "Ribs cracked," he thought. "Or just fractured..." on that note, he feinted with a hook to the guard's temple [which the guard fell for], and promptly kicked the guard in the crotch. He wasn't dead. At least, not until KI-11 killed him with a quick thrust of his kunai knife. He then THREW the knife, slipping it in between the ribs of the 3rd guard, and then, dashing and ducking a swipe from the last guard's gun stock, cracked his opponent's skull against the bars of D-13's cell door. The guard was not yet dead, but KI-11 didn't notice. He was too busy staring in astonishment at the gaunt figure of D-13, lying emaciated on his cot.  

Chapter 4: Rescue of an Agent.- "No…" moaned the guard, swiping his hand at KI-11's pant leg. KI-11 lashed out with his foot, catching the guards in the stomach. The guard immediately doubled up in pain, curling himself into a little ball. KI-11 walked over to D-13. SPA-SPANG!!!  

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It was the 2 guards from the elevator! One of them fired off a couple of rounds from their storm m-32 at KI-11, while the OTHER guard dragged away the 3rd guard's unconscious form. KI-11 acted quickly. Closing the door of the cell, he pulled D-13 off the cot, dragged the cot over to the door as a barrier, and pulled D-13 behind it. He fired off a quick round of bullets from his SG-5 as suppressive fire, and then ducked down to think. The cell, of course, had bars on the door and wall, like an old-style jailhouse. Therefore, the cot was their only protection.

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10 minutes later, KI-11 was running through the woods, hefting D-13 over his shoulder and leaving a gaping hole in the cell wall, plus two hot-on-his-trail guards in his wake. He had blasted a hole through the wall with a couple of fragmentation grenades, or 'frags.' Suddenly, a commotion came from the bushes behind him. KI-11 turned to shoot, but it was only Cutter, racing up to his side. Just as the trio was rounding a bend, a high-pitched whirring noise sounded off. It was Gear, L.O.S.S.'s tech wizard. He was flying in a helicopter, going straight for the sprinting group. "Hurry!" Gear shouted. "I can't land! We'd never get away in time!" KI-11 knew what he had to do. He picked up Cutter, threw him through the open 'copter door, and jumped. He barely made it. If it weren't for the fact that the helicopter was so close to the ground, the oncoming guards' gunfire surely would have cut down the L.O.S.S. agent and his unconscious counterpart.

Chapter 5: Evasive action.- "MG on our left flank!" screamed KI-11  over 2 helicopter propellers. Gear's Apache may've been fast, but the Russian chopper behind them was gaining. QUICKLY. BRRRRRRRATATATATATATATATATATATAT!!! The Russians    had started shooting, and the group of LOSS agents was NOT about to let them keep at it. "OPEN FIRE!" yelled Gear. "Roger," replied KI-11. BAOWOOM!!! KI-11's RPG, taken from a cupboard in  the Apache, took a decent chunk out of the Russian chopper, not only killing its gunner, but destroying the enemy chopper's missile store, which caused another explosion, flinging the Chopper into a nearby cliff. "BOOYA! We did it! In your faces, Ruskies!" KI-11 yelped. "Yeah yeah yeah," rasped Gear. "sit your butt down and get some sleep while I fly this thing HOME!" the answering calls of happiness could be heard all around.

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...KI-11 woke with a start. He was lying in an infirmary bed, next to D-13, who was still out cold. "...Guy could sleep through a sonic boom..." he thought, then tried getting up. Suddenly KI-11's ribs exploded In a fit of pain, and he slammed back into the pillows with a will. Biting his lip to avoid a stream of curses, he slowly reached for the anesthetic syringe. To become a LOSS agent, one had to achieve PhD's In just about every subject, except Gym. That would come at the beginning of the LOSS entrance exam. "just gotta administer a little drop, and then I can get up." he muttered. "NO!" came a voice, so loud in itself it made KI-11 drop the syringe. "K, you IDIOT..."ranted LOSS's chief medical executive, Shotz. Shotz had been a member of LOSS longer than even the registration records showed, and nobody thought the old Asian woman would die anytime soon. "Gawd, I keep telling you this after EVERY mission," she said, "but DON'T USE THE ANESTHETIC WHEN YOU'RE UNSUPERVISED!!!" KI-11 was laughing on the inside, and embarrassed at the same time. While it was ridiculous for a senior citizen to lecture a grown man, Shotz's face made her look like she was going to have a stroke. Most people would've panicked, but everyone in LOSS knew this was just her way of throwing people off-guard. Shotz was a natural-born prankster, and was proud of it. Every time someone sat on a tack, all of LOSS knew who it was, but they never said anything. "Okay now..." Shotz said. "you won't be able to use any syringes for a while, but I can put you on a pump for a few hours. How 'bout it?" "Sure, why not?" was the reply from the other side of the infirmary door. KI-11 was on his way to his Mission Review (MR) and he was going to need a pump to calm him down. MR's were always stressful.

Chapter 6: "Old Yeller"- KI-11 made his way to the board room, Shotz in his wake, ready to hook him up to the anesthetic pump when he sat down. The two entered the board room. "SIT DOWN, KI-11!!!" came a voice from behind the high-back chair at the end of the meeting table. "Ah, crap..." thought KI-11. "Not this guy again!" right before the chair spun around, KI-11 did a pantomime routine of him shooting the chair's occupant. "I saw that." said Mr. Creighton, LOSS's current "big boss" (B2), to put it simply. The B2's job is to make sure all LOSS branches, and their leaders, are up and running at all times. Creighton, nicknamed 'Old Yeller' by the branch executives, was notorious for having all bark, but with WORSE bite. Do something wrong when he's around, and he'll put you in  a knockout gas chamber for a few hours. Cruel, yes, but not unheard of. "K, your mission went perfectly," he began, "until you shot Madavodac." KI-11's heart fell. "Shotz, hook me up." he muttered behind himself. Shotz quickly had him plugged in. There was a ruffling noise by the doorway, and Cutter romped in. "Hey, boy..." KI-11 muttered. "B2 is MR'ing us right now." he scratched the German Shepherd behind the ears, which seemed to please Cutter immensely. Creighton started up again. "Personally, I don't think it was all your fault. I mean seriously, who could've heard that shot go off?" KI-11 came up with a quick rebuttal. "well, they WERE all being silent. You could've heard a pin drop." "Aw, shut up, K." came a matter-of-fact voice. "Great," thought KI-11, "now Gear's getting into this." Gear continued. "Mr. Creighton, SIR, there wasn't anything wrong with the gun I gave K, it was just his lack of skill that-" KI-11 couldn't take it any longer. "AWRIGHT GEAR, SHUT UP!!!!!! I have PLENTY of skill, it's just YOUR lack of better intelligence that screwed-" And so that debate continued for about 15 more minutes, in which case everyone was subject to house arrest, because both Gear AND KI-11 pulled out machetes, and were about to skewer each other, until Mr. Creighton stepped in. Now, Reader, we go to KI-11's dorm, where he keeps all of his workout equipment, bedding, personal weaponry, and Cutter's Kennel, which hasn't been used since Cutter had been a puppy. He plopped down on his bed, closely followed by Cutter, who tackled him in the midriff. "~OOF!~ really now, boy, you mustn't do that!" Cutter tried giving him the "puppy dog eyes" routine, but that move's effects had worn off a LONG time ago. "Ah, back off." KI-11 pushed Cutter off his bed. The big dog scrambled from the room. "Dumb dog..." was his last thought before he passed out from the anesthetic.

Chapter 7: Not Again...- When KI-11 woke up, he pulled the anesthetic needle from his hip, tossing it across the room into the trash bin. "Can't feel a frigging THING..." he muttered. Suddenly the PA in his room went off *KI-11! Report to the BOW's Lab immediately!* "Oh, boy..." KI-11 headed down to the Lab.

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"Hi, K," greeted GEAR. Apparently both had spent enough time in their dorms that they had calmed down, losing the need to kill each other. "Hey, G." replied KI-11. "DON'T CALL ME G!!!" "OK, now it's 'big daddy G!'" "ARGH!!!" "okay, okay, I'm done..." "good, now c'mere." GEAR led KI-11 over to a worktable. On it's surface were: "A pen, an iPod, and a pair of sunglasses. What are these for?" GEAR's reply was a short one. He pointed to the objects from left-to-right. "pen: acid gun and laser cutter. iPod: sonic emitter and of course, media player." "what are the sunglasses for, then?" KI-11 asked. "oh, those," GEAR said, "those just look cool." (at this time, we'll cut back to KI-11's dorm, because GEAR and K are starting another one of their slug-fests...) PLOP! KI-11 fell onto his bed, totally exhausted, and nursing a couple of bruises, as was Gear, in HIS Dorm Room, which was down the hall. "Gear, you JERK..." gasped KI-11, "You almost broke my ribs!!! And them ALREADY being damaged!!!" Suddenly another report came from the intercom: KI-11 and D-13 please report to the briefing room with your new gadgets. B2 will brief you for your next mission. "Wait, I'm going with D-13?" thought KI-11. "AWESOME!" He jumped up and ran for the briefing room, gadgets in hand, still nursing his ribs.

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"Ah, KI-11. Please, come in and take a seat," said Mr. Creighton.
"Sure, boss." replied KI-11. He and D-13 exchanged nods of acknowledgment. Creighton stood up and grabbed a pointer as a slide came from the ceiling and a diagram popped up. "Agents, you're going to Tokyo. We have reason to believe that a certain small Yakuza clan, the Miu family, is trading black-market arms and explosives, and is attempting to take over the governor's position in the city. You will both leave soon, roughly, but will arrive at different airports. Your rendezvous point is on the brief cards in front of you." The agents looked down, surveying the minute cards that had popped up on the table from compartments under the woodwork. Creighton started up again. "Now, you have no-holds-barred liberties in this mission, same as KI-11's recon mission in Russia. So, you are allowed licenses to kill, as provided by LOSS. These are attached to the brief cards." D-13 piped up. "Ok, Creighton, when do we leave?" "Roughly? Soon." said Creighton. "Precisely? NOW." He whacked a button on the table with his pointer, and the seats D-13 and KI-11 were sitting in dropped into the floor, taking the agents with them. This then followed an intricate network of tunnels and tubes, through which they flew, until they stopped in front of a pair of plain white doors. KI-11 looked around nervously. "Skittish, K?" remarked D-13. "Yeah. I can't stand airports. I always lose my luggage. You feelin' my sarcasm, D?" D-13 laughed. "Yes, yes I do. But LOSS took that into account. Your door leads to a PRIVATE plane. And you'll land on a hotel rooftop." "Oh, ok," said KI-11. "Well, see you at the rendezvous point!" "I'll be waiting, K." The agents left their chairs and went through the doors.

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"D was right!" thought KI-11. "I DID get a private plane! Not bad!" KI-11 speed walked up to the plane, hopping into its confines. "Now, what weapons should I pick?" KI-11 nodded to the pilot. The pilot pressed a button on the control panel, and a row of chairs flipped over, along with the cupboards above them, to reveal a special weapons cache. KI-11 skimmed through its contents. Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle, with all-vision scope, like night-vision and heat vision. Ivana Spec-R assault rifle, also with a scope; however, THIS gun included a removable silencer and on/off-switch laser guide. PT-9 Interdictus shotgun, with an extra shell clip attached to the side and a red dot scope to boot. There was also a SPAS-12 but Ki-11 immediately dismissed that gun, knowing it was a very loud weapon to use for a stealth mission, even though it WAS no-holds-barred. Next, he looked up into the cupboards, which were bearing an assortment of pistols and melee weapons. Torka T3, P99 with silencer, Raptor .50, Walther PPK, PP7, Glock, and Hawksman M5A. For melee weapons, there was  a machete, a katana, a belt of throwing knives, and a plethora of random jack knives and bowie knives. ALL the pistols sported silencers, except the raptor, but no laser guides. "Guess BOW didn't want to reveal my position..." thought KI-11. He then pulled a suitcase from under the seats and started loading it with a small armory. He took The Ivana [or as KI-11 called it, the 'specter'], The Torka, and the throwing knife belt. The knives were light enough for throwing, but as KI-11 noticed when he put them in the suitcase, they were long enough to fence with. KI-11 shut the case, sat down and leaned his chair all the way back, popped in his earbuds, and turned on some AC/DC. As the plane flew off towards Japan, You could hear the lyrics: "I'm on the highway to-"

Chapter 8: Land of the Rising Sun- The plane touched down, jerking KI-11 from sleep, just as the Beatles' "Yesterday" was wrapping up. He took out his earbuds, grabbed his suitcase, and looked around. Nighttime. Rain. Neon lights. Techno Music. "Yup, this is Tokyo..." he thought. KI-11 got up and left the plane. The pilot immediately flew off again. "Geez, he didn't even bother to turn the plane off," remarked KI-11. He looked around, getting his bearings. He looked at the billboard on the rooftop he was on. "Shinjuku Hotel, Central District. Yep, this is the place, just like the brief card said." KI-11 dropped to his knees, popping his suitcase open. He took out the Torka T3 pistol and inserted it into the shoulder-strap holster under his coat. "You can never be too careful," he muttered. He stood back up, closing the case, and walked over to an upraise on the roof. This lead to a flight of stairs, which lead to the hotel's top floor, which lead to the elevator, which KI-11 rode down to the lobby so he could confirm his reservation that was described on his brief card. In the hotel, his name was to be 'Matthew Tanner,' as described on his brief card. 'Matthew' was a bilingual mediator in foreign affairs for the 'corporation' he worked for. His 'corporation' was a language book company, and 'Matthew' was in Japan to find a decent writer to help him translate English into Japanese for his 'corporation's' 'book.'

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[*translated from japanese] "<Now, Mr. Tanner, have a good stay at our hotel, and please contact our front desk if you have any concerns!>" "<Yes, sir. Thank you for your generosity.>" KI-11 was in the hotel lobby, picking up his room key. He had just finished the necessary confirmation and paperwork of his reservation. 'Matthew Tanner' was officially in Shinjuku Hotel. KI-11 re-boarded the elevator, tapping the button for the 5th floor. When he arrived on that floor, he walked briskly down to his room, E27. Shutting the door behind him, he sat down at a desk in the hotel room, opening another compartment of his suitcase, revealing a laptop computer sewn into the suitcase's frame. He booted up the laptop and accessed his instant-messaging account. His inbox had a message from D-13. This is what it read:


"Hello, K,
this is D-13. I'm in the 'red light district' of tokyo. Underground area. Ive got a room at a shabby hotel that houses a speakeasy, or a 'hidden bar.' I'm posing as a mid-ranked mafia, on a job for my 'don,' or boss. If you find the hotel, ask for MANNY JUAREZ. The address is attached in a written document."

KI-11 opened the file and read the address. He took a few minutes to memorize it, then shut off the laptop. He thought out loud, "Well, looks like Matthew Tanner is gonna have to go gangsta for a bit..." he left the apartment, calling for a car from LOSS.

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When KI-11 exited the hotel, a black & gray japanese streetcar greeted his eye. There was a key and a note attached to the mirror: "K, here's your car. In the passenger's seat is all the stuff you'll need to look gangsta in Tokyo. ~Gear" KI-11 unlocked the doors, looking at the clothes next to him. "White trench coat, black V-neck, steel toed biker boots, black cargo pants, racer-style shades. THANK YOU, Gear!" he thought. KI-11 opened the car's glove compartment. Inside was a GPS. He took out the GPS and hooked it up to the stand and charger attached to the car's interior. Entering D-13's address, he drove off.

Chapter 9: CLUES...-  [Clubber POV *translated from Japanese:] <Daaaang, I'm wasted. What a PAAAHTAAAAAYYY!!! Whoa, what's that car up ahead? SWEEEEET ride! I'm gonna kill whoever's driving it... ~hic~>

KI-11 stepped out of his car. Suddenly a man rushed at him, a tanto, or Japanese dagger and sheath, in hand. KI-11 was not incognito yet, and therefore could not avoid his attacker. He only needed one thing. His SUITCASE. He yanked it from under the car's passenger seat, and deftly clubbed the man in his forehead. The drunk collapsed without a sound. KI-11 replaced the suitcase under the seat, and drove to the parking lot on the other side of the club. As he pulled in, KI-11 noticed a garage next to the club. He immediately thought to change in there. And so he did. 5 minutes later, the man walking out of the garage looked like every yakuza's living nightmare. Jet-black hair spiked and flattened to perfection, steel-toed boots clacking, trench coat swishing on the pavement. Plus one SWEET pair of racer's sunglasses. The only thing KI-11 had on hand that didn't necessarily belong to him was the tanto, which he had taken from the drunk he'd fought earlier, after stowing the body in a dumpster.

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The bar/club was in full swing. Rebel techno music playing, couples drinking, gangs meeting up, ravers dancing, the bar packed. As KI-11 walked in, he was glad for the sunglasses. Many of the gangs sitting at various tables eyed him indignantly, as if daring him to go back outside, where they would follow. The glasses offered him protection, a way to mask his uneasiness. "Alright, eyes on the prize, bro," he thought. "Go to the bar and ask for 'Manny'." As KI-11 approached the bar, he noticed a rather small table in the corner. It had 3 men seated at it. One with an eye patch balancing a stiletto, an Italian switchblade, on his fingertip. Another, a classic yakuza. Bald-headed and tattooed from head to toe, complete with a fu-manchu beard and X-shaped scar on his jaw. But it was the third man that frightened KI-11 the most. Not overly large or menacing, but this man radiated an aura of ferocity, the essence of a killer. But this man did not look it at first. Long auburn hair with an electric blue streak, round glasses, skinny jeans and turtleneck sweater. But it was the eyes that frightened KI-11. Icy gray, like the sky during a snowstorm. If looks could kill, KI-11 and everyone else in the club would've been dead where they stood. But KI-11 would not show this man fear. Passing their table, he nodded curtly. The first 2 men simply glared at him, but the man with the gray eyes nodded back, even adding in a friendly smile. KI-11 approached the bar. "<Barkeep, give me a shot of whiskey, straight up." The bartender nodded and slid the drink down to KI-11. "<You sure you can take it?>" KI-11 nodded. "<Yes, and while you're talking, I need some info." The bartender raised an eyebrow. "<About...?>" "<I'm looking for a roomer here. I believe his name is Manny Juarez. He is a mafia member, and I was sent for a meeting with him.>" The bartender winked. "<Ah YES, Mr. Juarez. He is in his room. But he said he was not expecting anyone, and we should... redirect any unwanted visitors.>" KI-11 noticed the 3 men at the corner table start to rise. As they did this, KI-11 tightened his hold on his drink. "Dang it, D," he thought. "What have you gotten me into this time?" He looked back up at the bartender. "<Well sir, I can see you are a very busy man, So... I'll just be going now.>" As he said this, KI-11 noticed the bartender's hand inching under the counter top. He also noticed, as per the reflection in his shot glass, that the man with the eye patch was taking careful aim with his stiletto. Just as the bartender grabbed hold of something under the counter, KI-11 thought "GUN," and ducked.

+

"Perfect timing," he murmured. The bartender had had a Minebea M-9 sub-machine gun on a shelf under the counter, ready for use on KI-11's skull. But just as the bartender pulled out the weapon and fired, the man with the eye patch threw his stiletto. Somehow, the blade dodged the M-9's bullets, catching the bartender under the jawline, piercing him through the throat. At the same time, the bartender had let loose with the M-9, putting a WHOLE lot of holes in the eye-patched man. KI-11 pulled himself back up onto his seat at the bar, again looking into his shot glass's reflection. There was no need. The animal-like roar behind him immediately alerted KI-11 that the largest man of the group, the fu-manchu, was on the attack. An idea popped into his head "Match," he thought. "I need a MATCH." KI-11 vaulted over the bar counter, grabbing a BOX of matches as he went. The fu-manchu had no idea where KI-11 went. "Dumb brute," thought KI-11. He pushed the shot glass over the counter onto the fu-manchu's boots to distract him, then  threw an open vodka bottle and a lit match into his face. The desired effects were instantaneous. The fu-manchu lit up like a flash-fire. KI-11 then threw a bucket of water on the man. The brute looked dumbly at his burnt and soaked form. KI-11 acted. He again jumped over the tabletop, using the fu-manchu's X-shaped scar as a bull's-eye. CRACK!!! KI-11 lashed out with the side of his foot, catching the fu-manchu's jaw in midair. The fu-manchu sighed, then crumpled to the floor. KI-11 glared at the remaining assailant, but could not keep his gaze. He felt as if the gray-eyed one's gaze would render him blind. "Care to fight, shades?" Said the gray-eyed man. KI-11 was surprised. "You speak English?" "Yes. It's not that hard. And I see You know it, too." KI-11 backed up a bit, slowly thumbing open his tanto. "So what? And yes, I WOULD Like to fight, as you are impeding me from my meeting." The gray-eyed man laughed. A raspy, hollow laugh that made the hairs on the back of KI-11's neck stand on end. "Well now, this is gonna be FUN. I haven't had prey like this in a WHILE." The gray-eyed man reached for his turtleneck's collar. KI-11 suddenly noticed a zipper. He re-sheathed the tanto and drew his Torka T3 from under his trench coat. "I'm guessing explosives? Maybe C4?" The gray-eyed man winked. "No, sorry. I only have my signature weapon." He threw open his turtleneck-vest, revealing a deadly-looking assortment of throwing knives. Each had a leather-bound grip, with a hole at the end to thread your finger through. Each had a short, cruel blade. Serrated, with 3 barbs on the back of the blade. "Well, well, well..." said KI-11. "Kitty's got claws." The gray-eyed man twitched. He then replied, "Oh, I AM going to ENJOY this..." He threw the first handful of knives.

+

KI-1 cartwheeled around the knives. However, 2 of the 7 knives his opponent first threw caught his shoulder, leaving a pair of gashes next to the collarbone. "What the-" thought KI-11. "I DODGED those!" The gray-eyed man smirked "You look worried, sir," he said. "Would you like a DRINK?" As he said this, the gray-eyed man threw a booze bottle at KI-11, along with another throw of TEN knives. KI-11 jumped this time, grabbing hold of the club's rafters. He had no worries of little space. The clubbers had departed when the bartender had started shooting. Pulling himself onto the rafters, KI-11 avoided the booze, which had threatened to blind and injure him, but somehow ALL TEN KNIVES had pierced hols in his trench coat, making an outline around his form. KI-11 was beginning to piece things together. He noticed a knife quivering in a wood beam next to him. He plucked it out, and felt around near the hole in the bottom end of the knife. "Bingo," he thought. "There's a CABLE attached to the knives. THAT'S how he managed to still hit me." "Well, sir? Did you figure out my little trick?" Called the gray-eyed man. "It's not my first, and it won't be my last! Now comes the grand finale!" The gray-eyed man let loose with the ENTIRE vest of knives. KI-11 thought, "OH CRAP-" and jumped. This did nothing. The gray-eyed man swept his hands upward, and the knives, attached to the strings on his fingers, flew upward at KI-11. However, they totally missed him. "HA!' yelled KI-11. "Your trick failed! Now I'll leave the net of string and-" he got no further. As he was walking towards the strings, KI-11 got cut on his shoulder again. Then his cheek. He looked around, but the gray-eyed man was all out of knives. He quickly back in the open space in the center of the strings. "I've got it..." he thought. "The strings are glass-coated, giving them cutting abilities. Now the question remains, 'how do I escape?'" "Looking for a way out, sir?" Said the gray-eyed man. "You won't find it in time." As he spoke, the man took a pistol from his back pocket. A 'Desert Eagle' 44 magnum. 2 shots with that gun would be enough to do KI-11 in. However, KI-11 took the initiative, and acted before the gray-eyed man. He unsheathed the hidden tanto, and threw it. It was perfect. It caught the gray-eyed man right BETWEEN his gray eyes, taking their cold light forever. As the man crumpled to the floor, KI-11 realized something. If he just moved slowly, he could escape the strings. And he did so. Inch by inch, cut by cut. But somehow, he managed to get out of the strings. "Now," he said aloud. "To find 'Manny,' and teach him a lesson on security."

CHAPTER 10: the false account- KI-11 looked through the resident directory. There was NO 'Manny Juarez' listed. "I'm betting he left and had to find another refuge," whispered KI-11. "...Better check my e-mail..." KI-11 walked to his car and opened his suitcase, once inside, revealing the hidden laptop once again. He accessed his inbox:

'Hi K.
sorry for the inconvenience. Those mobsters weren't anyone I knew. Someone's tracking me. I'm now on the roof of the 'Takio Toy Company.'
~D'

"Great, just great," said KI-11, shutting his suitcase and making his way out of the bar/hotel. Once he reached the streets, he decided to get to the rendezvous on a quicker path. Scaling a fire escape on the side of the hotel, he proceeded to leap from roof to roof, all the while progressing toward the Takio building. Once at the rendezvous, he looked around, getting a look at his surroundings. Some scaffolding to his right, the Takio building's neon sign to his left. Then he noticed something else. There was a figure standing opposite him, at the center of the rooftop. "Manny?" He asked. The figure shook its head, then leapt at KI-11, swinging a katana. It came crosswise, as the assailant was trying to decapitate the LOSS agent. KI-11 leaned back, the katana's point narrowly missing his nose. KI-11 still had his suitcase, and lashed out with it, knocking the sword from his attacker's grasp. The figure dove after the blade, and KI-11 quickly opened his suitcase, taking out his 'specter' [the ivana assault rifle] and one of the throwing knives from his belt. He re-shut the case, and let loose a round of bullets from his specter at the figure, who had just gotten its sword back. The figure saw the bullets coming, somehow, and deflected the bullets, its katana a blur. KI-11 strapped the specter to his back, then sprinted towards the scaffolding, scaling it to the top. There were some convenient crates he could use as cover. The figure put 2 fingers to its mouth and whistled. More figures, 5 of them, popped up on the rooftop. "Looks like the Miu family has been expecting me," thought KI-11. "One of them must have been sending me false e-mails from a false D-13 account."KI-11 ducked back behind the crates as a spray of bullets pelted the scaffolding. "Great, they've got guns, too" he said. He popped his arm around a crate, sniping the enemy and taking down 3 figures. The remaining 3 nodded at each other, and 2 of them started using suppressing fire to keep KI-11 behind the crates as the 3rd figure scaled the scaffolding to surprise the LOSS agent. The figure reached the top, but KI-11 was ready. He threw the knife he'd taken from his suitcase, catching the figure in the throat. It gurgled, falling back down the scaffolding and landing with a sickening crunch on the rooftop. KI-11 then mimicked the whistle the 1st figure had done, and the 2 remaining figures stopped shooting. "The whistle must mean something like 'coast is clear,'" thought KI-11. He descended the scaffolding, retrieved his knife from the figure's body, and then stood and waited for the 2 figures to come close. One walked over to him, holding out its hand for congratulations. KI-11 reached out toward the figure, his knife hidden in his coat sleeve. He flicked his wrist, and the knife slid into his hand. He thrusted, impaling the figure. He caught the body, holding it up so the final figure wouldn't notice. KI-11 then slowly took his specter from behind his back, poking the barrel out of the dead figure's armpit. The final figure never saw his end coming. KI-11 let loose, turning the final figure into Swiss cheese. The figure then fell backwards off the rooftop, landing in an alley's dumpster. KI-11 dropped the body he'd been holding up, then slid down a fire escape to check out the attackers' leader. He did not recognize the man. Just a nameless thug. Then his hidden laptop started beeping. It was an e-mail from the false D-13 account. It read:

"Very good, K-san, but you may want to think on this; we are holding your friend D-13 hostage on the bottom floor of the Takio building. But be warned; we are also holding all its office staff hostage as well, as the working staff left before we arrived. Come see us if you want D-13 to live to see the rising sun."

Attached was a photo of a very battered D-13 tied to a chair, gagged, and surrounding by other bound and gagged Takio staff. KI-11 bit his lip. "Dang it, D," he said. "Why'd you get captured? There's gotta be a way to get you outta there..." He scanned the photo, his eyes coming to rest on an air vent behind D-13. "A/C chute," thought KI-11. "Perfect."

Chapter 11: breaking in.- KI-11 climbed back up to the Takio building's rooftop. There were 3 pathways in: the door from the roof to the top floor, the skylight for the atrium, and an extra window leading down a chute into a 4th story office. The Takio building, KI-11 figured out, had 6 floors, D-13 and the hostages being on the bottom. He took the 4th story office chute, climbing down it, spider-like. He dropped into the office. "Lucky the glass windows make these offices' sounds muffled," thought KI-11. There was a yakuza on the other side of the glass. KI-11 had 3 options: 1-avoid the guard and find the entrance to the 3rd floor. 2-shoot the guard in the head, through the glass, and hope the window doesn't shatter completely. 3-fight the guard face-to-face. KI-11 reviewed these options, then mentally checked off the 3rd choice. "Better to kill someone before they can kill me," he thought. KI-11 found a door off to his left, opening next to the guard. The LOSS agent grinned wolfishly, then busted the door open, dashing toward his victim. The guard was off-guard. He saw KI-11's sprinting figure, panicked, turned to run, and bumped into the office's window. Teetering backwards, the man fell into KI-11, who grabbed the guard by his shirt collar, smashing his face into the window. The window flexed, cracking but not breaking. KI-11 let go of the guard, who fell to the floor, clutching his nose. KI-11 then kicked the man in the face, rendering him unconscious. KI-11 sat down, opening his suitcase. He put his throwing knives back in, and grabbed a couple more clips of Ivana Spec-R ammo. He reloaded the assault rifle, slinging its strap over his shoulder. He shut the suitcase, and headed towards the 3rd floor.

+

KI-11 sat down in a chair in the Takio building's cafeteria, using a tie from a dead yakuza guard to staunch the flow of blood from his knuckles. Bodies of Miu family yakuza littered the floor, most of them with snapped necks, but a few had been punched to death. KI-11 surveyed his handiwork, then checked the cafeteria's clock. "5 minutes..." he said. "Much too long. I'll have to work on that for the rest of the time." he tore some clothing from a corpse, then ripped it into strips, making some wrappings for his hands. Suddenly a large man burst through the door. He had a unibrow and a buzzcut. KI-11 stayed where he was. The man seemed to take no notice of the LOSS agent, and went over to the vending machine, saying something about 'daddy's comin'...' He bought a pack of M&M's, then turned to leave. KI-11 spoke up. "You know, you shouldn't eat sugar this late. It'll keep you up all night." The man turned to face KI-11, then dropped his M&M's in fear, seeing the corpses. He turned to run. KI-11 drew his 'specter,' said "BOOM,' and shot the man in the back of the head. As he fell, KI-11 said "Headshot." He walked out of the cafeteria, with the large man's M&M's in hand. Making his way down the hall, KI-11 decided to use the main staircase to get to the second floor. Bad idea. When he came to the top of the stairs, 10 Miu yakuza ran up to meet him, some with knives, some with handguns, and one had a nightstick. The yakuza with the nightstick swung at KI-11. He ducked, then grabbed the yakuza's wrist and pushed up on the outside of his elbow, breaking the yakuza's arm. He took the nightstick, then used it to sweep the yakuza's legs out from under him, then stomped on his throat. The handgunners started firing, so KI-11 drew his 'specter' and blew them all away. The knife wielders, the last 3 of the gang, rushed up. KI-11 hopped forward, landing one foot on a yakuza's chest, then used it as leverage to roundhouse kick the yakuza in the face. He rolled down the stairs. KI-11 blocked a stab from the 2nd yakuza, then kneed him in the thigh, and cracked him upside the head a few times with the nightstick. Out like a light. The final yakuza whipped out a walky-talky. <"Backup requested on main staircarse 2 to 3,"> he said. KI-11 shrugged. "Bring it," he said. The final yakuza was at the bottom of the stairs. KI-11 leapt the stairs, then kneed the yakuza in the face, still in mid-air. They stumbled away from each other, the yakuza clutching a bloody nose. KI-11 threw the nightstick, catching the yakuza in the eye. The yakuza screamed, just as KI-11 jabbed him in the stomach. Tilting his arm, KI-11 made the yakuza spin. He then front kicked the yakuza down the stairs. KI-11 ran downstairs and leapt on the yakuza's head, then jumped off, making a beeline for a nearby closet. 30 seconds after he shut the door, the Miu reinforcements went upstairs, screaming like savages. KI-11 crept out of the closet, then tiptoed down the hall, making his way to the first floor undetected.

Chapter 12: copycat, final stand.- Or so he thought. The Miu yakuza's walky-talky message had not gone unnoticed. When KI-11 reached the door to the Takio building's basement, a kunai knife dinged off the door next to his head. He bent to pick it up, then turned to face its thrower. The sight that greeted him was most unwelcome. There were 20 Miu yakuza making a semicircle around the door, knifemen on the frontline, riflemen in the back. A man stepped forward, face wrapped in a black scarf. KI-11 flinched. The man's eyes peeked out of the scarf; they were molten red, with flecks of gold about the irises. The man spoke, his voice like a blade being drawn across wood. "Well, American, I see you made it!" KI-11 straightened up, nodding at the obvious leader of the yakuza. "SO what if I have? It's obvious you plan to take me down." The man laughed, making the hairs on everyone's necks stand on end. "Yes, but I'll even things up a bit. How about a wager?" KI-11 nodded. "Very well," said the scarfed man. "We will battle, you and I, to see if you will rescue D-13; but I assure you this battle has already been lost." "What do you mean?" questioned KI-11. The man unwrapped his head from the scarf, revealing his face to be that of D-13. KI-11 gasped. "D? That can't be you..." "You are CORRECT, american," answered the man. "I am Ryotaro Tanaka, head of the Miu family, and I have replaced the man you call D-13. We have killed him, and the plastic surgery I have received shall show its purpose. After I have killed you, I will return to your secret LOSS HQ and take them down from the inside." KI-11 shed a tear for his lost mentor, then drew his katana and his specter. "Bring your family, and meet me on the rooftop," he said, then kicked the basement door in, shooting a few Miu yakuza down as he escaped. He dove through a basement window, then climbed a ladder in an alley back to the Takio building's roof. He reloaded his specter, then sat down on a crate. Suddenly figured started swarming the edges of the rooftop. They formed a border about the edge of the roof, and the D-13 copycat walked to the center. "Well, american, this is the family," he yelled. KI-11 looked around. They formed about 200 in all. "Pretty small," he smirked. "Did you honestly think you could take down TOKYO? You're an idiot..." The leader growled. "Quality beats out quantity, fool. Each of these men has been training since birth to be a master killer. YOU are the fool." "We'll see..." replied KI-11. The LOSS agent whipped out a cell phone, sending a text message to LOSS:

'to LOSS:
I will not be returning from this mission. I'm sorry, but goodbye.'

A short message, yes, but KI-11 needed to say no more. LOSS would understand his resignation, and there was only ONE way to resign from this secret organization. I think you know what I mean. KI-11 put his specter into his suitcase, tossing the suitcase to a nearby yakuza. "I won't be needing that," he murmured. KI-11 pointed his katana at the D-13 copycat. The man drew his weapon, but didn't have enough time to block, because KI-11 was already on him. He seemingly materialized in front of the Miu family leader, then stabbed him in the wrist making him drop his sword. KI-11 then went about flaying the man across the back and arms, as the copycat curled up into a little ball. The yakuza looked at the LOSS agent, aghast. An aura seemed to radiate about him, totally black. KI-11's almond eyes were wide and staring at the copycat, and without a shred of mercy. The Miu leader screamed. <"HELP ME!"> was all he could say before KI-11 decapitated him, throwing the copycat's head into the yakuza ranks. KI-11 gave a primal roar, and the Yakuza charged. KI-11 stabbed the 1st yakuza, beheaded a 2nd, chopped a 3rd in half, hacked off a 4th one's legs, and blinded a 5th. The yakuza carrying his suitcase charged him. KI-11 thrusted, stabbing the man In the throat. The man stumbled closer, and KI-11 took back his suitcase. "Never mind," said KI-11. "I guess I WILL need it." He then withdrew his sword from the man's throat, then beheaded him, kicking the corpse into the Yakuza ranks, and then threw the head in after the body. The Yakuza were frightened, backing away slightly. KI-11 quickly opened the case, withdrawing his specter, slinging it over one arm. He then opened another secret pouch, withdrawing dual gauntlets. Each had a short blade that shot out from a special mechanism. The gauntlets resembled those from the Assassin's Creed video games. He strapped them on, Then slung his throwing knife belt about his waist, and finally thrust the Torka into his belt. He sheathed his katana, rushing around the rooftop edge; he drew his Torka and specter, firing at the Miu family. A fraction of the yakuza fell, and the rest raged, charging the LOSS agent. KI-11 ran out of ammo, then threw the guns into their ranks. He threw in his throwing knives, finally drawing his katana and hacking off the head of the first yakuza who reached him. The invisible black aura flared up again, and his eyes burned with retribution. KI-11 kicked the dead yakuza's body into the Miu family's ranks, then charged in after it, sword swinging left and right. A brave yakuza dashed up behind KI-11, landing a cut on his right shoulder; KI-11 was unfazed. He turned and lopped off the man's head, then spun in a circle, chopping up yakuza everywhere. The 1st and 2nd yakuza ranks fell, and the rest rushed in, knowing that to swarm him too closely would slow him down. This tactic worked, and KI-11 was hit. He turned to kill the attacker, but a battleaxe swept in, breaking his sword in half. KI-11 activated his gauntlets, and stabbed the two yakuza in their throats. He front-flipped over them, then sliced off the arms of a yakuza behind them. He dashed to another, stabbing him in the chest at high speed, then spun around the man, rolling over his back and blocked the hit of another yakuza, then stabbed him.

KI-11 was hit again and again, but his retribution burned brighter with each wound. The fighting continued long into the night. When the sun finally reached the horizon the herald morning, the rain stopped abruptly, and Tokyo's morning bustle started, the entire city unaware of their savior. Miu family bodies littered the Takio building's rooftop, but one still stood. Or so his body portrayed. KI-11 was standing on a pile of bodies, his corpse a silent champion. Dew and sweat mixed on KI-11's face, as his unseeing eyes faced the morning. The fire in him burned no more; his black aura was gone. He leaned on a broken scaffold timber, tears of joy still flowing. His dying wishes had been fulfilled; kill the Miu family, save Tokyo, and most important to him? AVENGE D-13. KI-11's corpse stayed there until a foreman came to the roof to check the scaffolding, saw the bodies, and called 9-1-1. A cleanup crew arrived soon after, cleaned away the bodies, and left. However, everyone wondered one thing that day; why was one man on top of that corpse pile? The answer to that, sadly, they would never know.

~THE END~