Chapter 23

  “Take Edmund to your Uncles, I'll send two men with you. My apartment is considered British soil, I'm calling some men over. Leave Anthony your translator.”

  I power up the translator handed to me.

  “I'm not leaving you.” Lucy says.

  “Think of Edmund, one of us has to take him and I'm best suited to help with the resources I have. Please don't fight me on this, we don't ave time. I can scramble a stealth drone to take both of you to the coast.”

  “Ok Charlie. Promise me you won't harm Shimura.”

  “Luv it won't come to a conflict of force, having my men ere is to show conviction, not to fight dem off.”

  Lucy goes to Edmond. Charlie makes a few calls, 2 soldiers are there immediately, they start calling more, he's working on raising Father. The peaceful, isolated feel of the apartment has turned into a flurry of activity.

  “Arthur! Come 'ere.” Charlie calls.

  He's sitting in front of a terminal, looks like he's trying to narrow in on a signal, “Yes Charlie?” I say.

  “I'm gunna 'ave to tell Father and Mother about Lucy and Edmund, it's the only way to keep 'dem safe. Can you, well help back me up? Dey may call for me to leave.”

  “I'll do what I can.”

  He zeros in on a signal, a message on the screen flashes 'Please Standby'. After a bit Father appears.

  -It's 11pm. Oh, I see Goliath made it der.- Father says.

  I wave -Hi Father.-

  -Mother it's Charlie. What is going on?- He says. Mother sits down beside Father, she has a young girl with rather large glasses with her. The little girl looks at the screen rather intently.

  Charlie nervously glances at me, then back at the screen.

  -Ye told me to help Goliath 'ere, right?- Charlie says.

  -Get to de point lad, I can see de armed soldiers behind you.- Father says.

  -We need help. I, um, have a lady friend that we need to help, she needs to be in a safe house.-

  -Oh, well it's my fault for sending Marla wid your envoy. Father says.

  -No, it's not Marla.- Charlie says.

  -A local?- Father says.

  -Yes.- Charlie says.

  -Dammit, why? Ye know how de local government is these days, please tell me she's at least not in the government.- Father says.

  -Well, she's kind of in charge of customs.- Charlie says.

  -We'll help, but you need to break it off wid her.- Father says.

  -We have a child, he's 25 months. I'm not leaving him.-

  The mic on their end is muted, Father and Mother are having a rather animated discussion.

  “I don't suppose you can read lips?” Charlie asks.

  “I can, what's a 'Gobshite'?”

  “Aye, it means he's mad at me.”

  He turns the mic back on.

  -OK lad, well, she's family now. What do ye need?-

  -A safe house as I said, but I may need more. Dey want to arrest Anthony, his friend killed one of the 4.-

  -Stinger followed you?-

  -Yes Father- I reply.

  -De man is stark raving mad. He has to be stopped, can ye get Goliath the gift?-

  -Father, why do you assume they'll just give it to him? He came all this way, how shall I convince dem? They only have 4 people in de country they let have it at any given time.-

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  -5, plus the Yakuza's 5. De Yakuza may be a better choice.-

  -Father, I need your trust and access codes for full control of local assets, to protect Lucy and Edmund and to help Goliath. This is all becoming interconnected.-

  -You shall have it.- Mother says. Father reaches for the comm button, Mother slaps his hand. -No, it's decided. If we can't help family how de bleed'n hell are we going to win dis war?-

  -Codes sent, transmission end.- Father says.

  “Well dats a ting, never seen Mother openly override Father, dey usually are always united in dings. Ok, I'm going to set Lucy and Edmund in a safe house.”

  The guard stationed outside the door pokes his head in, “He's here.” He closes the door.

  I can hear them speaking clearly through the door, the guard states he's unarmed and they take him into custody. There is a loud rap on the door.

  “Bring him out, he's to be arrested as an accomplice to the killing of agent Kenji .”

  “He's not being released, he's a British Empire citizen on British soil.'”

  “He's not one of your citizens and you know this, hand him over, he's an accomplice.”

  “Check. With the British Government. It's a little after 11 pm there though, don't expect a reply for another 9 hours.”

  “Charlie, let me in, we need to talk, no funny business I swear.”

  Charlie turns to me “I'm letting him in.”

  I nod.

  '”Weapons down lads.” He opens the door., Shimura is there his right hand heavily wrapped, at least a half dozen scar recent stitches on his face, under the day light I notice many more scars of former battles

  He enters, walks up to me, we stare at each other. We're both warriors, if I didn't have my healing I would be scared like him.

  “I pulled in some favors, I underestimated your shadow, but you intrigue me more. With the gift, the genome therapy and, well, frankly you're a giant of a man with a sharp mind you would be the most powerful man alive. Other than your shadows suit.”

  “Is your intent really to arrest me?” I ask.

  “No. We need to talk.” He says.

  “How about I put on some tea and we ave a seat?” Charlie offers.

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  Him and I have a seat as Charlie puts tea on.

  “So how do we stop him?”

  “We fight him on at least level ground. I came here to be trained in the gift.”

  “Not even a possibility they would never agree to give a gajin the gift.”

  “What do you know of the suit?”

  “It moves, it's like steel, I can't penetrate it. It's like it's alive.”

  “Oh, it is alive, 3 different souls. It started off with 3 of us, each with a suit. But two of us saw the dangers of the suit. We got them to agree to remove our suits. But the powers that be saw fit to put all three suits on one body. He is four people, all fighting for control.”

  “So they saw how they were controlling you and decided to put 3 suits on one person? Why?”

  “That is what we asked. We knew what it would lead to. I know how the suit works, I have a connection to one of the three. I believe if I have the Gift I can defeat him.”

  “And what if you're wrong?”

  “Then he defeats me.”

  “What if this is all a trick on your part?”

  “Is that what you think?”

  “No.”

  Charlie brings the tea over, we pour a cup.

  “Stanley, what have you been told of the 5th?” Shimura says.

  “Barely anything other than the 5ths existence and that the Yakuza has a 5th as well.”

  “What I have to say is relevant, I need both of your words that this is to never leave this room.” Shimura says.

  “Of course.”

  “Aye Shimura.”

  Shimura continues to speak, “The 5th is the strongest of the 4, they are above the 4, basically the leader, from the shadows. The 5th makes very difficult decisions, this has been the way since the great war started over 100 years ago, when the Others took over most of the world we've held them at bay. The Yakuza 4 mirror the governments 4, a balance in a way, ying-yang. This has worked for us. But your shadow friend, his presence threatens this.”

  “But he is after me, I don't think he's a threat.”

  “Kenji wasn't just killed; he was mutilated, tortured. Word on the street is there is a new Yakuza member with the Gift, he wears a swirling black suit.”

  “That all seems too fast, why would they accept him?”

  “He killed Kenji, they would want to control him, which they can do with him as a member. You can't equate us to good and the Yakuza with evil, there is much grey on both sides. It has been the way since the war started. The balance is off though. Your friends' very presence will affect the whole country's ability to survive. This is why he is such a threat to us.”

  “You want him gone more than I do...”

  “He will destroy our country if he is allowed to get a foot hold in the Yakuza, the balance is already off. By tonight, there will be a noticeable difference on the streets.” He turns to Charlie, “Do you have a safe place for Lucy and Edmund to stay, a place both the Government and Yakuza does not know about?”

  “Yes, I'm making arrangements.”

  “Goliath will go with them for now, ensuring he's armed. You understand; this is to protect my Sister and Nephew, it's not just to hide you.”

  “I understand. You can call me Stanley.”

  “No. I need Goliath to make sure my family is safe. Be the namesake others gave you. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have much to discuss with the 5th, set them up in the safe location Charlie, do not tell me or anyone where.”

  “I'm going to get Lucy and Edmund, I need to fill her in and I don't dink dere is any ting else being discussed that's confidential?”

  “No Charlie. Get them to the location fast.”

  “Will do Shimura.”

  Shimura stands and we shake hands. Him and his men leave.

  It sounds like they want me to be trained with the Gift but it's not a simple task. I think back to when Underwood offered up the Gift to Maria and I, how close we were in defiance. And now she's not here and I'm seeking out the Gift. Is this the way? Shimura seems well adjusted and he has the Gift. Just what lengths will I have to go through to eliminate this threat? His very presence can destabilize things for this country. My gut tells me I'm having my strings pulled, but I can't pin it down.

  There is definitely something not right. So, here I am, Stinger follows me and now there is a threat to this country. And Maria and I are separated. It's just too many damn coincidences.