Adventures In Parodyverse: Hallowed Halls Part 3

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Part 2

Adventures in Parodyverse - Hallowed Halls Part 3

    "Jack, we have a problem," he was told on the phone late in the afternoon just before he was about to leave his desk and go home. He gave Vicky a tired look across the room as he listened. "George Wright has vanished."

    "The prisoner we just brought in and talked to?" Jack asked. The answer to that question was obvious but he asked it anyhow.

    "Yes." the Commissioner told him. "What's worse is, the Psychic Samurai was spotted at the station between the time you spoke to Mr. Wright and his disappearance."

    "And you didn't ask her to talk to us?" Jack asked.

    "She's here all the time lately, Jack," the Commissioner replied. "With the Parody War keeping the Lair Legion busy she's been taking a lot of the slack. She's always dropping by with arrests."

    "Hey Jack," Vicky prodded him as he talked on the phone.

    Jack held up a hand to silence her as he listened to the phone. "How are we going to contact her then, Don?"

    "Yo, Jack!" This time Vicky got him to look directly at her, and she nodded her head toward the doorway.

    "Never mind," Jack said into the phone as he looked at the Psychic Samurai leaned against the doorway. "I figured it out." He hung up the phone and offered the Psychic Samurai a seat. "Do I call you Ms. Samurai?"

    "You may call me Chiaki," she said in her usual calm, quiet voice, but she didn't sit down. "I see you're about to leave. I would feel more comfortable if we speak in less rushed circumstances."

    Jack looked at Vicky and nodded once. "I suppose I could bring a couple of guests over for dinner." He picked up the phone to call Dee and see if it was okay.

    Vicky didn't say anything, but she was holding back a smile, noting how easily yet politely Chiaki managed to manipulate the circumstances around her. It was rather impressive.


---

    Even with the small-stature Vicky present the Psychic Samurai was incredibly less impressive in person than in memory and legend. She was a small Asian woman, barely above five feet in height. Visiting Jack Burns' home made her seem so small suddenly, as Jack and Dee were both several inches taller, and even their daughter was fairly close in height.

    Chiaki was also incredibly well mannered at the visit. She entered the home behind Jack and remained silent until introduced, at which time she bowed slightly to Dee and thanked her for permission to visit her home. That level of politeness made Dee smile. Even the sword she carried didn't seem so intimidating.

    "I'm fairly talented with smaller blades as well," Chiaki offered as she entered the home, "if you would accept some assistance preparing the food."

    "Not necessary," Dee replied with a smile, "I ordered some food. It's already done and here."

    Chiaki smiled, almost seeming shy when she did. "Very clever," she complimented.

    Dee finally had the nerve to ask as she began unwrapping the food and placing it on the table, "What brings you to our humble home?"

    Chiaki nodded and replied honestly, "I'm afraid it's business. I would be honored if it would develop into a friendship. You seem like such wonderful people."

    "Do you know where George Wright is?" Jack asked pointedly, earning a quick glare from Dee.

    The Psychic Samurai gave him a look which immediately made it clear that Jack was asking about something he'd never truly understand. "I removed him from the field of play," she replied. "in order to protect him from an execution order."

    "Who made that order?" Vicky asked. She felt proud of herself when even Jack seemed to note that it was a good question.

    It gave Chiaki a moment of pause. "I honestly don't know with any certainty," she finally replied. "I know where the orders are receieved. That is how I knew of it."

    Jack finally caught up with the good questions. "Where are the orders recieved."

    "That," Chiaki replied calmly, "I will tell you when you earn my trust. He is a broker, not a murderer. He gives me this information in exchange for other information."

    "Like Hannibal Lecter," Vicky pointed out.

    It gave everyone a higher opinion of Chiaki that she smiled and laughed at that.

    "So what kind of deal was going down with ol' George that you beat him down on the lawn and took his money?" Vicky finally asked.

    Chiaki frowned and sighed. "I am attempting to solve the disappearance of the Brass Bushi. He was supposed to give me information but decided to withhold it. And the money I paid him as well."

    Vicky and Jack looked at each other. And then Jack asked, "You don't know where he is either?"

    "He is a man with considerable resources," Chiaki replied. "He can make himself vanish if he wishes."

    "So much for George's supernatural conspiracy theories," Vicky snorted.

    Jack looked directly at Chiaki when he asked the next, more difficult question. "George does seem to have some interesting thoughts on your past association with Akiko Masamune."

    Chiaki smiled knowingly as if she anticipated being asked such a question. "I live by a certain...code," she said. "Akiko has always respected my sensibilities."

    "I mean to ask if you made anyone disappear." Jack asked pointedly.

    That question gave Chiaki some pause, and made Dee nervous. A trained Samurai in her home, and Jack was antagonizing her. But Chiaki seemed perfectly calm and still as she replied. "Yes. I have taken men from their families and led them to believe only cooperation would see them returned. They were never harmed, however."

    "And you didn't think it was wrong?" Vicky asked.

    "It was," Chiaki admitted. "But you must understand, they were...intercepted by me. I took them and treated them well, letting them know fully the type of people who would have done so if I hadn't. The type of people who have not bound themselves to protect others."

    "Ohhhh." Vicky smiled as she finally understood. "So that's why you had George arrested, so whoever was protecting the Brass Bushi's disappearance wouldn't kill George for talking."

    "Correct." Chiaki calmly took a sip of water.

    "Is there any particular reason we should trust you over George?" Jack asked.

    Chiaki shrugged slightly. "Not really, no. I suppose I have done things I'm not proud of. But you have to ask yourself why you trust me to visit your home and not George. There are some things instict speaks better for than facts."

    "She has a point there, Jack," Vicky noted.

    "It's because I trust my wife's judgement." Jack gently put his arm around Dee, who smiled almost seeming embarassed. "Dee said she would like to meet you. So here you are."

    "Then I owe you my thanks." Chiaki bowed her head to Dee slightly.

    "Hey Chiaki," Vicky suddenly piped up. "You have any info on the blackmail case I'm stuck with? I don't want to be in high school again."

    "I'm sorry, I know very little about your case." Chiaki replied. "However, blackmail...it's easy to figure out if you simply create an attractive enough situation to draw out your suspects."

    "Yah, that's what I was thinking." Vicky nodded. "I bet it's that mean principal."

    "It's probably the cheerleading squad," Jack quickly poked fun as Dee began jabbing him in the ribs for it. "You might have to investigate them."

    Chiaki laughed. "Funny, Visionary said the same thing when he read about it in the newspaper."

    "Ha-ha, laugh it up you two." Vicky complained. "You're not stuck in a living nightmare."

    Dinner ended with casual chatting between the Psychic Samurai, Vicky, Jack, and Dee. All traces of suspicion and tension had disappeared.

    Jack still couldn't help but wonder, though, as he watched Chiaki become friendly with everyone. Was she exceptionally skilled at deception or was she genuinely friendly and personable?

    "I thank you all for your hospitality." Chiaki bowed politely as she said that, and prepared to leave. Outside a humble taxi - rather than a limousine - was waiting to return her to her penthouse apartment in a building she owned downtown. "I will always remember your kindness. My current associations make it difficult to make friends."

    That finally made Jack smile. It sounded genuine enough. "Well we're not allowed to fix tickets for you but we can help you with just about anything else."

    "And I offer my assistance as well." Chiaki bowed again and smiled before retreating outside and heading for the cab. Uncharacteristically, she turned and waved at the gathering on the front porch of the house before climbing into the taxi.

    "You think it's an act, do you?" Vicky asked Jack.

    Jack frowned as he noted Dee's look of disapproval. "The detective in me is always skeptical. But then again, she went to an awful lot of trouble to try and earn trust."

    "I think it's more than that," Vicky asked.

    "What do you mean?"

    Vicky bit her lip and squinted. "I think she's looking after us. I think she knows we're in trouble, Jack. I just wish I knew why."


TO BE CONTINUED?

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2007 by Jason Froikin, and may not be
-- reprinted without permission.
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
-- Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
-- Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Post By Anime Jason Sun May 13, 2007 at 11:40:14 am EDT	Subject Adventures In Parodyverse: Hallowed Halls Part 3

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