Ronin Born

by Percival Constantine

  Himiko went off and came back a few moments later with a physical keyboard. She plugged the cable into one of the ports and booted up the computer. Himiko bypassed the regular boot-up procedure and went into the command line. Her fingers danced around the keyboard as she typed in line after line of code. The letters moved too fast for Erika to even follow.

  “Any idea how long this will take?” asked Erika.

  “A long time,” said Himiko. “I’ve got to bypass the biometric login and have to go through a bunch of code in order to do it. So fix yourself a drink and get comfortable.”

  Erika sighed and went behind the bar. There were some bottles in the bar well and glasses under the counter. She grabbed an empty glass and then took a bottle of rum from the well and filled the glass.

  “Hey Kuroki,” said Himiko. “While you’re behind there, get me a Jack on the rocks.”

  She rolled her eyes, but complied. Himiko might have been a bit gruff, but she seemed to know what she was doing. And that was what Erika was counting on to move forward with this.

  A vibration in her pocket distracted her while preparing Himiko’s drink. Erika reached into her pocket to draw out the phone she took from Jo. There was a new text message from a blocked number. Erika brought up the message.

  “Tomorrow morning. Seven AM. Ueno Park.”

  Erika stared at the phone, unsure of what to respond with. The only sound in the room was the clatter of the keyboards as Himiko tried to bypass the security protocols.

  “You said this will take a long time,” said Erika. “Any chance that it would be finished by seven?”

  Himiko’s fingers stopped hitting the keys and looked over her shoulder. “By seven?”

  Erika nodded.

  “Kuroki, that’s…that’s like, just over six hours from now.”

  “Is there a chance?”

  “No! Fuck no!” protested Himiko. “Even if I can get into the computer, whatever files you need on here are no doubt encrypted. I have to run a program to decrypt those and I have no way of telling how long that would take.”

  Erika sighed and raised the glass of rum to her lips. “Dammit.”

  “Why would you need it that soon anyway?” asked Himiko.

  Erika set her glass down. She moved from behind the bar, Himiko’s drink in one hand and the phone in the other. Once Erika reached the desk, she held out both for Himiko. The young hacker accepted both and read the text message.

  “Who’s this?” she asked.

  “Whoever’s after this thing,” said Erika. “Might be my chance at finding out just what’s going on. And if I knew just what was on it, I’d have leverage going into this meeting.”

  “Could also be a trap,” said Himiko.

  “They think I’m the guy who stole it for them, so I don’t think so.”

  “Could still be a trap. Maybe they’d planned to kill the errand boy once the errand was done.”

  Himiko had a good point. Erika had no way of knowing just what she was walking into. But she also couldn’t miss this opportunity to learn more about what this was all about. She had to take some kind of action here.

  “You’re doing this as a favor to Ishiyama, that I get,” said Erika. “But if I asked you for something, what would you charge?”

  Himiko raised an eyebrow. “Depends on what you need.”

  18

  Ueno Park was very large and one of the few natural landscapes still left in Tokyo. It contained numerous footpaths, temples, shrines, and even museums. Erika had never even been here before. She’d only recently come to Tokyo when she was promoted to the Tokkei and didn’t have much time for sight-seeing.

  Now she walked over the paths, a cup of hot coffee in her hand. Her implants were active with an open line of communication with Himiko back in Roppongi.

  “How’s it looking?” asked Erika.

  “Wired up. I’ve tapped into the park’s surveillance system, so I’ve got eyes all over Ueno,” said Himiko through Erika’s implants. “It’s a big place. You got a more specific meeting area?”

  “Yeah, got a text while I was on the train,” said Erika, checking the phone. “The Saigo Takamori statue.”

  “Okay, I’m checking the cameras…”

  Himiko went silent. Erika started walking. Signs pointed her in the direction of the statue as she waited for Himiko’s response. And then it came up again.

  “All right, here we go,” said Himiko. “Area around the statue looks empty. Could be they’re keeping their distance until they see you.”

  “Until they see the original courier, you mean,” Erika corrected.

  “Well yeah, that. You got a plan?”

  “Check the surrounding area, see if there’s anyone who looks suspicious,” said Erika.

  “What do you expect, someone in a trench coat, fedora, and sunglasses?”

  “Humor me.”

  She could hear Himiko’s sigh and then silence. There were spots of raised grass and trees scattered around the concrete. Erika sat on one of the edgings and sipped her coffee. There was a staircase just ahead and up those steps was the statue. The phone buzzed in her pocket and Erika was quick to pull it out.

  “I don’t see you.”

  Erika glanced at the surrounding area, trying to find anyone who might be using a phone. There were few people around and those who were present weren’t holding any devices.

  “That makes two of us,” Erika typed in response.

  She waited for a reply, but it didn’t seem to be coming. Erika sighed and took another sip of her coffee. It didn’t take long before the cup was empty. When she reached the garbage bin to throw it away, she heard a voice in her ear.

  “Hey, there’s someone at the statue,” said Himiko.

  “What do they look like?” asked Erika.

  “Well…believe it or not…but it’s a dude in a trench coat and fedora.”

  “You’ve got to be joking,” said Erika.

  “Nope. Want me to stream the footage to you.”

  “No, that’s okay. I’m going to get closer.”

  Erika dropped the empty cup in the bin and started moving slowly up the steps. The green statue of Saigo Takamori started to peak over the horizon. And when she reached the summit, she saw the man Himiko had told her about.

  His back was to her and he stared up at the statue. His hands were in his coat pockets and he pulled them out. Erika caught a glimpse of a device in one of his hands and he looked down. A moment later, her phone buzzed.

  “No cameras. No calls.”

  “I see you both just standing there, looking at your phones,” said Himiko.

  “He knows you’re listening,” said Erika.

  “So what now?”

  Erika wasn’t sure how to respond. She could make a scene and arrest him right here and now. But she had no idea who he really was and that just might make things more difficult. Especially if it was Gardner.

  The phone buzzed again and her predicament was solved for her.

  “I’d like to speak to you in private, Agent Kuroki.”

  Erika’s eyes widened. He knew who she was, which meant it had to be Gardner. That was fine, maybe this would work out better for her. She’d confront him with the knowledge that he’d committed a crime by hiring those two bosozoku to come after her. Under that pretext, she could bring him in quietly, and he wouldn’t be able to withstand interrogation.

  “Drop the surveillance.”

  “Huh?”

  “You heard me, cut the cameras. I’ll call you back later.”

  Erika ended the call and switched her implants so any other calls that came through would be ignored. She moved slowly towards the man in the coat and he stared up at the statue. Before she came up by his side, but when she was within earshot, he started speaking.

  “Right where you are is fine, Agent Kuroki.”

  Erika was a bit surprised, but she stopped, keeping that small distance between them.

  “Do you know the story of Sai
go Takamori?” he asked.

  “He was a samurai, right?” she asked.

  The man nodded. “That’s right. He was an essential figure in the Meiji Restoration, which was the first step in Japan’s modernization back in the late 1800s. Reluctantly, he was then persuaded to lead the Satsuma Rebellion against the new country he’d helped create.”

  “Why the history lesson?” asked Erika.

  “There’s an old saying that the only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. I’ve always believed that history can give us a kind of roadmap, a way to avoid the mistakes of our ancestors.”

  “It’s a nice theory, but I think it sounds a bit too simplistic.”

  “Maybe it is,” he said. “Regardless, I’ve always thought about Saigo’s story. He came to regret his part in what he had created and so, he sought to make amends for it.”

  “What happened to him?” asked Erika.

  “He was injured in the battle of Shiroyama. From there, the accounts differ. Some say he committed seppuku. Other scholars suggest his wounds could have driven him into shock and that his men severed his head, assisting him in the warrior’s death he would have desired,” he said. “One thing we can be sure of is that his revolt against what he had created led to his death. So that begs the question—was it worth it in the end?

  He looked back at her. Erika was surprised when she saw his face for the first time.

  “You’re not Gardner Takasu…” she muttered.

  He offered her a smile. He was a good deal older than Gardner—his visible hair was pure white and wrinkles lined his face. The eyes behind the round glasses he wore were warm and kind, a far cry from Gardner’s steel expression.

  “It can’t be…” muttered Erika. But she knew she had seen that face before. The photos from the background information on this case. And the framed pictures in the apartment.

  He turned to face her and then bowed. “My name is Dr. Kenjiro Miyata. I believe you’ve been looking for me.”

  19

  The possibility of Miyata being the one who hired the bosozoku had entered Erika’s mind. After all, how could it not? But one thing she never would have expected was for Miyata himself to turn up at the hand-off. She was still somewhat at a loss for words after he introduced himself, leaving him to pick up the conversation.

  “Shall we go for a walk?” he asked.

  Erika opened her mouth but said nothing. She then simply gave a silent nod. Miyata gestured for her to head back for the stairs she had just come up and began walking towards the steps. Erika moved beside him.

  “You know who I am,” she said, still somewhat in surprise. “Am I right to assume you also know we’ve been looking for you?”

  “I am,” said Miyata.

  “So if you know there’s a search for you, why would you come to such a public place with cameras everywhere?”

  “We can talk about that later. But what I’m more interested in is discussing some of your actions,” said Miyata. “I notice, for example, that you’ve come alone.”

  “How do you know I don’t have back-up?” asked Erika.

  “How’s that armor working out for you?” asked Miyata. “Integrates well with your implants? Response time good? Well-protected?”

  “You developed the armor when you were working for Yoshida?” asked Erika.

  Miyata nodded as they reached the foot of the stairs. They continued forward, approaching Chuo-dori. Miyata turned left and Erika stayed by his side.

  “I developed a lot of the systems that the Tokkei use, so I was able to build a backdoor into their systems. One they haven’t found yet. That’s how I knew they were searching for me and how I knew that you in particular were assigned to the case,” said Miyata. “I also know that my computer wasn’t logged into evidence, which means they don’t know you have it.”

  “Maybe that was done on purpose so you’d reach out. Set a trap for you,” said Erika.

  “Maybe. But I’ve known Hiro since he was in diapers. And he’s a stickler for procedure. So I doubt he’d sign off on something like that. Which means you’d have to keep it secret.”

  They waited at the light until it changed, and then crossed. Erika wasn’t sure if Miyata had a destination in mind or if he was just wandering.

  “You know you have to come in with me,” said Erika. “I’ve got questions to ask you about—”

  Miyata nodded. “About Kitano. Yes, I’m aware. But I’m not in the mood to be tossed in a hole for something I haven’t done.”

  “Don’t be paranoid, old man. Nobody’s going to throw you in any hole.”

  Miyata scoffed. “I take it there’s a lot you don’t know about law enforcement in this country. The Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets grants the government broad powers in areas related to defense intelligence. And due to Yoshida’s close relationship with the Defense Ministry, this crime they’re trying to frame me for would definitely constitute a violation.”

  “Wait, frame? Who’s framing you? And why?”

  Miyata stopped at the next corner and turned to face Erika. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. But free from the Ministry’s prying eyes and ears. Which is why I’d like you to come with me.”

  A taxi pulled up to the curb and the rear door opened. Miyata began to climb inside, but Erika grabbed his arm. He looked back at her and she shook her head.

  “I can’t let you leave.”

  “Like I said, I want you to come with me,” said Miyata. “There’s a lot we have to discuss. And when I’m finished, if you don’t like what I have to say, then I’ll allow you to take me in to your superiors.”

  Erika sighed. She didn’t like the idea of trusting Miyata like this without any sort of back-up whatsoever. But at the same time, she was also afraid to let him out of her sight. This might be the best way to get some information. So she climbed into the car with him.

  “Fine,” she said. “But this had better be good.”

  The door closed behind her and the AI taxi began moving down the street. Her AR-HUD flashed a notification of a missed call from a blocked number. She assumed that had to be Himiko, but she just ignored it.

  “So are you going to tell me what this is all about?” she asked.

  “Kitano’s people were using Yoshida Tech, weren’t they?”

  Erika stared at Miyata. “The fact that you have that information suggests you’re the reason why.”

  “A few months ago, I discovered some irregularities in testing results,” said Miyata. “When new implants are in development, they have to undergo animal testing. Only if those are successful do we then move on to human trials. But some of the results I saw in reports suggested that they had jumped ahead of human trials.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “As far as the records were concerned, these were classified as animal test results. But in reality, the subjects were all humans,” said Miyata.

  Erika’s memory flashed back to the thing she and Hiro fought beneath Kitano’s compound. And then she remembered what Dr. Iwata had told her when beginning the examination of the corpse.

  “If the government has no record of their genetic information, then there’s no way of determining the identity. They can easily be disposed of once the tests are complete and authorities have no way of tracing it back to the perpetrators. And there’s no one to miss the victims, so the police don’t receive any pressure from next of kin.”

  She also recalled the words of Takahashi, one of Kitano’s men that she had tracked down.

  “Refugees. They wanted to experiment on them.”

  “You knew, didn’t you?” asked Miyata. “Or at least you suspected.”

  Erika looked back at him. Kitano provided the test subjects and the testing grounds, and someone inside Yoshida provided the implants. But that still didn’t absolve Miyata.

  “All this does is prove you knew yourself. It doesn’t mean you weren’t behind it,” she said. “Which is wh
y forensics found evidence of your signature on those implants.”

  “You saw how I was able to get into your system. And to answer your earlier question, I’ve managed to avoid facial recognition through a unique implant. It generates a distortion field around my face that registers false results,” said Miyata. “How have you done with my computer? Broken into it yet?”

  Erika shook her head.

  “Exactly. So if I’m able to cover my tracks this well, what makes you think I’d be so sloppy as to leave my signature all over technology I was smuggling on the black market?”

  “That’s why you said you’re being framed,” said Erika. “But by whom?”

  “That’s the question. I brought my concerns to my superiors. They assured me there would be an investigation. Shortly after that, I was told that the investigation found no irregularities and that there must have been a glitch in the system.”

  “But you didn’t believe them,” said Erika.

  Miyata shook his head. “I investigated it, of course. I’ve got resources that no one in Yoshida is truly aware of. And I learned that the investigation was quashed—by Gardner Takasu.”

  “You’re saying Takasu was working with Kitano?”

  “For the past year, Takasu has been pushing R&D to progress faster. And we tried, but while still adhering to safety protocols. Now ask yourself why the VP of government relations would be pressuring R&D.”

  “Because of the client,” said Erika. “You’re saying the Defense Ministry wanted this accelerated.”

  He nodded. “They’ve been demanding upgrades and new equipment at an increased rate over the past few years and Yoshida’s been trying to meet the demand.”

  “So Gardner farms out the testing to Kitano, who finds subjects among the refugees he smuggles into the country.”

  “That’s correct.”

  “What’s on your computer? Why so much security?” asked Erika. “If it’s evidence that backs this all up, why not just send it to the press or something?”

  “The press won’t do anything. The vagueness of the State Secrecy Law would lead to them getting a visit from the Tokkei if they tried to broadcast a single word of this.” Miyata took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “The computer has information on my family.”