Ninja Assassin: Attraction

by Sally Keira

  "I bet it would surprise you to know that I offered Lawso a really good job with the CIA and he turned it down to work for Tadao. Tadao is a wealthy man but it is unlikely he would have matched the CIA's offer."

  Satoshi stared at her as if she knew the answer to that puzzle. Kaiya shrugged, she was irritated to hear that Lawso preferred to work for Tadao. After a thoughtful silence Kaiya brought the conversation back to the chip.

  "I’m not interested in Lawso, I’m here for the chip. I had my hands on that chip first and Lawso delighted in taking it from me. I'm not leaving here without it. What can you tell me about it? What room is it in?"

  Satoshi considered what to tell her as she looked at him expectantly.

  "Do you know what your father intends to do with that chip?" Satoshi asked.

  Kaiya felt embarrassed when she did not know the answer. He nodded as though he was not surprised by this.

  "From what I know of Tatsuya, we're all better off if he doesn't get that chip back, at least before other governments have a duplicated copy. In the interest of good sportsmanship though, I'll tell you that the chip is located upstairs in the room overlooking the rear balcony. The doors have a coded lock. There are of course cameras and a surprise security barrier inside the room that you won't be able to breach. I think Tadao must intend to demolish a section of his floor later to move the chip for duplication. So, unless you have something in your purse to blast through the floor with, you're not getting to that chip. But by all means, don't take my word for it."

  Satoshi stared at the spot in front of Kaiya's seat at the table, where a butter knife had gone missing. She had just slipped it into her wrist purse. He shook his head at her lack of preparation.

  "What?! Lawso took my dagger off me!” Kaiya said defensively. “Thanks for the Intel. I'm going after the chip regardless, because leaving without it is not an option for me. Wish me luck. Oh, and by the way, next time you're in Tokyo look me up. I regretted not saying goodbye to you before you left the dojo."

  “Will do,” Satoshi said.

  As Kaiya stood she had an after-thought. “Watch this…. I’ll just get one last reaction out of Lawso before I go after it, I’ll make him angry for the fun of it….”

  “That, I would be amused to see,” Satoshi said.

  Kaiya left Satoshi's table and made a beeline for the staircase. Lawso stared incredulously at her and she looked defiantly back at him. Amused by his angry expression, she started ascending the stairs. Lawso spoke into his radio. Halfway up the stairs, she was cut off by another familiar figure who stepped out at the top into her path. It was Yoshito, also dressed in a suit, standing over her threateningly with his gun pointed at her. Kaiya put her arms up in surrender, laughing. Although Yoshito did not look amused.

  "I'm just looking for the bathroom, Yoshito. Could you show me where it is please?"

  "A few more steps and you're dead, Kaiya,” Yoshito harshly told her.

  Kaiya shrugged. "Fair enough. Where's the bathroom though?"

  Yoshito walked down the stairs with her, nudging her in the back with his gun. Not caring if anyone at the party could see him. The guests all knew the rules so they would not intervene even if they were watching. As they stepped off the stairs, she could see that Lawso was still furious with her. She glanced at Satoshi, who clapped his hands in amusement at the angry expression on Lawso's face. Kaiya grinned back at Satoshi, while Yoshito coldly escorted her to the far end of the room where the women's bathroom was.

  "Thanks," she winked at Yoshito and she shut the door to the bathroom in his face.

  Kaiya moved quickly to the bathroom window whilst the single toilet stall was occupied. Forcing it open, she lifted it high enough to climb through. A moment later she was outside the building standing on grass. The toilet flushed but she pulled the window shut before the door to the stall opened. Standing close to the wall of the mansion, she looked around the manicured lawn. Ninjas were patrolling the estate in the distance. They probably would not notice her yet. At least she was out of view of the front of the house. After assessing her options, she settled on a water pipe. It ascended conveniently close to a window, so that would be her way in.

  Her heart was racing. But Kaiya lived for the surge of adrenaline that she often experienced when she did something dangerous. After kicking off her high heel shoes, she reached down to her dress. There was a zipper hidden under diagonal pattern across the skirt of her chiffon dress. The bottom of the dress zipped right off from the top of one thigh, diagonally down to the opposite knee and back around again. Once she discarded the bottom of her dress and her shoes in a hedge, she was ready to climb the wall without any fashion restrictions.

  It took longer to climb the water pipe in her bare feet than she might have done with appropriate shoes. However, she was light and agile so was only mildly challenged by it. Her small purse dangled from her wrist as she climbed. When she reached the window, she hung from the pipe, removing her butter knife from her purse. Digging her butter knife under the window was a challenge. Her little dagger would have been better.

  Kaiya contemplated breaking the window when she was taking longer than necessary. Unfortunately, she knew that the breaking glass would be too loud. It was a relief to finally pry the knife under the window and force it open enough to climb inside. Kaiya rolled in through the gap and stood, quickly pulling the window shut behind her. At least there was no camera inside what was clearly a large guest bedroom. Pausing, she slowed her breathing down and prepared to leave the room. After digging around in her purse she grabbed the laser and switched it on.

  Standing at the bedroom door she listened intently. There was no movement outside, so she opened the bedroom door quietly. A security camera was set up further down the corridor. She promptly aimed her laser at it. A few metres down the hallway was a cabinet, which had a large painting hanging above it. Sprinting, she was there in seconds and placing her laser on the cabinet top. The laser had a retractable support stand that could be adjusted at any angle. So she adjusted it to blind the camera.

  The footsteps of a ninja patrolling the adjacent corridor gained her attention. Instinct initially drove her to hide behind the cabinet, but she anticipated that he would eventually see her as he neared. So, Kaiya jumped out at the guard, swinging her leg high, kicking him in the chest. As he doubled over she sent a series of hits over his back, eventually connecting with a pressure point, knocking him out. To her relief, the ninja missed his chance to signal for back-up.

  The ninja’s unconscious body was difficult to drag quietly. Kaiya managed to dump his heavy body back into the guest bedroom. Swooping up her laser, she attempted to keep it pointed at the camera while she crept toward the rear of the mansion. The red laser would blind the camera but it was not perfect. It was possible she could still be spotted especially if she misfired the beam. So, she had to hurry.

  As she rounded a corner, it was only a matter of seconds before her beam accurately blinded the next camera that she spotted there. The heavy armoured door with a sentex key-pad access lock, confirmed that she had finally reached the room with the chip. The laser, she placed on the floor just past the door, still aimed at the camera. Kaiya reached for her mobile phone and took a photo of the key-pad, texting it to Kazuo before ringing him.

  "Kazuo I'm outside the room with the chip. I've texted you a photo of the lock. See what you can do for me. Also, I have a feeling you'll have to come get me shortly because my cover is blown." She spoke quietly on the call.

  "Good, I'll enjoy running some of Yoshito's ninjas over," Kazuo answered her.

  After a long pause Kazuo finally spoke again.

  "Ok, we've found the factory default option for that lock. Type in three stars to enter admin mode. Ok now type six zeros, which is the factory default password. Now press 99# to open the door."

  The lock clicked open.

  "Nice work,” Kaiya told him. “I’m going in and I'm hanging up now. See you soon or see you in hell".r />
  Kaiya swooped her laser off the floor. She flung herself inside the secure room and quickly pointed the laser at another camera inside. There was probably about ten seconds that she was visible to the cameras. Hopefully Tadao's security team did not spot her in that small amount of time.

  Kaiya's mouth dropped open as she looked around the massive room. The chip was openly displayed in a glass case inside three concentric square barriers full of laser beams. The smaller, inner square surrounding the chip had four walls of multiple horizontal lasers stacked at close intervals up to the roof. The middle square had four walls of multiple lasers criss-crossing diagonally from the floor to the roof. And the outer square was the same as inner-square.

  Lying down on the floor next to the outer wall of lasers, she studied the laser beam patterns. It was impossible to roll under the bottom beam. But she might just fit between two of the other horizontal beams slightly higher off the ground. Studying the second square of laser beams gave her another idea. She pushed her shoulders together, visually measuring whether she would fit through. Kaiya was small so there was a chance she could fit. If she had been any larger it would be out of the question.

  The end of the butter knife instantaneously melted when Kaiya tested it in a laser beam. If she made a mistake she was going to lose some body parts. Her time was limited so she needed to get that chip soon. She took a moment or so to think through what she was about to attempt. Satoshi had told her the chip could not be breached. However, this security system had been designed by men to stop men. But she was a woman and she was smaller, so she knew how she might slip through.

  Chapter 17

  Downstairs in the ball room, the guests had been directed to their seats and the waiters had finished bringing out entrees. Itsunori Tanaka was looking around for his blonde date. She had disappeared at least 20 minutes earlier, and he decided that she had been absent for long enough. He signalled one of the ninjas.

  “Where is my date?” Itsunori asked.

  “I will find out for you, Minister,” the ninja replied.

  The ninja stepped aside and spoke into his ear piece, before returning to Itsunori's side. “She is still in the lady’s room, Minister.”

  The party’s host, Tadao Takahashi, walked confidently into the middle of the room. He spoke into a microphone, drawing the attention of his guests. Tadao initially greeted everyone in Japanese but then switched to English. He was aware that some of his important international guests could not speak Japanese. He was an eccentric man and enjoyed showing off his fluency in English. When he mingled with his Chinese guests later, he would also show off his fluency in Mandarin.

  "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining me this evening. I hope you are all enjoying my hospitality. As most of you know I have been able to acquire a very special development in technology that was built in a private computer science facility here in Tokyo. As you now know from the electronic file forwarded to most of you earlier this week, this development is a computer chip that currently allows the owner to log into and override the defence system of any nation. It is such a clever and powerful device. It has a protective mechanism that prevents the users’ own defence system from being breached in a similar way.

  “Now, I am of the belief that this type of technology is too dangerous for a single owner. So, I wish to share it with your various countries. For a reasonable price, of course. I do intend to subsidise the original developer of the chip so that there are no hard feelings. In addition, our Japanese government will receive the chip at a discounted price. This is because our Minister of Defence has agreed to prevent interference within our government and provide additional security. So, by the end of this evening, I hope you can all find some time to speak with one of my legal team circling the room. They will arrange a fair price for your country’s copy of the chip, which factors in adjusting for my aforementioned expenses."

  There was a murmur within the crowd as the guests made comments about Tadao's offer. Tadao paused while a section of the wall behind him moved to reveal a white projector screen. Tadao knew that he had regained everyone's attention, so he continued addressing his guests.

  "While you enjoy your meals, I have decided to provide some light entertainment. I will share with you all a demonstration of my advanced security system. Those of you concerned about the chip falling into unsavoury hands, don’t be. I am going to replay you all some footage from earlier this evening, to reassure you all that the chip is most secure. It is in all of your best interests to wait patiently until you receive your copy, rather than being reckless and going after it.

  “We have spoken to the original developer, who has agreed to assist us with duplicating the chip. We will begin the process at an unspecified time, in an unspecified place with equally advanced security measures in place. So please be reassured that you will receive your copy in due time.

  “Now, this first clip shows our first contestant, our talented guest, Satoshi Ford, who is an ex US navy seal, turned CIA assassin. He is also an expert at breaching computer security systems I am told. Let's see what he made of our security system..."

  All eyes turned to the screen, which showed footage of Satoshi entering the secure room through the door. The camera had been hidden and was angled across the room directly at him. It had been linked up from a separate system. Satoshi was unaware that he had not shut it down, when he had shut down the main security system cameras.

  Satoshi paused to assess the array of laser beams in front of him. He stuck the end of a retractable plastic screwdriver through one of the beams and watched it melt through. Satoshi looked around the room and followed the line of the wall over to a power box. He used his screw driver to open the box and pulled a small computer device out of his pocket. Once he hooked it up to the power box with a series of wires, he started typing in his minicomputer, trying to overwrite the program. He pressed a final key more forcefully. Satoshi looked up expectantly as the lights in the room went out. However, the red laser beams protecting the chip remained in place. After about 40 seconds, the lights flickered back on in the room but Satoshi was gone.

  The footage cut and the guests in the ballroom all looked toward Satoshi, dining at one of the central tables. Satoshi raised his glass in salute. He hid his frustration well by laughing with the guests, even making a show of shrugging his shoulders in defeat. Lawso grinned at him across the room, whilst shaking his head at Satoshi’s failed attempt to steal the chip.

  Tadao spoke into the microphone again.

  "As you can see, an attempt to overwrite the security program failed. Over-writing the on-switch does nothing. The off switch for the lasers is not assessable from the outside. The chip remains secure. Thank you for your reluctant demonstration, Mr Ford.

  “Now I have contestant number two for your viewing. Contestant number two goes by the name of Anton Pavlychko. He is a Ukrainian separatist, turned assassin, known to some of my ninjas. We couldn’t find out who he is currently freelancing for. Nevertheless, he obviously took advantage of the security cameras seeming to be down briefly... Anyway, I'll let you all watch his attempt..."

  The screen flicked on and the room was empty, aside from the laser beams surrounding the chip. Suddenly, Anton came into view from the direction of the hidden camera. He had clearly entered from the single balcony window and managed to disable the alarm. Anton stalked around the laser beams straight to the power box. He frowned realising that the power had already been shut down, even though the lasers were still firing. Anton grabbed the power box and aggressively ripped it completely out of the wall with wires hanging out. He launched it at lasers. He looked surprised when it landed on the floor in several pieces. The laser beams had sliced straight through it in multiple directions.

  Anton appeared agitated. He paced twice around the square barriers, before giving up and retreating toward the window.

  The footage switched off and the ballroom guests all looked at him across the room. Anton abrupt
ly stood, kicking his chair across the ballroom in anger.

  "Now, don't be a bad sport, Mr Pavlychko. Guards, kindly escort this man off the premises,” Tadao spoke into the microphone.

  Anton gave one of the ninjas a shove in the chest, unconcerned that they were armed.

  "I can walk myself out!" Anton snapped in English.

  They followed him with their guns to his back.

  Tadao continued speaking to his guests.

  "And for those of you considering any more aggressive tactics to destroy the chip, Mr Itsunori Tanaka has given assurances that our Japanese Defence Agency will be providing extra security for this location. Our military will also provide security for any additional sites in use whilst we duplicate the chip. Any further attempts to steal or destroy the chip will result in those responsible being denied their copy."

  While this was going on, Yoshito was questioning the ninja he had left at the entrance to the lady’s bathroom. “Kaiya had been in there for far too long. Are you sure she has not come out yet?”

  “Yes, I have not left this door,” the ninja said.

  Yoshito pushed past him and stormed the bathroom. It was empty.

  "We have a security breach. I need the security cameras checked now, and Lawso check the hidden secure room camera. I think Kaiya is upstairs,” Yoshito snapped into his earpiece.

  Lawso started typing into the computer in the ballroom and sighed heavily behind Tadao. Tadao heard him and switched off the microphone before approaching Lawso.

  “Is there a security problem?” Tadao asked him.

  "Yes. Kaiya. She is making a play for the chip now," Lawso said in a frustrated voice.

  "Put the live feed onto the screen," Tadao decided.

  “Are you sure?” Lawso asked. “Wouldn’t you rather I go deal with her quietly?”

  “Not yet,” Tadao decided. “There is no danger of her getting away with the chip. I’ll make an example of her. Plus, I’ve never actually seen my niece in action so I’m curious to see how Kaiya will attempt and fail to breach my security system. Just detain her when she gives up and tries to leave.”