Chapter two: New skin

“Alright, now lift your arm… higher. Good…now bend it….no from here, this way….” Daily check ups were becoming somewhat monotonous.

“What’s next? Want me to open my mouth wide and say aaah???” Kazuya said as he lifted his arm obediently. Ms Nomura looked at Kazuya through narrowed eyes.

“ok, we’re all done for now” she said. “Looks like you’ve made a full recovery Mishima-sama” she said as she sat back on her chair. “We are still going to need to run a few more tests until you can move around freely. But I would like to point out that you won’t be able to leave the facility for the time being. In return for your regeneration, we would like to keep you here to explore the mysterious taint in your genes”

“I would be more than happy to offer what I can for this research. I myself am curious how the devil genome effects me.” He said as he pulled a shirt on.

“I’m not sure I understand, devil genome??” She said nervously. Kazuya smiled an unnerving smile, knowing full well that it disturbed her.

“It seems your colleagues have failed to mention a few details concerning this matter Ms Nomura….” He laughed. “But now if you don’t mind I wish to get some rest.”

“Not at all” she replied quickly and rushed out the door. A little too quickly Kazuya noted. Looking on towards the door, he waited until he heard her light footsteps fade quickly down the corridor. Lying back onto his bed, Kazuya brought a hand to his forehead. He was becoming restless. He felt like a sitting duck, unable to do anything. But if he were to find the secret in his genes, then he would have to endure this. Kazuya was sure that his father was still alive. His lip curled in a cruel smile as the thought of his father’s fate filled his mind.

‘he will pay for what he has done….’ He thought. Could he summon the devil spirit within him through the gene? If he could unlock that secret, then he could meld with his demon form. In that form he could harness all the power he needed to take revenge on his father…and more…

* * *

“Yes ms Chang...yes…I’m very sorry about the delay. Why don’t you try again in a couple of hours and I’m sure the system will up and running again soon…yes, thank you. Good bye.”

“Any problems Dr Halliwell?” Kazuya asked as he walked up to the information desk.

“Hmmm? No, one of the servers is offline. One of professor T’s student’s wanted to look up some data that’s all.”
“So the tests will go ahead as planned?”
“Yes of course. In fact if you will come with me there are a few things I would like to show you. I think we may finally be making some progress.” Dr Halliwell said absently as he picked up a key-card and his I.D card from the desk. He walked around the desk and down the corridor. Kazuya followed him to the elevator. Once inside he pushed the button for Basement 3.

“How much progress are we looking at?” Kazuya inquired.
“Honestly, I think we may be very close to our target. I’ll need to show you first though. If we continue at this level we may be looking at a breakthrough.” He exclaimed. The elevator pinged and the doors parted to reveal a large laboratory. Which was hardly surprising, almost three quarters of the building had laboratories built into them. Dr Halliwell walked towards a door and pulled out the key-card and I.D he had picked up earlier. Scanning them onto an electronic panel next to the door he punched in a few numbers. A low buzz came from the panel and then door clicked open. He walked into the room and towards a computer panel.

Suddenly an alarm sounded. Blaring sirens echoed throughout the building.
“What’s going on?” Kazuya yelled over the alarm. Dr Halliwell rushed over to the monitor and began tapping at numerous buttons.
“There seems to have been a security breech…..” he said quickly while tapping a few more buttons. “Camera’s are down…No!!! Whoever it is, they’ve just shut down the security system. All files and test subjects are assessable.” He continued. “It would be best if you stayed here…take this, you might need it” he yelled as tossed Kazuya a handgun. Then he proceeded to exit the room rushing to the staircase. The elevators were probably unreliable now.

The sounds of glass shattering and gunshots came from some distant part of the building. Kazuya looked around the lab. Everyone was getting out, one way or another. Deciding to do the same Kazuya stopped when he reached the stairway. Screams sounded from a couple of floors above. Kazuya froze. He was stuck; there was only one way out and only one floor below him. Taking a deep breath he stood by the wall and waited.

Sounds of the gunfire were much closer now. Finally came the rushed footsteps down the stairs. Kazuya prepared himself. One man turned the corner. A soldier by the looks of it. Kazuya had no time to ponder the thought. Instantly he grabbed the soldier and slammed a fist into his helmet. The soldier was taken by surprise; he didn’t even have time to notify the others who were running down the stairs. As four more turned in from the stairs Kazuya threw the man onto them. Backing away slightly they looked at him startled. More men appeared from the stairway and surrounded him. The newcomers were not the same as the ones already there. Their uniform was slightly different and instead of guns they carried crude knives.

One of the men rushed in to attack, only to meet Kazuya’s fist in a pre-emptive attack. Stumbling backward the soldier tried again this time with a sidekick to his head. But Kazuya was too fast. Grabbing his leg he propelled him into the wall. Turning back towards the other men Kazuya just barely dodged a slash. Another had come towards him slashing mindlessly. Dodging the slashes with ease Kazuya delivered lightning quick jabs to his side bringing him down immediately. For a few seconds the others stood frozen, until with a primal scream one lunged straight for Kazuya, blade first. Kazuya moved just in the nick of time as the blade passed by him. Without hesitation Kazuya grabbed the soldier’s wrist. Bringing a foot over their locked arms, Kazuya slammed a foot into the soldier’s face. Instantly he brought his leg back, hitting the soldier again only this time he let go and the soldier went crashing into a glass partition. Kazuya spun around to dodge yet another series of slashes. He allowed his assailant to make a few advances, slashing with his right arm. The soldier made the mistake of switching arms and slashed with the second blade in his left hand. As soon as he did, Kazuya locked his arm with the soldier’s by the joint. Spinning behind him, with his free arm, Kazuya grabbed the soldier’s head and smashed it against the wall. The impact of the hit crushed the soldier’s helmet and caused the plaster on the wall to crack. Kazuya continued to work his way through the crowd of soldiers. They just kept on coming even the ones that fell, got up again.

While in the midst of the fight, one man ran down the stairs and shouted, “ Mission completed, Move out!!!” and ran back up again. Slowly the men pulled away and ran after him ignoring Kazuya.

Explosions sounded from above. They were blowing the building up!!!
Running through the corridors, Kazuya searched frantically for an exit. He could no longer use the stairs. As he ran, he heard soft footsteps behind him. Kazuya hid in the shadows and waited for whoever was following to approach him. When they came close enough he grabbed them and backed them up against a wall. It was a soldier. He wanted answers and if he had to tear this guy apart for them, then that’s what he would do. Remembering the handgun, Kazuya aimed it at the soldier.
“Who are you? Who sent you? And what the hell do you want with me???” Kazuya raged. The soldier said nothing, just stood paralysed in fear. Anger coursed through Kazuya’s body. He pressed the gun against soldier’s neck.
“Talk!” This time the soldier began to splutter.
“We are the Tekkenshu…..Sent by Mishima!!!” he rambled. The words sunk in and adrenaline coursed through Kazuya’s body. It all made sense now… Noticing a little camera fixed to the soldier’s head, Kazuya knew HE was watching….
“You….” No words could express Kazuya’s anger. “I will…. Get everything back” and with that he dropped the handgun and delivered a punch to the soldier’s head, breaking the camera at the same time.

Kazuya’s Anger had blinded him. The foundation of the building was shaking and more explosions were coming from above. There was only one way out…. the elevators. With no other thought in mind other than survival Kazuya ran for the elevators…..