by Kipjo Ewers
“One?” Teuila asked while falling back in her seat in disbelief.
“One,” Erica nodded, “But even that doesn’t make them our prime suspect.”
Erica removed all of the data on the screen posting an image of a clean-cut, well-dressed Asian man with spiky raven hair and a well-groomed goatee in his mid-forties in front of everyone.
“Hello nurse,” Teulia smiled.
“Ken Shiro,” Erica introduced. “Born in Japan of Japanese-Irish descent, the second eldest of six siblings who took up the family business of professional wrestling; a former multi-time world champion whose performed around the world for various different companies including Battlefield Wrestling Industries.”
Her statement made everyone glance Rogers’s way. Abe maintained a granite exterior deflecting all of the eyes looking in his direction as he focused on the screen.
“Unlike other wrestlers who either took up politics, Mixed Martial Arts, or acting,” Erica continued. “Mr. Shiro invested his money and built a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate called Northstar International. He created Northstar Automotive improving on Elon Musk’s design making not just cars and SUVs, but also motorcycles, boats, and aircraft. He then went on to build Northstar Armament which successfully tested the first fully armored propulsion combat suit along with a mobile armored combat mech line to be released next year fall, and finally Northstar Genetics, which has made breakthroughs in research to cure a multitude of deceases including A.I.Ds and Cancer, as well as creating extremely affordable and safe medicine.”
“Wow, part war profiteer part humanitarian,” Rosann snorted.
“And now he’s thrown his hat into the superhuman ring,” Erica continued. “During an interview on Bloomberg, he stated his company had the first successful medical trials which safely activated the judgment virus within human beings. I reiterate again that this does not make him or his company a suspect. But it also does not hurt us to investigate and cover our bases. We also need to tread very lightly people, we’re not cops or the F.B.I, and the last thing we want to do is to tip off anyone of what we have in our possession.”
“So, who’s going to talk to Mr. Shiro?” Sister Shareef asked.
“I am,” Erica smiled. “Their main corporate headquarters is in New York. I already have an appointment scheduled for him at 2 PM today.”
“Then I’m going with you,” Rogers decided.
The room became awkwardly silent as eyes turned to Rogers. This time he gave each of them an unappreciative glare.
“What?”
“I don’t know about anyone else,” Erica shrugged. “But I’m just wondering if I should wear a business suit or a referee shirt.”
Everyone looked down muffling their laughter as Rogers turned to her.
“How about keeping your smartass comments to yourself,” he warned her. “Everyone else is on duty including male Esposito up until 6 PM today because he’s got a date.”
Rogers comment turned everyone’s attention to Adrian who dropped his head blushing as the “Ooohs,” and “Aaahs” rang out.
“Yeah …yeah,” Adrian muttered. “Don’t hate.”
“I just can’t believe how much you’re gushing over this chick,” Rosann shook her head.
“What can I say,” Adrian nervously grinned, “She’s special.”
“Special? Did he just say special?” He sister asked almost falling out of her seat.
“I heard special,” Aashif emphasized.
“Does the mean I’m finally going to meet her?” Rosann jumped up rustling his hair. “Are we talking wedding bells?”
“Get off me Rose!” He shot back swatting her away. “You’re messing up my good hair!”
“We’re twins you, idiot! You’re not the only one with good hair!”
“Alright! Debriefing over! Everyone get the hell out of my face!” Rogers commanded.
The team got up still ragging on Adrian while exiting. Erica sheepishly walked over to Rogers after her dig at him.
“I got nothing to say to you,” he said flatly,” See you on the tarmac at twelve thirty hundred hours. Don’t be late.”
“Dress to impress,” she warned him before walking off.
Sister Shareef remained in the room walking up to him with her arms folded.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rogers shrugged.
“You seemed a bit agitated.”
“I’m not ‘agitated,’ and there’s no past history between Shiro and I. He was a funny guy and a hardworking ring general. We did a couple of feuds together, he worked the BWI for about two years and moved on to a better offer with another promotion, that’s it.”
“Okay,” she shrugged. “Then don’t be hanging out in New York sharing war stories.”
She pecked him on the lips before he could retort walking away. Rogers let out a frustrated sigh before glancing up again at Shiro’s picture still on the screen.
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
1:15 PM New York Time,
Rogers manually drove the ion-powered vehicle through the streets of Manhattan, now and then glancing at the GPS system mapping out the shortest route to the Northstar International building which Erica insisted be activated during the drive.
Like her journey with Rosann, there was no talk between the two of them during the flight to New York, or the drive from JFK into the city.
Now and then Rogers glanced at her shifting uncomfortably in her two-piece navy blue business suit, with a white blouse, and caramel pantyhose stockings. She had kicked off her black high heels while in the car. Her blue and black dyed hair which had grown with some length was neatly tied back into a bun as she quietly went through her email and social media on her tablet.
Rogers was also uncomfortable as he dawned the Regulator Officer Service uniform which was a dark blue two-piece jacket and pants combination that was an amalgamation of a Marine service uniform and the Star Trek uniform from Wrath of Khan.
“So, what’s the game plan once we get there?” Rogers asked breaking the ice.
“You can lead if you want,” Erica shrugged not looking at him. “I’ll just stay quiet and keep my ‘smartass comments’ to myself.”
“You had that coming,” he said bluntly to her. “You were out of line.”
“I was just ribbing you, you’re the one who was being nasty for no reason.” Erica snapped at him. “And you didn’t need to be considering there is no ‘issue’ between you and Shiro.”
“There is no issue.”
“So, the fact that he walked into the SWA before it changed to the BWI, and became its World Heavyweight Champion in less than four months. While you had given the company five dedicated years and was in the middle of a year where everyone thought you were going to complete your Grand Slam run never bothered you?”
Rogers became a cobra giving her side-eye before he struck. She looked back at him no longer affected by his intimidation tactics and expecting an answer. He turned back to the road, letting the hot air out through his nostrils.
“Shiro was a multi-time World Champion with a career that spanned over a decade. It made sense to give him top drawer and the belt. It also created an array of storylines and feuds, which included Pay-Per-View main events that I was a part of. In the end, it worked out for everyone. I also got my Grand Slam right here in my hometown at ‘Legacy Three.’ Shiro’s hunt for a World title was worse than mine, he got passed over so many times people actually thought that Fallout Championship Wrestling owner James Greene hated him. End of the day when he got tapped, his win made him a bigger draw than anyone could ever imagine. Timing is everything.”
“Well since you don’t have an issue with Mr. Shiro,” Erica slid in her next question, “What really is your problem with Dennison?”
“Besides the obvious that we both know?” Rogers glanced.
“You heard the conversations, nothing happened.” E
rica glared at him.
“I don’t have a problem with Dennison either,” Rogers flatly answered. “However, her intelligence and rationale are often clouded or go out the window by her guilt over the Big Bang Two incident. If she knew about this red booster serum, she’d be driven to rip open every door and turn over every mountain hunting these individuals down. Especially if she learned who we got it from. How further away would we be at finding these people who have successfully eluded us at every given turn for this long after she went on her rampage?”
Erica’s face displayed a look of offense over Rogers’s assessment of her friend.
“You really think Dr. Dennison would be so irrational as to start her own version of ‘Armor Wars’?”
“If that’s a comic book reference I don’t know it,” Rogers muttered. “What I do know is the look on her face after the attack on Parliament last year which you saw too. It’s the same look she wears or tries to hide whenever she gets around superhumans especially when something terrible happens pertaining to them. She blames herself and adds another boulder to her shoulders.
My problem with your friend is when she gets that way and sets her sights on something she can’t be controlled, nor do I have the time to attempt to control her in this given situation, which both you and I know, I can’t.”
Erica turned staring out the window of New York City. Her mind wandered back to their first battle against the Zombie Nation in Times Square.
“You know …what we’re doing is not that different,” she whispered. “We’re also just delaying the inevitable, whether it’s a serum or the newborn coming of age there’s no blowing out this fuse …in the end all we’re going to do is collect and count the collateral damage once it goes off.”
Rogers’s eyes fell upon Erica after her ominous prediction, before returning back to the road.
“Whatever,” Erica exhaled. “We’re almost there.”
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
As they pulled up to the Northstar International corporate office, Rogers rolled the vehicle up to the indoor building parking where their credentials were checked, while their car went through several security scans and inspections before it was allowed to enter.
Once they parked, they made their way to the main parking lot entrance where they were greeted by a tall, slender Japanese woman in her late twenties. Her silky black hair was tied back in a similar bun to Erica’s as she wore a pair of stylish square rimmed prescription glasses, a black form-fitting two-piece dress suit with nude pantyhose stockings, and black high heels. She gave them a traditional greeting bow while holding a computer tablet in a burgundy leather case.
“Welcome Sergeant Rogers, welcome Dr. Champion, my name is Mayako Takahashi, Mr. Shiro’s personal executive assistant.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Takahashi,” Erica bowed.
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Takahashi,” Rogers also bowed.
“Mr. Shiro is waiting for you upstairs for your two o’clock meeting,” I shall take you to him.
They followed her across the massive stark white and blue lobby of the building to the main security desk where they each got temporary badges allowing them to enter the automatic turnstiles.
As they neared the elevator, Ms. Takahashi leaned forward allowing for a camera to scan her face.
“Identifying Mayako Takahashi,” a female computerized voice emitted from the audio system. “What floor do you wish to be taken to please?”
“The main corporate penthouse please.”
Upon her request, the elevator doors slid open.
“Please step in,” it requested, “and mind the closing doors.”
As they entered the doors closed behind them as the elevator began its ascent to the top floor of the building. Rogers and Erica glanced at one another as they flanked Ms. Takahashi while taking the elevator ride in silence.
“We have reached the main corporate penthouse,” the elevator announced. “Please watch your step.”
Ms. Takahashi walked off first while Rogers and Erica followed her into the massive semi-loft style corporate office with the feel of a high-tech penthouse. They passed her desk which was across from her assistant’s desk who was busy at work. They headed further into the room where Ken Shiro adorned in a midnight blue two-piece suit with a crisp, bright white dress shirt underneath, a platinum Rolex, and a black and blue business tie with a pair of black Corthay dress shoes.
Shiro vigorously bridged the gap between the two of them forgetting about traditional Japanese greetings. He started with shaking Erica’s hand, and then Rogers staying longer with him.
“Doctor Champion and Sergeant Rogers,” Mr. Shiro beamed. “It is an absolute pleasure to meet with the both of you. May I offer you either tea or coffee?”
“Thank you, but I’ll pass,” Abe respectfully nodded.
“I’m fine as well, thank you,” Erica smiled.
“Well please come this way,” Mr. Shiro gestured. “Thank you, Ms. Takahashi, I will take it from here.”
As she bowed before returning back to her desk, Shiro escorted them further into his office. Rogers's eyes took a tour of the modern, sleek furniture and tech a businessman of Shiro’s caliber needed to run his company as well as the pictures of celebrities, politicians, and presidents he met over the years.
As they passed his desk heading toward his private conference room, Rogers noticed a trophy case embedded in a wall that housed pictures, trophies, and championship belts from the glory days of Shiro’s professional wrestling career. One particular five plated gold belt with a red leather strap caught his eye.
Ken Shiro held the door open allowing them to enter. He gestured for them to take a seat wherever they liked while he sat in the chair at the head of his own table. Rogers once again glanced around the room that had a modern tech feel with its pale white and blue color scene, large three-screen conferencing monitors, surround audio sound system, and the telecom which was built into the table itself, and created to rise and sink into the table upon voice command.
Rogers's eyes went back to a beaming Ken Shiro who appeared a little too happy to have them in his presence.
“I’ll have you know that I carved out a huge chunk of time in my schedule for the honor to sit down with you two,” Shiro said. “It is not every day I get to meet with one of the youngest and brightest minds of the twenty-first century, and a former colleague who had a hand in saving this very city and then the world. My god Rogers how long has it been?”
“Think about fourteen years,” Rogers estimated.
“Dear lord we’re old,” Shiro’s face dropped as he fell back in his chair. “That Elimination Chamber match at ‘Lord of the Underground’ still feels like it was yesterday. I still think Glenn should have let you get your Grand Slam that year before 3BD.”
“I picked up my first set of tag belts with Jack Smith that year,” Rogers smirked. “So, it wasn’t all bad.”
“The American Wrecking Crew!” Ken Shiro grinned, “You guys were monsters! How is Jack?”
“Retired, he went back home to start a motorbike company, he and his wife are on their second kid. How’s the family?”
“They’re all good,” Shiro nodded. “As you probably read, I never married. Never had to stomach for it, and if I want children around me, I can go to my sea of nieces and nephews. You probably heard about Jagi’s accident.”
“Yeah, sorry to hear about that.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you’re high as a kite, with a young lady’s head in your lap doing ninety on a highway,” Shiro answered with a stern, grim tone. “Lucky for him she pulled her mouth away before the crash, not so lucky for her. Cost him his career among other things, but at least he’s alive. Raoh is finally retiring this year. After the EEW closed, he moved back home and got signed with All Japan Pro. Like he told me, it’s a young man’s game now. He’s looking to teach instead of competing. And Yuk
u is Yuku.”
Shiro’s eye shifted between Rogers and Erica knowing they knew what he meant.
“By the way, my sincere condolences about your wife.”
“Thank you,” Rogers answered with a somber tone.
“Well, I don’t think you brought Dr. Champion here to listen to us drone on about our glory days,” Shiro straightened up while clearing his throat. “So how may I help the Regulators?”
Rogers glanced over at Erica as she sat up and prepared to speak.
“We’re here to discuss your current superhuman program.” She began. “And to get an idea of the progress, you made so far.”
Erica’s question caused Shiro to narrow his eyes and lean back again in his seat as the ice-cold businessman he was known for came out to play. The politeness was still there with his next question.
“May I ask why?”
“It is a part of an ongoing investigation that we are unfortunately not at liberty to speak about,” Rogers jumped in.
Shiro instantly sat up in his seat leaning forward as if he was bouncing off wrestling ring ropes resting his forearms in his lap while clasping his hands together before his next sentence.
“Forgive me, but I’m going to need a little bit more detail before I can decide to discuss one of our most top-secret programs with you.”
“Right now, we’re just covering our bases and investigating if your project may have possibly been compromised.” Rogers got to the point with more cryptic talk.
Ken Shiro nodded again as his eyes moved from Rogers to Erica, then back to the Sergeant again. He placed his clasped hands on top of the table before he spoke.
“Based on your secretive wording I can deduce two things,” Shiro sighed. “One, you believe someone within my company has stolen and currently selling my project on the black market. Two, someone on the black-market side has beaten my company to the finish line and is currently producing a serum that actually works. Do I have it about right Sergeant Rogers?”
