Artifical Rose

Artifical Rose

Chapter 2 ~Encounter~

\"I look into your eyes and see a world I wish I was in...\"

The rain continued to pour from the dreary sky as Marcus and Victoria enjoyed there time together in the warm company of Della\' Rosa, Conversing as if the accident which took her away six months ago and caused Marcus so much grief had never existed. The time apart hardly effected what they had for each other, then again time could never effect what they knew to be true. Marcus mostly talked and he didn’t mind, for he had the company inwhich he enjoyed and longed for.

Though they had no idea that across the street on a roof of the nearby skyline, there were two looking at them through binoculars. There bodies clad in tight black suits which blended there bodies perfectly to the dark enviroment inwhich they were concealing themselves in. The woman with her blonde hair tied in a tight bun spoke first. \"Leon...whats the plan?\" Leon lowered his binoculars as he still kept his eyes upon the resturant. \"Well were going to wait til they exit... and once they get in the Jeep we\'ll get her back...anything else Renee?\" Renee took another glance through the binoculars as she concentrated upon Marcus and looked at his features. \"What do we do with him?\" Leon shrugged as he noted the possible exits from the resturant, he highly doubted that she would even know that they were there to get her... but you could never be to careful. \"Hmm, well I\'m sure the doc wouldn\'t mind if we had alittle fun... or would that be more in your department?\" Renee innocently smiled at Leon \"What? just because there was that one incident...and I swear he had it coming...\" The past event still clearly etched upon her mind, no one would do that to her and live... unless she wanted it. They both went back to monitoring Marcus and Victoria, Leon took a few glances over at Renee from time to time and it seemed to him that Renee had a particular interest in the man that sat with Victoria... Though he mostly doubted himself, Leon never was really good with judging peoples expressions, then again with what he was didn\'t need to judge. Just to act upon the orders that they were given...

\"So Marcus what have you really been up to for the past six months?\" An inquisitive tone upon her voice as Victoria began to cut the steak infront of her, Marcus reflected upon the question given to him, it did bring back alot of memories... painful ones... the funeral, rehab, the unending depression... that was what really stuck out in his mind. Yet he really didn\'t want to say that to her, for she already knew that and there was nothing that they could do about it... except move on. \"Nothing really...just police work\" Victoria nodded as her eyes would wash over the others in the exquisite dining room. Even though they were there with others, it seemed as if they only existed in the world that they would build together...
Marcus and Victoria finished there dinners in relative silence, enjoying each others company. Though there time in Della’ Rosa would have to end as they had stayed til closing time, there questions for each other making time pass in a blur, they planned to head home and finish what they had started...among other things, totally oblivious to what lay for them in the dreary darkness of the San Francisco skyline...

Leon and Renee had already decended the building in relative ease, there bodies hardly missing a beat as they repelled. Silent splashes could be seen beneath there feet as they ran towards the Jeep that Marcus and Victoria were heading towards. The plan in there mind simple, capture the renegade... whatever else appeared they could deal with as they seemed fit. Renee lept out as she placed her foot firmly against the Jeep door as Marcus could only look at her in puzzlement, she smiled at Marcus. “Hey pretty boy...” She winked at him “What the...” but before Marcus could finish she cycled through her entire motion landing a round house kick to his chest, sending him a few feet back. Pain reverberating thoughout his body.
While this was happening Leon had surprised Victoria and raised a vial up to her nose, she tried to struggle and almost broke free, but would soon lay motionless in his arms her body totally numb and out of her control. Victoria could still see, yet with all her might she couldn’t move a single muscle in her body... Marcus looked over to her as he easily ignored the pain in his chest... it felt like a broken rib, but compared to what he had to go through in rehab it was nothing...

“VICTORIA...” Marcus instinctively pulled out his Beretta as he pointed it at the man and then at the woman, sweeping between the two just in case if one of them planned to do something while the other attacked or ran away... “Who the fuck are you...I swear if you hurt her...” Renee smiled as she slowly approached Marcus who in turn pointed the gun straight at her, if she tried anything it would have been a point blank shot... almost ensuring that she would recieve a fatal wound. “We’re no one... dear...just a figment of your...oh shit” Marcus took a glance over his shoulder as he saw what stopped the woman dead in her tracks. Victoria was no longer the inanimate being that they had all seen before, she was currently holding Leon by the chest lifting him up higher... before she threw him with ease into a dark alleyway. The impact of flesh against brick could be heard as the sickening thud echoed from the darkness. Victoria looked straight at Renee as she smiled, but it was totally different from what Marcus had usually seen on her face... it was almost sadistic. “Your next...bitch” Renee only smiled as she stepped away, pulling the gun from her hip holester. The threat of being shot by Marcus was growing slimmer and slimmer with each passing moment, his arms would waver from time time. Giving her the perfect change to pull out her gun “Not so fast dear...we know these won’t effect you...but how bout your friend here?” Marcus still tried to hold his gun up, but the pain in his chest was beginning to be almost un bearable. “Victoria...get out of...here...” The expression upon her face had changed as she stood there. She knew something like this would have happened... but why now? she wanted to spend an entire day with him and let everything
that had transpired fade away for even a day... to be normal. Victoria looked at Marcus as she noticed that he was in pain, his hand gripping the side of his chest... “I’m not going anywhere...it’ll be them” Renee smirked as she heard some swearing behind Victoria, Leon emerged his body covered in debris and his suit lacerated in multiple locations. “Shit damn that hurt...oh bullocks”
Leon noticed that he was only a few feet away from Victoria, she was about to lay another hand on him and do the exact same thing...if not worse, but Renee would have none of that. “I don’t think so, unless you want your friend to have a few new holes in him...leave my dumbass partner alone...Leon get your english ass over here” Victoria watched as Leon slightly grinned before he went next to Renee. “Thanks...I owe you one” Renee shook her head as she kept her gun on Marcus. “Yeah no prob Leon... just make sure you don’t do that again...or I’ll her toss you around again” Leon nodded as he himself pulled out his gun. Marcus was no longer in any shape to hold up his gun or to even stand up... but by his own determined will he was able to stand. His breathes labored as they were seen in the cold night air, there bodies illuminated by the street lights. The situation deemed a tie for now...

At that exact time, the nightclub Tournique began to usher out the people inside. They all began to exit the club and head there own ways, a group formed as the headed home. Over time the group would shrink as afew of its members would take another street or alleyway to get home, there departure marked with “goodbye” and “see ya’s”. This continued til there was only one left. The woman dressed in casual nightclub attire consisting of fishnet stalkings, knee high boots,black skirt, red halter top and a leather jacket. Walked into a secluded alleyway which was lit, Sashiko had taken this route multiple times to get home... but hadn’t expected on wandering into the stalemate that Victoria,Marcus,Renee and Leon were currently in.

She walked right out of the dark alleyway next to Leon as he noticed her before she noticed him, and in a split second he had is arm around her waist and his gun next to her head. A smile enveloped his face as he began to reflect upon his luck. “Ok, buddy...you’ll let us go or the girl will get it” Leon pushed the muzzle of the gun against Sashiko’s forehead to emphansize his point. She on the other hand was completely shocked by the whole experiance, Sashiko wasn’t afraid... just stunned, but she would slowly realize how dangerous this situation really was. Leon dragged the girl with him as Renee slowly backed away. Marcus could only watch as they made there escape, he couldn’t nor wouldn’t involve the woman in there situation...whatever it was he was going to get her back.

Renee and Leon ran as they dragged Sashiko with them, she tried to struggle but her attempts were futile as they held onto her. They disappeared into an alleyway across the street before the hum of an engine could be heard. A white van came speeding out as they drove off. Marcus got into the Jeep as quickly as he could and openned the door from the inside to let Victoria in. “Come on, lets go! we’re not going to let them get away...after what they tried to do to you and that woman...heh there going to fry...” Victoria quickly got inside of the Jeep as they sped off, to follow the van. His police siren blaring into the night. The adrenaline of the chase calmed the pain in his chest, though Victoria was clearly worried about him. In this hyper state he was bound to do anything and in his current condition, even if he could ignore it, anything could happen and then what would they do. The streets themselves were calm as the white van and
Jeep sped across the vertical streets of San Francisco, every once in awhile one of the cars would rise into the air as they hit a dip in the road which would act like a ramp before a jump that would cause sparks to fly when the muffler hit the asphalt. Marcus turned on the radio dispatch as the radio waves were filled with the other communications between all the other officers on duty. Marcus picked up the reciever as he continued the chase, tailing the van so that he couldn’t lose it. “Dispatch over, this is PC 21 over” a static voice replied “Recieved PC 21, what is your question over” Victoria held on as Marcus turned the car onto 10th street. “Dispatch in pursuit of speeding white van, holding one hostage...plates unknown, just turned onto 10th...over” The static voice replied, yet was cut off from time to time as the dispatcher called others. “Copy that PC 21, sending all available units to your area...ETA five minutes over” Marcus continued the chase as the back door of the van openned a person clad all in black with a mask on began to open fire upon the Jeep. “Shots fired...shots fired...continueing pursuit...will no longer continue radio for now over” Marcus placed the reciever back, as he placed both hands on the steering wheel. Victoria already instinctively lowered her head just incase one of the bullets hit.

Marcus cursed to himself, tonight wasn’t ending the way he wanted it to end... and now he had brought Victoria into this wild chase. The van continued to speed ahead of them as the person in back fired from time to time, it looked like the woman from before... but he wasn’t so sure. The chase continued as they weaved to and fro through on coming traffic, the angry honks of drivers could be heard as they barely dodged the white van in time. Marcus would have fired, but the current situation could only be followed by the book. If they were in an uninhabited area, then maybe he would be allowed to fire, but in the busy downtown district this wouldn’t be so.

In the van Leon drove, cursing under his breath as he tried to lose the cop that was following him. “Oh bloody fuckin hell” Leon’s english accent fully alive in that comment. He’d tried everything to lose him, moving quickly through oncoming traffic, dodging and weaving though alleyways and still the damn cop was on his tail. “How’s our little friend?” Renee spoke as she watched the cop chase after them, she could see the determination on his face even from this distance. “She’s doing everything that we tell her to do...and when this is all over, we’ll let you go ok sweety?” The small act of kindness really wasn’t taken seriously by Sashiko, but in her situation she could only hope that if she followed what they told her then it would be alright in the end...hopefully.

Police sirens could be heard in the background as five patrol cars came out of a side street connected to 6th street. There red and blue lights reflecting off of every surface, the closely followed Marcus as the got into a line formation. Marcus picked up the reciever as he spoke. “Ok, get into a two on two formation, one following me as I stay behind. over” Voices came over the reciever as the policemen following him formed there decisions on who would take who. The four cars spread as two cars sped up to take on both sides of the van, trying to form a vice to slow them down. The gunman continued to fire as one of the shots hit a the police car on its right, the car jerked to the side as it impacted against a MUNI bus stop. The intercom came to life as the policemen from the wrecked car said they were alright.

Leon cheered as he watched the car hit the concrete bus stop, “Jolly good show...to bad I didn’t bring me cam...” Leon laughed as he continued to speed through downtown. He knew where he was going and that was were he would lose his tail. “So Renee, how many are left?” Renee spoke quickly as she reloaded the gun. “We have four patrol and our little friend left...he’s beginning to get on my nerves” The gun shots continued...

“Dammit” Marcus slammed his palm against the steering wheel, this was beginning to piss him off. The pain in his chest still throbbed and he hoped that it wasn’t a broken rib, but there would be time to worry about little things like that as the chase held more over then the slight discomfort. He looked over at Victoria, who clearly was enjoying this. “Whats so funny?” Victoria held on as Marcus drove, dodging as best he could the shots that were aimed at him, though they were mostly aimed at the patrol cars that followed them. “Nothing...I just thought tonight would have been uneventful...you know go home...rest...have sex...that type of thing” Marcus grinned as he drove, his finger itching to pull the trigger of his Beretta... if he could only fire back. “What? Sex is uneventful?...” Victoria smiled as she watched the scenery pass by her in a blur. “When it comes to you Marcus...yes” Marcus laughed but quickly stopped as the pain in his chest grew. “Ah well thank you...I’ll get you later...I’ve always wanted to try something out...” A grin enveloped his face.

Renee yelled out “Hey Leon, we got someone on our left...take care of it” Leon looked through his rear view mirror and his left side mirror as he saw a patrol car trying to over take him, probably to try to cause a fish tail... Leon grinned as he slightly slowed down. “Hold on...were goin for a little ride” Renee and Sashiko held onto whatever they could as they felt the first bump on there left side. Leon took another glance in his mirrors before quickly turning his steering wheel to the left, the van jerked as the occupants held on. The patrol car was caught unaware of the manuever and was swept out of control, spinning in a full 360 before slamming into a parked car. Sparks flying up from the collision. A satisfied grin enveloped Leon’s face as he glanced in the mirror admiring his work. “Only three more to go...then its just you and me...”

Marcus watched as the car spun out of control and smashed into the parked car, sparks flying up into the air... he just hoped that a leak hadn’t be sprung or it would get a whole lot worse.... The reciever came to life as the clearly shaken police officers spoke telling the rest that they were alive. Marcus had had enough with this as he picked up the reciever. “Dispatch... two cars down, requesting permission to fire at will...over” The white van continued to weave as it denied the remaining patrol cars to pass, less they wanted to suffer the same fate as the last one. “Permission denied...you are in a residental area...when you reach 4th call again over...” Marcus grimaced the pain in his chest getting to him as the adrenaline from before which had culled his pain was beginning to fade and combined with this it just brought anger to him. “Copy that...” Marcus shook his head as he watched perfect opertunities to either take out the gunner or one of the wheels pass before him multiple times...

Shots rant ast as the speeding gun chase continued, Renee watched from the back of the van at the chasing police cars. She knew that in any moment now they could fire back, it was just there luck that this district was so long... she saw a sign and spoke to Leon. “Leon we just entered 5th...one more and they’ll come at us in full force” Leon looked in his side mirrors, it appeared that another patrol car was closely behind him... perfect for what he had in mind. “Yeah I know...but that bloke behind us won’t know what hit him...” Leon laughed at his own joke as he merged into the opposite side of the road. The patrol car was to low to see over the van or its sides... so it had no idea that it would soon collide with a parked garbage truck... Leon judged that he would only have to continue on this path for another five hundred yards before he would quickly change into the right lane, for the speed and momentive of the following vehicle would be to great for the patrolman to stop, even if he were able to stop he would still collide with garbage truck as the car would skid...Leon looked in the mirror as he smiled. “Ok ladies...hold on” Renee and Sashiko held on again. There experiance with Leon’s driving easily learned by now. Leon jerked the car to the side, yet he hadn’t noticed the other patrol car that had moved to his side. The right bumper collided with the patrol car as it almost went out of control, yet Leon was able to catch it in time. The garbage truck loomed in the distance as Leon and the patrol car to his right continued there struggle. Leon mumbled to himself. “Bullocks...”

Ma dro drove as he picked up the reciever and contacted the car behind him. A man’s heavy voice could be heard, “This is P5... what the plan?” Marcus smiled as he watched the van trying to get out of the vice that had been created from the patrol car on his right. Marcus slowly faded to his left as he looked past the patrolcar and van ahead of him... “FALL BACK...FALL BACK” as he screamed into the reciever, the patrol car behind him slowed down as did the car to Marcus’s right, which allowed the van to merge out of the way. Though the patrol car that was following it earlier wasn’t so lucky. The sound of screeching brakes and burning rubber could be heard as the patrol car tried to slow down, but at its speed it was no use. Marcus’ barely dodged to his right as the patrol car slammed into the parked garbage truck, the sound of crumpling metal could be heard as Marcus drove past. The two remaining cars slowed down as they ran to aid the wrecked car. Silence fell over the air waves as Marcus listened to the reciever... time itself slowly passed and if these bastards had killed an officer he was going to have them fry. A voice came over the radio “Injuries sustained...dispatch call medics...were half way between 5th and 4th...PC 21 continue with pursuit over” Marcus picked up the reciever as he spoke, the white van speeding ahead of him driving somewhat reckly noy now...if it hadn’t been before. “Copy that...will take down...Dispatch I have now entered 4th...requesting to fire at will...” The static voice of the dispatcher blaired into life “Permission granted...repeat permission granted...over” Marcus grinned as he gripped the handle of his Beretta. Victoria could only hold on as the ensueing moments would hearld how this night would end...

“HOO RAW...one for the team” Renee yelled out as she wed Led Leon drive out of that close situation and then to hear the metallic crunch was music to her ears. Sashiko watched the madness unfold as the patrol cars crashed... she only hoped that she would get out of this alive. Renee patted her on the shoulder as she looked up at her. “Your doing a good job...just follow what we tell you and you’ll get out of this in one piece...understand?” Sashiko quickly nodded... but fear would encase her brown eyes as the gun fire would continue...

Marcus aimed his Beretta at the moving van as he fired, bullets holes appearing all over. Soon his clip was empty as he had missed his intended target the right wheel as the bummer which was protecting it had been dislodged by the earlier collison with the patrol car. Marcus reloaded gun as he saw the masked figure appear infront of him, it clearly looked like the woman that had attacked him ear...r...and then he saw it. The fishnet stockings and knee high boots that the woman was wearing were seen for only a brief second, and that was all that he needed to remove all doubt that they had switched places... Marcus aimed his Beretta and began to fire.

Renee looked at the clothes that she now wore, while they weren’t her. They still emphansized her womanly physique. She aimed her gun at Sashiko as she spoke. “Now just keep on firing at them...or I’ll get you, nice clothes you have by the way...” Renee sat back as she straightened her legs so that she could make the fishnet stalkings more to her form... and that was what Marcus had seen. Sashiko didn’t want to fire at the policemen or at anyone else... but she had been doing that ever since the brought her into the van,
the woman had forced her to strip in the back of the van to almost nothing as they exchanged clothes... Now she was firing at the last car that followed them, the kick back of the gun was felt as she pulled the trigger each time. Renee watched Sashiko just incase if she got any ideas in her mind... “Leon are we there yet?” Leon gred ted to himself as he glanced in the mirrors. “Yeah were almost there...hows our friend doing?” Renee smirked as she kept her gun on Sashiko. “He’s still following us...we gotta lose him.” Leon
pushed the petal down farther as the van sped up. “No prob...once it happens I have a plan... get the box ready...” Sashiko fired her last round in the gun as she was about to turn around, she felt a burning spike of pain in her chest... as a fiery blossom of blood flew into the air as it splattered against the vans insides. Sashiko slumped to her knees as the gun fell from her hands to the moving ground below. She felt the mask being lifted from her face as she was postioned to look at the man that had fired... her life slowly ebbing away in a dark pool beneath her.

Marcus waited until the woman had fired his last round before he unleashed a full clip in her direction, of all his shots only one hit and that was what he had needed. He saw the blossoming cloud of blood as she slumped to her knees... Victoria looked away at that moment, her eyes not believing what was happening before her. It seemed as if this whole episode was one dream...and now it proved to be reality. Marcus would have smiled if he hadn’t seen what happened next. The woman that he had shot had her mask removed as the black ski mask flew into the night. A grin plastered upon the face of the woman that had removed the mask... a switch had been done as he slowly realized what he had done.

Leon passed the 2nd and 1st districts in relative ease, his tail still stuck to him. Then again that was the plan, they had planned for everything, every little detail and thought had been poured into this operation... they just didn’t count on her being able to react so quickly and throw there main plan as well as him into a nearby alleyway. He swore to himself that he would get his revenge upon her one way or another... “You alright Renee? cause if your dead...sucks for you” The sarcastic sense of compassion could be easily heard as Renee pulled the limp body of Sashiko into the van as she closed the door. “Yeah I’m fine... it worked ya know...hmm now what to do with you...” Renee looked into the eyes of Sashiko as she fought to stay alive, the burning sensation of the bullet that now lay within her chest. Blood escaped her lips as it made a trail down her left side. Renee wiped away the trail of blood with her index finger as she brought it up to her lips, the taste of crimson brought a slight warmth to her as she looked down into Sashiko’s eyes. “Do you want to live?” the words would echo within Sashiko’s mind... as she nodded.

Marcus followed the van in silence, the grim reminder of what he had done trd dod down the back of the van... a splash and trail of blood. He tried to push out what had happened, but the look upon the her face was still etched in his mind... They had entered the warehouse and wharf district, even in the darkness there was a sense of loss within the cargo packed area. Victoria broke through the silence “It’s alright Marcus...you didn’t know...” He continued to drive after the white van, only to see the back door open again... and he could only guess what would appear.

Renee had the metallic box by her side as she removed the lid to reveal a few syringes and vials of clear liquid, none of them clearly marked by she knew what each and everyone did... “Renee...dear, we need that other ‘gift’ for our friends... or we won’t be able to get away...” Renee nodded as she pulled out a syringe and begin to mix a concoction out of the three vials. She looked into Sashiko’s eyes and smiled... though not in the way of friendship...but in compassion. Sashiko could only feel pain... but then it started to fade away... as if she would be alright after all... Renee watched as life itself leave Sashiko as she injected the syringe and its contents into her neck. “Renee....quick screwing around dammit!...get rid of them” Renee stood as she grabbed a large metallic cylinder. Renee moved a few dials on the top as she openned the back door. There tail still following them, though they had fallen back a bit they were still within view. “Adieu...” Renee blew them a kiss as she tossed the cylinder to the dark below. A large metallic clank could be heard... but it would be soon followed by an explosion that rocked the van forward and sent debris all over...

Marcus saw the woman as she blew them a kiss, a taunt from what he could see, but his mind already filled with rage and a sense of loss. Marcus saw her throw something to the ground below except he wasn’t able to distinguish what it was... though seconds later it would be fully clear as the ground shook and was filled with burning debris. With a splint second reaction he turned the wheel and pressed on the brakes at the same time, causing the Jeep to spin. Marcus and Victoria held on as the car continued on its route to only stop a dozen feet from the crater itself. Burning debris everywhere... and the van no where in sight. Marcus looked at Victoria an apprehensive smile upon his face. “I’m alright Marcus...” Her voice trailed off as she looked at the destruction that could have consumed them if Marcus hadn’t stopped ime.ime. Marcus sighed shaking his head, slamming his fist against the steering wheel as he let them get away. “GOD DAMMIT”

Renee and Leon had switched cars, there timing was perfect... as it always was, the company couldn’t nor wanted failure. The space between them and there followers grew with each passing moment, there escape flawless as there cargo rested peacefully in the cryo chamber...