Show of Strength

By WE Kelton

As a contract engineer Cali has traveled the world and lived in places she can’t pronounce the name of correctly, even if she could speak any language other than English. Machines are easy for her to understand. They don’t lie, they don’t deceive, and they never beat you to show you how much they love you. Her trust and loyalty only ever belonged to her cousin and business partner, until they accepted a contract in Tokyo. Until Ren, she was content living a mobile life.

Mia enjoyed flitting from city to city like a charming butterfly. Being business partners with her cousin allowed her to live an international life. It provided the opportunity for her to indulge in her innermost pleasure, regional cuisine. After her last long-term boyfriend landed her in the hospital with a broken leg, intense short-term affairs have been her relationship of choice. She never expected that a contract in Tokyo would reunite her with a lover from S. Korea, or that he’d still be able to make her weak kneed with his cooking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pandora's Press
• Release date: Feb 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781937916145

WE Kelton

You would think a person with an advanced degree in a science discipline would have more sense than to be a fiction writer. Alas, I apparently skipped that session of course work and ran full bore at the Science Fiction and Fantasy wall. If you heard a teeth rattling sound a while back, pay it no mind - it was just me trying to knock sense back into my own head. Apparently all it did was knock a couple more story lines loose. Go figure.

Book preview

Show of Strength

by

WE Kelton

Copyright 2016

Pandora’s Press

Digital Edition

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Chapter 1: Paging Dr. Fillion

Cali! the Japanese-American woman called out as she looked for her friend. Damn it Cali! she hissed under her breath as she scanned the faces of the swanky crowd. At least this time Cali’s height and coloring made her easier to pick out of a crowd. She had only taken her eyes off of her friend, cousin, and charge, for a moment. As she knew intimately, a moment was all it took Cali to become lost. Most government or corporate contacts were accommodating and followed her detailed recommendations, but the Watanka Group President hadn’t looked convinced.

So here they were in Tokyo, Japan, at behest of both the city government and Watanka Group, at a formal reception for the government officials, their Watanka handlers, and Cali was gone. She really shouldn’t have allowed her cousin to tour the machine earlier today.

Ms. Martin? asked Miss Kenichi. The President has asked for Dr. Fillion.

Mia turned and smiled at the woman as she said, I recommend that event security review the footage so we can determine the direction Dr. Fillion disappeared.

Miss Kenichi’s eyes widened as she asked, Pardon?

Dr. Fillion has left the event, Mia replied with a smile plastered on her face.

Down on the sidewalk, outside the formal reception, Cali was thinking about the ratio of torque to mass for the sea turbine that she’d been hired to troubleshoot. ‘Why did the original engineers make it so bulky?’ she thought as she walked distractedly. ‘It is ridiculous in design and execution. The stupid thing is seven times larger than it needs to be and three times as damaging to the environment as it could be.’

Her mind had been puzzling out the changes that would need to be enacted since she’d seen the machine this morning. Then she’d been forced to get all dressed up and go to a party. She glanced at the grey silk dress. The dress is pretty though, she said as the thought popped into her head, and she brushed her fingers over the soft material.

She was crossing behind a group of well-dressed women when her arm was caught. She glanced at the hand and followed it back to an all black and suit-wearing figure. I’m sorry, she said in English. I don’t speak Japanese, she said as she was drug back to the line of women and pushed onto the bus.

As she was forced into her seat and tagged with a yellow wristband she sighed, Mia didn’t say anything about a mandatory evening tour. She sighed and shook her head when the man spoke at her enthusiastically, pointed and then waved around before he left the bus. She was looking out the window, when a small hotel security force rushed passed the opposite side of the bus as it pulled away from the curb.

Cali frowned when the bus stopped, and the doors opened. She and the other women were herded off the bus, down a red carpet and into a warehouse. The large doors were rolled open, and the sound of cheering could be heard coming from within the building. At this point the women were separated by band color and escorted into the building itself.

Cali’s arm was caught and she was pulled toward a fighting ring. The combatants weren’t wearing gloves as they beat on each other. She winced when she saw one of the men go down, with a bloody face. He tried to get back up, but his arms collapsed out from under him. His opponent was announced the winner and the crowd around her cheered.

She and the man pulling her were stopped when the crowd around them started moving and opened up so the downed fighter could be removed from the ring. After he was carried off on a stretcher, the crowd shifted again. Cali was looking at the ground, trying to find her footing when she was suddenly released.

Confused she looked up and found herself facing the winner of the fight. Her blue eyes met his caramel colored ones. She inadvertently gave him a small smile as their gazes remained locked. She had no idea what anyone around her was saying, and really she didn’t care. His eyes were mesmerizing. The blood on his face matched the intensity she could see in his gaze. Her pulse trilled as she beheld the wild thing before her.

He caught the yellow band around her wrist and lifted her arm. He spoke to the man who’d been pulling her, before he released the band and her arm fell back down to her side. She didn’t even bother to control the fall and just let her arm drop. Cali heard him speaking, and saw the other man bow deeply before the fighter walked away.

Cali yelped when the man who had been pulling her caught her arm again and suddenly changed direction. Now instead of being pulled toward the fight ring, she was being maneuvered further away from it. She was escorted into an empty room and left. The room was a non-descript office, with a large window that over looked an indoor racetrack.

Hypnotized by the track and the cheering she could hear, she stood before the large window and watched the racecars. Her heart started racing when she heard the purr of well-tuned, expensive machines. Cali glanced at the door to the side of the office and nibbled on her lower lip. She walked over to it, and tried the handle.

Locked, she sighed. With a single glance back at the track, she removed three bobby pins and went to work on the lock. Gotcha! she giggled when she heard the tumbler fall into place. She caught hold of the handle, pushed it down and slipped out of the office. The steady click, click, click of her heels reverberated around her as she walked down a long hall. The length of her gown ensured that it was necessary to lift her dress so she was able to safely navigate two flights of stairs. When at last she reached the final door, she pushed it open and the sound of a cheering crowd washed over her. Licking her lips in anticipation, she walked toward the edge of the track.

Cali’s hands flexed as she looked over the smooth track. She could hear the fast approaching whine of well-maintained machines and her heart continued its pounding pulse. Her pale blue eyes eagerly awaited the appearance of the cars. She remained focused upon the distant curve and hummed in appreciation as the first car rounded the blind curve and came up the strait away toward her.

The sound of the machine pulsed with her heartbeat. The moment she heard a discordant sound Cali rushed toward the nearest fire extinguisher, and caught hold of it. Cradling the cool metal she sprinted toward the nearest curve. This was the point where he’d crash. She was intimately familiar with the sound the lead car made. Steering control failure was responsible for her father’s accident and ultimately his death.

The racecar crashed into the curve she was running toward. The protective barrier bowed, crumpled, and flipped the car. It came sliding to a stop meters away from her. Cali navigated around the parts of the car that had come off during the crash. The other cars on the track zipped passed the accident. By the time the fifth and final car was speeding away, she was using the fire extinguisher to cool the fuel system. When it emptied, she tossed it to the side.

That was when she spotted the driver attempting to climb out of the overturned car. She blurted out, What kind of idiot uses a market dampening system on a custom injection system! as she caught the driver by the armpits and pulled. When he was clear of the window she yelled, Run! as she caught hold of his gloved hand.

The blast knocked her to the ground and her only thought was, ‘If Mia finds out about this, she’s going to kill me!’ before she blacked out.

Ren covered the manicured woman beneath him as the flames from the car fire pushed them to the ground. His vision was still blurry from the impact with the safety railing. He’d never been so surprised by anything as the moment he felt hands help pull him out of the wrecked car. He had only barely realized that there’d been an accident before he was being helped away from it.

*

Mia stared at the news report in stunned silence as the news caster described the incident and the video footage showed a woman in a grey gown with a fire extinguisher standing beside an over turned race car. She’d know that blond head anywhere. How the hell did you end up at an illegal race track! she bellowed at the TV as she lifted the hotel phone.

*

Cali woke with a groan. She heard the sound of hospital equipment and muttered, How’d I get injured this time?

That is the million dollar question, Mia replied as she set her magazine down and stared at her friend.

Mia? Cali exclaimed as she sat upright.

Thankfully your little disappearing act was soothed by you being found in the hospital, Mia said with a sigh. Why did you wander off this time? she asked in a near whine.

I was thinking about the turbine and all those people kept asking me questions. She said hastily, I stayed on the sidewalk by the hotel and I didn’t cross any streets – I promise.

Explain, Mia replied.

I was caught by the arm after passing behind a group of people and put on a bus. The bus went to a ring side fight by the race track, she said. Since I wasn’t interested in being fondled by a smarmy political official, I ended up at the track.

The fire extinguisher? Mia asked as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

I heard the steering control snap, Cali said as she nibbled on her lip and watched her cousin.

So you immediately headed for the nearest fire extinguisher, calculated the impact site and waited, Mia added, once it was clear that Cali was done talking.

The driver would have been killed, Cali replied factually.

Well thankfully, your adventure only ended up with a destroyed gown and some minor bruising, Mia said as she stood up. Your cloths are in the bathroom. Get dressed and we’ll get out of here.

Aren’t I supposed to wait and be discharged? Cali asked as she unhooked the pulse and blood pressure monitors.

Get dressed and I’ll explain, don’t forget to put your hair up, Mia directed as she unplugged the flat lining machines.

Cali retreated to the bathroom and dressed quickly after glancing at the bruises on her back. She emerged fully dressed in a pale blue pantsuit, hair up, glasses on, and wearing heels.

Mia took the hospital gown and hid it in the bedding before she opened the door for Cali. She said, Now pay attention Cali, as they rounded a corner traveling to the nurse’s station. Keep glancing at me and when I tap my fingers on my leg, nod in agreement. I’m going to speak to the nurses in Japanese and you can’t look clueless.

You will explain right? Cali asked as they continued to walk.

Yes, Mia replied. They approached the nurse’s station and asked Cali, Should we ask do you think? as she tapped her thigh.

Cali nodded.

They approached the desk and Mia smiled as she dipped her head. Please forgive the interruption, we’ve gotten turned around. How do we get back to reception?

The woman looked up at the pair of visitors and said, To the left, turn right at the third hall, turn left and take the elevator down to the third floor.

Mia tapped her fingers on her thigh as she said, Thank you. So Cali nodded and smiled as well.

As soon as they left the station and were out of ear shot Mia said, Before you ask, we just need to get to the taxi stand. I’ll tell you everything once we are there.

Cali frowned for a moment. When they rounded the corner, there were uniformed officers waiting at the elevator bays. They were stopped.

Identification please, the one asked Mia.

Mia tapped her fingers on her thigh before she opened her purse and removed her passport.

Cali nodded absently as she mimicked Mia’s actions.

We’re here from the states, Mia said with a smile as Cali handed her passport to the guard. We came with a friend to visit Mother Souh in room 619, as she tapped her thigh.

Cali nodded with a smile.

The officer compared their ids with their faces and returned their passports before the other officer called for the elevator. While they waited Mia said, Mother Souh looked better today didn’t you think? The flowers from her church group were beautiful. It’s good that we were able to get big sis out of that room. I mean I know she’s worried, but she’s giving herself wrinkles and there’s nothing to be gained by that. Mother Souh is going to have a fit if she doesn’t start taking care of herself better. You’d think she that wouldn’t forget how much Mother Souh hates when young women don’t look their best.

Cali glanced at her friend and rolled her eyes at the monologue.

The guard nearest her caught the expression and hid his amusement as the doors to the elevator opened and the pair of women stepped into it. Three other people entered after them. A few minutes later they crossed through reception and were out on the sidewalk. Once they were standing in line for a taxi Mia said, You ended up at an illegal fight club – hosted by one of the local mafia. That yellow band meant you were brought there as a companion.

Cali’s mouth opened and snapped shut as her eyes widened. Does that mean what I think it does?

Yes, Mia replied as they entered the line for a taxi, in time to see a limo pull to the front doors. As they advanced two steps, four people left the limo, three men and a woman. The woman was delicate, and neither overly feminine or masculine. Her hair was up in a hasty bun, but she was wearing high-end label clothing, Airyugi House of Mia wasn’t mistaken. The younger man wore an expensive tailored suit, and adjusted his glasses as he stood beside the woman. The third man was older, and he was decked out in a kimono. From the expression on his face he was more than intimidating. The final man was also wearing a suit, but it was not as perfectly tailored as the other mans. He had a bandage over his left eye and a massive bruise on his chin.

Could I have a tracking bracelet again? Cali asked as she stared at her cousin. I thought it was an arranged event because of all the fancy dresses and jewelry.

I believe you, but we are not somewhere that we can afford to take the risk of you being arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Mia replied as the quarter entered the hospital. After they were safely within a taxi, she said, I gave the hospital a Japanese address for you and listed your nationality as Australian, Mia said as the door closed. The police were there because they wanted to ask you questions about who you saw and how you got to the event.

*

Daichi opened the door to Ren’s room, and held it open for Boss Odayaki, Miss Miki and Aratou Hitokage. He like most of the other members of the Odayaki Syndicate didn’t understand how their Prince and Aratou Hitokage, second son of Hitokage Group, were able to maintain their friendship over the years. The pair of men couldn’t be more dissimilar. Their Prince was hot tempered, bold, and the heir of an old and respected Yakuza line. Hitokage, was quiet, perfectly respectful, and the second son of an old and respected lineage.

Miss Miki the syndicate understood, mostly. She was studying to be an archivist, her grandfather held the position of Adachi Prefect Archivist for forty years, until his death. She walked through their world and the Hitokage’s world, without concern. No one wanted the future Adachi Prefect Archivist harmed. To do so would be to incur the wrath of all the most powerful lineages within the prefecture.

It helped that Miss Miki was polite, equally so, to everyone she encountered. From the newest member of the syndicate, to the President of Hitokage group, each person was treated with respect. Plus, the older members of the syndicate told the newer members of the street race that Miss Miki won for their prince.

Daichi closed the door after the trio entered, with a single glance to unconscious prince.

Boss Odayaki stared at his son, as he lay quietly on the hospital bed.

Miki drifted forward and sat beside Ren. She caught his hand and held it as she said, You idiot, what were you doing on that track anyway.

Boss Odayaki glanced at Aratou, who was watching Miss Miki with an intent expression.

The doctors have reviewed everything the emergency crews did and other than bruising, there’s not a scratch on him. Knowing how much he hates small spaces he was sedated for the MRI, that’s why he’s still asleep, Aratou informed Miki. He then glanced to Ren’s father and asked, If I may enquire Sir?

Boss Odayaki nodded his head.

Has anything been discovered about the woman in grey?

All I have been able to find out is that she’s suspected of being a companion, and that she’s in this hospital under the watchful gaze of the police, he replied.

Boss? Yoshiro said as he stuck his head into the room.

Aiko Odayaki looked toward his subordinate and nodded.

Yoshiro glanced at the familiar faces of Miss Miki and Mr. Hitokage. He bowed to them before he faced his boss and reported, The mystery woman has disappeared from the hospital.

Find her, Boss Odayaki commanded.

Yes sir, Yoshiro replied as he bowed to the crime boss.

Chapter 2: Engineering Marvel

Cali rode with Mia to the factory where the marine turbine was being constructed. At least if she was working she couldn’t be considered a person of interest for the police. She absently touched the pendent around her neck as she thought.

You’ll be fine, Mia said as she rested her hand on Cali’s arm. We’ve already tested the tracking pendent and you’ve met Shin before.

It’s not that, Cali said with a reassuring smile. It’s just that steering failure in racing is very uncommon and always a result of tampering. The timing of the failure couldn’t have been coincidence. It was the only curve without emergency crews immediately available.

Mia stared at Cali and started chuckling after a moment. When she calmed she said, I should have known better than to think you were anxious about being arrested. You know as well as I do, we can’t get involved – especially with a mafia.

I know. I’m just happy we’ve taken informed precautions, Cali replied. Stating my nationality as Australian was an excellent distraction, for all sides of that mess. The turbine won’t take me more than a few days to re-engineer and that is all that we’ve contracted for.

Mia continued to smile as they entered the restricted parking area. When the limo slowed to a stop both of them left the comfort of the car. I’ll meet you back here this evening, Mia said as she kissed Cali on the cheek. We have a dinner with the mucky mucks this evening.

Again? Cali said as she bit her lip.

Yes, now get a move on and wrap this baby up. If you can re-engineer it by Thursday there’s a bonus I have my eye on.

Thursday? Cali asked as she straitened up, How much of a bonus?

Ten grand, US, Mia replied with a smirk.

Why didn’t you say anything before, Cali whined. I could have been working on it this whole time.

That’s why, Mia laughed. We have a social obligation to our employer.

That’s a waste of time, if I can be working, Cali said with a pout. To get the bonus I only have to make their design work they way they think it should? she asked mercenarily.

Why? Mia asked as she stared at Cali. How much can you improve its function?

I can’t, Cali replied with a frown.

Give enough time how much could you improve its function? Mia qualified. A lifetime of dealing with Cali’s way of thinking made her the only one who knew immediately when she should ask a clarification question.

Potentially reduce its size by thirty percent and decrease its pollutant release by forty percent, she said, If I can puzzle out the filtration problem.

How long? Mia asked mercenarily.

I’m uncertain, perhaps a month or two of trials, Cali replied.

I’ll see you tonight, Mia said. Don’t hurt their people’s feelings, too much.

Mia, Cali whined at her.

Causing Mia to laugh as she climbed back into the limo.

*

Mia returned to the hotel carrying bags from her shopping excursion. The destruction of Cali’s grey gown was just the excuse she needed to go spend a few thousand dollars at clothing stores. She smiled and thanked the doorman as she entered the hotel’s lobby. Two porters were immediately to her side removing the many bags she was carrying. Allowing her a chance to look around the elegant, marble and glass structure foyer of their hotel.

Her appreciation of the architectural design was interrupted when she noticed a dozen men in suits spread out through the reception area. They were all positioned without making it obvious that they were watching reception. Her face blanked of curiosity and she allowed herself to lazily gaze over the other men and women in reception. She walked confidently for the elevators and into the first one that opened.

By the time she was to the suite, her hands were shaking. After the porters left her alone she tucked her head between her knees and calmed her breathing. Once she could dial her cell, she sent Cali a text. Then she asked reception to have a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac wrapped and delivered, expense charged to her credit card and not the room. Even she wasn’t bold enough to charge a two thousand dollar bottle of cognac to their employer. Plus that would taint any future negotiations and if Cali worked as quickly as Mia knew she could, there would definitely be future contracts.

*

Cali glanced at her phone during the work crews’ lunch break. Mia’s short text of: I’ll make your excuses – work as long as you want, made her smile and wolf down the rest of her tea.

Dr. Fillion! Shin said as he hastily scrambled to finish his lunch.

Don’t be absurd Shin, she replied with a smile. I’ve thought of something that might work, but I need to see the physical dimensions before I feel confident enough to reveal them. I’ll just go down to the floor. Please ask them to enjoy their lunch and let me work on my own for an hour or so, she said with a nod of her head before she fled the lunchroom.

As soon as the door was closed behind her she ran toward the construction lab and entered with a burst of noise. She slid to a stop by the ladder and climbed up to the top of the scaffolding. Where she stepped into a harness, attached a safety line and climbed out onto the wide metallic band. There was something about the intake for the filtration system that wasn’t making any schematic sense. Apparently she was too valuable to be allowed to do what she was going to do.

An hour later she was grinning like a loon as she lay on her stomach half dangling from the center of the turbine. She sequentially and alternately angled the intake valves. All that would need to be done to improve the function and size would be to add an angled secondary filament filter that swept away anything that passed through the sequential filters. It would catch particulates that would interrupt the mechanics of the turbine and sweep them down and away from the filters.

She pat the turbine as she said, Now let’s see if I am as smart as I think I am. She looked up and wiggled back onto the engine.

Dr. Fillion! Shin exclaimed from the observation deck.

Have them start her up! she yelled back, Full water potential!

Dr. Fillion! he exclaimed wide eyed as the engineers and mechanics talked about the visiting engineer.

Do it or I’ll release the harness! she said as she rested her hand on the safety line.

Please come down! They are starting to take offense at your bold actions! To the engineers he said, Please excuse her manners, she is most dedicated to this project.

I’m not coming off of this turbine until it’s started up, she said as she unhooked her safety line and held it at arm’s length.

Please! he insisted. They will be held accountable if you are injured in anyway.

I’ve been excused from the party tonight, she said with a grin. I can stay here until they get back in the morning!

Please Dr. Fillion, he begged her.

Just have them turn the damn thing on, she said with a smile, I promise it will be fine.

Dr. Fillion, he begged.

Mr. Soumaki, turn it on, she called out to the lead engineer.

Re-attach the harness, he replied as he stared at her.

Cali reattached the harness and yelled, Let her rip boys!

Twelve seconds later, the turbine powered on and slowly gained power. The high-pressure spray from the engine cascaded over the tank and slowly the water level rose. As the water level increased the cooling effect of tons of water acted as an insulation system and cooled the turbine. When the water was high enough Cali removed her boots and stood bare foot on the top of the turbine. Through the soles of her feet she could feel the engine working.

When she was knee deep in gently swirling water, after the turbine had been running at max for seventeen minutes, she felt the shudder. Ten seconds later the turbine stopped as it automatically shut down to avoid overheating. Gotcha, she muttered with a smile. She looked to the control booth and made the kill motion with her hands.

Immediately the water started draining out of the floor. When it was knee deep, from the floor, she climbed down the scaffolding and back to the control booth. Two things, she said as she set her boots down, and unrolled her pants. First, we need a cooling funnel run through the central paneling. Second the oil will have to be changed to a group IV synthetic.

Shin stared at the engineer in surprise. Mr. Soumaki considered the statement and asked, Why in the central paneling?

"I’ve changed the angle of the intake valves in an