An Empty Spot in the Evening Sky [Tokyo]

Hours later, the airliner they were aboard began to descend toward Tokyo. Out the window, they could see Hell's Gate, a huge expanse of land that looked fairly normal from the land. But, a large wall surrounded it.

November leaned toward the window. "We still don't know much about Hell's Gate. I'm not sure how I feel about getting this close to it." He flipped another page, glancing over at Havoc, sitting in a seat across the aisle on the mostly empty first class cabin. "According to this, she worked with the CIA in South America before Heaven's Gate vanished. She was responsible for many deaths during that time, ranging in the thousands. If she's such a dangerous Contractor, something's not right here. Don't you think?"

"Probably. Do you have any ideas as to what it might be?" January finally finished scribbling in his notebook and reached up to store it in his carry-on bag.

September pullled out his blindfold on shortly after they were seated on the plane and then took out a notebook and pen and begain to write, he wrote for most of the plane ride and like January was just finishing up. By this time it was off and he joined the conversation. “Perhaps she was drugged or maybe something just snapped in her brain, either way she seems rather passive.” he said and then turned towards January, “You could just take the information from her. It is not necessarily the safest route but it is the most direct one. Or we could just ask her and see what kind of answer we get. Has anyone tried talking to her? She does seem rather cooperative.”

"She seems like she was drugged, but I suspect something different. Especially so since we're taking her to Tokyo. We don't yet really know what they're going to do with her. Diving in to her head might be a little dangerous when we don't quite know what might be in there."

"I more than agree with November. If I do go through her head, something might snap. If we ask her too many questions, something might snap. We should probably just leave her be, and if something happens then something happens. Whatever got her labeled as such a dangerous contractor was probably due to her being provoked anyway, so I think the best course of action is to provoke her as little as possible." January took a couple deep breaths and leaned back in his seat. He decided now would be a good time to start forgetting all these horrible memories. He began to meditate on his own life, starting from his earliest memory. As he filtered through his life, his own memories began to boot out the foreign ones. Holding his mother's hand while walking down a city street replaced a recollection of the drug dealer's mother being beaten by his father. January's memory of his first girlfriend erased a string of underage hookers as a seventeenth birthday present from the gang he had just joined. A safe bed, always just the right temperature and almost unbearably soft became far more powerful then the cold hard feeling of a prison cot. It continued like this until the plane landed, the contractor being completely oblivious to the outside world. As the announcement to disembark came over the speaker, he finally opened his eyes.

"Flight 54 has landed at Tokyo International Airport. You may now unfasten your seatbelts and exit the plane."

November 11 did so and helped Havoc to her feet, who still had January's jacket draped around her. She had been feasting happily on the in-flight meals, but still looked just as unhealthy.

"I hope you've all brushed up on your Japanese," said November as they made their way to the exit of the plane. "We don't know how long we'll be here."

Slowly, they made their way off the plane, to a secure terminal separated from the rest of the airport. As expected, as they disembarked, a small army of soldiers was waiting for them, led by a group of police officers. November bowed to them politely, knowing it was the security officials that had come to pick her up.

In front, a man with graying brown hair approached November and showed him a badge. "Yoshimitsu Hōrai, Public Security Bureau Chief. We'll be taking custody of Havoc from here. However, we'll have to ask you to stick around. There's been a change of plans."

November was genuinely confused. "A change of plans?"

"Control of Havoc has been relocated by the UN from security to research. That is, she'll now be transferred to PANDORA."

Havoc was bundled up tightly by the security forces and taken away in short order, with the rest of MI6 waiting around in confusion.

"So, what are we going to do, then?" November asked cautiously.

"After an initial examination, Havoc will be escorted to PANDORA by helicopter. You will travel there with some of our agents to pick her up. There are many people interested in what Havoc has to offer, and we'll need all the protection we can get." He offered a hand to November, which he shook, before he left with HAVOC. November glanced briefly at his hand before pocketing it.

As Havoc left, she glanced back at the MI6 agents with a surprisingly worried look on her face. November noticed it, and took off his sunglasses.

"She's lost her powers, hasn't she?"

Yoshimitsu looked back at him as well. "One of our officers will be waiting for you in the East Lounge," was all he said before exiting with his team and Havoc.

"Are you fucking serious?!" January asked after Horai had left. "How does that even happen? This is huge! What if there's a way to get rid of contractor powers? I mean I wouldn't do that ever, probably, but I know a lot of them don't really appreciate what it does to one's life. I wonder if there's any way I can get in on this project? I'm sure I can find someone to contact...Do you know anyone I could speak to, November?" It's possible that he could be very useful in this situation. If he was allowed to filter through her memories then maybe he could find out what had happened. All this assuming that it was true that she lost her powers. He really, really wanted to talk with her. He followed November to their next destination bearing a wide genuine grin.

March raised an eyebrow and followed November and September, quiet and attentive, keeping ears open and eyes peeled.

“And the plot thickens,” September said narrowing his eyes at the men taking Havoc away, before he turned and followed November to the East Lounge. He too was worried. He wondered if she had lost her powers or given them up.

November looked dejected, crestfallen even. "I wish I knew how to get in on the project. PANDORA is a very secret organization. Even we don't have the kind of connections to get in on it.

"Technically, it's not supposed to be possible to stop being a Contractor, once you've become one. Except for rumors, of course. But, why would they withhold information on her star from us? Why would they send just four agents to retrieve someone who is capable of killing hundreds? Why wouldn't she resist us? I couldn't be sure... she still looked so dead inside. But, if PANDORA is so interested in researching her, it has to be something exceptional with her."

When the three entered, someone was already waiting for them. Kirihara stood and gazed out the window at the runway as the sun began to set. She didn't notice the Contractors enter, so used they were to being stealthy, so November made it all the way to the world map on the wall--complete with circles designating where Hell's Gate and the former Heaven's Gate were.

"She's lost her powers," November 11 started, startling the police officer. "It's been five years since Heaven's Gate disappeared. Why did she go to Romania?"

Kirihara awkwardly looked back at him. "Excuse me..."

"Forgive my rudeness. I'm Jack Simon from British Foreign Affairs. And these are my associates..." He gestured toward the other three, waiting for them to introduce themselves.

"Yes please do forgive Jacky boy here. He so often forgets his manners," said September stepping forward and meeting the woman's gaze, "I am Elijah,” he said sticking out a hand in greeting. “Elijah Silverstin. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

"You're name is Elijah?" Thomas asked giggling. He extended his gloved hand and smiled brightly. "You can call me January."

September looked at January, "Indeed, it is."

March gave a little half-cocked salute. "Moussavi. Mahmoud Moussavi."

November smiled and turned back to Kirihara. Through the windows behind her, they could see a helicopter just taking off. It was the helicopter that they had Havoc loaded onto to fly directly to PANDORA.

"There you have it. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Ms..."

"Kirihara. Misaki Kirihara from the Public Security Bureau. It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Simon."

She extended her hand to shake, and November took it and bowed. "Please, call me Jack. Well, we're scheduled to meet Havoc at PANDORA, so I suppose that we should get going."

-------------

Moments later, the MI6 agents met out front, where two police cars waited for them. To the other agents curiosity, November 11 now wheeled a suitcase with him. He made his way toward Kirihara's car, gesturing for September to come the same way, and for March and January to get in the car with Kirihara's associates.

September nodded and followed November to the car.

" Awesome," January said smiling brightly. He linked elbows with March and dragged him into the car.

March followed easily, letting himself be pulled.

January shoved March into the car and then slid in himself, pulling the door closed. After it had begun moving he turned to the other contractor. " You ever made out in the back of a police car?" he asked in english as he slipped an arm around March and cuddled up to him. The poor Japanese men driving couldn't understand what he was saying, so they'd be in for a bit of a shock. He had a feeling March would be up for it though, and he wanted to try something new.

An easy smirk slided over March's lips. "Subtle. This won't be the first time."

"Subtlety takes time, and I happen to be having a lazy day today..." January remarked as he shoved their faces together. Being as the gloved contractor definitely wasn't in the mood for time wasting, things began to heat up rather quickly.

The two men up front were, needless to say, shocked as the two Contractors began to suck each other's faces. They exchanged glances as the front car, with the other two agents on board, began to drive away. "Are you serious? This is a police vehicle..."