Chapter 2
Interrogation


Once they arrived at the military base, Ryu and Irene were immediately "escorted" to a small room. A solider told them to wait inside. He then left and locked the door. Ryu had to talk to Irene, but her calmness surprise him. He figured that the room was bugged, but it wouldn't make a difference now. 
"Don't you think they're going to kill us?"
"Extremely unlikely."
"But why not? Aren't we a major, EXPENDABLE, security hazard?"
"Ryu, if they wanted to kill us, they've had plenty of opportunities already. If anything, they want our talents and they'll try to recruit us. Besides, no one would believe the things that we saw, and we have no reason to ever tell anyone about it."
Before Ryu could answer, two men came into the room and sat down. One was dressed in a commander's uniform, the other wore a black business suit with dark sunglasses. Ryu felt a chill. It reminded him of Foster's men.
"Hello, Ms. Lew, Mr. Hayabusa." The commander said. "I'm Scott Harpwood, US ARMY."
"And who's your associate?" Ryu asked.
"He doesn't have a name, Mr. Hayabusa. He is from the CIA, sent hear to observe this meeting."
Ryu knew when to stop asking questions.
"Now Ms. Lew, we need to clear up some matters between the CIA and the Army. First, some questions. Are you Irene Lew, CIA Code Name: Sea Swallow, who disappeared from project CARDINAL two days ago."
"Yes."
The nameless man took over. "Very good. Now, here is the problem. First, you are listed as dead, even though you are still here. From our observations on you at the lab, we listed your associate, Mr. Hayabusa, as your killer. Currently, we have orders to terminate him for eliminating an operative. Would you care to explain what occurred in the days few days?"
"I was monitoring a lab in California, where we thought there was illegal research. I infiltrated the lab, and discovered that the experiments we not about animal or human test subjects."
"What were they then?"
"I cannot identify what kinds of life forms were present at the lab. In the lab's database, I discovered several points in the Arizona desert with other testing sites. I also identified, by records, that my former CIA employer, Foster, was involved in the research. It was about to make my field report, when an assailant attacked me."
"Was that assailant Mr. Hayabusa?"
"No. He was an impersonator. The assailant chased me to a cliff by the ocean. There, I faked my own death to go undercover to discover more information."
"Was it then that you enlisted the Army's help?"
"Yes, I thought Foster had influenced certain people within the CIA, and that it was no longer safe to stay within the organization. I told the Army of my current and previous findings. My recommended course of action was to terminate Foster, and to destroy all of his research facilities, especially the main facility in Arizona, known as the Castle Rock Fortress."
"And did you?"  
"Yes, Foster committed suicide and Mr. Hayabusa destroy the facility."
"Ah yes, I was just coming to Mr. Hayabusa's role in this operation. Would you like to explain how you came to aid Ms. Lew?"
"Certainly. Through my dragnet, I learned that Irene was dead, and that the CIA thought I killed her. I took a flight from my apartment in New York City to the lab that Irene was observing."
"And how did you learn of the location of the lab?"
"I have my ways."
The answer satisfied the nameless man.
"Anyway, when I reached the lab, I discovered that no personnel were there. The lab appeared to be abandoned, and the experiments had broken free."
"Mr. Hayabusa, what were 'the experiments?' "
"Clones made with a superior technology."
The nameless man did not seem surprised at all.
"The experiments tried to kill me, so I fought back. After killing all of the lab's creations, I was approached by a man, who did not identify himself. He told me to go to the Castle Rock Fortress. Then he left. I found the Castle Rock Fortress in the lab's database, and I went there. Along the way, I was assaulted by various clones. I also met Foster on video, the impersonator who assaulted Irene, and finally the mysterious man, who identified himself as Clancy. He told me that Foster was creating clones called BIO-NOIDS with something called LIFE-ENERGY, and that that my impersonator was a clone. Clancy also mentioned that Foster was going to use the clones to overthrow the world."
Ryu went on, talking about the dimensional rifts, Clancy's double-cross, and The Ancient Ship of Doom.
***
"Amazing!" Harpwood said. "So the so called 'jungle' in Arizona was actually a experiment with the LIFE ENERGY?"
"Yes." Said Irene.
"Fantastic!"
The nameless man hushed Harpwood. He spoke.
"As you probably know, Ms. Lew and Mr. Hayabusa, the government is very interested about what happened at the Castle Rock Fortress. While my personal opinion is irrelevant to the matter, no one will believe the story you have told me."
"So what will you write in the official report?" Ryu asked.
"I've already made it. Ms. Lew was observing Foster's lab. After she confirmed that Foster was creating the 'experiments' for some operation to attack the government, she went undercover with the army's help, terminated Foster, and destroyed the main research facility."
"What about me?" Ryu asked.
"You heard of Irene's death, so you tracked her down to the Castle Rock Fortress. After she terminated Foster, you helped her to destroy the facility."
"What about Clancy and The Ship?"
"I've never heard anything about them. Finally Ms. Lew, you are hereby reenlisted in the services of the Central Intelligence Agency. Upon a psychological screening, we will determine where you will operate optimally. As for Mr. Hayabusa, he has many valuable skills, and we are most interested in him as an operative. However, his choice is of free will. The two of you are not considered to be threats to national security, provided that you never tell anyone about this story. Do you agree to these terms?"

Both Ryu and Irene knew there was only one answer.
"Good. Ms. Lew, your screening will be on Wednesday of this week. That is also the time when Mr. Hayabusa will give us his decision."

Ryu and Irene started to get up.
"One final thing, Mr. Hayabusa, do not let Foster influence your decision about joining us. He was a poor example of the personnel here at the Central Intelligence Agency."
      
"Oh, I almost forgot." The nameless man said. He reached into his jacket and took out a gun with a silencer.
"I'm sorry that I have to do this," he said, "but you're expendable." 

He turned to his side and shot Harpwood in the head.
***

"So," Ryu asked Irene on the plane, "will the government continue the research on the BIO-NOIDS?"
"Ha!" Irene mockingly laughed. "What do you think? They'd never give up that kind of opportunity!"
He sighed. "I just hope that they're more responsible than Clancy and Foster were."