New York City

Upper West Side

12 Years Ago

Hiroto Abiko put on his black leather uniform, which he wore for special occasions. Tonight would be his last job, and tomorrow would be another day. He picked up the dossier and reviewed its contents. A picture of a man with a mustache and curly hair dressed in a lab coat caught Hiroto’s eye.

Why am I going after a doctor, a scientist, no less? Is he getting rid of the competition?

According to a caption, Sylvester Javitts, also known as Doc Chop, is accused of installing advanced cybernetics into unwilling subjects and requires intervention to be halted.

Hiroto wondered why his employer, Tsuyoshi Kiyomizu, would order such a hit. The man was a scientist by trade, and Hiroto had only taken care of a few threats in his twenty-one years of employment.

Something is not quite right.

The chirp of his cell phone took him out of his thoughts. He felt annoyed because he had forgotten to silence the infernal device. He normally did. He looked at the caller ID. It was Jane, his sister.

“Hey, Jane.”

“Hey yourself, big brother.”

“I’m about to go to a big meeting with a new client. I can’t talk now,” he lied.

“I know that you’re a big shot consultant, so I won’t take up much of your time, but I have some exciting news.”

He couldn’t remember hearing his sister so excited.

“We’re expecting,” Jane said.

Hiroto’s mouth went dry. He tried to speak, but it was like someone filled his mouth with cotton.

“Are.. you sure? I mean, you know what happened last time?”

Hiroto wished he could take back the comment the moment it was out of his mouth. Jane and her husband Ringo had this news before. He thought he heard his sister—weeping.

“Jane… I’m sorry, but I just didn’t want to get your hopes up. You know this has happened before—.”

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“I know what happened before, Hiroto; you don’t know what it’s like to see something dead on the ultrasound when there should be life.”

He held the phone for a long moment, and his sister wept.

“I’m coming over.”

“No, you have your big meeting. My husband will comfort me,” Jane said.

A clicking noise followed by an incessant beeping broke him out of his thoughts.

I did it again! Why am I so bad with—feelings?

The photograph with the curly-haired man seemed to mock him. His motivation for the job abandoned him.

I need to support Jane in her time of need. This one will live, and I will be there for her.

Before he knew it, he was on his way to put an end to the man known as Doc Chop.

Later that evening

Hiroto parked his high-powered motorcycle on the outskirts of an industrial park just out of Newark, New Jersey. Dusk was just falling as he entered the industrial complex. Another man, who wore the attire of a delivery worker accompanied his target. He waited until the delivery was complete, then watched Doc Chop uncover the female cadaver. Hiroto watched in horror as the man had his way—sexually, with the remains of a formerly beautiful woman. Dr. Javitts opened a metal box, and a cylindrical object emitting a soft blue light enveloped the doctor.

“Once I install this, my dear, you shall live again,” Dr. Javitts said.

Hiroto readied his katana; it should only take one swift movement, and he would have Doc Chop’s head. A memory of his sister entered Hiroto’s mind. It was after she received the news that she had miscarried—again.

Why am I reliving this?

He shoved the thought away as he snuck up on the doctor and raised his weapon.

The scientist spun around, his eyes wide with surprise and fear. “Who are you?”

Hiroto froze. He failed to dispatch an enemy for the first time in his career. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

The doctor gave Hiroto a maniacal grin. “Mr. Kiyomizu sent you, I presume?”

Hiroto opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“The man wants to steal my data core technology,” Dr. Javitts continued.

What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I fight?

“You’re not the first one he has sent, but you’ll be the last.”

Doc Chop motioned, and two females charged Hiroto. They were naked and ready for battle. One was tall and blond, and the other was a short Asian woman. Both took on fighting stances. Hiroto readied his sword. He didn’t want to hurt these women, but he had a feeling they weren’t living beings—not anymore.

The blond woman jumped and vaulted and closed the distance between them. He raised his sword, preparing to cut the blond woman in half, when two metal rods ejected from her wrists. Sparks flew as Hiroto’s blade met the metal rods that extruded from the woman. Hiroto had heard of cyborgs before but had never met one until now. The Asian woman jumped on his back and clawed his shoulders. Her nails were like claws. He backed up to a wall, slamming the smaller cyborg against the wall. She seemed to be out cold. The blond charged. Hiroto stepped aside, and the woman nearly joined her cyborg sister. He hamstrung the cyborg, and it collapsed on the floor. Moments later, both were atop him. His instincts took over, and he practiced the familiar dance he had done many times before. His stomach lurched as he surveyed the remains of the fallen cyborgs. A reddish milk goo was everywhere.

“Bravo, assassin. You have passed my test. You have a job if you want it. I’ll pay you double—no triple what Mr. Kiyomizu will pay you.”

“No deal—you’re my last job,” Hiroto said with conviction.

Doc Chop tapped his wrist, and what seemed like a bolt of lightning struck Hiroto. He looked up as an electrical field enveloped him. He closed his eyes and waited for death.