Chapter Two: A Whole Old World

[Akirapryde]

As the situation continued to unfold, the party was able to identify that they were not secured by restraints, but were lacking all of their equipment and uniforms. Instead they were dressed in traditional hospital gowns.

Sensing that he would not give her the answers she was seeking, she smiled and gave a friendly nod, "It would appear that your heart is as strong as you are" she said softly. She gathered up her things as she said, "I am sure that the doctor should be here soon." She wrote some information down on her clipboard. While Jake could see what she was writing he couldn't read Japanese. "Excuse me" she said softly as she slowly rose from the bed and walked across the room.

Within moments, the door opened up and a group of Japanese walked in. In the lead was a man dressed in a white coat, presumably the doctor. Behind him were a pair of Japanese guards wearing the same markings as the pair outside. The first three were pure Japanese. it was the pair behind them that shocked Jake. A pair of mixed Japanese individuals followed the first three. They were African-Japanese and wore Combine officer uniforms. In the lead of this next pair was elderly male and a slightly younger than the male, a female followed. Both wore military uniforms with the same markings of the guards.

The female walked in and made a side step to remain near the open door. The male however followed the doctor in to the room and up to the bed where Jake was laying. As the male got closer, Jake's eyes fell upon the male's swords. They were traditional Samurai swords and they were worn perfectly worn. But it was what Jake saw on the swords that spoke volumes. There was a simply white cord tied on the katana scabbard and to the swords cross guard. The white cord is clearly broken. As the first two military guards spread out and the female officer remained near the door, the African-Japanese officer walked behind the doctor.

Nurse Moto met the group half way and spoke silently to the Doctor and the officer who followed them. The three spoke softly in Japanese as Jake watched.