World's Finest in Ghost City

CHP 2: Another Day and Night on the Job

Atsushi spent most the night planning in addition to assessing the limits and strengths of his innovative body. He observed a news stations conclude finding out he was the number one story. He smiled at the reality he could be on the police forces most wanted. Scampering down the hall Atsushi looked around confirming he wasn't followed before proceeding. He knocked at the door feeling ok about his surroundings. He waited for an extended period before the Doc opened the door.

"Well look who made it back in one piece and made the top headlines," The doctor invited him in. Atsushi did just that walking past him, the door closing, "Feedback?! How'd the body handle?"

He gave a thumbs up, and added was much better than expected. Dr. Tetsei liked what he heard from Atsushi. The doctor entered a back room with another of his coworker's coming out. A woman approached Atsushi introducing herself as Mei Lin. She shook hands with him giving her praise. Mei informed she'd been working closely with an undercover agency that designed advanced weapons, the main purpose to outclass the police of New Port City. She noted the prosthetic body he used was the first of many to come if his success in battle continued.

"Our objective is to create an army of super soldiers. I've spoken with some of our closes dealers and stock holders. They'd like a lot more of these babies produced and distributed. Problem is deals will have to be off the map, and most importantly costs between forty to sixty million to construct just one."

Atsushi wasn't surprised by anything she said, mentally comparing his previous body to the current. He knew everything was vastly upgraded, which included vision, strength, speed, smell, reflexes etc. He could go on all day, but knew no one was invincible.

XXX

Over three hours passed, with the team digging deep into the past of the new public enemy. They found nothing apart from his participation in soccer going back to his middle school days through graduation, but never tried for the pros. Paz tightened his fists, agitated with the amount of dead ends and seemingly clean past of Atsushi.

"I'm assuming we'll be taking along with us tachikomas?" Togusa asked looking in the direction of Motoko.

Major Kusanagi stood behind Ishikawa looking over his left shoulder at data. She saved it to her cyber brain considering it valuable information that would get them closer to Atsushi. After doing so backed off giving her attention to Togusa. She asked that he repeat his question. He placed a hand out in front of him.

"Forget about it."

"I'm sorry team, but I'm going to ask most of you hold off on this. There has been a bombing downtown, and are a few city officials being held hostage." Chief Aramaki rushed into the room.

"Since when did this happen, how much time has passed?" Batou asked.

The chief exited the room asking for them to follow, notifying he'd explain on the way. None in the group questioned his instructions, following him down the hall and into their vehicles. Ishikawa and Borma were the only two that stayed behind.

"Chief do you know the severity of this…has it at all reached the top news stations?"

"Can't say for sure. Whether the public knows anything or not is irrelevant. Our objective is to limit anymore casualties, and too get the hostages out safely."

Motoko and Daisuke Aramaki conversed back and forth through cyber link. She ended the conversation after a short period tapping further into her cyberbrain linking to several of the news channels. She opened separate windows for each minimizing them. This allowed for her to monitor them all at the same time. She found it astonishing how quickly news of that caliber could spread so quicly! She closed all windows stepping into her vehicle and leading the way for the rest of the team. While in the back of a patrol vehicle, Togusa, Saito, Batou and Paz suited up into their battle gear driving off and following Motoko.

"Be ready, I'm sensing this will be a stealth mission more than anything. I kind of like it that way, it presents more a challenge." Batou said, sitting back with his weapon against his chest.

The others stayed quite with nothing to say. All had their focus strictly on the mission.

XXX

Ryan Sho followed a crime scene investigator into a home with the rest of his squad. It was taped off from the public. The unit journeyed up a flight of stairs entering a bedroom. One Rookie member to Sho's unit left in search for the nearest bathroom.

"What were their names?" Ryan asked.

Lying out over the bed was a woman with her wrists and ankles tightly tied around the posts of the bed. She'd been stripped of her clothing, and killed by what looked to be some type of blade. Off to the side sat another corpse in a chair, and bled from the head. Blunt force trauma to the head is what appeared to be the cause of his death. Detectives had not yet determined which of the fatal blows killed the woman. They agreed to leave it to the crime lab to determine that.

"Their names were Jay and Liz Totsukoe… just got married over a month ago."

Ryan stepped forward slamming his fist over a countertop. He couldn't figure how Aoi seemed to always be one stride ahead of them! He treated it as if were a game! Placing his anger aside for a few moments, tried to figure how Aoi chose his targets and gained their trust, if even. Ryan believed that is how he got to the victims and then backstabbed them whenever the first opportunity arose.

"How soon will you be moving the bodies?" Ryan asked.

"Not much longer, we've got a few things to take care of far as are protocol."

Off to the side a few investigators snapped photos using cameras and others with prosthetic bodies snapped shots through their eyes saving visuals to their cyberbrains.

Motoko Kusanagi came to a stop parking her vehicle a few blocks from where most the activity was taking place. She slammed the door shut holding her small firearm close to her body going into camouflage mode.

"Batou report…where are you guys?"

"Don't worry Major, we'll be there in the next minute; just got caught up in somewhat a traffic jam." He replied, through cyberlink.

Moving from her position let them know she'd progress without them. None had a problem with her decision. A lot went through Motoko's mind as she sprinted down the sidewalk; some of which had to do with the mission and others not so much. She came up closer to what has turned into a battle ground between the Police and bombers. There was exchange in gunfire from both sides. Motoko came out of camouflage bending down and sitting next to one of the officer's.

"Can you tell me what happened here? How did this all start?"

"And you are?" He asked turning and facing her.

"Kusanagi Motoko, I'm part of a public security section nine."

He introduced himself adding no one was clear what started the violence, but was something they intended to figure out.

"Once we successfully get everything under control, will get to the bottom of it." She noticed him staring at her chest, paying it no attention.

"I'm going in. Stay here with the rest of your men and make sure none of them get away."

"Wait are you crazy?! You can't go in there alone, you'll be killed!"

Camouflaging herself once more, stood from her position observing the building. Motoko made sure she wasn't in the line of fire as she moved in.

"That's one crazy bitch." He whispered to himself.

"Chief I'm entering the building now; which floor are the hostages being held on?" She asked.

"They should be on floor three, but I strongly advise you wait for the rest of your team." Chief Aramaki replied.

She entered through one of the side entrances moving slowly without making a sound. She knew the enemy couldn't see her, but didn't want to take chances.

Worlds Away

A limousine traveled down the streets of a city consisting of various lofty buildings and successful businesses. It had arguably the highest crime rates. Three men sat in the back of a limo. One read a magazine, while the others glanced out the window.

"Any word from James? He said he'd call soon as his people were finished."

"I'd wait long as tomorrow. He's recently been answering to some guy calling himself Professor Crane. Ever since, has been paying great attention to detail making sure everything is perfect. I wouldn't worry about it too much Travis. After all this is our night to relax."

The Limousine came to a stop in front of a club. One of them opened the door whilst the three stepped out together. Ken gave the driver a small tip for his services.

"We'll be about an hour or two."

"Alright see you boys then." He said driving off.

Coming up to the front entrance the three showed ID. The place was more crowded than Ken expected, but was certain wouldn't take away from their fun. The music was boomed to a point it'd be difficult to converse with someone across the room.

"You seem tense Travis my man. But don't worry I've got just the thing to settle your nerves."

Harold asked for them to keep pace and follow, which they did through the crowds of people. Advancing toward the middle of the room, Travis smiled at the sight of women pole dancing. Ken pulled out a chair for him. Travis didn't think twice, taking a seat in the front row! When they told him it would be boy's night out, had no idea it would turn out the way it did! Ken got the attention of a brunette, waving cash in her face.

"What is it you'd like?" She asked.

Travis observed Ken converse with the women on stage, but couldn't hear due to the loud music. A strike of electricity shot up his spine noticing her gaze in his direction, a seductive grin on her face. Hopping off stage took the few bucks from Ken walking over to Travis, taking a seat in his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Sit back and enjoy, you don't have to say a thing." She started at a slow pace.

Both Ken and Harold high fived laughing together. Travis had no idea what came his way, but would thank them later. Out on the dance floor, a woman winked at Ken. He Patted Harold over the shoulder.

"Be back in a few." Ken informed.

"Have fun pal. Take long as you want."

Harold walked clear across the room, taking a seat in the bar area ordering himself a drink. He sat in place for over ten minutes having a few drinks. He then looked out onto the dance floor spotting Ken with the same person. He saw no sight of Travis or the dancer that had been with him. A smile took shape on his face guessing Travis might have gotten a little something extra in a back room.

"Not a bad night so far, think all of us needed this."

He took another sip from his glass, almost wetting his pants perceiving glass shatter from above. The music died down just as quickly. Everyone looked up as a caped individual glided down in the middle of the dance floor.

"What in the hell! It's Batman!" Someone yelled through crowd.

The light in the darkness to the city of Gotham, donned the symbol of the bat striking fear into all criminals. Batman set his lenses to detect mode looking around and identifying two of the people in search for. He walked toward the bar area as everyone hurriedly cleared a path. He reached out grabbing hold of Harold by the shirt collar!

"Where's Scarecrow?! Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! I've been on your trail for the last few nights." Batman demanded pulling him out of the chair.

The music came to a complete halt, everyone's attention on the caped crusader. Harold's mouth dropped open with nothing coming out, pondering how he found them.

"Let him go or I blow your head off." Ken walked up behind Batman, with a pistol pointed to his head.

Batman steadily set Harold back, catching Ken off guard spinning around and knocking the weapon out of his hand KO'ing him in one punch. Harold tried grabbing hold of Batman from behind but backhanded in the face falling unconscious. Much the crowd cheered entertained by the scene. Seeing the Dark Knight in action first hand was rare. He threw Harold onto Ken, again scanning the area through his lenses, finding Travis wasn't far away.

"Excuse me." Batman emphasized running past the huge group that applauded.

The communications piece within his cowl beeped once again. That was the seventh time in the last hour. Batman kicked a door open leading to a back room. A woman sat in the lap of Travis who was tied to a chair, locked lips and all. The woman immediately hopped off him screaming at the sight of Batman.

"Leave, your customer and I have business." Batman demanded.

She ran for the door terrified! Travis realized just how bad a situation he was in, all tied up and no way of defending himself.

"I'm going to ask you once…where's Scarecrow?!"

Travis gave in quicker than most criminals Batman interrogated. Pulling out his grapple gun the caped crusader exited the room and club through the way he entered. He then returned to the cave using the bat plane. Upon arrival removed the cowl from his face stepping in front of the bat computer logging into his criminal files. In the next instant, a huge light appeared behind him dying down soon after. Someone stood in its place.

"It's nice to know you're alive Bruce. Why haven't you been answering your JL communicator?"

He turned around to the familiar voice glancing at the princess of Themyscira A.K.A. Wonder Woman.

To Be Continue