Chapter Three
Three weeks had passed since The Hundred Power Duo had visited the Stern Build Police Department to look into Daniel Turner and met the mute NEXT girl. They had hardly thought about her (especially since Kotetsu stopped the bunny hand signals) until the news brought up a strange pattern of events that were happening to the criminals being held at the police station. The older man was watching a feed of the news on his computer and Barnaby was watching it from his desk, leaning over a bit to get a good look. A young and attractive woman was reporting from her desk at the news station with a picture of the police station in the top right corner of the screen.
"For the past month, a string of suicides have been taking place in the Stern Build First Division Police Department. Felons who have been admitted and accused of high profile crimes are killing themselves in their holding cells before trial."
"That's really creepy, eh, Bunny?" Kotetsu looked over at his partner, but the younger man didn't reply; completely focused on the news program.
"The police are not willing to give details or opinions on the matter. City Police Commissioner James Clarkson did give us a statement when the news station reporters called and asked about the situation. He says "All criminals who have committed suicide did belong to the same crime syndicate. It is possible that they are just following gang rules and killing themselves upon capture." No further information was given, and access has been denied by the media to enter the police station."
Kotetsu turned off the news program. "What do you think of it, Bunny?" Barnaby moved back to sit in his chair properly.
"It's strange, but not unusual. A lot of gangs have illogical codes and rules regarding capture like that, especially if there is a crime involved where one member has to rat out the others."
The older man leaned back in his chair. "That's really depressing."
Stern Build Police Department First Division Head Quarters is on fire.
Chaos ensues within the whole block: police cars blaring their sirens and lights, law enforcers running in and out of the building, desk workers and part-timers stumbling out of the exits and down fire escapes. Radios and cell phones receiving half garbled messages to each other with plenty of static and noise to make the effort useless. Helicopters with video cameras circle the block; their blades noisily whirring the air around them, and news vans congest the streets with their reporters trying the capture the unfolding event live with policemen shoving them away from the immediate area.
And finally the Heroes arrive.
Sky High is the first hero to appear on the scene, dropping out of the sky and pausing just long enough for the Hero TV cameras to recognize him and award him points. He talks with a senior officer briefly before taking to the sky again, heading for the tallest floor of the building and smashing his way through a window. Just minutes afterward, Barnaby and Wild Tiger appear on their pink motorbike and green sidecar.
"What happened?" The newest Hero demanded from the nearest officer to him, his helmet blocking his face. He didn't realize it at first, but when the man spoke he recognized him.
"A fucking plant!" He was the detective who interrogated Daniel Turner and drove Eden back home. "This man walks in claiming to have a visit with one of the criminals held here and he brought a bomb in with him. He blew it up during the security check."
"Come on, Bunny! We have a lot of people to evacuate!" Wild Tiger immediately jumped out of the side car and dashed through the front doors of the building. The pink partner felt like yelling back that his partner was too hasty, but knew that he words would go unheard.
"Who's still in the building?" He asked instead.
"Criminals, a few clerks. Most importantly, I haven't seen Commissioner Clarkson or Eden come out."
"I'm on it." Barnaby dashed forward to finally get to business. When he entered the building, he tried to communicate with his partner about what he just learned. He placed a finger on the side of his helmet and tried to call Kotetsu's suit.
"Old Man! I just learned that the Police Commissioner and the NEXT girl we met are still in here. Try to find the girl first and I'll look for Clarkson." He found a flight of stairs that weren't engulfed in flames and ran up them to the second floor.
"What?!" The middle-aged man relayed back to his partner. Very intelligent, Barnaby thought. "Well, shit. I'll start now."
On the pink rabbit's heels, he noticed a blue blur move to catch up with him. He recognized his fellow hero immediately. "Origami!" He called to get his attention, grabbing a hold of his armor before the young man could dash past him. Barnaby told him the exact same thing he told Wild Tiger, asking him to help as many people as he could but to look out for a teenage girl. Ivan told him he could do that and the two split off immediately in different directions.
The newest Hero was very successful in finding Mr. Clarkson. The older man was wandering the halls, guiding all the employees he could to fire exits and safe passages. When Barnaby approached him, his face and clothes were covered in ash and smoke and he had a bad cough, but demanded firmly where his NEXT employee was.
"I have other Heroes looking for her sir, but please, follow me out to safety. I bet she's outside right now." The aging man looked very displeased with the answer he was given but hardly had the strength to resist the Hero from taking him to safety. The Hero decided that getting this man outside as soon as possible was the best option, judging by his coughing. He found the closest window available to him and opened it up (because smashing the window when he didn't need to was silly). He repelled down the side of the building with the man on his back.
Ambulances had arrived just minutes ago and were tending to whoever crossed their paths and were in need of help. Barnaby pushed Clarkson forward into the care of the paramedics. The Police Commissioner looked about while a woman in uniform tried to clean him up and help him, but neither he nor the Hero saw who they were looking for. Eden's detective chauffer was running towards his boss while Barnaby scanned the building for more people to help.
"Commissioner! Have yo-"
"Detective Verre, where is Eden?" The younger man became very quiet. The blonde man decided to try contacting his partner again.
"I gave her over to Origami Cyclone." Kotetsu relayed. "He should be out any minute now. I'm just doing a final sweep for any stragglers." Just then, fire truck sirens started to turn onto the block and came rushing down the streets.
"Well, I'm not picking up any life signals from my position and the fire fighters are finally here. Get out before they hose you to death." When Barnaby turned to see how his rescue was doing, he was laying in a vicious reprimanding to his subordinate. And just at that moment, the ninja-themed Hero was emerging from the front door of the enflamed Police Department with a girl in his arms. The pink hero waved his colleague over and Ivan quickly headed towards him. The girl was making a strange wheezing and coughing sound.
When Clarkson finally noticed Eden, he managed to stop his tongue lashing and stood up, much to his caretaker's disapproval.
"This child needs to be tended to." He grabbed Eden's arm when Origami set her down on her feet and pulled her towards the paramedic, pushing her shoulders to make her sit. "Verre, stay here and keep an eye on her."
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you, Hero." Clarkson said, relief in his voice and evident in his face. "Mr…?"
"Origami Cyclone, sir." Ivan told the man, a little confused that someone didn't know his title with how much advertising and TV time was given to his profession. "Um, the girl didn't talk to me at all, I hope that—"
"She's mute, Mr. Cyclone. I assure you, there is nothing to worry about in her silence." The young man let out an 'oh' sound as a sign that he understood. Barnaby was sure that if he could see the man's face, he would be turning red from embarrassment. Finally, Wild Tiger appeared out of the smoke with a woman in his arms as well, just as the firemen were pulling out their hoses and getting ready to put out the fire. He set her down next to the ambulance that his partner was at and another paramedic came up to assist the injured woman. She thanked the Hero before she was lead away.
"I think everyone is safe." The man in the green suit happily proclaimed even though his breathing sounded labored. He was obviously pleased with a job well done.
"And it looks like the criminals were kept in order too." Barnaby pointed off away into the distance where a group of questionable suspects were staying corralled around a single red and white ambulance, their hands cuffed and secured to the truck so they could not run away. For good keeping, Fire Emblem and Rock Bison were standing guard. When they appeared on the scene, Kotetsu wasn't sure, but was happy that they helped.
"Well, Commissioner," The identity-known Hero opened, giving a polite nod to the smoke-covered gentleman, "Take care."
"Wait," He grabbed Barnaby by his arm before he could walk away. "May I talk to you three privately?"
A/N: Another short chapter, but a glimmer of a story appears. Thanks to those who review, fav, and watch the story. :) And thanks for everyone who reads! I hope everyone is enjoying it.
