"You could've just asked for Security's permission, you know," said Ushio as he sat at the garage's table, next to Mikage. Both had come two hours later that night in response of an emergency call from Jack Atlas himself, requesting Mikage to be at the garage as soon as she could possible be. Ushio came along too, a little upset for not been sleeping at his house at that hour.
"And exactly how much time that would cost us?" Jack was the only one standing; his presence and impatience growing every second. He had not eaten since midnight so, in order to keep him awake, his body was eating away his mood quickly. "Answer!" He is just worried about Yusei, Bruno though as he saw how Jack could not stop walking around the garage. He was just really worried.
"…At last three hours, Atlas-sama…" said Mikage, facing down. She went to her amber eyes and wiped away the tiredness on them. "We need to contact Security first, but at this hour that would take about…"
"…my point then!" Jack made a fist. "Bruno. We don't have three hours. Go on!"
Bruno nodded. He was sitting right in front of Yusei's computer, an old laptop bought in old Satellite's black market about two years ago. It load time was horrible and it used to freeze often, but the quiet sound made by the cooler always made Bruno feel at ease. Maybe it was the same with Yusei. "Ok, guys. I'm entering Security's Main Frame at this moment. Please wait a little more." The computer made a sound and the screen went as black as the night. White letters started filling the screen.
"At least let me give you my password," commented Mikage.
"That won't be necessary, Mikage-san," said Bruno. "The area I'm accessing is outside of your jurisdiction on Security's Network. And even if I could enter using your ID and password, the log on the network would only bring you trouble in the future."
Mikage gasped, lowering her head. She blushed a little. "I hadn't thought of that, sorry… I mean, thanks."
"No problem." Bruno smiled as he turned his back to face her. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Mikage-san." She gasped again, trying to reply. The only thing she could do was blush furiously. Ushio snorted, arms crossed.
The firewall on Security's network was really a cybernetic nightmare; miles of code lines and thousands of dollars were on it. That was Bruno thought at first in the Jaeger Incident. He didn't know how skilled Yusei was on the hacking business.
They both had entered through a hole in the firewall's logic, a place where no ID check was required or log was written. It looked suspicious but well hidden. Maybe it was a code error, but Yusei thought that was an inside job. Either way, Bruno and Yusei had created a link to this hole and then had found Jaegar's involvement on the disappearance of the D-Wheel program. "It's been three weeks since the last time we entered. It's good to know that the path we created with Yusei is still there," whispered Bruno.
"What did you said, Bruno?" asked Ushio, suddenly rising from his seat.
Oh, he had said too much. "Nothing… nothing, Ushio-san. In a moment we'll be at the traffic video database. Just hang on a second."
Jack looked at Bruno and made half a smile. It was glad to have Mikage's authorization to hack Security's network… well, she didn't have an option. But if Mikage or Ushio were to find out that Bruno and Yusei had hacked Security in the past, they both would have a problem.
The computer made a sound and suddenly the screen grow brighter. "Mikage-san, it's time," said Bruno.
Mikage went to the computer and sat alongside Bruno. She took the laptop and made it face her. She then extended her hands and started typing. "Very well, take a look at this," she said. Neo Domino City's map appeared on the screen, red dots glowing at different locations. "As you can see, there are about a score of cameras on this area. These are the red dots." She used her little finger to show the area. "From this screen I can connect to the video database of these cameras. What I need is the time when you last saw Yusei."
"At least seven hours, maybe more. It was almost night when he left," replied Jack. "Crow left about two hours ago in search for Izayoi. And between Yusei and Izayoi was at least five hours. That I'm sure." Jack's arms were crossed; he looked defiant. Ushio yawned.
"Very well, we'll start from the camera close to the garage. It about two blocks from here and it's the only access to the highway a mile away. That should be the obvious route." Mikage selected the camera and countless options appeared. "Everyone, please observe the screen."
Ushio rose from his seat and came near the computer, Jack approached as well. As Mikage hit Enter, the screen went pitch black.
"What's the meaning of this, Mikage-san?" asked Ushio as he pointed at the white letters on the screen.
Mikage looked surprised. "Video not found," she read. "Eh? I… I don't know. Maybe it was broken. Let my try another."
And the screen went black again.
"What's happening?" Bruno grabbed the laptop and started typing. "No. No. It can't be…"
"…don't tell me…" Jack put his fist on the table.
"…yesterday's videos are all gone…" said Bruno. All data from that day was erased; all videos, all traffic reports, all duel reports. That wasn't right.
"Bastard!" Jack grabbed Bruno from the collar and lifted him from the ground. "What did you do, bastard? What did you do with the videos?"
"Atlas-sama!"
Ushio held Jack's arms and released Bruno. "What are you doing? He didn't do a thing! You saw him!"
"Lies! He is the only one who can hack Security! He doesn't want me to find Yusei! He is Yusei's ally!" Jack struggled from Ushio's grip several times. He screamed. He kicked. He cursed.
"Atlas-sama, please calm down." Mikage rose and went to Jack. She grabbed both of his hands and surrounded them with hers. "Bruno-san would not do to such a thing. He didn't know how the security cameras work. That's why I'm here. The only one who could have done it…" she lowered her head. "…is me."
"Mikage!" shouted Jack.
"But I swear I didn't do it. I swear. I swear. Please, Atlas-sama, believe me!" She didn't show her face, but her voice was close to tears.
Jack sighted, releasing his hands and body. "Fine. Let me go, then. I'll find Yusei on my own."
The garage's door opened. The front light that was fixed by Bruno showed the tired figure; a figure with long hair, glasses and a striped shirt.
"Carly!" Jack ran to her, reaching Carly in two jumps.
Carly was breathless. She had almost fainted a second after Jack held her in his arms. Her clothes were dirty as well as her face and hair. "Jack! It's an emergency…"
"…emergency?" he repeated.
He looked at Mikage and Ushio and Bruno. "It's Crow-san… He… he crushed in the highway!"
Not much to tell here. R&R.