Chapter 7: Hunting the Hunter
With the light fading both Michael and Bruno began to make their way to the main building at the far end of the island, casually walking as the street lights began to flicker on, one after another, with a still wind occasionally passing by. They were both deep in thought, Bruno was once more mentally preparing himself. Michael meanwhile was still thinking things through, about his comparison with the man from before. Slightly disturbed with his own thoughts he attempted to make conversation with Bruno.
"Say Bruno?" he asked, Bruno just looked onwards not saying anything. "Bruno?"
"Oh, sorry" replied Bruno. "Something wrong Michael?" he said looking down to him, Michael turned his head avoiding eye contact.
"I was just wondering, how long have you and Lucy been together?" Bruno's eyes sharpened as he looked straight ahead, walking up to the main entrance.
"Hard to say, possibly about a year now" Michael looked up at Bruno as he sensed the joyful tone in his voice. "We first met here in the city, we had a duel with each other and things took off from there."
The two of them entered the elevator and began to rise upwards to the briefing room. With the gentile sound of the rising elevator the two continued their conversation.
"Lately I haven't seen much of her, if it wasn't for this felon showing up I might not be in this mess" sighed Bruno. "That, and Lucy's reckless nature."
Michael was keeping a close eye on his expression with interest, as Bruno's usually carefree smile and determined stare seemed to evade his face. Bruno noticed Michael looking up at him and tried to change the subject.
"So Michael, you got anyone special to you?"
Michael lowered his head.
"No" he said softly. Not anymore. The very thought drove itself painfully into his heart.
The doors opened with a high pitch ping, the two of them walked into the room and took a seat at where they were before. Bruno was bearing the same expression from their previous visit, focused and determined. Michael had his arms folded, thinking things through to himself. I still can't shake it, he thought to himself looking at his hand, what would have happened if previous events could have been prevented.
Byron made his way into the room once more holding onto a wad of paper, he placed it down on the podium and began to go through the notes conferring with the other officers in the room. Michael just sat there still thinking things through to himself. Just how can we get this person before Monday, there has to be some way. His train of thought was interrupted with Bruno standing up as Byron conferred with him.
"You have an update from the mayor Mr Sebastian" said Byron with a still tone. "Suspect is to be apprehended by Monday. And I am sure you two are both aware of what happens if you do not?" The two of them nodded in response.
So Bruno is under some influence from the mayor, but just what stings is the mayor pulling?
"Do you have anything you would like to add to your report?" asked Byron. Michael began to think carefully about his encounter, re-playing every event over in his mind.
"That is all we have to report sir" as Byron nodded in response, just then something struck itself into Michael's thoughts. He stood up suddenly.
"Wait" shouted Michael softly.
"Is there something you would like to add ?" Bruno grabbed onto his arm and just shook his head, Michael ignored Bruno's gesture.
"The suits we use, they amplify our physical performance correct?"
"Yes that's correct." Replied Byron, "But just what does this have to do with the case?" he said placing both arms on the podium with interest.
"During our encounter I noticed that the suspect was able to jump high and jump long distances, also that she seemed to match us in combat. Is it possible that the suspect is using a similar kind of suit?" Everyone in the room began to stir as Byron tried to calm everyone down.
"I suppose it is possible" he replied. "But how can we use this information?"
"What if we are able to disable her suit's functions, if we do that, it may become possible to apprehend the suspect." Bruno looked over to Michael confused but delighted while hiding his annoyance.
"Very well" replied Byron, "R&D will come up with something, but in the meantime you to continue to stake out at your given location. You are dismissed."
The two of them made their way out of the briefing room as the briefing came to a close. Entering the locker room they began to suit up for the night, Bruno stayed surprisingly quiet given his regular persona. Michael ignored Bruno for the time being; as he could see his frustration, he felt best not to anger him.
Fully suited up they stood vigilant over the same area as before. Once more peering into the darkness in the hope she may show up, silent and still, like a lion stalking its prey. Tiered and frustrated with waiting, Bruno sighed heavily whilst lowering his head. Michael took a glance at him before diverting his eyes back to the alleyway. Bruno just slumped back and sat down, legs crossed with his arms on his knees.
"Something wrong Bruno?" asked Michael sincerely. Bruno let out another large sigh.
"Sorry Michael, I just think the pressure is getting me. I'm not sure if we can do this." Michael whipped his head around and gave him a cold stare. Bruno became startled by the glare from Michael's eyes.
"C'mon Bruno, we have got to do this." He walked up and knelt down beside him removing his cold stare with a blank expression. "Byron said you two are both aware of what happens if you do not. You have been doing this for a reason, haven't you." Bruno lowered his head.
"Your right, but I don't know if this is even possible. I mean, I may have to say good-bye to Lucy."
"Huh?" said Michael with a bewildered expression. "How is Lucy involved in this?" Bruno began to stare at his hand with slight sadness in his heart.
"She's the reason I took on this task." Michael stepped back as Bruno slammed his fist. "I did this so we could still see each other, had I not, she would have been removed from the Island."
Michael tensed up slightly with a degree of anger.
"So you think you should quit now?"
Bruno suddenly leapt up and began to shout into Michael's face.
"How would you know?" he boomed. "You got no idea what I'm going through, I could lose the one person closest to me." He walked away with a huff. "You said you never had anyone close to you." He began to shout out louder with every word as his eyes began to flood with tears. "You never had anyone close to, so how would you know how I feel?"
Michael turned his head slightly and clenched his fist, he lowered his head and relieved looking at his reflection in a puddle on the roof top.
"I did" said Michael in a soft still voice; Bruno looked over towards him as he began to well up. "I said I don't have anyone, I used to… a long time ago."
"So what happened?"
Michael let out a sigh as his then looked up to the stars. Bruno only lowered his head.
"Oh. I'm…sorry…Michael" replied Bruno placing his hand on Michael's shoulder. Michael threw his eyes to Bruno without turning his head; his eyes then closed hiding his sorrow.
"Don't be, but you will be sorry if you give up on Lucy" Michael's voice became more concealed as his emotions began to erupt within him. "Like…I gave up on my love" he then turned around slowly and looked Bruno in his tear stricken eyes. "I don't want to see you repeat my mistake."
Michael's cold and meaningful words lifted Bruno's spirits as then took up his position and began to look down into the alleyway once more.
"Your right Michael, I can't give up on Lucy, or I could lose her forever."
With Bruno now back in high spirits Michael was left with his thoughts as he continued to stare at the starlit sky, while he stood there, bathed in the moonlight. I cannot sit idly by and watch my mistakes repeated. The two of them once more took their spot and peering through the darkness in the hope she would show up. Fully focused they ignored all other distractions.
Their patience was rewarded as a lone figure made their way through the alley, stopping in the middle of several paths. Something seemed out of place as Michael gazed at the figure. Could that be her? He thought to himself. Wanting to see who it was, he moved around the edge to get a better view, standing at the very edge of the roof top he could only see a faint shadow cast on the floor. It was too vague, a blob like shape, with no visible sign of a defining feature.
He threw a small stone in the distance, it landed far away from the figure. The sudden sound caused the figure to snap their head around; Michael's eyes sharpened at the new shadow, the blob like shadow now seemed to have a large hole in it. Unsure of whom it was he cast out the possibility of it being the person they seek. A faint light pierced its way through the darkness.
"Hey Bruno" whispered Michael. "That person, I think it's the same one from before." Bruno kept his eyes focused on what appeared to be a small child.
"You sure Michael?" replied Bruno, being careful not to speak to loudly. Despite his soft and silent voice, the child began to look left and right, her panicky breathing began to increase rapidly. Both Michael and Bruno ducked out of sight.
"Who's there?" she said sheepishly with a tremble in her voice. With no reply she ran off in the distance afraid of someone stalking her.
Hearing her footsteps fade in the distance Michael and Bruno turned their attention back to the location. For a moment all seemed quiet, until a slight sound caught Michael's ear. He dropped his visor and flicked the switch as he turned around to see the female standing there with her arms folded. Michael nudged Bruno, he in response dropped his visor and flipped his switch. Their eyes glared at the females visor, all she did was waggle her finger tutting slightly.
"It's not nice be spying on children you know" she said arrogantly now dropping both arms down. "If you wanted to see me just call, then I wouldn't have to spend hours waiting until you noticed me."
"You were here all along!" shouted Bruno.
"Maybe next I should just introduce myself sooner, I hate all this waiting" she said placing one hand on her head.
"So you going to come with us?" asked Michael. "It would save us all the trouble of going through this fist fights."
"Don't be so naïve" she replied placing both hands on her hips "I have a job to do and I am not about to just quit." Michael chuckled slightly.
"So do we. Which is why we want you to come with us."
"Not on your life" she replied as she blew a kiss from within her visor before running off.
"Uh, here we go again" grunted Bruno.
Past events began to repeat themselves as they once began to leap and bound from one rooftop to another. As they began to fall behind the two of them nodded to each other and began to take different routes, both on different building either said of the vigilante. Reaching the final building the vigilante dropped down, Bruno followed closely after her, landing on a plank that launched a pile of barrels. Michael leapt off from the building and hit each one in her direction.
She avoided them one after another, back flipping out of harms' way, until the last barrel hit her in the face. She was sent flying into a nearby wall slumping over, lying motionless. The two of them just stood there, and waited for her response. She did nothing. Suddenly a buzzing came in from their coms system within their helmet.
"Officer Sebastian and Ryo, do you read me?" said Byron from the other end.
"We copy, over" Replied Bruno.
"R&D have developed an EMP pulse into your suits, the update will be sent wirelessly so it will take some time. Once it's ready just place your hand in front of you and the suit shall do the rest." The buzzing ended as the two looked back at the girl who lied there, still motionless.
"You can drop the act now" said Bruno mockingly. She looked up him with a slight grunt. "Do you really think we're gonna fall for that cheap trick again."
"Well I did get you with it on several occasions" she chuckled. "You not a bright one, are you?" she aid now getting to her feet.
"Maybe so, but let's settle this properly" said Bruno confidently.
"What do you mean properly?" she replied, "It's a game of cat and mouse, hence the mouse always wins."
"That's not what I mean" sighed Bruno. "Let's stop using these suits and settle things with no tools, only our bear hands."
"Typical man" she sighed.
A green light flashed on within their both Michael and Bruno's helmets. They both looked at each other calmly and nodded. Sensing another clash they raised their arms, with fists at the ready. The female did the same. All of their muscles tensed as the suspense grew with every moment. Just before they engaged once more they became distracted by the sound of footsteps in the distance. A small girl ran into the area and shouted over at the girl, as she stayed in the shadows.
"Hey" she said annoyingly.
Seizing their chance both Michael and Bruno placed their hands out and both shot a bright blue ball of energy. The two girls covered themselves from the light as the balls impacted the vigilante. With the smoke clearing the vigilante looked over to the girl.
"What are you doing, get out of here" she shouted. The small girl only stood there as Bruno approached the vigilante. Feeling cornered the vigilante began to back up against the wall, pressing herself into it while the small girl stood and watched.
"It's over now. You can't run, and you can't hide. So do not prolong this any more than you have done already" said Bruno in a harsh voice. Wanting to get away the vigilante jumped, as she touched down on the floor she looked at her feet and jumped again. She gasped.
"An electro-magnetic pulse in the form of a concentrated grenade" said Michael as he kept his distance. "On contact it fries the circuits of any and all electrical devices."
With the fear of getting caught, she grabbed the little girl and placed her in a head lock with one arm. She then pulled out a gun using her free hand and pointed it at the girls head. Bruno immediately back up as both he and Michael gasped.
"Don't come any closer, or swear to god I'll blow her brains out." She growled, holding the tip of the gun to the side of the small girl's head as she began to panic. "Don't even think about calling your HQ."
"What are you doing, your suppose to…" cried the girl, she was interrupted by the vigilante who began to whisper in her ear.
"Shh" she said calmingly. "I'm sorry for this." She then looked coldly at Michael and Bruno holding her hand tightly on the hand grip. "Take off your helmets" she demanded.
Michael looked closely at the vigilante's hand on the gun. Her finger was not on the trigger, it began to rise as they refused to remove their helmets, it showed the tell tail signs of her nerves, shaking slightly.
"We better do as she says" sighed Bruno as he began to remove his helmet. Michael grunted as he did the same. They slowly took off their helmets, but held them in front of their faces. This only angered the vigilante.
"Throw them over here" she growled.
They paused briefly, but suddenly responded at the sound of the gun click. They reluctantly threw their helmets to her feet. She looked on as she watched the helmets roll in front of her. As she lifted her head she took a good look at the two of them, she gasped as she lowered her hand slightly.
"You never seen a bald man before?" said Bruno mockingly.
"One more crack like that and the girl gets it" she shouted. She then pointed the gun at them. "You, come over here." Bruno began to walk forward; she pointed the gun strait at him. "Not you baldy, the kid over there."
Michael slowly walked over to her as she continued to hold the gun, pointed at Bruno's face. Michael's squinted as a slight twinkle caught his eye in the direction of the girl and the vigilante. His confusion became lifted as he got closer; the twinkle was a small tear, not on the small girl, but on the vigilante. A small tear was trickling down her neck. He took a look at her, then he glanced down at the small girl.
Strange, it seems like a role reversal. Why is this vigilante crying and why does this girl look so calm? He thought to himself. The vigilante then gestured to Bruno with the gun in her hand.
"Run along baldy" she said calmly "And don't even think about trying to follow us, or I'll kill both the girl and the kid."
Reluctant to go he met eyes with Michael as he bit his lip. Michael shook his head as Bruno still stood there. Michael turned his attention to the vigilante who tensed her arm with anger; he looked into her visor and groaned at what he saw.
"Do as she says Bruno" said Michael as he continued to stare at her visor. "Please, don't follow us; I'll see if I can talk her out of this."
"I'm sorry Michael" grunted Bruno as he ran off into the night. The vigilante released the small girl and put away the gun. She let out a sigh of relief as she walked over to a corner, she sat down on a box as the small girl followed her, she slumped over and held her hands on her helmet and let out roar of anger. The anger became replaced with a soft whimper as she began to cry.
Michael knelt down in front of her and looked at her head as she continued to cry, the small girl grabbed hold of her hand softly and their eyes met. Even this close up it was still too dark to see her face or her clothes; all Michael could see was her strange hair style.
"Please don't cry" said the small girl in a sweet tone. The vigilante shook her head slightly as she sniffed, she then placed her hand on her head as she sat up.
"I'm sorry to have put you through that Chloe" said the vigilante choking slightly. "Go home now; your sister must be worried sick by now." The small girl giggled slightly as she ran off in the opposite direction from Bruno.
The vigilante kept an eye on here until she vanished from sight. Her silhouette faded within the dark surroundings, the vigilante laid back against the wall looking up at the sky with another sigh. Michsel leaned in closer with meaningful eyes and a concerned look on his face. Their eyes met and Michsel eyebrows lowered with slight disappointment. The vigilante slowly began to remove her helmet, before she removed it, Michsel muttered slightly.
"Lucy."
As she removed her helmet, her long golden blond hair unfurled and her soft emerald tear stricken eyes gazed into Michael's eyes. She began to cry softly as she grabbed hold of Michael and hugged him tightly. Michael, surprised, wrapped his arm around her as she flooded tears down his shoulder.
"Michael" she sobbed. "What I am I going to do?"
"I don't know Lucy" he muttered while lowering his head. "I just don't know."
Thing are about to get awkward from here.
