"So, where do you guys want to go now?" asked John. "I've heard that there is a big lady here. Is it true?" asked George. "Look around kid, there are big women everywhere." Richard commented. Conan was having the hardest time keeping himself from face-palming, because he knew Richard was capable of such lines, he never herd him use them before. And from Rachel's look of shock, she had never either. So it surprised him when John started laughing. "I know what you mean. This way." John said why laughing. Conan ended up thinking that John had heard worse. He was slightly annoyed that Richard had taken John's reaction to mean that such lines where okay.
Walking up to a ferry dock, Mitch asked, "I thought we were going to see Lady Liberty?" John smiled and said, "we are. It takes a ferry to get there." He pointed down the coast, and there she was, torch held high. "Wow, even from here she's magnificent." Rachel said. Conan could help but agree. Looking up at John, he noticed that a shadow had fallen across his face, as if something wasn't right. 'He must still be thinking about earlier.' Conan thought. As they got on-board the ferry, Conan pulled Anita aside and said, "Alright, here is what happened earlier."
A few minutes later, Conan was looking at a startled, yet confused face. "Their right, that doesn't make any sense. It doesn't seem like them at all." Anita said. She was almost calmed down from the fact that the Organization was here in New York. Surprisingly, telling her she'd blend in more here in America then in Japan didn't help. "Their pretty sure that it's them." Conan said. "I mean, they were seen near one of the crime scenes." "If they're doing this much, then they're building up to something big." Anita said, becoming lost in thought. "And you know this date is important?" "Absolutely." replied Conan. "When it was pointed out, John almost turned into a completely different person. Something happened in the past on that date." Conan looked at John. "Something big."
John's cell started ringing. "John here." he said. "Jake here, we have our final murder." John sighed. "Was it it you 3 by 3 search area?" he asked. "yep, near dead center." Jake responded. John leaned back on the ferry's rail, and looked to his right. Freedom Tower sparkled in the sunlight. "You know what tomorrow is, don't you?" Jake said after a minute. John hung his head. "yea, I do." after a pause, "Calling Washington and tell them that we're opening Pandora." "Are you serious John?" "Absolutely! We need every piece of information possible. With Pandora open, we will have everything the FBI knows about them. Maybe that will also wake up Langley up to the fact that something isn't right." John said, his voice full of determination, if not a faint bit of fear. "Roger that." Jake said. Something struck John. "Check the international files. Maybe we'll get lucky." with that John ended the call.
Anita was looking around when she commented, "I've noticed that the security is pretty high here in the U.S. Is this normal?" John just nodded. "Actually, the security has very slowly been relaxing in the past couple of years. Though the high security is nice." Conan nodded. Ever since stepping off the plane in the international section at the airport, he had noticed the security in America was far higher then it was in Japan. Though he was actually annoyed by the higher security, he had to admit that he felt far safer. Looking up at John, he noticed an extra bulge under his coat, something that he hadn't noticed the whole day. He ruled the gun out because not only was the shape all wrong, it being almost cylindrical in shape, John already carried a gun. Conan just nodded the thought away and looked back towards Lady Liberty.
Coming down the stairs inside the statue, Gin was smiling. It had been a good idea to scope out the place from that height. Being at that height had shown many points that he could view the action when it took place. "Got some good ideas, Aniki?" came a voice from farther up. Vodka was taking a bit more time coming down the stairs. Gin only nodded. The plan was nearly complete. He had been watching the media reports, and had noticed that it seemed that the police still didn't have any clue what was going on. However he knew that there were more levels of police here in America then there was in Japan. So he was still keeping an eye out for anything unusual as he stepped out into the sun. Out in the distance, he could see the ferry coming up to the dock.
John looked up and instantly felt his heartbeat quicken. He could see Gin up ahead with Vodka walking behind him. He quickly motioned for two guards on the boat and told them who he was, and that those two in black were to be as quietly and smoothly removed from the public eye to a safe place. For John didn't want anything to happen. As soon as the boat docked, the two guards got two more, and went up to the two.
"Excuse me sirs, do you mind coming with us. There is something we would like to talk to you about." one of the officers said to Gin and Vodka. Gin instantly realized that something wasn't right, but he wasn't going to get busted. He was about to agree to it when he looked and saw John coming towards them, with a cell in one ear. Now that normally wouldn't have meant anything, however Gin also saw the gun at John's hip, and realized that they had to run. "I don't think so." Gin said as he pulled out his gun and shot one of the guards instantly dead. Vodka pulled his out and shot another guard as they started running.
John had realized that he was busted before Gin had even pulled out his gun. Swearing, he dropped his cell and started retrieving his side arm when Gin started firing. Instantly panic swept the entire area. Conan heard the gunshots. He instantly ducked for cover, yelling "Everyone, get down." John was racing after Gin and Vodka, dodging shots. A lucky shot from Gin damaged John's gun, with the resulting force causing pain to shoot into his hand and lower arm. Cursing, John stopped running.
Conan, having finally realized what was going on, quickly and sneakily left his position to try to see where Gin and Vodka were going. Even though he still hated/feared them, he wanted to know as much as possible by the time he ended up taking them down. When he looked at John, he saw him shake off the pain and reach into his pocket for a Colt Peacemaker. Conan skidded to a stop at the sight of the gun. He had never seen anything like it. Though it looked like a normal colt 45, the barrel had an insane length. John fired a shot from the Peacemaker at Gin and Vodka, hitting Vodka in the left shoulder before starting to run after them again.
Vodka cried out when the bullet struck him, but he kept on running. Gin swore, looking around for a way off the island. Without warning a boat started to pull up beside the island. "Hop in!" called someone from the boat. Gin didn't question it and after helping Vodka into the boat, he jumped in as well. Looking back as the boat quickly pulls away, he sees John make it to the edge. John aims the Peacemaker and fires one last shot in the direction of Gin. Though he misses, Gin, he hits his hat, causing Gin's hat to come flying off, surprising Gin.
John swears because of the miss as he looks out at Gin. Gin looks back, and they share a look the Conan, who has finally caught up, can easily read as complete and total animosity. In Conan's mind, it was like the rebirth of a rivalry. The pure hatred sent chills down Conan's spine, and he was forced to back away in order to keep from falling into fear. It didn't work, and he became afraid of the fact that there was an anger within John that was greater then he had seen from anyone except maybe Gin. And what Conan found most frightening is that the anger just came out of nowhere. And yet, though frightened, he started to focus on the fact that he knew he had to find out where the anger came from. Otherwise the next clash between the two could be very dangerous for all around.
Author's Note: For anyone curious, yes the colt peacemaker, also known as the colt single action army, had multiple barrel lengths, including one that is a foot long.