Author's Notes: A relatively fast chapter out this time. Final exams are over and I have now a few days of break left before I start my first industrial training. Meanwhile, I'm also participating in a Starcraft 2 tournaments in south east asia server so next chapter won't be up until late next week probably. Hope you all enjoy the read.
Chapter 9: Highway to Hell
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"I've made it out on my own mettle." Shig Hikaru said proudly. He was answered with rebuke.
"You stupid fool!"
Shig Hikaru was kicked hard in the face. He fell onto the dirty dusty floor. He was in a room of an abandoned building. He had escaped from Anti-Skill mere hours ago. The little lamp above him was the only source of light and on his back can't see his boss. The dust is really bugging his nose.
"You had been such a useless infidel! I shouldn't have taken you as my subordinate in the first place!"
"I've kept the secret hidden!" was the retort.
"Still, you rat all that information out such as the union last night!" Shig had failed to keep everything he knew hidden. "Now you will pay the price."
Shig pleaded "Please, give me another chance." The price is ultimate and can only be paid once.
"I never give second chances." Two clicks of metal followed by a last despair.
Bang!
Shig Hikaru dropped onto his back. His eyes became dull and lifeless from a bullet to the forehead. The man in the suit observed his executed subordinate. He then ordered at the remaining followers he had. "Clean up this mess." With that, he left the dull room with more work to do.
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"Chort!"
"One of the primaries has failed!"
"Cargo is deviating from normal drop path!"
"Deploy secondary two!"
"It's not responding!"
"Who the hell screwed up rigging the primaries?"
"Forget that! Will the cargo be intact?"
"It will be but it is definitely off course!"
"Can you approximate where it will land?"
"Yes! Are we sending them in?"
"Get them ready for a combat drop!"
"Is it worth the risk?"
"You know our motto. We must deliver it at all costs."
"Yes, Captain. I'll get them ready!"
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Uiharu and Saten are in Tokiwadai Middle school dorm's guest area. They are waiting for Misaka and Kuroko to get back from the mortuary. The chamber is pretty much empty excepting them. The students were having dinner or other stuff. Saten mumbled after her stomach complained. "When are they coming back?" They were suppose to have dinner outside somewhere mostly for Uiharu and Kuroko on their work. Saten and Misaka are just hitching along for a good meal and hang out time.
Uiharu answered positively. "I don't know but they must be on the way back." She stood up. "I'm going to the restroom." Saten was left to her own devices for the moment. She looked out the window into dark night. The lights are so small like little orbs in the black landscape. She heard something that heard like a thump in the distance. It wasn't loud or anything substantial so she paid no heed to it.
The front door was opened with the kick of a foot. Men in green cameo garbs entered the room. They pointed guns at her, yelling in a language she couldn't understand. She lifted her hands in the universal gesture of surrender. One of them shoved her onto the floor, gun barrel at her face. She froze in fear of death. From the corner of her eye, she saw the rest enter the other doors that lead into the rest of the dorm. A few went up the stairs for the main building offices. This is so bizarre.
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Kuroko said "Sixteen slashes all over the body with a small blade and a stab through the body with a long blade. That is really horrible stuff." The autopsy had been performed extremely quickly due to Kuroko's insistence. Saying an importance for a case for Judgment and Anti-Skill was enough to get it done within several hours. The autopsy had been useful, giving character details on Takeo's weapons.
Misaka nodded "It's despicable. I can't stand it." The amount of gore and mutilation this Takeo Katsu did on Charles Kazuo was intolerable for her or for anyone. She wished she could give payback. If only they could find him first.
Yori added details. "That's just the way Takeo is. It's one reason I'm after him."
Kuroko stated "We're meeting up with Uiharu and Saten at our dorm. They should have something on this Takeo by now." That was a suggestion for Yori to follow them. He nodded without a word. Her cell phone rang and she answered it.
It was Uiharu "Kuroko! Something's happening here at your dorm!"
"What is it Uiharu?" She sounded somewhat in a panic. What can it be that can cause Uiharu to panic? Nothing good it is.
"I don't know. I'm in the washroom right now! All I know is hearing loud noises and screams!" A door could be heard broken open in the background followed by a scream. Uiharu's scream.
"Uiharu! Uiharu!" The line went dead. Just what exactly happened? She called Saten's phone. She might know something. No response either. She balled her fist.
Misaka was already taking the initiative. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" The three ran for the dorm to save Tokiwadai Middle School from possible danger.
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"All teams report."
"Fire team B has found the package. It's in the garden."
"Fire team C, we've cut the power and locked down block two and three. The dining hall has been secured and locked with captives inside. We're now moving to secure block three."
"Copy that, team A has the main area hall and offices secured. Team B, get us a vehicle ASAP. We need to move the package before they found out we're here."
"We're on it. What about the civvies?"
"Do not fire unless fired upon. We don't want any attention. Besides, they're kids for goodness sakes."
"Yes Sir."
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Kuroko never felt the speed of running this fast once in her life. Yori had expanded his time field to encompass the three of them. It was more stressful but he merely said he could hold it for long enough. They reached the dorm within ten minutes of real time. The outsides of the front door were empty. No one was guarding them. Whoever or whatever may be inside is unknown. Yori gripped his two guns. "Let's get in." Kuroko stopped him. He paused for a second in thought. "Yea…you can sneak us in." Kuroko after all is a teleporter. Who knows what lie behind the front door? Maybe no one, maybe ten men with weapons waiting right for them, God knows.
Within seconds, they were teleported into the dorm compound. Kuroko had chosen to teleport into a garden. Yori complimented. "You'd make an excellent burglar." Getting in and out without needing an entrance is the perfectionist requirement and she'd score full.
Kuroko's answer was clearly not amused. "Har har." Hard clack of footsteps shut her up. The three hid behind a bush. Misaka peeked out just enough to see silhouettes walking quickly away from them. They were excited, speaking in an unknown language. Just who are these guys? The four shadows ran ahead, out of sight. Misaka gave the all clear, leaving their hiding spot. Kuroko suggested. "Let's get inside." Whatever's so exciting for those intruders, they can find out later.
They entered the block three. They rushed to the door that would lead to the main block one. The public address system spoke. It was the dorm security guard "All students! Stay in your room and lock your doors!" It was then cut off with silence. Seconds later, the lights went off. Now in the dark, they treaded their way carefully, relying on the dim lights outside. They were in the middle when they heard a door creak open. Misaka gave a gesture to keep quiet. Footsteps, loud with their clacks entered the block. Misaka pulled them to the stairway at the middle. Not a moment too soon, red lasers flickered around, moving to whatever may be of interest. They hid in the gap under the steps while they wait for the intruders to pass. Yori prepared his pistols for an ambush but Kuroko stopped him again. She whispered "Let them pass. There might be hostages." A hostage situation would be very problematic especially if one of these teams of intruders doesn't report in. If that happens, blood will spill and it'd be their fault. Yori bit his lip as he could see the large dark bodies moving in a clearly trained formation. The intruders walked past, a few went up the stairs. The coast is clear but they waited for another moment before getting out. Kuroko pointed for the door. They will proceed as planned.
As they entered the main block, there were lights on but still relatively dim to what is usually bright of splendor. Backup lights eased their slow pace. Yori asked in whisper. "Where to?" Misaka pointed up. The main hall was empty which means these people are somewhere else. There are three ways. One is back the way they came, one is up the stairs and the other is in the gardens. The security guard was cut off after announcement. That meant one of those groups are upstairs and that's where the hostages probably are if any. Once they save them, they'll find the answers to this mess.
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ALL ANTI-SKILL UNITS WITHIN THE VICINITY OF TOKIWADAI MIDDLE SCHOOL DORM, PLEASE DEPLOY IMMEDIATELY.
ARMED SUSPECTS PRESENT. SUSPECT NUMBERS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. POSSIBLE HOSTAGE SITUATION.
Anti-Skill communications log (Time stamp: 8.36 P.M)
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The main block of the entire dorm had a security room only for overnight security. The rest were rooms for the staff and the few supervisors. A lucky few students get to stay in the main block as well. Easy to get in and out of the dorm for them but today, it isn't so lucky. The sneaky trio leaned their backs against a wall. They were beside the security room which was left closed. They were beside the security room which had the door closed. Misaka listened carefully through the thick door. There were mumbles of voices inside. She could also hear movement downstairs, a lot of people. If those people walked up the stairs to here, they'd be sandwiched in between.
Misaka whispered. "Let's break our way in." Her two partners nodded. She counted with her finger. One…Two… She swung a kick at the doorknob. Three! The door burst open while Kuroko and Yori entered the room.
There were four men dressed in forest green, armed with rifles. Their attention was elsewhere when the door burst open. They turned with rifles raised. Kuroko had teleported a set of nails which broke one of the guns. Yori shot the second guy in the chest. The dorm supervisor shot up from the corner, snapping the third's neck. Yori turned to respond the fourth's armed assailant's fire with his own. Bullets clattered to the floor before the guy was shocked to a knockout by Misaka's lightning bolt. The disarmed man reached for a knife when he was knocked out by a blow at the head. Saten gave a gesture of peace, her other hand carrying a baton.
Uiharu was delighted at their timely save "Misaka! Kuroko! It's good to see you!" The security warden was also present. They were glad for the rescue. Now in better shape, they can do something substantial at least.
Yori said to his chagrin. "No good to see you for me?" Uiharu chuckled nervously.
The dorm supervisor was angry. "You could have been shot!"
Yori ignored the elder woman and said to Uiharu "Get me something to bind them." Before anyone could move, two of the men began gurgling foams out of their mouth. Yori kneeled beside the men in their death throes. He pulled a man up slightly by the collar and concluded. "Poison." These men had committed suicide.
The security warden suggested. "It's probably cyanide." Yori let the dead man's head rest on the floor. This dead man won't tell any tales for now. The other two is knocked out so they aren't dead yet. He opened their mouths and searched with his finger for the cyanide poison. He found them and placed the two capsules on a desk.
"Gross." was all Misaka had to say about it. Yori said nothing as he wiped his hand against the unconscious men's garb. He won't mind.
Saten swirled the baton. "What now?"
The supervisor declared. "We'll brace furniture against the door and wait for Anti-Skill. They must be aware of this and are on their way." Nothing goes unnoticed in Academy City unless they chose to turn a blind eye.
"We might not need to." The security woman pointed at a small monitor. "They're leaving!" On the security camera, there were six men carrying twelve large cases in their hands. They are heading for the main door, the only exit out of this dorm.
Kuroko observed the screen. "They're carrying something. What is it?"
"It must have been the stuff they were excited about." Misaka noted. These cases were the reason they are here. It has to be it.
"That looks like firearm cases." Yori added his observation. "It could be a shipment."
"Then something definitely went wrong." Uiharu said when a small explosion sounded in the background. The guard switched between cameras until they came to a sight. "The garden's on fire!" A small part of it was burning, manmade and ravaging through the greenery. If left uncontrolled, the entire dorm might catch fire and burn.
"What about the students?" The supervisor demanded.
A bit more camera switching before the warden answered. "The students are fine, most of them locked in the dining hall with the kitchen staff. No one is injured inside." That gave them some relief.
Going back to topic, Yori nodded "Your guess should be right Uiharu. We'll have to catch them." He started to walk for the door when the dorm supervisor blocked his way.
"You are not going after them. It's too dangerous for you students!" These kinds of things are never meant for young students such as them. However, they've been through so many that this fact doesn't even matter.
Kuroko protested "If we don't stop them, we won't find out who's behind this!" She was flat out rejected.
"As the supervisor of this dorm, it is my very responsibility to keep you unharmed! Anti-Skill will deal with them."
Yori sidestepped past her "I'm not your student in the first place." He gave a wave behind. "I'll be waiting outside." He left them to their argument.
Kuroko said "It's my responsibility as a member of Judgment to apprehend them."She is part of the law and the law will be enforced.
Misaka pleaded "We need to stop them. Otherwise, more people will be hurt."
The dorm Mistress thought it over. They had their point and she had her own. It is quite an annoying dilemma, the responsibility to society versus the responsibility of a caretaker. A second clicked on the clock. "You may go. If you two get hurt, I will make sure that you're dead." Both girls smiled as they ran out. "Now let's get everyone and put out that fire!"
Yori opened the front door. He was now out onto the open street. He scanned his surroundings. A large truck was driving away. It's the right size. It's bound to be them. Misaka and Kuroko joined him. "Where are they?" Kuroko asked.
Yori pointed at the disappearing truck. "They're getting away in that. We can't chase them on foot." Even runners or teleporters have physical limitations compared to a mechanical truck. Misaka gauged the distance between them and the truck. It was too far away for a Railgun shot. Uiharu and Saten joined them.
"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?"
Uiharu said "We're coming with you. They're all gone anyway." A burst of gunfire struck near Uiharu's feet. She squeaked as Misaka repelled the second burst of bullets away. A block ahead, two men were shooting at them for a few seconds before driving away in another car.
Misaka said "Let's chase them!" They were closer and with Yori's time flow ability, they could catch up quickly.
Yori already knew her plan. "I doubt we'll be fast enough. Don't forget the truck!" He looked left and right for something. "Be right back." He became a blur.
Kuroko thought of alternatives. She could teleport further and faster if used in conjunction with Yori's abilities. The other two wouldn't be able to keep up and then she'll lose ground to the two vehicles. A red car stopped in front of her. It was an old Infiniti IPL G Coupe. It had two doors with four seats inside with a manual gearbox. It looked really comfortable and well maintained despite the years. Yori was in the driver's seat. "Get in."
Kuroko said as they got aboard. "Where did you get this car?"
"I borrowed it. I'll return it later." Kuroko shook her head. She would like to berate and arrest him for that but this act is necessary to catch the real troublemakers. They'll compensate it later. Uiharu, Saten and Kuroko squeezed into the back. Misaka had the passenger seat. All aboard, he set the gear to one and accelerated.
"Do you even have a driver's license?" Saten asked.
Yori grinned. "I learnt a bit of driving from jacking a few cars."
"You're saying you don't know how to drive?" Yori ignored her and floored the pedal. The car accelerated with a rev of the engine.
The car accelerated to its top speed of 350 kilometres an hour. The engine was loud, pushed to the limit. Yori said "Hold on tight!" The car went even faster, the denominator of time reduced. They caught up in no time, now side by side with the second car. The second car's driver window opened to unveil a rifle. Misaka stopped the incoming bullets short with a magnetic shield. Yori slipped past the car and accelerated past. The truck is what they're after. Wherever this car is going, it will be for the truck anyway. Two birds with one stone.
The truck was in sight. It was getting onto the highway. Kuroko teleported Misaka onto the front bonnet of the car "Get ready to disable it!"
Misaka grinned as she palmed a coin. "With pleasure! Just get me close!" Yori it the clutch as he turned a hard left. He switched the gear to three before revving the accelerator. The car turned into a power slide before reversing the turn and restoring the gear to four when he noticed.
"Good thing you're wearing shorts!" Misaka turned around, clearly mad.
"Where do you think you're looking at?" She snapped as they are now on the highway. The rear end of the truck opened. Several men stood firm behind the green stack of cases they were transporting. They fired ineffectually thanks to Misaka.
Kuroko started to say when the rear windshield shattered. She looked behind, the other car keeping pace with them shooting from behind. "Watch the back!"
Yori accelerated the car again, going past the truck. He slipped into the same lane as the truck, staying just in front of the truck. Misaka now has a clear and easy shot for the engine. The driver fumbled for a weapon as Misaka charged her ultimate weapon. "Not on my watch!"
She was cut off when another car slammed into theirs. She wobbled off balance but her feet firmly clung to the hull. A second car, a Lexus HS 250H slipped into the front. Now, there are two cars at their left and front and the truck behind them. They are boxed in! The lead car decelerated as the car to the left rammed them from the side. Sparks flew against the divider, immediately slowing them down. The truck hit them from the back, crushing the boot.
Yori said as he turned for his twin pistols. "Kuroko! Take the wheel!" She teleported into the passenger seat as Yori blasted away at the car beside him. The car was dented but not damaged to be of significance. Bulletproof! Kuroko turned the steering wheel left, pushing back against the other car.
Misaka aimed at the front car when it slipped back to the left. They went on while the truck took a left into another segment of the highway. The rearmost car followed the truck while she has to deal with the Lexus's. The first car's rear right window opened before it fired something at their car. Second later, Misaka felt her solid footing to the car disappeared, throwing her off the car and onto the road.
Kuroko called "Onee sama!" She teleported out of the car after her.
Uiharu said "We have to turn around!" They have to return for Misaka.
Yori shook his head. "We just got hit by what I think is an EMP. If we stop, this car might never start back up!" It isn't worth the risk of engine failure. He had three cars including his own to deal with only two hands. "Saten! Take the passenger seat!" They'll have to find a turn to catch up with the truck. The long haired girl squeezed through the tiny gap and into the seat. Yori tossed his hip pack to Uiharu without a glance back. "Get ready to reload and control the gears!" He said to both of them. Three pairs of hands do better than just one.
The first car blocked their way again. The two rammed them again, trying to stall their engine. Yori forced his car against the one on his left, firing at the one in front from the open driver window. "Get ready to switch on my mark!" He ejected the empty magazine as he handed the gun to Uiharu. She carefully slid in a new one and returned it to him. He hit the brakes as he slowed down time. The car pulled back, giving the second car to swerve wide. He swerved hard left, leg on clutch as he said.
"Two!"
He heard the gear click, lifting the clutch before and revving the engine. The car turned into a drift. He hit the clutch again "Four!" He heard the shift again and released the clutch. The G Coupe shot past both cars and down a turning after the truck.
Yori put the car back to high gear. The truck came in sight. A top of it was a man. He had silver hair, was about a hundred eighty centimeters tall. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and brown blue with the age of mid twenties. In his hands were a katana on the left and a wakizashi on the right. The man smiled as he swung the long sharp blade at them. A shockwave streaked across the ground, cutting deep into the road. Yori swerved right, barely avoiding it. He yelled "TAKEO!"
Takeo smiled. He said in a silky voice. "I look forward to seeing you again…Yori." He slashed again with the katana. This time, Yori can't dodge it. He turned the car into another power slide. The slash cut right through the middle like a hot knife through butter. The car split into two, crashing hard into both sides of the highway.
Yori was unfazed by the crash as he got out and yelled "I'll get you son of a bitch! I'll have your blood!" He then fired his pistols but the man and the truck disappeared into an underground tunnel. His bullets missed to strike concrete.
Saten asked at Uiharu at the other side. "Are you okay?" Uiharu nodded as Yori screamed in rage. They both stared at him as Yori let his tantrum out by slicing off the side mirror.
Saten was worried now. "Ah…Yori, are you okay?"
Yori's voice was filled pure with hatred. "I'm, not, okay." His eyes were red, blood red. It scared her and Uiharu. He looked so drugged with hate that he might even kill them! Yori picked up the beheaded mirror and tossed it off the highway. "I need to cool down.' He leapt off the highway and disappeared into the night.
Saten wanted to call Kuroko or Misaka but had her plan dashed when she recalled her phone having been crushed earlier. Still, it wasn't necessary as Kuroko and Misaka teleported within their vicinity. "Are you two okay?"
MIsaka nodded. "Nothing serious, only a few cuts and scratches. What happened?"
Saten said "You see….a guy cut our car into half. We're fine though." She looked on to where Yori had leapt off the highway. "About Yori…I don't know."