Epilogue
Chapter Three: Not A Good Sign

*puts on a cheerleader uniform* Chapter Three! Yay, go me! Oh, and I'm borrowing Ptah's name for the peninsula (hope he doesn't mind). I found an area that looks like it could be Meridiana on a map, but no peninsula names were mentioned, so... *shrug* And for the pacifists out there, I'm sorry about the gun descriptions, but to understand some of the later stuff, you REALLY need to know what they do. About the pants: Hey, they're in the comics, so who's to say I'm wrong?

Yashimoto's televisions were all turned on, their feeds coming from the San Carlos peninsula. It had been a big job to get the cameras set up, and twice he'd nearly been discovered by the Fixed Ideas. But there they were, and Yashimoto was beginning to wish he'd never gotten involved with any of this. Of course he was glad to help Cybersix, but the video feeds were getting more and more disturbing.
First, there had been an astonishing number of the big ones, simply lounging about. Then there had been more humanoid ones ordering them around - Types, Cybersix had called them before. And then the human ones, called Technos. It doesn't matter if they have solid shirts, striped shirts, or jackets, Yashimoto thought, they're ALL bad news. He peered closer at one of the screens, squinting to make out the boxes that seemed to have come from nowhere.
he cursed under his breath. Boxes and boxes of M-16s... And- He watched more crates being opened, and whistled in awe. Wow. USAS-12.... MIL-15... This is bad. The M-16 was a standard issue assault rifle with a specially designed, high-velocity round. Meanwhile, the USAS-12 was a rapid fire shotgun. It had been developed solely for military use, but somehow Von Reichter had gotten his hands on whole shipments of them. If you were hit with one of these, you needed cover immediately. And the MIL-15 was the most dangerous one there. Instead of firing pellets or bullets, it fired a small fragmentation round which exploded on contact. Which meant there was no chance for reaction.
The way things were going, it seemed that the Fixed Ideas were being assigned to M-16s, the Types to USAS-12s, and the Technos to the MIL-15s. This DEFINITELY qualifies as putting us in immediate trouble'. Yashimoto leaped up from his chair and ran for the door, yelling to Ikiko: Stay here, Ikiko! He leaped over the railing, plummeted onto his bike, and sped off for Cybersix's apartment.
The televisions were not turned off.

Cybersix had returned from teaching school that day and had changed gratefully into a loose shirt and the black pants of her costume. She settled down on the couch, her head resting against the top, eyes closed.
The peace was interrupted by a rather nervous knocking. Her eyes flashed open, and she crossed the apartment to the door. She turned the knob and opened it, then welcomed Yashimoto in. Something's gone wrong, I take it?
Cybersix put a hand to her mouth in horror as he doubled over to catch his breath. The Fixed Ideas have M-16s. The Types have USAS-12s; the Technos have MIL-15s. Do you know what they do?
Sadly, yes. She sank against her couch. This is not a good sign, Yashimoto.
It most certainly is not, Cybersix.
I just can't believe it... he's waging war.

Ikiko crept into Yashimoto's office. She had heard strange sounds from the televisions, and had gone to investigate. At first, she didn't understand what was going on in the pictures, but even with her innocence, Ikiko knew what guns were.
So Yashimoto went to warn Cybersix... I guess... But who's going to warn Julian and Data 7?
Ikiko rubbed her head. Yashimoto had said quite plainly to stay there, which might mean he was going to tell Data 7 and Julian himself. Ah, but you know grownups... they never think about the kids. I mean, he didn't tell me, so...
It's up to me! she declared, and rushed to pull on her shoes. I've got to get to Julian's boat and tell him and Data 7 about this...
The door closed behind her, and the house fell into silence.