Chapter 36
Sitting Duck
A deep rumble can be heard across the autumn skies. Churlish and muddy black clouds crowded over as rain pelts down. Droplets land like small pebbles on the steel roof of a derelict building. A bone-chilling chill permeated the air. It penetrated her bones, turning her fingers into solid ice. Shivering in Jodie-sensei's brown leather coat, she exhales, causing a white fog to condense on her night vision glasses. Shiho raps her fingers against the corroded surfaces as she waits.
The counters were dirty, smeared with dust and spider webs—they had not been touched for a long time. Rain poured through the broken roofs of the vacant place as its metallic supports groaned amid a storm. Wind gusts hammered the abandoned warehouse at high speeds as Shiho stood in her teenage form in the pitch-black darkness—surrounded by dead monitors and a half-broken microphone. Stuffing spilled out of the orifices of the rusty leather chairs around her. She was in a small, cubicle-like control room that had been converted from an old cargo container. Probably used by logistics staff to operate and oversaw logistics operations. But that was years ago, and the warehouse now sits in disarray, a relic of what it once was.
Another blast of wind, howling like a wailing banshee, struck the building, causing it to rock uncontrollably. The turbulent weather endangered the structure as peeling steel roofs teether precariously on their edges. A glimpse of the pint-sized explosives meticulously placed on the rusty beams catches Shiho's attention. As she surveyed them with her night vision glasses, she held a trigger button presented to her hours earlier by Akai-san.
Following the path of the explosives, Shiho's eyes were drawn to the table in the middle of the warehouse—the target point. Opposed to the cracked cement floors and cluttered maze-like containers that surrounded the bare space, the wooden desk painted black was pristine. Shiho could clearly see the devices from the second floor.
They consisted of a burner phone and a rectangular device—a biometric reader, which was illuminated by a waterproof torch. The objects on the table are part of an objective—reassurance.
"Any signs of them yet?" her earpiece echoed with static—a break in the dour silence.
"Not yet," Jodie-sensei replied to the man. Llyod Summers, the IO operator who had introduced himself two weeks back, sighed heavily. His responsibility was to relay information and orders to the Alpha Squadron. FBI agents who were responsible for tactical overwatch. According to Akai, they consist of 15 close combat officers—who were divided into three teams of three and were all combat trained. Every so often, Shiho would see them passing the entrance to the warehouse, clad in heavy armor and carrying assault rifles. Akai had chided them more than once for not remaining hidden. It would seem that they were not very adept at doing so.
"Oh, and to think we've even come early," Lloyd snorted.
"Focus," Akai reprimanded.
"Relax," Lloyd advised. He spoke casually to Akai in a light tone. Only a few in the force were capable of doing so, and he was the exception. In comparison to the others, Llyod was much older and more experienced. Akai described him as an extremely skilled man because of his excellent memory and quick response. Jodie-sensei, on the other hand, told them about his explosive tendencies and emotional outbursts if things didn't go his way. It was likely the reason why the 45-year-old veteran was still a low-ranking officer despite his years of service.
"Tell me the positions of our agents. We need to do a thorough check if anything is amiss—" Akai ordered as Llyod grunted.
"According to Alpha 01 in zone A, they are currently sitting by the left, awaiting orders. As for Delta in Zone B, they shifted five minutes ago because the storm made the containers they were hiding in quite unstable, and they were unable to obtain a clear view of the primary target. Once they have relocated, they will inform us of their new location."
"What about Foxtrot in Zone C?"
"Observing the pier from their vantage point, they reported a slight disturbance 30 minutes ago, which we investigated. There were a few drunkards in the area who were escorted away. Before you ask, I have requested that their snipers relocate. I have been informed that they have a clear shot at the target and can provide adequate cover if our scientist needs it."
"Let me know their coordinates," Akai replied.
"Need anything else, princess?" Lloyd continued.
"Is Summers bragging again?" A second voice cuts in. Belonging to a woman this time. She was the second IO operator, responsible for relaying information and supporting Shiho. Possessing appealing features and brown chestnut hair tied into a ponytail—' Sango Ogawa,' or, in this case, Anne Kinoshita, was a beautiful and petite Japanese-American woman. She hugged Shiho, just as she had done following the interview she had conducted in Otaru a few weeks earlier. Something about the woman reminded Shiho of Yoshida Ayumi. She had bright blue eyes and a tendency to give out hugs whenever she encountered others. Anne was always friendly, and she was the self-designated coffee maker of the force.
"And what about it, love?" Lloyd inquired. Anne chuckled through the earpiece. "Well, grandpa, you made a mistake. Alpha 01 in Zone A are now stationed behind the loading bay. They requested permission to relocate just 20 minutes ago."
"15 minutes," Anne was corrected by a young man. He spoke with a slight stutter. Despite having impaired speech, he was one of the best information operators in the force. He was skilled at working under pressure and making succinct decisions under pressure. As well as being accurate, the data he relayed was always up-to-date. Jodie-sensei had referred to him as a lifesaver. Others know him as Lucas Nguyen. He was in charge of relaying orders to Foxtrot— a professional force that worked alongside Alpha squad as backup. They were mostly covert-ops agents who specialized in one-shot takedowns—snipers. There were made up of two teams hosting five men each and were now perched on top of the numerous littered containers and cranes surrounding the pier.
By nature, Lucas was a quiet man. Often working late into the night alone. Shiho spotted him pulling all-nighters multiple times. His spiky black hair was always messy, and his suit was permanently stained with coffee. Anne had referred to him as a machine and had to force him to take breaks. Nevertheless, he was relentless and managed to extract more information about the organization from the thumb drive than anyone else.
"Well, I'll be damned. How did I make such a mistake?" Lloyd asked, "Hey, Noah, why didn't you inform me about the changes?" He teasingly addressed the last and fourth IO operator. Noah Lee an overweight man. His duties were to execute stealth missions with the Delta Squad, a close combat team specializing in information and data control, practically the eyes of the operation. Shiho had trouble understanding the terms the FBI used, but according to Anne, Shiho's personal jargon translator, the 10 men squad was responsible for setting up the explosive charges in the warehouse.
Having pudgy cheeks and bright green eyes, Noah always wore a scowl. Most of the time, he was a grumpy mess and often turned to stress eating to cope with his frustrations. While lacking in physical attributes, he was well-known within the FBI as a technology expert. With little assistance, the man set up the communication system that they were using at the time, as well as the surrounding heat sensors. The satellite images and heat readings are relayed in real-time to headquarters, control, and to the other IO operatives. Establishing this extensive network would have taken others months.
The man was a certified tech genius.
"Don't blame your incompetence on others, Llyod," Noah responded. He was brimming with his usual irritation.
"Enough." Akai sighed, "relay your current locations to me, and I won't bother you."
"Hold on, don't be like that. I rather enjoy listening to your voice," Lloyd teased.
"Your locations," Akai ignored his jokes.
"I am still inside the van. My bodyguards have reported nothing amiss," Lloyd reported.
"Same here," Anne said, "just south."
"Nothing to report," Lucas replied stiffly, "As of 20:00 hours."
"Still in the van, we've changed positions once. Now that we're far enough away, I don't think we'll be spotted," Noah remarked.
"Alright, keep Camel apprised of any changes, and stay alert," Akai advised everyone, "We don't know what's up their sleeves."
As Akai continued to monitor each agent in the area, Shiho felt the numbing chill return, settling like the weight of anvils. Once again, the omnipresent sensation encircled her neck like a python. The phantom restraints are tightening, suffocatingly so. Although Shiho was adamant about doing this, she was still terrified.
She breathed deeply and reached into her pockets. Curling fingers around a glass tube. The bait drug was contained within. She then released it and pulled out the needle-like object. NTX120. It is similar to an EpiPen, which allergy sufferers use as a last resort. Despite her questions, the FBI refused to disclose its true purpose. In any case, it didn't matter—there was more pressing business to attend to. The time was rapidly approaching, but the members had yet to show themselves.
Shiho leaned against the counter, taking a moment to gather herself when Anne spoke. "Sorry," the agent began, "but I have a private call for you. I will relay it."
"Private call?"
"Well, not that private since I can still listen in, but I'll do my best to remain silent," Anne replied. There was a slight beep; then, his voice broke through.
"Stay alert," Shinichi nagged. He had repeated it a hundred times. And was beginning to sound like a broken recorder.
"Shinichi, what do you think I'm doing?"
"How does resting against the counter with your eyes closed constitute staying alert?" he inquired.
Shiho scowled.
"Have you been watching me?"
"What are you expecting? The area is monitored by video cameras and is equipped with heat sensors. It is inevitable. Besides, it's for your own safety."
"Stalker," she snorted.
"W…what!? I'm giving you solid advice, you—"
"Stop babying me. I am not a child," she replied and spun around as lightning flashed across the building, casting shadows. Another gust of wind slammed against the rickety walls, causing them to shake. As thunder roared across the sky, the tremors continued, like the low growl of lions trying to catch prey. In the darkness, golden eyes peer out, and she is unable to breathe. Instinctively, she reached for the pistol tucked away in the hidden holster strapped to her thigh.
"Use it only when necessary," Akai had told her. While helping her into the bulletproof vest, the FBI agent was reluctant to let her go. His gaze hardened as he warned her once again. "In the event of danger, run away immediately. Do not attempt to fight. It will not end well."
"Shiho, hey, Shiho!"
She drew a sharp breath, the mirage of the beast faded away, and she released her hold on the gun. Shinichi's voice came through the earpiece. "What happened? You just froze, I knew it, are you—"
"I'm fine," she affirms, wiping away the sweat forming.
"You could always use a double," Shinichi whispered. There was an unmistakable sense of anxiety in his tone. He had insisted on it many times before the mission, always offering her the opportunity to change her mind. Although he was insistent on joining her, she declined.
"This topic has been discussed before," she replied, shifting uncomfortably in her bullet vest.
The discussion had run dry after numerous arguments. Shiho remains steadfast in her resolve. She was nagged by Shinichi... Ran...by the professor...by Akai...they were persistent, but she was even more stubborn. "The agent is at least trained in combat."
"I'm doing this regardless of your opinion." She declares.
After a short pause, he sighed. "Then stay alert," he repeats, going into a spiel like a buzzing housefly. Shiho considered turning the earpiece off, but she resisted. Even though his repeated reminders were bothersome, they brought some sense of comfort, and she held on to them. They at least helped to stave off the resurfacing memories. She was terrified, more than she would like to admit. Though she was aware that FBI agents were scattered around, she was not convinced that their presence would help. No, they were too naive. The monsters had methods that the FBI would never have anticipated.
"I'll be fine, worst comes to worst," she interrupts, brows twitching, "I could always become a terrorist and blow this joint up."
She gestured towards the hidden camera behind the cupboard, showing the trigger in her hand.
A groan of frustration escaped Shinichi's lips.
"Don't joke like that," he snapped.
"Ara, it wasn't a joke. I really would—"
"Whatever it is," Shinichi cuts in, "promise that you will return to me." Though he exuded calm, there was a tremor in his delivery. It wasn't a request.
"Promise," she said softly.
"Awwww," Anne interjected. Silence fell between the two shrunken teenagers.
"Why did you have to interrupt?" Noah asked. He was munching chips at the other end, causing more static.
"Yes, Anne, do you need another course in covert operations?" Lloyd continued.
"A failed attempt," Lucas concluded.
"I thought this was a private call," Shinichi began.
"Hey, don't blame me for this. I did inform Shiho-chan."
"I suppose. But I was not expecting the entire calvary," Shiho squinted, folding her arms as Anne chuckled.
"There is a possibility that I might have accidentally pressed the wrong button."
"Accidentally, indeed," Shinichi muttered.
"No worries, boy, I'll give it 7.5 out of 10. You deserve a commendation," Lloyd replied.
"Nah, that's at most a five," Noah quipped.
Shinichi sputtered at their suggestion, and the light banter continued, relieving Shiho of some stress. Though the pressure remained, the waiting game reached a stalemate as the whirls of mechanical engines broke through the torrential rain. A helicopter?
"What the fuck is that?" Llyod demanded.
Shiho observed the helicopter from a distance. Several seconds later, it hovered above the pier. It was a helicopter used for attack, an Apache.
"Command, Foxtrot is asking for permission to shoot it down," Lucas says.
"Hold their fire," Akai instructed. The black flying death machine hovered. While still spinning, the rotating blades cut through the rain, splashing water against the pier—creating tsunami-like ripples across the puddled-filled cemented ground. The sound of the engine mutes out the storm.
The helicopter landed at the warehouse's entrance, and Shiho could barely see the occupants disembarking. It was difficult to distinguish their identities through the blanket of cascading rain.
"Our heat sensors indicate two people exiting the vehicle and two more operating it," Noah informed Akai.
"Foxtrot, get a visual of the occupants in the helicopter."
"We're on it," Lucas said.
"They're taking their sweet time, aren't they?" Lloyd observed.
"There is a wheelchair," Anne whispered, "one of them is being pushed... it's—"
Shiho did not need Anne's assistance to understand. It was evident to her.
Following their exit from the helicopter, the two figures entered the warehouse. As they proceeded forward, there was a loud hum as the helicopter's engines restarted.
"It's leaving," Llyod announced.
"Visuals on the drivers?" Akai inquired.
"Negative, Foxtrot is unable to determine targets. The weather is fogging up the apache's windows," Lucas grumbled.
"Control, get some agents on the ground to follow it," Akai ordered when the information was relayed.
"I'll handle it," Jodie answered, typing hard at her end.
Shiho's gaze was fixed on the two emerging from the shadows. The umbrella that the woman was holding was thrown aside.
Vermouth.
"Shiho," Anne whispered, "they are approaching the target point."
The heat sensor detected movement, as Shiho observed from the control room. The rain continued to leak from the broken ceiling as a blonde head woman with a menacing aura held onto a wheelchair. The sound of rain drowning over the creaks as she wheeled him in. The occupant was an old, frail man Shiho had never seen before. A ventilator attached to an oxygen tank was placed over the mouth and nose of the deathly thin man. A white beard covered the man's chin; his eyes faded away as if he was blind. Despite this, Shiho knew better than to underestimate him. Behind the weak and frail exterior of the man lies an unfathomable evil. This was Renya Karasuma—the organization's leader.
"They are not in disguise," Noah whispered, scrutinizing the heat sensor meant to detect abnormalities. "We have only two unsubs in sight."
The news was concerning. There were supposed to be four.
"Have Delta scout the area. Our unsubs might be hiding," Akai instructed.
"Affirmative," Noah replied.
"Alpha will scout the surrounding areas," Lloyd informed, monitoring the scene through the surveillance cameras.
"Don't go alone; stick together," Shinichi advised.
Shiho drowned them out as she watched the man and woman peer curiously at the devices on the black table. It was pointless to stall any longer.
"I'll proceed with the plan," she said.
"Shiho, wait...we don't know what they're up to," Shinichi argued.
"This is what they intend to accomplish—to confuse us. We strike now."
She sensed his dilemma. The shrunken detective did not like how the situation was unfolding. He was uncertain of the plan she had concocted. However, it was the only way. Shinichi was too stubborn to admit it, but he knew she was right.
"Fine," he murmured, disgruntled. "Prepare the agents around the area, Control."
"Thank you," Shiho whispered quietly.
"Don't thank me yet," he grunted. "If anything goes wrong, I'm pulling you out immediately."
"Worrywart," she teased.
"Idiot," he snapped, voice softening, "Be safe."
Her eyes are drawn to the two below her. Vermouth approaches the target point and picks up the burner phone from the table. As the woman dialed, she froze.
She felt her pockets vibrate ominously. Her stomach tightened as she braced herself for the call.
The ground was swaying—quite literally. The monitors in front of Shinichi were pinned onto metallic steel studded floors, and he stood, arms folded tightly in apprehension. As lightning flashed across the sordid skies, thunderous claps echoed throughout. There was a torrential downpour, and droplets of rain were rolling down the countless curved rectangular windows that surrounded the room in a circular fashion. The storm—a reflection of his internal emotions.
On the various screens, he observed the auburn scientist. She was using the burner phone provided. Akai, Jodie-sensei, and just about every other agent around the scene listen in through the static-filled earpiece. Many cameras were placed throughout the warehouse, but the gloomy darkness and shadowy nature of the warehouse made it difficult to discern the facial expressions of the sinister members.
"Get Foxtrot ready," Akai instructed, "and have them shoot if they sense anything wrong."
"Dispatch an animal?" asked Lucas. The phrase was another FBI short code jargon that Shinichi had the pleasure of learning a few days ago. You want them dead?
"If possible, no, but if she's in danger, then do so," Akai continued.
"Affirmative."
"Has Alpha teams found Rum or Gin?" Shinichi asked Akai.
The man gestures to an agent working furiously behind him. "Any new leads?"
David, a freckled-faced officer about 30 years old, shook his head. A scrawny, ineffective fighter, he was unfit for combat, but for analytics and information gathering, David and his ten colleagues at their makeshift headquarters were unbeatable. They were a part of the Control team headed by Jodie-sensei and were made up of elite hackers and information gatherers who assisted the IO operators on the ground.
"I have been monitoring the individual body cams of Alpha Squad," he responded, "There have been no abnormalities yet."
"Well, we don't know for sure," Lloyd replied. The man was hiding in a commercial van near the wharf in an undisclosed location. Shinichi could hear him fiddling with his earpiece. "In this weather, we'll be lucky if we're even able to see at least 3 feet in front of us."
"Keep searching," Akai ordered.
Shinichi focused back on the screen as he listened to the snippets of Shiho's conversation with Renya.
"Are you hiding again?" Renya greeted Shiho. With the rain and static buzzing around, Shinichi could barely hear him.
"Four," Shiho replied, cutting directly to the point. "Are you unable to understand our agreement?"
"I do not recall a contract being signed," Renya chuckled.
"His deflecting," Jodie-sensei whispered, staring intently at the screen. Rather than looking at Renya, her blue eyes were fixated on—Vermouth. Shinichi noticed Akai squeezing Jodie-sensei's shoulder.
"I am not playing your games, Renya," Shiho continued. She sounded calm, but Shinichi could see paleness on her face, and he knew she was shivering under Jodie-sensei's coat.
"Who?"
"Rum," Shiho demanded, "Gin," she spat, wincing at the mere mention, "Where are they?"
"Patience, Sherry, the night…is still young after all," he grates. Shiho pauses, the pain gushing through her expression hard to look at, and Shinichi hits the table. They were toying with her.
"They must be around," Shinichi snapped, and Akai agreed.
"Still nothing unusual," David said. And Shinichi clenches her fists into a tight ball.
"Oh, I have plenty of time, Renya," she sneered, "but you…not so much."
"That's a real shame. Though I must admit, Sherry, I am intrigued. What are your plans? Surely, it is not limited to the device on the table. There must be more to it than this, right?"
"A biometric fingerprint reader," Shiho answered as Renya paused.
"What?" He mocked as Vermouth picked up the biometric. "Don't trust us?"
"You can never be too careful," Shiho spat as the man smirked. The man lifts his hand rather dramatically before putting his fingers on the device. While the device collected his information, a faint beeping sound was heard. After he finished, Renya handed Vermouth the biometric, who reluctantly did the same.
"Did you get it?" Shiho whispered into the earpiece.
"Got it," David replied, and Shinichi observed as Renya and Vermouth studied the device and then their fingers.
"Sherry, you didn't tell me you would be drawing blood," Renya added. The man rubbed his fingers together. Having pricked them, the biometric reader was feeding their blood details and fingerprints into the FBI databases.
"We should be able to confirm their identities," Shinichi said.
"Maybe, but it's too early to tell if it succeeded in..." Jodie-sensei trailed off, smiling ironically, "Oh, sorry, almost disclosed classified information there."
"Be careful," Akai murmured, listening attentively.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of a little pain, Renya?" Shiho mocked. Renya chuckled dryly, his hoarse voice resonating through the receiver.
"So, are you satisfied?" Renya asked.
"No."
"That wasn't enough for you?"
"I said four, Renya," she remarked, and he shrugged, signaling to Vermouth. Nodding, she held her finger in her ear and seemed to be speaking into it. The move was alarming.
"Something's up," Lloyd snapped.
"Permission to engage," Lucas came in.
"Wait, Delta, any changes?" Akai ordered.
"No, no detection, but it's too silent. This is just—"
Noah was about to continue when a loud gasp interrupted him. Their attention was drawn to a young woman. Similarly to David, Sophia Abbot was part of the Control team.
"What is it?" Jodie-sensei asked, alarmed at her wide-eyed expression. The woman paused for a few seconds before pulling out her earpiece in panic. "I'm unable to contact Anne," she said. "I've been trying to contact her for the past two minutes, but she isn't answering."
No…it couldn't be. The location of the IO operatives was kept top secret, even from the team. Their locations were known only to Akai, Jodie-sensei, and Shinichi.
"Have a team from Delta check on her," Jodie-sensei ordered, and Sophia agreed.
"Have you contacted Anne's bodyguards?" Akai inquired. Another agent from control shook his head.
"Deadlines," he informed.
A harsh silence fell over them, and Shinichi whipped back to the screen, looking at the auburn-haired scientist and Renya. Although obscured by the shadows, Shinichi was able to discern the sinister grin that was developing on the man's lips. The man dropped the burner phone on the ground. As Shinichi realized what had happened, goosebumps appeared on his skin, and he felt like he had been hit by a truck. For a brief moment, Renya lifted his oxygen mask. "Do you really think you can escape us?" he mouthed. Looking directly at the room Shiho was hiding in.
It was enough.
"Shiho, get out of there!" Shinichi yelled, slamming the counters.
"What?" Shiho whispered harshly. And then—
Silver hair, golden piercing eyes, the menacing manifestation of a beast.
Gin!
Shiho felt him first, the blood-curdling pain that often rendered her speechless. Dropping what she was holding, she whipped around, about to strike when he seized her. She could sense the bloodlust and aura of death emanating from the figure, emerging like a wraith from the incessant darkness. The unmistakable silver hair swished out from within his black hat. His long trench coat whipped in the strong winds flowing through. In the dimness of the warehouse, golden eyes glinted. Although she could not discern his features, she could have sworn that he was grinning, the whites of his teeth clearly visible.
"Sherry," he greeted, "I have missed you."
His voice was grating and deep, sounding more like a beast's than a man's. It took all of her willpower not to bolt. "Gin," she spat out, the man grinning wider as he edged closer.
"Alone, Sherry?" he breathes into her ears. A shiver ran through her spine—and she clenched her fist to stop it from trembling. Amid the paralyzing fear, she forced herself to look at him, feeling like a fly caught in a web of death.
"What do you want?" she asked—making it a point to ignore his question.
A mere glance at him was enough to make her scars pulsate with excruciating phantom pain.
"Isn't it obvious?" he whispered.
"I can't read minds, Gin," she spat, "So enlighten me."
A gloved hand squeezed her shoulder, lingering dangerously close to her chest. Gin pinned his body against her. A rush of memories sprang to life—screams, sweat, pain, the stabbing sensation of—
No!
With all her strength, she shoved. He catches her wrist, squeezing it with gloved fingers, cutting into her flesh. "Sherry," he sneers, blowing into her ears in that sing-song tone. "What happened to your manners?"
He snatches her throat, his hands curling around. It hurt—trapped within a basement, held down—dead blank eyes watching her as the beast continued. Her terror turned into something more. In her chest, a never-ending flame smothered her. It sprang from a single point—refusing to turn to ash.
"Fuck off," she seethes. The man stepped back a little. Her heart swelled with hate, flooding every fiber of her being—and she glared at him with eyes ablaze. "What do you want!"
"You," he chuckles, golden snake-like eyes penetrating. "Sherry."
She froze as a sick grin formed on his lips. "Tell your snipers to stand down," he warned.
How did he…
Shiho felt as if she had been submerged, sinking through the depths of a raging ocean. She couldn't breathe. Through the earpiece, she could hear the panic happening within—orders and instructions streaming from headquarters in a garbled mess. The snipers were ordered to stand down by Jodie-sensei as Akai scrambled the forces. Shinichi and the other IO operators assemble the squads.
Anne hadn't answered in a while. It was unsettling. Did she misread them?
"Or worse things would happen," Gin continued.
Shiho swallowed the crushing pressure. Retaining her cool, she glared at him.
"Again, I ask, what do you want?"
His sinister grin never waned. His vice-like grasp on her resembles that of a python suffocating its prey.
"An unbefitting place to talk," he replied as she tensed. The man forced her forward. Her hiding place was revealed, and he led her out of the control room. An action reminiscent of descending—into a basement. For a second, she closes her eyes tightly, controlling the dread threatening to blossom into an uncontrollable panic.
They emerged into the open space, in front of the black table, after being forced down the stairs roughly. Renya and Vermouth stood before her. There was a click, and the familiar barrel of a gun was pointed at her. Gin was behind her—she could almost imagine the smirk twitching on his lips.
"Shiho hang in there," Shinichi whispered through the earpiece.
"Gather the teams, Foxtrot. Keep your aim trained at Gin, do not shoot unless ordered," Akai instructed.
"Alpha is nearing the compound, on standby," Lloyd reported.
"Delta is ready," Noah replied, "Heat signatures detect three individuals at the target point, and...near the entrance, two more."
"Two more?"
"Yes."
"Visuals on the individuals," Akai continued.
The information relayed through her earpiece was turning into a mess. With growing concern, Shiho realized her IO operator was silent. Anne Kinoshita.
Where was she?
"We have finally met, Sherry," Renya welcomed her. Shiho could clearly see the frail man's weakened condition from where she stood. A ventilator supplied him with air, and his speech was garbled. Rather than a boss of an organization, he looked like a friendly old man at any general hospital. Shiho knew better than to trust his disguise. Despite his friendliness, the predator lurked in his eyes. They carried a wicked presence, with the facade peeling away as he commanded Vermouth.
Involuntarily, Shiho flinched as the woman appeared before her. Vermouth reached into her blouse pockets, forcefully ripping open her jacket to retrieve the capsule-shaped drug.
"Encrypted and locked," Vermouth informed Renya, who laughed.
"Another trick of yours, I see," he replied.
"What do you think?" Shiho scoffed, "Do you think I will simply hand you the drug? Do you remember the deal we had, Renya Karasuma, or has your memory failed because of your deteriorating health?" She glares at him, unable to stop, "You poor thing."
Silence followed before the man smiled. An explosion of pain erupted from the back of her head. Her hands reach for the wound instinctively as she falls to the ground. A pistol had been used to hit her. Gin's work. It would seem that her retorts were not appreciated.
"Are you certain that we are still after the drug, Sherry?" Renya drawled, signaling to Gin.
A silver-haired beast gripped her once again, dragging her up. He knocked her back down and made her kneel before the wheel-chaired man. A pair of faded black, beady eyes regarded her with mirth. "Why do we need the drug?" Renya sneered, "When we've got you?"
And she dug her nails into her palms to keep herself from screaming.
"Vermouth," Renya started, gesturing to the blonde-haired demon. The woman snorted before dropping the capsule to the ground and stepping on it, crushing it herself.
"Ready our ride," Renya orders, and the woman mutters into a communication device. Shiho watched with mounting horror as Renya peered back at her. The faint whirr of his oxygen tank pierced the tenacious darkness.
"Sherry, it's time to go home."
"Engage now!" Shinichi shouted through her earpiece. The detective acted as soon as Shiho's dire situation became clear to him.
"Alpha, apprehend the targets," Akai commanded.
"Disengage and disarm, do not harm the scientist," Lloyd added.
"Wait! Numerous bogeys are coming in on speedboats," Lucas interrupted. "Foxtrot confirms they are not friendlies."
"How many?"
"Five," Lucas said.
"Get Delta to intervene," Shinichi ordered, forming a plan on the fly. "Alpha and foxtrot converge on the target now!"
"Are you sure you want to do this, boy?" A foreign voice emanated from Shiho's earpiece and echoed through the FBI's communication channels.
"What!" Noah exclaimed.
He appeared through the swirling shadows. Heavy boots landed heavily on the soaked cement, making her skin crawl. A ghastly aura surrounded him, adhering like glue. He was distinctively different from Gin and Vermouth. A friendly smile was on his face, and his black beady eyes were fixed on her with the calmness of an elderly gentleman—though the piercing intensity carried from within—the sharpness of a knife. Probably in his seventies, he wore an eyepatch to conceal a scar behind his left eye.
Over his shoulder, he slung a hunting rifle. A dangling earpiece hung from his right hand, which he held out in display. And on his left, he dragged out a struggling woman who had been beaten and bruised.
Rum threw her to the ground before them, and she crashed into the table. Splinters of wood scattered across the wet floor as it collapsed.
"Anne!" Shiho rushed forward toward the woman. In bad shape, Anne coughed blood while holding her side. Cracking open her bruise eyelids, blue eyes regarded Shiho, and she managed a slight smile.
"Hey, kiddo," she whispered.
Before Shiho knew it, the agent had placed herself in front of her. Even though she was injured, the woman was still trying to protect her.
"Tick-tock~" There was a click, and they faced Rum. An incredulous grin plastered on his lips—the hunting rifle trained on them.
"You know what to do—boy."
As the frothy torrential waves crashed to the side, a deep rumble reverberated across the swirling gray skies. The headquarters was filled with a haunting, morbid silence. Both FBI agents and shrunken detective stood motionless as Rum spoke into the earpiece.
Shinichi recalls what Akai had said about Rum. "He is a man committed to a single purpose, a mission he would never reveal. The Karasuma group only serves as a means to an end. If he is caught, expect a fight; the man will go down easily."
A terrifying and shrewd persona shrouded in mystery. Even the organization's data hacked held no information about his past, and Shinichi could only piece together glimpses of his character from his involvement in incidents. A web, pieced together painstakingly, linking him to a long list of unsolved crimes and disappearances.
As opposed to Renya, he existed beyond a veil—a phantom. Shinichi could not read him.
"Delta has the eye of multiple perps on the docks, ready to intercept," Noah reported, his voice shaking, the IO operator clearly concerned about his colleague being held at gunpoint. Her body was badly bruised and injured. Shinichi was worried about the wound on her side. Scarlet is bleeding through the soaked green sweater she is wearing.
In the abandoned warehouse, Rum held the two women at gunpoint. As the dripping rain hits the rough, cemented floors, it created echoes, ticking like a time bomb.
"I suggest you stand down," Rum said again through the earpiece. The man cocked the hunting rifle and pointed it directly at Anne Kinoshita.
"It's your order. The perps aren't moving," Noah said.
"Foxtrot has a clear shot," Lucas stated.
Rum responded by firing the gun. Shinichi took a sharp breath, eyes pinned to the screen as crimson red erupted from flesh. Anne screamed in pain, still holding onto Shiho. A bullet had been fired into her calf.
"You son of a bitch," Llyod yelled.
"Hold," Akai ordered.
"But—" Lloyd started.
"I said hold," Akai snapped. Rum lowered his weapon once the order was given, smiling in a businesslike manner.
"A wise decision," Rum responded, "now that we have fulfilled our end of the deal, isn't it only fair to negotiate on our end?"
Shinichi clenched his teeth at his suggestion. "No. You hardly fulfilled yours," he growled.
"Ah, you are the individual Vermouth refused to divulge to us. How would you like to be addressed?"
On the screen, the man turns to Shiho. "Care to enlighten me, Sherry?"
The scientist remained silent, held behind by Anne, who was panting profusely.
"Why don't you figure it out yourself?" Shiho spat out. Using her hands, the auburn-haired scientist pressed against Anne's wounded leg, pumping blood. Though she was shivering badly, she was trying her best to maintain a semblance of calm—attempting to stop the bleeding.
Minute by minute, the situation worsens. There must be a way out of this predicament. Things were getting out of hand.
Rum laughed at her statement, signaling for Gin. Shinichi watched, horrified, as Shiho was grabbed by the shoulder and held back by the silver-haired beast. As Anne struggled on the puddled, soaked ground, the shadows deepened. Gin holds the auburn-haired girl tightly, covering her mouth with his gloved hands.
"Oh, Sherry, you don't want me to," he said, signaling to Vermouth, who nodded. Grabbing Renya's wheelchair, the woman rolled him behind some containers.
What is he doing?
"Foxtrot losing sight of them," Lucas informed softly. Shinichi realized that they were—taking cover.
"A deal, boy," Rum continued, staring at the cameras, seemingly knowing where they were positioned. His black eyes bore into the screen, "Allowing us to leave with the girl would prevent a senseless loss of life."
Rum raised a finger towards the warehouse's entrance, pointing to the docks where the speedboats were.
"That is non-negotiable," Shinichi snapped. A smirk spread across Rum's face. The man signaled to Gin, who squeezed—his arms tightening around her neck. Shinichi banged the screen as Shiho writhed under the silver-haired beast.
"If you hurt her in any way, I will hunt you down," he declared. "There would be nothing holding me back!"
Gin released his grip as Rum stopped him. "Deal or no deal?" he continued.
"Release them both, and we'll talk."
In response, the man raised his hunting rifle again, aiming it at Anne's forehead. "Deal," he whispered, pulling back the slide, "or no deal?" his finger hovering over the trigger.
In a fit of frustration, Shinichi grimaced, the pressure compounding—like an elephant pressing around his chest. A series of scenarios played out, and Shinichi struggled to find a solution. They were trapped in a stalemate. A sacrifice was to be made. But to what end? How—
"I'll go," Shiho's voice echoed through the channel. Still trapped under the grasp of a silver-haired beast, she glares straight at Rum. With rain pouring through the broken roofs, obscuring her in cascading darkness, trapped in the throes of evil, she took a stand.
Struggling in Gin's grasp—he released her, and Shiho fell to the ground. Slowly, she stood up, panting heavily.
"I'll go. Release her."
"No," Shinichi said harshly.
In the midst of a dilemma, he felt panic threatening to manifest. Paralyzed, Shinichi was unable to make the next move.
"It's a deal then," Rum confirmed.
"Stop!" Shinichi pounded his fist against the counter, his throat clenching tight, "Wait-"
Shiho took a step forward, but Rum stopped her unexpectedly. Following a tense silence, Rum grabbed Anne. Gin does the same with Shiho. The two men dragged them behind the maze-like containers. A hail of gunfire erupted, bullets hitting Gin and Rum's former locations.
"What are you doing!?" Jodie shouted. Shinichi watched in disbelief as a rogue team from Alpha entered the warehouse. Five heavily armed men appeared on the screens, each wielding an assault rifle.
"Take the shot!" Llyod instructed the men. His voice rang through the receiver.
"Stand down," Akai ordered. "I won't repeat myself."
The men paused, unsure of what moves to make when—
"I said take the shot!" Llyod snapped.
"This is against protocol," Akai warned calmly. His tightly pursed lips and clenched fist told a different story.
"In case you haven't noticed, this isn't part of the fucking plan," Llyod shouted, "Dispatch the unsubs!"
"I thought I told you to call it off?" Rum's said ominously.
As the squad closed in on them, they were greeted with gunfire from Gin, Vermouth, and Rum. The trained alpha agents took cover as one of them was struck by a stray bullet.
"Very well then," Rum replied casually, returning fire with ease. "I've changed my mind. A peaceful resolution can't be reached. You have the honors."
"With pleasure," Renya replied. And he dispatched his orders.
The consequence was almost immediate.
"Multiple perps are emerging from the ships. Some are carrying heavy weapons; I can't make out the details," Noah informed in alarm.
"Return fire!" Llyod shouted without hesitation. As Delta and two of the remaining Alpha teams converge on the docks.
Shinichi looks at the speedboats. It was quiet—too quiet. Figures emerged from them, and—
Were those—
"Get out of there!" exclaimed Shinichi. The docks resounded with an explosion of gunfire. Several machine guns have been deployed and used by the organization's members. During the chaos, armored rounds ripped through the rain and the numerous containers strewn around the wharf.
Shinichi watched in horror as the situation unfolded. The Alpha and Delta squads were ambushed and pinned down by black organization members as they emerged from the speedboats with guns blazing.
"Foxtrot, dispatch the machine guns!" Akai commanded the snipers. The dispute could not be resolved peacefully. "Delta and Alpha, take cover!"
Outside the warehouse, Shinichi watched as the teams fought along the docks and piers, racing towards the stacked containers for cover. Members of the black organization ran towards them. As snipers fire from above, Lucas provides adequate information to his squad. The machine gunners were shot, and their bodies fell to the wet ground with blood dripping from their temples. The rattling of the machine guns ceased for a moment, but the fight continued. There were short bursts and thunderous booms of gunfire resounding through the wharf, rendering it a warzone.
"We're pinned down!" the teams shouted through the FBI network.
"There are still two machine gunners on the field. Where are the snipers?" Noah demanded.
"Man down, I repeat, man down," Lucas said, "Foxtrot are being fired at—" A loud bang followed by a cry of pain.
"Three KIA. Foxtrot has been downed!" David cried, the agents in the headquarters scrambling to relay information. "The organization has brought snipers!"
"From where?" Akai demanded.
"We do not know!" Lucas informed. "Back up, we need—"
A second explosion of gunfire ripped through the line.
"Several perps to the left, they've—" an officer shouted from the ground, and the line was again cut off.
"More are coming in from the right," Sophia gasped, "from the main entrance of the wharf."
"Why couldn't we detect them?" Jodie-sensei demanded.
"Noah, what happened to your heat sensors?" Akai asked.
"I don't know. Shit! They were taken out!"
Shinichi watched as the FBI agents were pinned, scattered, and pushed back. As members of the organization rushed forward, they threw smoke bombs and flashbangs. They emerge from the cover of darkness—silent killing machines.
"Regroup," Akai yelled. In the chaos that unfolded, Lloyd's emotional outburst had resulted in an outright battle.
"Stop this!" Shinichi heard Shiho plead.
"I'll go. Just stop this."
Shinichi watched Rum place a hand over her lips. A mirthless smile spreads across, his eyes wide with gleeful delight. He was enjoying it.
"You had your chance," he whispered into the earpiece. As he raised his right hand, Shiho struggled in vain. In it was a pistol. Jodie-sensei gasps as Akai shouts a fruitless order.
"But I'm afraid it's too late."
Pulling the trigger, the bullet ripped through—hitting its target. Shiho collapsed to her knees in shock.
Blood stains the cracked cement ground. Thunder rumbled through the abandoned warehouse, shaking its flimsy walls as lightning flashed. A resonant thud echoed through the morbid atmosphere as a body hit the floor.
Anne Kinoshita was—dead.
Welp, this took a lot of time to complete XD. I'm bad at action scenes and have no idea how FBI squads conduct operations. So had to do some research XD. (FBI terms are really funny) Playing some action FPS games does help hahaha, but I do not know if this is believable enough. Thanks for all the reviews and feedback. I'll try to improve. See you in the following week :D
P.S. If you can spot the subtle clues given in this chapter. I'll be very impressed.
