Prologue
Life can be cruel sometimes. I'm starting to see how this City turned Ame-senpai into the way she was up until recently.
Here I am - queuing up on the VIP line of THEfamous Casino Train together with THECalliope Mori herself. We're chummy and vibing and trying to have a good time. I should be over the moon right now - but the dampers! The dampers!
I don't even have to look behind me and I can feel Mumei and Death-sensei giving me the stink eye. Like, come on, guys! Let me enjoy myself without a pair of maniacs breathing down my neck, won't you?
I really wish I still had my notepad.
Either way, Calli and I - along with Mumei, Death-sensei and the other Deadbeats went through security. Death-sensei trotted off with a Browning Automatic Rifle - a freaking light machine gun that he probably got off of Mumei. The owl-girl, meanwhile, showed her pistol and her hammer… and her other pistol, a screwdriver and a multi-use Kovalskian Army Knife - those fancy ones with a corkscrew and everything.
That's a lot of weapons, damn. I would have been impressed if it weren't for the unsettling smile Mumei wore throughout the inspection.
My turn came. I declared my pistol - Bae's nickel-plated gun with pearl grips named 'Bloom'. Calli declared her katana - a trophy she took from Sunfish hill during the War.
Seeing one of those still gives me the chills - but if it's Calli… oh! Right.
As much as I would like to spend more time with Calli, even with the dampers, I had to shake them all off and meet with Ame. Otherwise, this whole train ride of ours might get way bumpier than we planned for.
…
Kiara pursed her lips. Her eyes swept through her surroundings while she and the rest of Calli's entourage entered the Casino Train, making sure that nobody heard her monologue. Not long after the doors were shut, the Casino Train started rolling out of the Colosseum Train Station.
Baelz Hakos appeared soon after to welcome the newcomers to her train. She pretended that Kiara - now 'Hinotori' - was a complete stranger to her, just like they practiced before.
The rat-girl, however, tensed up when she saw Mumei tagging along with Calli's entourage. Kiara blinked twice and Bae got the message and cleared her throat.
"Welcome, one and all, to the Rail-Road Amusement Train - the R.R.A.T!" Bae recited her spiel with great enthusiasm, "The entourage of Gawr Gura is already on board, so we could begin the meeting right away - but what's the fun in that? We're on a freakin' Casino Train~! Let's have some fun, yo! Play dice and all that!" She joined her hands together and clapped happily, "Oh! Right~ I'm thinkin of… I mean, I'm organizing a friendly poker match between the Queenpins, their Lieutenants and myself. Miss Nanashi is welcome to join us as well."
Mumei and Death-sensei seemed eager to dismiss the idea, but Calli spoke before either of them could.
"Whoa, really!?" Calli burst out with incredible energy, "I'm down for some Texas Hold Em'! It'll be a great way to break the ice!" She grinned back at Bae and then at her entourage, "What do you guys think?"
Neither Mumei nor Death-sensei could dare veto Calli in that state. Bae smiled. She turned towards Kiara and promptly spoke.
"Miss K… I mean, Hinotori. May I trouble you to bring drinks for Miss Calliope?" Bae made sure that everyone could hear her. Then, she winked subtly at Kiara, "Give the order to my staff in the Dining Car and they'll have it delivered."
"No, you don't have to…" Calli tried to intervene.
"It's alright, Calli." Kiara answered her with a smile, "You go and have fun today. You've got a stressful meeting ahead of you, so please let me lighten your load - even a little."
"Hinotori…" Calli's pink eyes shimmered a little. She scratched her cheek pensively and mumbled, "Alright, but make it quick."
"What are you having today, Calli?" Kiara asked with a friendly tone.
"Red wine." Calli grinned, "Chilled. The whole bottle, if you can."
"Understoo-" Kiara tried to speak. However, she was interrupted by Mumei and Death-sensei, piling on Calli's order.
"Berries." Mumei interjected with a pout.
"Anything Yukihana." Death-sensei added as well.
I didn't ask either of you! Damn it.
Kiara forced herself to keep smiling. She excused herself and left Bae to shepherd the entourage to the poker tables.
I owe you big time, Baelz Hakoz.
Finally free of her dampers, Kiara marched briskly to the Dining Car, one of the three cars reserved for the Great Peace Conference.
To get there, she had to first go through the Ballroom Car - the place where the Conference was going to be held. She avoided the eyes of the Shrimps wandering about the hallways of the three cars. Thankfully, members of Bae's Rat Pack were there to aid her and helped her blend in with them from time to time.
Soon enough, Kiara reached the Dining Car and gave the drinks orders to Bae's staff. Once she did, she found Ame sauntering into the Dining Car as well.
Kiara sat down at the bar counter. Ame did the same. The two of them ordered coffee and glanced over their shoulders.
"Boy am I glad to see you!" Kiara whispered.
"Same, Kiara. Same." Ame answered. She leaned closer towards Kiara and asked, "I heard from Bae's staff. Mumei Nanashi rode with you?"
"It's a long story." Kiara sighed.
The bartender served them their coffee and carried on preparing the drinks of Calli's entourage. Kiara picked up her coffee cup and shook her head.
"Mumei wants to sabotage this Peace Conference. She's doing it to get revenge against Chief Enma, but I don't know how she plans to do it." Kiara explained, "That girl's crazy. I don't know how far she's willing to go. I didn't see her coming either - until it was too late."
Kiara fell silent, but the rattle of the moving Casino Train reminded the detectives of the ticking clock.
"There's only one way to find out, Kiara." Ame decided, "I met with the snake before you got here. She and her posse are gonna keep an eye on Bloop and Death-sensei like we planned, but I trust they're smart enough to watch Mumei now too." She took her coffee cup and downed it all in one go, "That leaves you and me to sweep this train for any surprises that the Rat Pack may have missed."
"Decisive action." Kiara finally managed to smile naturally again.
"It's what wins wars." Ame winked.
The two detectives bumped fists.
"So, how are we doing this?" Kiara asked.
Ame rubbed her chin for a moment. After a short while, her blue eyes shone. She pointed to the door at the end of the dining car.
"There's two baggage cars separating the reserved cars from the public ones. If Mumei Nanashi or the Lieutenants planted something, it might be in there." Ame deduced. Then, she pointed to the other end of the dining car and added, "Another big risk would be the locomotive itself. It's just past the Casino Car the other way over. If the baddies are planning to take control of the train somehow, they'll probably target the locomotive."
"I'll take the locomotive." Kiara offered, "I have to go back to the Casino Car anyways."
"Got it. I'll do the baggage cars then." Ame nodded, "Let's meet back here in the Dining Car when we're both done."
With that, Kiara also downed her coffee. She stood up and traced her steps back to the Casino Car.
…
Kiara marched through the hallways of the train cars with haste. She kept her head low, as usual, and stuck with the Rat Pack staff when she could, but the caffeine and the urgency of the situation spurred her onwards.
Lively, spirited cheers reached Kiara's ears when she passed through the Casino Car. In the corner of her eye, she saw Calli and Gura on their feet while the Poker dealer revealed the cards in play. The two Queenpins had their own respective drinks in hand. They taunted each other and traded barbs, but Kiara could tell that they were both having fun.
Unfortunately, Kiara didn't have time to enjoy the revelry of the scene. She briefly wore a smile and carried on to the end of the Casino Room - a narrow, utilitarian hallway cut off from the opulent casino floor.
That was where Kiara saw the first signs of trouble. Just one look told Kiara everything she needed to know.
There were no guards protecting the door to the locomotive. Signs of struggle were visible on the walls and on the door itself. The loud cheers of the engaged gamblers must have masked the battle that took place there.
Kiara drew her pistol and cautiously stepped through the door.
Thick diesel engine smoke made Kiara wince and shield her face. At the same time, she struggled to hold on to the railings of the rickety gangway between the Casino Car and the locomotive.
Moreover, she heard fighting coming from the locomotive's driver cab. Kiara steeled her heart. She crossed the gangway and kicked open the driver cab door.
Just as she expected, she saw the Rat Pack guards, the train conductor and the locomotive driver being bound by three masked men - men who wore disturbing masks that mirrored Mumei Nanashi's 'modern art'. All of them also wielded hand hammers.
Owl Pals…
The masked men saw Kiara and turned to her. Then, all at once, they roared with unhinged, maniacal voices.
"Ticket? Ticket! Give ticket! Ticket fund!"
What the hell did Mumei Nanashi do to you!?
Kiara frowned and shot them without hesitation. She hit one Owl Pal in the shoulder and another one on the leg, but that didn't stop them from charging at her!
"ORANGE TICKET!" They screamed like animals, "TWENTY DOLLAR TICKET!"
One of the Owl Pals tackled Kiara and slammed her arm against the panels of the driver's cab. He also managed to drive his hammer into the back of Kiara's hand! Kiara's grip loosened and her pistol slipped from her hands.
"That… HURT!" Kiara growled.
She pushed the Owl Pal that tackled her and heabutted him. That sent him stumbling back into one of his injured pals, forcing them to drop their hammers. The third pal scrambled for Kiara's pistol, but Kiara kicked the gun away and stomped on the third pal's hands.
The three Owl Pals groaned in pain and their frightening masks all came undone. However, despite their injuries, their faces seemed to glow with glee.
"Harder!" They demanded from Kiara, "Hit us harder!"
They're freaking masochists!
Kiara gritted her teeth and obliged. She beat up the Owl Pals one after another with swift combos of kicks, punches, knees and elbows. It took her all of her Navy Frogman training to overpower the three masochists, but she came up on top.
The Owl Pals plopped down to the ground nearly crippled, but oddly satisfied. Kiara freed the Rat Pack staff and tied up the Owl Pals in their stead.
"So what's the damage?" Kiara turned to the freed conductor.
"These bastards just stormed in here and went batshit on us!" The conductor complained, "But these three weren't the only ones, ma'am."
"How many!?" Kiara demanded.
"Two others." The conductor gasped, "They took some tools from the driver's cab too when they took over." He scratched his head, "They're tools used to decouple train cars."
"What!?" Kiara barked.
Her purple-pink eyes bore holes into the bound Owl Pals - the one she shot on the leg.
"No yellow ticket. No ten dollar ticket." The wounded Owl Pal started his maniacal rant. Then, he smirked at Kiara, "Other detective go bye bye~ New partner fund?"
Kiara's face went pale.
Then, she turned around and sprinted back the way she came.
…
Queenpins
Railroaded
…
To Be Continued