Agent Gairyio in Of No Fixed Address
Characters and storyline by Zelloss
zellossmetallium@msn.com
A part of the 'New Generation' stories
To be found only on www.fanfiction.net
Chapter 4: Suspicions at Home Base
Gairyio walked into the hotel, followed by the three figures. Fountains flowed genetly, and people walked around, their high-heels and dress shoes stepping on the polished marble floor. The words 'DEL MARRIS' circled the round roof overhead, and behind that, was the huge 45 floor building.
The receptionist looked up at them. "And you are?"
"My name is Alphonse Landal" Gairyio bowed slightly. "And my associates..."
Gairyio paused for a hundreth of a second. [Need names] his mind thought.
[Well...] a little voice in his head told him instantly, [try these!]
Without even making the pause noticable, Gairyio continued, speaking clearly. "... Miss Nadia Fairline, Monsieur Jean-Claude Levin (he indicated Jefferson), and his highness Malaja Velviita."
Right after he said it, he realized just how weird the last one is.
"Ah, good sir!" the woman bowed, smirking. "I have been expecting those names for quite some time now! Please, come right this way. Mister Kurann, our boss, would like to meet all of your 'crew'..." the woman turned on heel and walked out from behind the desk.
"Vell, she is quite ze gal, no?" 'Jean-Claude' smirked, speaking in the french accent he picked up immediatly after getting his name.
"I thank you, but know that I am otherwise engaged" the girl flashed an engagement ring to Jefferson. His face fell. "Now, then... Shall we be on our way?" she stepped into the elevator. The others followed.
Gairyio's eyes shifted as he inspected the wooden walls and glass cieling of the elevator. His eyes sweeped every inch for a moment...
But his mind lasted on each feature for more then just 'a' moment. Time seemed to slow down, as his eyes, so finely attuned to their heavy requirement, fixed on every detail. Gairyio paused at one corner, then continued to search, as if just giving the thing a casual sweep.
Gairyio sighed. [Can you pick up on anything out-of-the-ordinary, Enker?] he asked mentally.
Gairyio was, oddly, connected to his PET. He had gone deaf for an unknown reason. Thanks to his mental connection with his navi, he never needed to show it, thankfully for him. It was also to his credit that he was, for his eyes and other senses had been heightened, and that made him a better pick for his job.
[Not an odd sound... Although I think the sound of the gears at the top of the elevator sounds a bit... Sounds a bit tinted... if you understand...]
[That's what I thought. Something isn't right about this hotel...] Gairyio sighed, stopping his 'glance' around.
"So, if I should have ze pleasure, vat is your name, young madame?" Jefferson asked the young secretary.
The secrety blushed a bit. She was generally colorfull in the face, with long brown hair that was in three long braids that swept down her back. She had shining blue eyes and a youthfull face to her, accented by the sparkling, long, 'tempting' red body-length dress with the low neckline and pearl necklace. She also had thin, pearl-colored glasses, which almost dissapeared against her face.
"My name is Annie. Annie Mal, or Mal Annie, it differs depending on who says it. Please just call me Ms. Annie" she smiled. "I'm Mister Kurann's secretary."
"Come on, there's got to be more then that..." Jefferson smiled.
The secretary blushed harder. "And we're engaged. But, still... Ack! I'm getting off topic!"
"Well, if you don't want to talk about yourself, what about this Mister Kurann?" Jefferson asked.
Annie thought. "Well... There's nothing really too special about him. But he is rich, so mind your manners around him. He's a real gentleman..."
"Must have been handsome to catch your eyes..." Jefferson muttered.
"He's not much for looks, but he is your knight in shining armor as far as the personality goes..." Annie smiled, dreamily.
"So you don't care about..."
Shingeru elbowed Jefferson hard in the gut. 'Jean-Claude' got the message.
"So what about you? Where do you all live? What do you all do? You seem like very interesting people!" Annie asked. "Do say something about yourself!"
The group paused for a moment. "Well..." Gairyio thought. "Nadia, ladies first."
She got the message that Gairyio was testing her pretty fast. "I'm miss Nadia Fairline. I'm one of Alphonse here's assistants, and this place... Akihara... It's my home and has been all my life. Don't you think it's quite beautiful?"
"I do so agree" Annie smiled. "I never felt the urge to leave after Mr. Kurann introduced me to this place. Sir... Levine, was it? What about you?"
Jefferson smiled. "I am ze monsieur Jean-Claude Levin, pas 'Levine'. I make my home in vat you call 'Yumland', but, over zere, ve still call it 'Le France'. I, too, am vun of monsieur Landal's assistents..."
Gairyio gulped a bit. It was La France... LA France, not LE! If she picked up on that...
If she did, she didn't make any comment about it. "And you?" she asked Shingeru.
Shingeru bobbed his head a bit. "I am Malaja Valviita. I too am one of monsieur Alphonse's assistants. I make my home in Eylsium."
"Well, now, mister Alphonse, I suppose I should ask the source" Annie turned to Gairyio. "Can I ask, what do you do? Why are you here?"
"We have come to visit an old friend. I personally have no fixed address, I go where the work takes me," Gairyio lied, perfectly, "and I always bring my assistants along. We together work at Draco Industries."
[That'll do] Enker, Gairyio's navi, smiled, speaking the words only mentally.
[It had better...] Gairyio growled back.
"Draco Industries... Well, that place sounds rich enough. CEOs, I guess?"
"Top scientests" Gairyio smiled.
"Oh! Of course! That only makes sense!" Annie shook her head. There was a ding. The elevator doors slid open, on the 45th floor.
"Welcome to the top floor" Annie smiled, walking down a corridor. Something about the corridor looked like the agency, perhaps it was the metal, ominously echoing flooring.
Turning into a side hall, the others followed her. Annie stopped in front of a large wooden door, and knocked.
"Who is it?" a rather aged voice cried out from the other end.
"Mister Landal would like so very much to speak to you, honey" Annie grinned.
The door swung open automatically. "Well, then, come in! Come in!"
The five entered the room. The room was almost like a living room more then an office. A large flatscreen TV in one corner, with a full sound system, a set of couches, snacks on the table... The only sign this place could be used for work was the desk tucked away in one corner.
"Woah... Nice place..." Miju muttered.
"Thank you, but I'm sure you're used to better"
Everybody looked towards one of the couches. There was a only medium- sized man, who's hair was combed over, looking like he was balding. He looked slightly wisened in the face, and wore loose buisness clothes, the black suit pants replaced with blue jeans. The black suit, however, seemed to have a rather large collar. Despite it, Gairyio figured he would probably be in his late 30s, mabye very early 40s.
"Mister Kurann, please meet misters Alphonse Landal, Jean-Claude Levin, Malaja Valviita, and miss Nadia Fairline" Annie bowed a bit.
"Thank you. You may return to the desk, dearest..." Mr. Kurann stood up and kissed the girl on the back of her hand. She blushed, turned around, and walked away. "She is a beautiful girl, is she not?" he asked. "I am lucky in my growing age to have such beautiful and competent help."
"You said you need to see us?" Jefferson asked, keeping the accent.
"Oh, of course. Now, off with the accent. I know who all of you really are, your sir 'L' gave me all the information. Jefferson, Shingeru, Gairyio, and... Miyaatortoisejacketa, wasn't it?"
"It's Miyatorujukiya, and please call me 'Miju'" Miju held her tounge from saying anything worse.
"Oh, so sorry. Allow me to introduce myself" Mr. Kurann bowed. "My name is Hiei Kurann."
Gairyio's foot shifted nervously, but he wasn't sure why.
[Hiei... What data do you have, Enker?]
[He is who he claims to be]
[I mean, criminally]
[He's clean as a window]
[Windows can be fogged up and muddy]
[And broken]
[Point taken]
Gairyio looked at the man. "And you are the owner of this hotel?"
"Oh, of course!" Hiei smiled, bowing low. "Now then, I want you to know that if there is anything you need - Anything at all - You tell me, alright. You name it, and I will get it for you. The saftey of the agents during this mission is of utmost importance, despite the fact I have no idea on what this mission is."
Gairyio smiled. "And it is better that you don't..." Gairyio bowed a bit, turned and walked out.
The others followed. Shingeru bowed and shut the door behind him.
"What do you thi...?" Jefferson began, but Gairyio clapped a hand over his mouth. He kept the group shushed, until they were out of the hotel. The key to the room had been handed to them by Annie, and was now jingling in Gairyio's pocket.
"So why won't you tell us anything?" Shingeru asked.
"You mean even you guys didn't see it?" Gairyio asked. "Listen, the surveillance there is top. I swear there were cameras everywhere..."
"Really?" Shingeru asked.
Gairyio nodded. "No man in his position has just 'any' TV. The phone may also be wired so that he can hear any phone conversations we have."
"You're too suspicious" Miju shrugged.
"No, I'm not" Gairyio retorted. "Caution and attention to detail is what makes a good agent. What is the one odd thing that you noticed?"
"That he's got his hair combed over, but he doesn't need it?" Miju asked.
"What?" Gairyio's eyebrow raised.
"Well, he does! He makes it look like he's balding over, by pulling all of his middle hair under the hair to the right, and combing that over, and pulling the rest to his left. It makes it look like he's balding, but he's actually got a full head of hair" Miju pointed out.
Shingeru and Gairyio exchanged quick looks.
"Well, she's good for something" Shingeru shrugged.
"I kinda saw that too, but I also saw that the collar of his shirt reached up too high on his neck. The man is probably crumpling up his neck to make him appear a bit shorter" Gairyio muttered.
"So? Mabye it's just his style" Jefferson shrugged.
"You should know better then that by now" Gairyio shook his head. "Attention to detail. But we're not going to report this."
"We won't?" Miju asked.
"We don't have proof. It is but a mere suspicion..."
"But L said to..." Miju began.
"What orders are given and what is the sane thing to do are sometimes different" Gairyio responded. "First off, it was the Agency's own people who checked all the equipment to make sure it couldn't be bugged. They probably also set up the surveillance. And second, if we were to put the hotel as a possible enemy structure, then we'd end up having quite the rush of people from there. The chances are that, if the enemy is anywhere nearby, they'd catch note of that. They have a way of doing that."
"But still..." Shingeru sighed. "Rook, data, please"
"The phones are wired up to Hiei Karann's office phones. He can hear any conversation. Possible uses include stopping illegal activity, simple 'surveying', or perhaps not so good-hearted uses. Also, it's the same with the computers" Shingeru's PET spoke.
"Thank you, Rook" Shingeru smiled. "You were right, Gairyio. What should we do?"
"First thing we do, in any case, is to go and track down our current objective..." Gairyio muttered. He walked along the seaside, where the railing hung over the water. A number of the cars were parked on the cement, which was literally being suspended over the water (For safety reasons, the hotel was on solid land, not suspended land). Gairyio sighed.
Then he stopped.
"We have to track down this 'Professor Bruzz'" Gairyio muttered. "He's our first and foremost objective, and finding him is essential."
"Alright" Jefferson smiled. He stopped to. "Then?"
"Then we deal with the hotel. They are expecting us to turn around and walk back in..." Gairyio thought for a moment. "They do intend on removing all the agents. Or something like that. Not even the slightest word on our progress can get out. Understood?"
"I think I see" Miju nodded. "So, like, if we let it be known that, say, we found out the truth, persay, and Mr. Kurann heard it... He'd..." she gulped.
"Yeah, the time limit would be set back, then... boom!" Jefferson shouted. Miju jumped.
"That's enough pl... playing..." Gairyio paused, suddenly. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the key.
"What?" Miju looked at it.
Gairyio raised it to look at his eye. There was a ruby in the center of the key...
Gairyio pulled back, and threw it as hard as he could into the water.
"Why did you do that?" Shingeru asked.
"Think for a moment" Gairyio growled. "It would be the perfect device to spy on us. They already know too much. We have to find that bomb... And then we'll come back here."
"Ri... Right!" Miju nodded. She suddenly understood the urgency of the situtation.
The group walked over to the Chevrolet Speed Demon, and hopped in. Gairyio turned on the ignition, and the car took off down the highway.
"So how far away is the proffesor's place?" Miju asked.
"It'll take about twelve minutes if there is no traffic" Gairyio guessed.
"An hour then" Shingeru sighed. "Traffic in this city..."
Things went smooth for the next half hour. Miju happily fidgeted with her watch, often times accidently setting off a bright flash or causing a laser to shoot out, only for it to be reflected off of the steel casing of Gairyio's watch, and almost pound a hole in the roof of the car.
Miju sighed, tapping a button. A little needle flew out the side, bouncing off of the side window. Her gaze fell on the side-view mirror.
Two things caught her eye. The first was "Objects in mirror are closer then they appear", and that there was a familiar car following them...
"Hey..." Miju cried. "Is it just me, or is that car...?"
"I know..." Gairyio muttered. "It's tagging us... But until it's done something against us, there's not much we can do to it at all..."
The road opened up into a bit of a freeway. A long bridge stretched over green hills, suspended high above. The road was almost clear.
Then there was the hail of gunfire.
Everybody ducked down, instinctively, as the back window was shot right out. "Of all the things for Falix to forget, he forgets the bullet- proof windows!" Shingeru cried out.
Jefferson risked a look. The bullets... "Nah, the bullets are too big. No bullet-proof window would stop them!"
Gairyio looked out of his window for a moment, into the side-view mirror. The left side of the car had rather thick-looking machineguns sticking out from the side.
Gairyio looked around. Of course they'd wait 'till now! There was nearly nobody else on the freeway! How had they done it!?
But that wasn't on Gairyio's mind. "Miju, get ready for your first combat situation! This is where the fun starts!"
Chapter 4: Suspicions at Home Base
Gairyio walked into the hotel, followed by the three figures. Fountains flowed genetly, and people walked around, their high-heels and dress shoes stepping on the polished marble floor. The words 'DEL MARRIS' circled the round roof overhead, and behind that, was the huge 45 floor building.
The receptionist looked up at them. "And you are?"
"My name is Alphonse Landal" Gairyio bowed slightly. "And my associates..."
Gairyio paused for a hundreth of a second. [Need names] his mind thought.
[Well...] a little voice in his head told him instantly, [try these!]
Without even making the pause noticable, Gairyio continued, speaking clearly. "... Miss Nadia Fairline, Monsieur Jean-Claude Levin (he indicated Jefferson), and his highness Malaja Velviita."
Right after he said it, he realized just how weird the last one is.
"Ah, good sir!" the woman bowed, smirking. "I have been expecting those names for quite some time now! Please, come right this way. Mister Kurann, our boss, would like to meet all of your 'crew'..." the woman turned on heel and walked out from behind the desk.
"Vell, she is quite ze gal, no?" 'Jean-Claude' smirked, speaking in the french accent he picked up immediatly after getting his name.
"I thank you, but know that I am otherwise engaged" the girl flashed an engagement ring to Jefferson. His face fell. "Now, then... Shall we be on our way?" she stepped into the elevator. The others followed.
Gairyio's eyes shifted as he inspected the wooden walls and glass cieling of the elevator. His eyes sweeped every inch for a moment...
But his mind lasted on each feature for more then just 'a' moment. Time seemed to slow down, as his eyes, so finely attuned to their heavy requirement, fixed on every detail. Gairyio paused at one corner, then continued to search, as if just giving the thing a casual sweep.
Gairyio sighed. [Can you pick up on anything out-of-the-ordinary, Enker?] he asked mentally.
Gairyio was, oddly, connected to his PET. He had gone deaf for an unknown reason. Thanks to his mental connection with his navi, he never needed to show it, thankfully for him. It was also to his credit that he was, for his eyes and other senses had been heightened, and that made him a better pick for his job.
[Not an odd sound... Although I think the sound of the gears at the top of the elevator sounds a bit... Sounds a bit tinted... if you understand...]
[That's what I thought. Something isn't right about this hotel...] Gairyio sighed, stopping his 'glance' around.
"So, if I should have ze pleasure, vat is your name, young madame?" Jefferson asked the young secretary.
The secrety blushed a bit. She was generally colorfull in the face, with long brown hair that was in three long braids that swept down her back. She had shining blue eyes and a youthfull face to her, accented by the sparkling, long, 'tempting' red body-length dress with the low neckline and pearl necklace. She also had thin, pearl-colored glasses, which almost dissapeared against her face.
"My name is Annie. Annie Mal, or Mal Annie, it differs depending on who says it. Please just call me Ms. Annie" she smiled. "I'm Mister Kurann's secretary."
"Come on, there's got to be more then that..." Jefferson smiled.
The secretary blushed harder. "And we're engaged. But, still... Ack! I'm getting off topic!"
"Well, if you don't want to talk about yourself, what about this Mister Kurann?" Jefferson asked.
Annie thought. "Well... There's nothing really too special about him. But he is rich, so mind your manners around him. He's a real gentleman..."
"Must have been handsome to catch your eyes..." Jefferson muttered.
"He's not much for looks, but he is your knight in shining armor as far as the personality goes..." Annie smiled, dreamily.
"So you don't care about..."
Shingeru elbowed Jefferson hard in the gut. 'Jean-Claude' got the message.
"So what about you? Where do you all live? What do you all do? You seem like very interesting people!" Annie asked. "Do say something about yourself!"
The group paused for a moment. "Well..." Gairyio thought. "Nadia, ladies first."
She got the message that Gairyio was testing her pretty fast. "I'm miss Nadia Fairline. I'm one of Alphonse here's assistants, and this place... Akihara... It's my home and has been all my life. Don't you think it's quite beautiful?"
"I do so agree" Annie smiled. "I never felt the urge to leave after Mr. Kurann introduced me to this place. Sir... Levine, was it? What about you?"
Jefferson smiled. "I am ze monsieur Jean-Claude Levin, pas 'Levine'. I make my home in vat you call 'Yumland', but, over zere, ve still call it 'Le France'. I, too, am vun of monsieur Landal's assistents..."
Gairyio gulped a bit. It was La France... LA France, not LE! If she picked up on that...
If she did, she didn't make any comment about it. "And you?" she asked Shingeru.
Shingeru bobbed his head a bit. "I am Malaja Valviita. I too am one of monsieur Alphonse's assistants. I make my home in Eylsium."
"Well, now, mister Alphonse, I suppose I should ask the source" Annie turned to Gairyio. "Can I ask, what do you do? Why are you here?"
"We have come to visit an old friend. I personally have no fixed address, I go where the work takes me," Gairyio lied, perfectly, "and I always bring my assistants along. We together work at Draco Industries."
[That'll do] Enker, Gairyio's navi, smiled, speaking the words only mentally.
[It had better...] Gairyio growled back.
"Draco Industries... Well, that place sounds rich enough. CEOs, I guess?"
"Top scientests" Gairyio smiled.
"Oh! Of course! That only makes sense!" Annie shook her head. There was a ding. The elevator doors slid open, on the 45th floor.
"Welcome to the top floor" Annie smiled, walking down a corridor. Something about the corridor looked like the agency, perhaps it was the metal, ominously echoing flooring.
Turning into a side hall, the others followed her. Annie stopped in front of a large wooden door, and knocked.
"Who is it?" a rather aged voice cried out from the other end.
"Mister Landal would like so very much to speak to you, honey" Annie grinned.
The door swung open automatically. "Well, then, come in! Come in!"
The five entered the room. The room was almost like a living room more then an office. A large flatscreen TV in one corner, with a full sound system, a set of couches, snacks on the table... The only sign this place could be used for work was the desk tucked away in one corner.
"Woah... Nice place..." Miju muttered.
"Thank you, but I'm sure you're used to better"
Everybody looked towards one of the couches. There was a only medium- sized man, who's hair was combed over, looking like he was balding. He looked slightly wisened in the face, and wore loose buisness clothes, the black suit pants replaced with blue jeans. The black suit, however, seemed to have a rather large collar. Despite it, Gairyio figured he would probably be in his late 30s, mabye very early 40s.
"Mister Kurann, please meet misters Alphonse Landal, Jean-Claude Levin, Malaja Valviita, and miss Nadia Fairline" Annie bowed a bit.
"Thank you. You may return to the desk, dearest..." Mr. Kurann stood up and kissed the girl on the back of her hand. She blushed, turned around, and walked away. "She is a beautiful girl, is she not?" he asked. "I am lucky in my growing age to have such beautiful and competent help."
"You said you need to see us?" Jefferson asked, keeping the accent.
"Oh, of course. Now, off with the accent. I know who all of you really are, your sir 'L' gave me all the information. Jefferson, Shingeru, Gairyio, and... Miyaatortoisejacketa, wasn't it?"
"It's Miyatorujukiya, and please call me 'Miju'" Miju held her tounge from saying anything worse.
"Oh, so sorry. Allow me to introduce myself" Mr. Kurann bowed. "My name is Hiei Kurann."
Gairyio's foot shifted nervously, but he wasn't sure why.
[Hiei... What data do you have, Enker?]
[He is who he claims to be]
[I mean, criminally]
[He's clean as a window]
[Windows can be fogged up and muddy]
[And broken]
[Point taken]
Gairyio looked at the man. "And you are the owner of this hotel?"
"Oh, of course!" Hiei smiled, bowing low. "Now then, I want you to know that if there is anything you need - Anything at all - You tell me, alright. You name it, and I will get it for you. The saftey of the agents during this mission is of utmost importance, despite the fact I have no idea on what this mission is."
Gairyio smiled. "And it is better that you don't..." Gairyio bowed a bit, turned and walked out.
The others followed. Shingeru bowed and shut the door behind him.
"What do you thi...?" Jefferson began, but Gairyio clapped a hand over his mouth. He kept the group shushed, until they were out of the hotel. The key to the room had been handed to them by Annie, and was now jingling in Gairyio's pocket.
"So why won't you tell us anything?" Shingeru asked.
"You mean even you guys didn't see it?" Gairyio asked. "Listen, the surveillance there is top. I swear there were cameras everywhere..."
"Really?" Shingeru asked.
Gairyio nodded. "No man in his position has just 'any' TV. The phone may also be wired so that he can hear any phone conversations we have."
"You're too suspicious" Miju shrugged.
"No, I'm not" Gairyio retorted. "Caution and attention to detail is what makes a good agent. What is the one odd thing that you noticed?"
"That he's got his hair combed over, but he doesn't need it?" Miju asked.
"What?" Gairyio's eyebrow raised.
"Well, he does! He makes it look like he's balding over, by pulling all of his middle hair under the hair to the right, and combing that over, and pulling the rest to his left. It makes it look like he's balding, but he's actually got a full head of hair" Miju pointed out.
Shingeru and Gairyio exchanged quick looks.
"Well, she's good for something" Shingeru shrugged.
"I kinda saw that too, but I also saw that the collar of his shirt reached up too high on his neck. The man is probably crumpling up his neck to make him appear a bit shorter" Gairyio muttered.
"So? Mabye it's just his style" Jefferson shrugged.
"You should know better then that by now" Gairyio shook his head. "Attention to detail. But we're not going to report this."
"We won't?" Miju asked.
"We don't have proof. It is but a mere suspicion..."
"But L said to..." Miju began.
"What orders are given and what is the sane thing to do are sometimes different" Gairyio responded. "First off, it was the Agency's own people who checked all the equipment to make sure it couldn't be bugged. They probably also set up the surveillance. And second, if we were to put the hotel as a possible enemy structure, then we'd end up having quite the rush of people from there. The chances are that, if the enemy is anywhere nearby, they'd catch note of that. They have a way of doing that."
"But still..." Shingeru sighed. "Rook, data, please"
"The phones are wired up to Hiei Karann's office phones. He can hear any conversation. Possible uses include stopping illegal activity, simple 'surveying', or perhaps not so good-hearted uses. Also, it's the same with the computers" Shingeru's PET spoke.
"Thank you, Rook" Shingeru smiled. "You were right, Gairyio. What should we do?"
"First thing we do, in any case, is to go and track down our current objective..." Gairyio muttered. He walked along the seaside, where the railing hung over the water. A number of the cars were parked on the cement, which was literally being suspended over the water (For safety reasons, the hotel was on solid land, not suspended land). Gairyio sighed.
Then he stopped.
"We have to track down this 'Professor Bruzz'" Gairyio muttered. "He's our first and foremost objective, and finding him is essential."
"Alright" Jefferson smiled. He stopped to. "Then?"
"Then we deal with the hotel. They are expecting us to turn around and walk back in..." Gairyio thought for a moment. "They do intend on removing all the agents. Or something like that. Not even the slightest word on our progress can get out. Understood?"
"I think I see" Miju nodded. "So, like, if we let it be known that, say, we found out the truth, persay, and Mr. Kurann heard it... He'd..." she gulped.
"Yeah, the time limit would be set back, then... boom!" Jefferson shouted. Miju jumped.
"That's enough pl... playing..." Gairyio paused, suddenly. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the key.
"What?" Miju looked at it.
Gairyio raised it to look at his eye. There was a ruby in the center of the key...
Gairyio pulled back, and threw it as hard as he could into the water.
"Why did you do that?" Shingeru asked.
"Think for a moment" Gairyio growled. "It would be the perfect device to spy on us. They already know too much. We have to find that bomb... And then we'll come back here."
"Ri... Right!" Miju nodded. She suddenly understood the urgency of the situtation.
The group walked over to the Chevrolet Speed Demon, and hopped in. Gairyio turned on the ignition, and the car took off down the highway.
"So how far away is the proffesor's place?" Miju asked.
"It'll take about twelve minutes if there is no traffic" Gairyio guessed.
"An hour then" Shingeru sighed. "Traffic in this city..."
Things went smooth for the next half hour. Miju happily fidgeted with her watch, often times accidently setting off a bright flash or causing a laser to shoot out, only for it to be reflected off of the steel casing of Gairyio's watch, and almost pound a hole in the roof of the car.
Miju sighed, tapping a button. A little needle flew out the side, bouncing off of the side window. Her gaze fell on the side-view mirror.
Two things caught her eye. The first was "Objects in mirror are closer then they appear", and that there was a familiar car following them...
"Hey..." Miju cried. "Is it just me, or is that car...?"
"I know..." Gairyio muttered. "It's tagging us... But until it's done something against us, there's not much we can do to it at all..."
The road opened up into a bit of a freeway. A long bridge stretched over green hills, suspended high above. The road was almost clear.
Then there was the hail of gunfire.
Everybody ducked down, instinctively, as the back window was shot right out. "Of all the things for Falix to forget, he forgets the bullet- proof windows!" Shingeru cried out.
Jefferson risked a look. The bullets... "Nah, the bullets are too big. No bullet-proof window would stop them!"
Gairyio looked out of his window for a moment, into the side-view mirror. The left side of the car had rather thick-looking machineguns sticking out from the side.
Gairyio looked around. Of course they'd wait 'till now! There was nearly nobody else on the freeway! How had they done it!?
But that wasn't on Gairyio's mind. "Miju, get ready for your first combat situation! This is where the fun starts!"