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Chapter 8
"Rei, I need you to send out invites to the Yomiuri Shinbun and the Financial Times for our release dates. In fact, call a press conference and invite as many business papers as possible."
"Yes sir." Rei typed out a form letter quickly and printed out perfect copies in less than seven minutes, "I'll have these sent out by this afternoon. Shall I start on your recorded dictations?"
I didn;t answer her for a moment, "What? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit preoccupied."
She smiled slightly, "Did you eat today, Kaitou-san?"
"What? Food isn't important."
"Yes, it is." Rei reached into her bag and pulled out a bento box and pushed it into my hands.
I stood uncomfortably, "Um, I can;t take your lunch. I'll pick up something later. I've just got so much work to do-"
"No sir, your health is paramount. Besides," she pulled out another box, "I packed two. Dana told me about your occasional business fasts."
I sat on the edge of my desk, "Well, thank you, but I seriously cannot take this. It would feel wrong."
She cracked a smile, "Don;t worry sir, you'll pay me back soon enough."
My eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, "Really. How were you thinking about doing that?"
Rei smiled, "This party thing tonight. I need an escort."
"A date?"
"Is it against company policy?"
"Technically, no. We actually have some rather active couples here. And while I would personally be honored, but unfortunately I must be there early to host and welcome people. I hope you understand," a mischevious grin, "I suspect that going with you would do my image some good."
She laughed quietly, "Your image is untarnished Kaitou-san, I do not believe that you need my help with that."
"However, Dana is still looking for a date. Could you look someone up?"
"I'll see what I can do. Most of my friends are considerably younger than her."
"Please do what you can. She gets awfully lonely without someone to abuse."
"So someone with a high pain tolerance...."
"You've got the idea." I turned back to my work and began to sign some papers, when the lights shut off.
Rei looked up worriedly, "What's happening?"
I opened up the shades, "I'm not sure." As if on cue, the phone began ringing off the hook. I picked it up, when someone began to jabber into my ear, "Sir this is Baxter in the lobby, we have a serious problem."
I smiled, "What could that be? Does it have something to do with the lights?"
"Well sir, most likely it does. There is some strange snake-humanoid thing rampaging down here. Three or four people have been killed already but we can;t seem to get out of the building. The entrance is blocked."
Rei must have seen my face pale, "What's wrong?"
I ignored her, "Okay Baxter, get up the stairs and out of harm's way. You've done what you can."
"What's happening?"
"We have a slight altercation in the lobby. Apparently some monster thing is rampaging around pretty badly.""Kami-sama. So what do we do?"
I stared at her intently. Normally, I would have ordered any employee of mine to drop what they were doing and head to the roof. But Rei...."Alright, I want you to head the evacuation of this floor and the one below. I'll be down in the lobby, heading the evacuation of the lower floors. I want you people to get to the roof. Call for helicopters or something. I'm sure the military can scrape something together. I'll head down to the third floor, and get help get people out."
"What about you? You simply can't go down there alone."
"Yes, I can and at this point, I most certainly will. Get everyone to the roof safely."
I took the elevator down, wondering about exactly I was doing. I was not armed, I could not use my powers against it. Actually, I wasn;t sure I had powers anymore. The situation was over all an exceptionally bad one. I suspected that I would indeed attempt to lead an evacuation and then run for cover like the coward I am.
Von Moltke once said that no plan survives contact with the enemy. As the elevator doors opened, I saw a few bodies strewn about, but no sign of the enemy. The nearest woman was still breathing and I crept up next to her. She was unconscious, but alive. Unceremoniously, I dragged her to the elevator and set it to go the highest floor, hoping that someone found her.
I surveyed the area again, examining the bodies to see if anybody was still alive. Interesting that the youma killed them instead of draining them or something akin to that.
I pondered that for a moment, then my head perked up as if by its own accord. Diving to the side, I barely dodged the silent pounce of the creature that had killed them.
Rolling into a squating position, I got my first good look. A snake head on a highly muscular body stared back at me. It regarded me curiously, instinctively knowing I was different that the others. Its blood red tongue whipped out into the air, flicking a bit of spittle onto the ground.
My mind raced. I hadn't fought anything for years, nor had I even faced this particular monster before. I suspected it was a hold over of some sort from the senshi's other enemies. My eyes searched for a weapon in the room.
But it was not to be. The creature leapt at me, strong, clawed hands reaching for my throat.
Throwing myself backwards, I managed to dodge the intial attack, sliding under my attacker and then racing to the other side of the room to take cover underneath a security desk. The monster seemed confused, searching around for me, as I frantically searched through the desk for a weapon.
'A pistol? As they say about beggars....' I flipped the s afety mechanism and aimed for the head. Squeezing three shots off, I looked up in horror to see the bullets bounce off the armored carapace.
However, they did get its attention. It turned and hissed at me. I aimed again for the open mouth, and saw with satisfaction to see its head snap back. I regarded me curiously, then its hands lit up with restrained power.
I began to move again, dodging the constant energy eruptions and firing constantly back. As soon as I ran out of bullets, the creature bounded at me on all fours, snapping and growling with animal fury. Before I could react, it reared up in front of me, aiming swipe at my head.
Automatically, I deflected the blow downwards, and brought my knee up in a savage attack. Its head snapped back again, but I scrambled back out of range. It lunged again, and I whipped off my jacket, wrapping its head up in cloth before aiming a kick at its chest. It staggered back again, this time regardly me cautiously.
It was then that a flash of red caught the corner of my eye, as Sailor Mars's fire attack flambed the creature quickly.
She walked over quickly and I could see the concern in her eyes. "Are you alright, sir?"
I smiled rakishly, "Quite alright, thank you. The police-"
"-Will be here in a moment. You know, you really ought to leave this sort of thing to the Sailor Senshi."
I affected a look of bewilderment, "I'm sorry, who?"
Sailor Mars looked at me steadily, "You'll know us, when you see us."
Nodding my head respectfully, "In that case, I thank you again. Although, I must say, I hope this sort of this doesn't happen too often."
"As do we. Keep safe." Sailor Mars dashed into the stairwell, ostensibly to go somewhere else and transform.
I lifted my arm to my face, breathing heavily. The adrenaline high came down and suddenly realized that I ached all over. Running a hand through my hair, I felt myself get the shakes, something that had happened many times before. The battle was truly over.
About forty minutes later, after the police and firemen had arrived, Rei and Dana scurried across the lobby to me.
"Ryan! What were you doing?"
I turned as the paramedic tended to a wound on my arm, "What? What did I do?"
"Rei told me you came down here to help people evacuate?"
Rei folded her arms across her chest, "I told you not to."
Dana punched me lightly in the forehead, "You big idiot, you could have been killed!"
"Look, there were people down here! What else was I supposed to do?"
"You mean you wanted to add another tally to the body count?!?"
"I'm still alive aren't I?"
Dana turned red, "Goddamn you, Ryan. Sometimes, you act as if don;t care about life."
I stood up, before being forced back down by the medic, "I care enough about life to make sure that other people have the right to live as well."
She bit her lip and stomped away. Rei grasped my hand, "She cried for fifteen minutes when she found out you were safe."
"It takes a bit more than some stupid snake thing to kill me."
She smiled, "Yes, perhaps, but sir, I hope I'm not out of line in saying that please be careful. You;re a good boss, and I would hate to lose you to something as mundane as a monster attack."
I smiled, noticing the unique resemblance she bore to Sailor Mars. It's so very subtle, no wonder everyone is constantly fooled. "Thanks for the sentiment. Anyway, send everyone home. They should spend the day with their families."
"Yes sir. And you?"
"Me? I'm going home to catch up on my drinking."
Dana came back, "Not alone you're not. I'm coming."
"Alone."
She smirked, "Hell no."
I coughed and glared, "Go away, Dana."
Chapter 8
"Rei, I need you to send out invites to the Yomiuri Shinbun and the Financial Times for our release dates. In fact, call a press conference and invite as many business papers as possible."
"Yes sir." Rei typed out a form letter quickly and printed out perfect copies in less than seven minutes, "I'll have these sent out by this afternoon. Shall I start on your recorded dictations?"
I didn;t answer her for a moment, "What? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit preoccupied."
She smiled slightly, "Did you eat today, Kaitou-san?"
"What? Food isn't important."
"Yes, it is." Rei reached into her bag and pulled out a bento box and pushed it into my hands.
I stood uncomfortably, "Um, I can;t take your lunch. I'll pick up something later. I've just got so much work to do-"
"No sir, your health is paramount. Besides," she pulled out another box, "I packed two. Dana told me about your occasional business fasts."
I sat on the edge of my desk, "Well, thank you, but I seriously cannot take this. It would feel wrong."
She cracked a smile, "Don;t worry sir, you'll pay me back soon enough."
My eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, "Really. How were you thinking about doing that?"
Rei smiled, "This party thing tonight. I need an escort."
"A date?"
"Is it against company policy?"
"Technically, no. We actually have some rather active couples here. And while I would personally be honored, but unfortunately I must be there early to host and welcome people. I hope you understand," a mischevious grin, "I suspect that going with you would do my image some good."
She laughed quietly, "Your image is untarnished Kaitou-san, I do not believe that you need my help with that."
"However, Dana is still looking for a date. Could you look someone up?"
"I'll see what I can do. Most of my friends are considerably younger than her."
"Please do what you can. She gets awfully lonely without someone to abuse."
"So someone with a high pain tolerance...."
"You've got the idea." I turned back to my work and began to sign some papers, when the lights shut off.
Rei looked up worriedly, "What's happening?"
I opened up the shades, "I'm not sure." As if on cue, the phone began ringing off the hook. I picked it up, when someone began to jabber into my ear, "Sir this is Baxter in the lobby, we have a serious problem."
I smiled, "What could that be? Does it have something to do with the lights?"
"Well sir, most likely it does. There is some strange snake-humanoid thing rampaging down here. Three or four people have been killed already but we can;t seem to get out of the building. The entrance is blocked."
Rei must have seen my face pale, "What's wrong?"
I ignored her, "Okay Baxter, get up the stairs and out of harm's way. You've done what you can."
"What's happening?"
"We have a slight altercation in the lobby. Apparently some monster thing is rampaging around pretty badly.""Kami-sama. So what do we do?"
I stared at her intently. Normally, I would have ordered any employee of mine to drop what they were doing and head to the roof. But Rei...."Alright, I want you to head the evacuation of this floor and the one below. I'll be down in the lobby, heading the evacuation of the lower floors. I want you people to get to the roof. Call for helicopters or something. I'm sure the military can scrape something together. I'll head down to the third floor, and get help get people out."
"What about you? You simply can't go down there alone."
"Yes, I can and at this point, I most certainly will. Get everyone to the roof safely."
I took the elevator down, wondering about exactly I was doing. I was not armed, I could not use my powers against it. Actually, I wasn;t sure I had powers anymore. The situation was over all an exceptionally bad one. I suspected that I would indeed attempt to lead an evacuation and then run for cover like the coward I am.
Von Moltke once said that no plan survives contact with the enemy. As the elevator doors opened, I saw a few bodies strewn about, but no sign of the enemy. The nearest woman was still breathing and I crept up next to her. She was unconscious, but alive. Unceremoniously, I dragged her to the elevator and set it to go the highest floor, hoping that someone found her.
I surveyed the area again, examining the bodies to see if anybody was still alive. Interesting that the youma killed them instead of draining them or something akin to that.
I pondered that for a moment, then my head perked up as if by its own accord. Diving to the side, I barely dodged the silent pounce of the creature that had killed them.
Rolling into a squating position, I got my first good look. A snake head on a highly muscular body stared back at me. It regarded me curiously, instinctively knowing I was different that the others. Its blood red tongue whipped out into the air, flicking a bit of spittle onto the ground.
My mind raced. I hadn't fought anything for years, nor had I even faced this particular monster before. I suspected it was a hold over of some sort from the senshi's other enemies. My eyes searched for a weapon in the room.
But it was not to be. The creature leapt at me, strong, clawed hands reaching for my throat.
Throwing myself backwards, I managed to dodge the intial attack, sliding under my attacker and then racing to the other side of the room to take cover underneath a security desk. The monster seemed confused, searching around for me, as I frantically searched through the desk for a weapon.
'A pistol? As they say about beggars....' I flipped the s afety mechanism and aimed for the head. Squeezing three shots off, I looked up in horror to see the bullets bounce off the armored carapace.
However, they did get its attention. It turned and hissed at me. I aimed again for the open mouth, and saw with satisfaction to see its head snap back. I regarded me curiously, then its hands lit up with restrained power.
I began to move again, dodging the constant energy eruptions and firing constantly back. As soon as I ran out of bullets, the creature bounded at me on all fours, snapping and growling with animal fury. Before I could react, it reared up in front of me, aiming swipe at my head.
Automatically, I deflected the blow downwards, and brought my knee up in a savage attack. Its head snapped back again, but I scrambled back out of range. It lunged again, and I whipped off my jacket, wrapping its head up in cloth before aiming a kick at its chest. It staggered back again, this time regardly me cautiously.
It was then that a flash of red caught the corner of my eye, as Sailor Mars's fire attack flambed the creature quickly.
She walked over quickly and I could see the concern in her eyes. "Are you alright, sir?"
I smiled rakishly, "Quite alright, thank you. The police-"
"-Will be here in a moment. You know, you really ought to leave this sort of thing to the Sailor Senshi."
I affected a look of bewilderment, "I'm sorry, who?"
Sailor Mars looked at me steadily, "You'll know us, when you see us."
Nodding my head respectfully, "In that case, I thank you again. Although, I must say, I hope this sort of this doesn't happen too often."
"As do we. Keep safe." Sailor Mars dashed into the stairwell, ostensibly to go somewhere else and transform.
I lifted my arm to my face, breathing heavily. The adrenaline high came down and suddenly realized that I ached all over. Running a hand through my hair, I felt myself get the shakes, something that had happened many times before. The battle was truly over.
About forty minutes later, after the police and firemen had arrived, Rei and Dana scurried across the lobby to me.
"Ryan! What were you doing?"
I turned as the paramedic tended to a wound on my arm, "What? What did I do?"
"Rei told me you came down here to help people evacuate?"
Rei folded her arms across her chest, "I told you not to."
Dana punched me lightly in the forehead, "You big idiot, you could have been killed!"
"Look, there were people down here! What else was I supposed to do?"
"You mean you wanted to add another tally to the body count?!?"
"I'm still alive aren't I?"
Dana turned red, "Goddamn you, Ryan. Sometimes, you act as if don;t care about life."
I stood up, before being forced back down by the medic, "I care enough about life to make sure that other people have the right to live as well."
She bit her lip and stomped away. Rei grasped my hand, "She cried for fifteen minutes when she found out you were safe."
"It takes a bit more than some stupid snake thing to kill me."
She smiled, "Yes, perhaps, but sir, I hope I'm not out of line in saying that please be careful. You;re a good boss, and I would hate to lose you to something as mundane as a monster attack."
I smiled, noticing the unique resemblance she bore to Sailor Mars. It's so very subtle, no wonder everyone is constantly fooled. "Thanks for the sentiment. Anyway, send everyone home. They should spend the day with their families."
"Yes sir. And you?"
"Me? I'm going home to catch up on my drinking."
Dana came back, "Not alone you're not. I'm coming."
"Alone."
She smirked, "Hell no."
I coughed and glared, "Go away, Dana."