Turn 16: A Shock in the Park
Akito runs further down the tunnel. He needs a way out.
Akito: The bomb is going to blow whether or not the government meets his demands. Tell Katsuhiro that I'm going to see if-
Static...
Katsuhiro's voice
Katsuhiro (VO): Akito, I have a mission redirect. Get out of the tunnel, there's a manhole opening five yards from where you are.
Akito sees the ladder, climbs.
Akito: (annoyed and curious) What's going on?
Katsuhiro: Black Knights's getting slaughtered. The Park operation has failed, Sasaki's team has been nearly eliminated.
Akito: (shocked) What!? How!?
Katsuhiro: It was Girdeaux. You're on assist and trigger status. You must find the two separate viral bombs hidden in the park and call a CBDC agent to diffuse them.
Akito: Can I use the viral locator?
Katsuhiro: Yes, but these bombs are more complicated than the one in the bank. You'll also have to locate the main communications array and shut it down.
Akito: Damn, does anyone else work except me? Where's the main bomb?
A141F5 Ikaruga
It's pouring heavy now.
Katsuhiro: Euphemia's mausoleum.
Leila: That's also where you'll find Girdeaux.
Akito: Can't wait. Any more reports of Girdeaux's force in the park?
Katsuhiro: Yes, we believe they're down to 45, maybe 50 men. You have to hurry Logan, you're the last line of defense.
Zero appears behind him.
Suzaku: I'll met him there.
Katsuhiro: Zero! You don't mean-
Suzaku: I know that mausoleum.
Akito reaches the top.
KAY PARK
EXT. KAY PARK MAIN ENTRANCE
Satan's playground. Dead officers, trees on fire, sounds of firefights.
It was a beautiful park, but now it's a war zone.
Akito: How long until detonation?
Leila(VO): Less than 20 minutes.
Akito: One more thing. Have a team pick up Ingrid, I left her unconscious in the tunnel, but chances are she's recovering.
Katsuhiro: Copy that. I'll send a team.
Akito: (prepared) Ok, let's do it.
Akito jumps into the park. He crouch-walks, stops at a small bush. He takes aim at one man walking towards him. Another atop a pillar. The pillar guard turns. Head shot for the first. Akito runs over, takes off the man's flak jacket, continues the man's route. He waves to the pillar guard. The man waves back.
TERRORIST #6: Park Entrance all clear.
EXT. KAY PARK WALKWAY
A square bush with one terrorist next to a bomb.
TERRORIST #7: Viral Bomb #1 secure.
EXT. KAY PARK WALKWAY #2
A large statue of a man on a horse. One terrorist next to bomb, another patrolling.
TERRORIST #8: Viral Bomb #2 secure.
EXT. Euphemia's Mausoleum.
Girdeaux's next to a larger bomb, counting down.
Pierre: Main bomb secure. Keep your eyes open, Logan shall be here any moment.
EXT. KAY PARK MAIN ENTRANCE
As Girdeaux says this, Gabe gives the pillar guard a double-tap. He falls to the ground. Another terrorist hears the noise. When he comes around the corner-
Akito: Wassup?
*BLAM* Akito checks the terrorist for weapons, finds a .45. He pulls out the viral locator, calls Leila.
Akito: Leila, I'm ready to start the bomb search. Hook me in.
Leila: Check. One second...
INT. AIRSHIP
Leila uses her computer interface, numbers Gabe gave her earlier to pinpoint the viral bombs. She send their location back to the locator.
Leila: Akito? All right, we're in. The viral detector is low on power, so it will only pick up the viral signal when it's within ten feet. You shouldn't run into any other problems other than that.
Akito(VO): Except for the 50 or so terrorists trying to kill me. Where are the remaining Black Knights?
Leila: Scattered in the park, on stand-by for your signal. When you set a beacon, the nearest agent will come to your location. Xing out.
Akito: That's the first good news today.
EXT. KAY PARK WALKWAY
Akito looks at the locator. Straight ahead to the
left. He moves slowly, sees a terrorist. He rolls around the corner behind a bush. The terrorist continues, stops across from Gabe. Taser time. A flash on the wall. The terrorist by the bomb hears the noise. He turns, hears someone crying for help in German.
He runs to get his comrade. Another flash on the wall. Gabe runs to the first Viral Bomb. He kneels by it, sets a beacon.
Akito: This is Akito, I have a viral bomb ready for deactivation, any agents copy? Over? A muffled voice.
Black Knight agent: On the way!
Akito: waits then he sees a yellow uniform in the distance, running fast. Three men chase him to the first bomb.
Black Knight Agent #1: Cover me!
Akito fires. Three shots, three bodies. Another terrorist tackles Akito. Advantage: Terrorist. Not for long. Zero reappears and twists the shotgun, shoots. The man
smashes against the wall.
Akito goes back to the agent. The bomb glows green for a moment, fades. The agent sighs.
Black Knight Agent #1: Bomb diffused. I'll stay here and
watch the bomb.
Akito: Alright-how come they had your
position so fast?
Black Knight Agent #1: Because they're monitoring the channels, and I have no idea how they could've got equipment that advanced.
Akito: What? Can they monitor the secure lines?
Black Knight Agent #1: No, just the regular channels and radio surveillance.
Suzaku: (suspicious) Hmm...
Black Knight Agent #1: Zero, sir! I didn't know you were here.
Akito's com link activates.
Katsuhiro: Get moving. There's only 13 minutes left until the main bomb's detonation.
Akito: Copy. Did you acquire Ingrid?
Katsuhiro: Negative, she eluded two of our agents.
Akito: (surprised) What?
Katsuhiro: Your priority is the mission, Akito. Katsuhiro out.
Akito: (grudgingly) Roger. Logan out.
Suzaku: I'll handle the other bomb, you go find Pierre.
EXT. KAY PARK WALKWAY #2
A statue. Zero looks at his locator, bomb number two is near. Zero creeps-expecting company. Two guards don't disappoint. He gets behind a tree, jumps out with his sword, and slashes them in the back. Another beacon.
Suzaku: Second bomb found!
The sight resembles five jackals chasing a gazelle. He screams.
Black Knight Agent #3: Cover me!
Suzaku takes out the .45, lays the smack down.
Two others fire on him. He circles around, whistles.
Suzaku: Two for one special.
He serves two helpings of lead.
Black Knight Agent #3: Bomb diffused! You're clear Commander.
Suzaku: Akito, Both bombs diffused.
Akito: Great Zero! But how do I get to Girdeaux?
Leila(VO): First path to your left through the tennis courts. More of Phantom's men, be careful.
Akito: Got it. Anything else?
Leila: Yes, Their main communication array. is somewhere in that area. When you find it, give me an uplink so I can locate their trigger-man.
Akito: You want breakfast too while I'm over there?
Leila: Dinner.
Akito: Women.
EXT. KAY PARK WALKWAY #3
Suzaku, who overheard this follows Leila route, encounters resistance, Some
stray Black Knight agents provide cover for him. He runs past
the tennis courts.
Two large, grotesque Tetris blocks, kids actually
play on this. One man at the top, life-span one
second. *BLAM*
Akito climbs to the top, puts his com link to the
array.
Akito: You in?
Leila: Bingo. The trigger-man is Jorge
Marcos...
Akito(VO): The Colombian? Perfect. He shouldn't
be too hard to find.
Leila: Careful, Akito. Since he has the
detonator, he'll be antsy and ready
to shoot.
EXT. JUNGLE GYM
A terrorist tries to climb behind him, struggles. Akito calmly shoots when his head's in view, climbs down. Akito runs into the park hedge maze.
EXT. PARK MAZE ENTRANCE
A terrorist walks out. Akito introduces to him to his
shotgun. He runs around the walkway, spots...Jorge
Marcos lighting a cigarette. Jorge looks up, recognizes Akito immediately. He fires
once, hits the lamppost beside Akito. Not even close.
Jorge's legs think for him.
EXT. PARK MAZE
Akito: Marcos, you should've stayed in Colombia. I'm going to turn you into a human gordita.
MARCOS: Pincha tu madre, Logan!
(shouts)
Girdeaux, blow the bomb! He's after
me now!
He backs up into another path.
Akito: Save your breath for your prayers!
Akito closes in on Marcos, who ducks into another
section. The agents runs by-or so he thinks.
Marcos walks out to check, realizes something is
wrong, turns around. Akito shoots his hand, Marcos
drops his gun.
In this web, Gabe's a spider to Marcos' fly.
MARCOS: (fearful) Logan, no! You need me, amigo. I can tell you things...
He points the gun at Marcos.
Akito: Like what? How you killed my agents?
I don't think so.
MARCOS: No!
It's all in vain. One shot.
Leila(VO): Akito! You've got 5 minutes before Ector becomes becomes a hot zone. Euphemia's Mausoleum is fifty yards in front of you! Go!
Akito takes off towards the exit. Zero runs on an elaborate walkway, surrounded by trees. A clear path to his destination, no terrorists. He runs to Euphemia's Mausoleum, busts open the doors with his foot.
Suzaku: Pierre Girdeaux . . . I hope Phantom's paying you enough to die for him!
Pierre: Zero. . . Always the optimist . . . Look around Logan! This hall contains the mosaic depicting the entire history of your Late Princess Euphemia li Britannia . We are about to make an addition to it!
Suzaku: I don't think so Girdeaux. It ends here!
Suzaku rolls out behind Girdeaux-almost into a ball of
fire! It scorches the area around him, he takes cover.
Girdeaux jumps off the podium, lowers his helmet.
Pierre: Where are you, Zero?
Akito appears takes aim, shoots at Girdeaux's helmet. Perfect
aim. *PING*, right off Girdeaux's helmet. He turns
around-launches his flames at them both.
The two barely takes cover again.
Akito: Talk about a hard head.
Pierre: (menacing) You cannot hide forever!
Zero looks at Girdeaux, takes aim at the fuel cord.
Suzaku: I don't plan to.
One swing of his sword.
Pierre: (surprised) Sacra Bleu!
A sudden outpour of fuel.
Pierre: No...this cannot be!
While Girdeaux tries to get control, he bumps and knock off's Euphemia's casket. Akito rolls in front of him. Girdeaux looks at him like a deer in
headlights.
He can't shoot either-he's in a pool of gas.
Akito: I always did like French Toast.
*BANG* To say Girdeaux catches fire is wrong. More like he becomes the world's first living torch-with a career length of ten seconds.
Akito runs over to the bomb. The timer has stopped at thirty seconds. He breathes easy. Zero ran to check upon his beloved lover's coffin.
Suddenly, Girdeaux's com-link on the bomb activates.
Phantom: Girdeaux! Blow it now!
Akito picks it up.
Akito: I'm sorry, Pierre's a little hot under the collar right now. Can I take a message?
Girdeaux's on his knees, screaming in agony.
Phantom(VO): Akito! (laughs) You will not stop me!
Akito: Wrong again! Hear that?
(puts the link in the air)
EXT. FREEWAY ENTRANCE
A airship's in the background. His men are
shedding the disguises, getting in vans. Phantom's
disgusted at Girdeaux's screams.
Akito(VO): You're next. (dial-tone)
Phantom puts it in his pocket, gets into a van.
Phantom: Very good. Now, we rest.
The vans drive off.
EXT. Euphemia's Mausoleum.
Akito: Leila, what happened to the bomb?
Leila: Well, Girdeaux stopped it a couple of
seconds before you two started
fighting. Where is he now?
Akito looks across the room, sees/hears Girdeaux still
screaming on the ground. Fire is hot.
Akito: Burning his midnight oil. Get Black Knights in here and tell Katsuhiro I need an evac.
Leila: Copy. Great job, Akito.
Akito: You too. See you back at
headquarters.
Then he turns to see Zero.
Akito: Zero?
He walks over to see him in shock. Not just because looking at a body, but just looking at a empty casket.
Suzaku: It's empty!
A/N: In the next turn, The mystery of the monster of the ocean is discovered.