Blue Mary back in the game!

Can't let her go haha. I promise I won't kill her this time.

It hurt to be a civilian.

Something in her blood just rankled at the idea.

How could she, Officer 'Blue' Mary Ryan, sit at home and watch sitcoms like a good little housewife while there was action and danger outside her front door? When her biggest case ever was stolen from right under her nose. Dammit! Who the hell kicked Blue Mary off the force when you needed loyal manpower? Didn't the Sheriff know her reputation? She was 'Blue' Mary because being a cop was so integrated into her personality, she could hardly separate herself from her work.

So - as she predicted - two days watching sitcoms was two days too many. Her bloodhound nose drove her into military issue riot gear and out to the streets. The noise of sirens, of crackling comms, the smell of smoke and reports of gunfire… normal civilians fled from such violence, but not Mary. It filled her with excitement. This is what she was born for.

As she stood under the dark morning twilight, and looked up at the murky, polluted sky, her blood boiled. In the same way no stars could be seen through the dark smog, the bright star of justice was once again enshrouded in the gloomy clouds of deception and intrigue.

She had discovered the shocking news through the grapevine. It was shocking, to be sure, but not entirely unexpected. Mary had no idea how Geese had managed to turn the tides so dramatically in his favour, and was almost certain he hadn't done it on his own. Those forces which had been sworn to take him down now ordered to defend him? It was almost a miracle. There were definitely other players in this game. Powerful forces moving behind the scenes, monsters lurking beneath the surface. She had no idea who else had a hand in this, and she knew it was dangerous for anyone to get involved, yet here she was - following, perhaps, one of the most dangerous conspiracies she had ever laid eyes upon.

If Terry's going to get involved… hmph, Rock's in this mess, so Terry will definitely be there... might be on site already.

So Blue Mary had more than enough motivation to defy her probation, and show up on scene. Her loved ones. Her thirst for excitement. If she put on her helmet, and nobody looked too closely, she was unidentifiable from the rest of the police force. Besides - even if she was the straight shooter, she was also highly, highly respected. Sometimes her mind wandered, and she imagined if she could succeed in a coup against the Sheriff. After running the scenarios, she likely could successfully wrest away power from Blackwell if she tried.

Of course, I'd never do it… I normally follow the rules after all, even if I don't like them…

So she approached the police line circling Geese Tower without fear. A perimeter of yellow 'CRIME SCENE' tape and flashing police cars had been set up around the imposing building which so rudely cut the skyline. Federal helicopters circled the building, the thudding of their blades rang in her ears. She lifted her eyes to the active crime scene. The Tower's upper floors were lighted, yet the lower floors bore marks of ongoing combat. The sharp rattling of gunfire. The blasting noise of concrete collapsing with a tectonic rumble. The flash of flame and associated smoke… purple flames? Yagami's in there too? Hmph, probably ended up working for Kain after all...

"Halt, this is an active police operation… oh, Mary?"

She saluted. The officer looked at her nervously and returned the gesture. The entire police department knew she had been put on probation, and they likewise knew she was to be treated as any normal civilian during her time off - per Sheriff's instruction. But at the time, the police force wasn't particularly happy with the Sheriff. Between herself - the tried and true Blue Mary- and Cowboy Blackwell, the police force would sooner fall to her aid. It was just her luck that she managed to run into her old unit.

"Johnny. Brief me."

"Uh, But Mary, is it alright? You're not really supposed to be here..."

She hardened her voice and casually took a couple of pistol clips from a nearby open trunk, stashing them in her riot vest. Nobody dared to stop her. She issued the command once again.

"Brief me."

Johnny quailed and relented.

"We're under instruction to defend Geese Tower from any outside attacks. We managed to stop a truck packed with explosives from going down into the underground parking garage, and found three more of the same. We extracted them and have the car bombs dismantled and in custody. It looks like the terrorists wanted to bring the entire tower to the ground."

Mary nodded and pointed her chin at the smoking third floor of the tower.

"What's that?"

"We're not sure - but one of our drones flew by and saw Lori in there. He's probably duking it out with somebody. We think Kain's group is already in the building. The driver for the C4 truck said there were approximately forty mercs on the force, but we haven't seen anyone go in yet… ah, except for Terry."

Mary arched an eyebrow. Johnny didn't need to be asked to elaborate.

"He went up fifteen minutes ago. Sheriff asked us to stop him, so we asked him to leave, but he wouldn't. So...We just let him climb the tower... You know… nobody really wants to mess with Terry Bogard. He looked pretty serious."

Mary opened her mouth to prod for more information, but the third floor emitted an ear splitting crack, as flames burst from within. It was obvious who the first combatant was, but the opponent? The smoke was thick - but Mary could clearly see the telltale signs of Rock's bluish chi-enhancement glowing through the smog. Rock's fighting Yagami? Oh Shit...

Mary pulled her eyes from Geese Tower and began snappily issuing orders. Her troop obeyed her instinctively.

"You, you, arm up. We're going in. Johnny, grab the med pack and a defib. Murray - issue an order over comms. If they see Terry Bogard, or Rock Howard, they're not to shoot him under any circumstances. Chop-Chop! Let's go!"

Ayyyy. Time to go in!