Obake narrowed his eyes, giving Lance a questioning look.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Lance… You have to be kidding me right?" Kuro asked, concern coming to his eyes.
Lance clenched his fists, lowering his gaze.
"I'm not. Why would I lie about something as important as that? She's Naoki's."
"Then why is she here? Not with him if he's so invested in getting her back?"
Lance looked back to Nozomi's face, a tired look coming to his eyes. He rested his hand on her head, brushing her hair out of her face.
"Because, if I hadn't stepped in when I did… she would be dead. As I said, this kind of thing isn't his specialty."
Obake frowned at this.
"I'm guessing there is quite the story."
"Yes… and it's not one I want to tell in full. I'll just keep at this: Nozomi is in desperate need of good prostheses and artificial organs in order to live, such things I am on my way to creating and giving her. I just fear he'll take her away before I can complete the process… and do something much much worse now that he's under Liv's thumb. And I fear what someone like Liv… someone who's too ambitious for her own good, would do with the work I've developed with my team."
Obake placed a hand on his shoulder.
"So… to put it short. He's a grieving father who is willing to do anything to get his daughter back even if it might be questionable?"
Lance lowered his head.
"Basically… He wasn't always like this but… Nozomi's accident that made her like this caused him to snap and now… he's not exactly who he used to be." Lance closed his eyes. "I'd say more but I really… really don't want to."
"And you don't." Kuro frowned. "I wouldn't mind hearing the whole story at some point but I can't force it out of you and… well, I think we need to focus on the present."
"We do… because I don't want you guys getting hurt again and I don't want him EVER finding out this is where I've hidden her." Lance gave them a pleading look. "I'll do whatever it takes to stop him, but he can't come here. He just… can't. She's too frail."
Obake squeezed his shoulder.
"Take it from someone Liv had under her thumb before… coming out of the fog she puts you in, is shock enough to scare you into line. Just depends where that line is." His gaze softened. "We'll help, but how about we keep secrets to a minimum, hm?"
"Right… and no more hacking my private rooms?"
"No promises."
"Comforting…" Lance sighed. "Alright, let's… get back to the others. If we're going to put a stop to this it's best everyone is in the know… and I can provide information that I know for sure will lead you to the Naoki."
Obake gave a small smile.
"Then let's not waste anymore time then."
oooooo
"Daddy! Daddy! Look! Look!"
Naoki smiled, watching as his daughter showed how easily she could get on pointe with her ballet slippers.
"Well done, Nozomi, very well done!"
"Hee thank you! Been working real hard! Uncle Lance has been helping me between projects."
"Oh, so he hasn't been falling asleep in wires again?"
"Only a little but I save him!"
"That's my girl. Always there to do things others can't."
"That's me."
Nozomi hugged her father, sighing happily.
"I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too."
So much…
Naoki's eyes were full of sorrow as he looked at the photo of him and his daughter. Both were smiling in the picture, holding close to each other.
Don't worry. I'll find you soon. I'm going to make it all better.
Beep beep beep.
Naoki looked up at this computer, seeing it was an incoming call from Liv. He put on his headset, answering it.
"Hello, Liv."
Liv appeared on screen, a pleasant smile on her face.
"Hello to you too, Naoki. How goes the research?"
"Well enough. My children haven't been able to bring back a good sample just yet but we're closing in on obtaining one soon. Then, all the information will be passed on to you."
"Care to give an exact time window of when you'll get that sample?"
"Next week is what I'm shooting for. I'll let you know the minute I have it."
"Good because I'll be blunt with you, I need information soon or you can consider our deal closed."
Naoki's eyes widened at this.
"W-What?"
"It's nothing personal Naoki but I am in dire need for useful information and I'd rather this investment be fruitful rather than a waste. I'm running out of time for my project and disruptions over here in San Fransokyo are not helping. So, be clear with me now, can you deliver or can you not?"
"I…." He shook his head. "I can deliver, just give me a week longer please! I… Please, Ms. Amara."
"Naoki, I'm not in the mood for another goose chase on your part." Her eyes narrowed. "How. Long?"
He swallowed hard, looking back at the picture on his desk. His gaze darkened, looking back up at her.
"Two days, counting today. I'll do whatever it takes."
"Good boy. I expect to hear from you by then." She gave him a warning look, a cool smile coming to her face. "No playing around. If you want to continue your work with Sycorax backing you, I expect results."
"Y-Yes." Naoki winced. "I'll try…" He swallowed hard, his stomach knotting up with dread. "I won't let you down."
"Good. I'll speak to you again tomorrow. Do not disappoint me."
"Of course, Ms. Amara."
The call ended, Naoki leaning back in his chair. He his hands gripped tightly the arms, a fire burning in his eyes.
Whatever it takes.
I'll get the job done.
oooooo
"We're doing what now?" Ebony asked, crossing her arms.
"Going straight to the source with this issue." Obake answered, eyes narrowed. "Tomorrow, we're invading Naoki's lab."
"That soon?" Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't we plan with more time?"
"One night is enough."
"But… we don't know anything about his facility… We don't even know WHERE his lab is!" Connor exclaimed. "How do we plan when we don't know anything?"
Obake gave a smile, the side of his face glowing for a moment.
"Actually, we do."
"... Hah?"
Obake looked to Lance.
"Do you have any monitors I can work with so I can explain?"
Lance nodded, hurrying out of the room, soon returning with a laptop and projector.
"Will these do?"
"Perfectly."
Lance quickly set up the laptop and projector, letting Obake take over once he was done. Obake closed his eyes, his implant connecting with the laptop. Within moments windows opened up on it, a location being shown on a map along with information.
"I left a little tracker on our visitor when I hacked her earlier. She led me right to where he's hiding."
The paramedics gave him a stunned look before their gaze turned to the location on the map.
"Hm… That's not far from Curacion actually." Kuro noted. "About a half hour drive out."
"Then we have our plan." Obake smirked. "We invade the lab, stop him before he goes too far and no one gets hurt. Sounds relatively painless hm?"
"What? No live bait?" Tadashi asked.
"... What does he mean by that?" Connor asked.
"Oh nothing, nothing. He's tired. Regardless, how fast can you all be ready?"
"We only have one night to get this right?" Kuro looked to his team. "I think we've handled worse, haven't we?"
"Counting the fire Takashi pulled you out of? Yeah. Even if we run into the freak again…" Ebony clenched her prosthetic hand into a fist. "I got something waiting for 'er."
Lance frowned, crossing his arms.
"He's not going to get hurt… right?"
"Only if he attacks first. I have no intention of harming anyone if I can avoid it."
"Dad's good, he supplexed that thing." Trina grinned. "And I'm not too shabby myself."
Obake chuckled, patting her head.
"You can definitely hold your own." Obake looked to the others. "Regardless, we'll map out the facility and then we'll strike. Sound simple enough?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Lance leaned in.
"You promise Naoki will be fine?"
"I do." Obake gave a gentle look. "And your secret is safe with me and Kuro."
Kuro placed a hand on Lance's shoulder.
"We got your back, Lance."
Lance was startled for a moment before giving a faint smile.
"Thank you."
Kuro nodded.
"So, how about it?"
Obake smiled.
"Let's get to work."