Chapter Nine: Hunt for the Reaper
The three successors entered the crystalline elevator, their eyes occasionally flicking towards each other. Near was quite nervous. He had never actually gone on a direct chase for someone. He always sent someone to do the "hunting" as Mello so graciously put it. He was not in the least used to this, let alone holding a fully loaded gun. He glanced at the older buys beside him. Mello was radiating excitement, his whole body tense and his blood laced with adrenaline. Matt simply looked calm and collected except for the small smirk easily identified under the tinted helmet. Hunting criminals down were the older boys' fixation. The pure feeling of being this close to the final encounter with the enemy was enough to make them fall over the edge. Near couldn't comprehend why exactly they loved it so much, but he wasn't going to question either of them. Especially not when they both carried fully loaded machine guns.
The two trigger-happy boys and the nervous albino reached the roof of the large skyscraper. They walked over to Watari. The old man simply looked at them and lead them to a small room. In the room, the boys saw about fifty three SWAT team members, fully loaded with a variety of deadly weapons. Mello took one glance at the corner of the room and he laughed excitedly. He glided over to the corner, excitement and love gleaming in his shielded eyes.
"She's….beautiful…" he said, his voice soft and loving. He traced his hand along the sniper rifle, feeling every minute detail his hands could come across. Near stared at him wide eyed, convinced the blond had gone crazy. Matt let out a soft chuckle and leaned on the wall opposite the blond. He pulled out his prized DS and the room was filled with small electronic noises and all sorts of high pitched clicks. Near simply followed and sat down next to Matt. He eyed all of the SWAT team members and all of the deadly machinery.
A dark figure skulked into the room, his identity hidden by the dark helmet. He stood in the front of the room carefully studying everything he saw.
"Matt, Mello, and Near. Please step forward." The dark figure murmured loud enough so the boys could hear. The boys eyed the figure closely, trying to identify the face behind the helmet. The stepped forward, Mello gave out a small whimper and let the sniper go. They stood next to the dark figure awkwardly.
The shadowed figure began to speak. "As you are all well aware, I am L." The figure took off his helmet and the boys stood in awe. L shook out his hair and slouched in his characteristic way. The men in the room began to whisper to each other. The boys stood there awkwardly. This was the first time they had seen L dressed in anything other than his jeans and white shirt. It was quite weird.
"The man we are after is Beyond Birthday. He is a mass serial killer and extremely dangerous. He is also abnormally intelligent. He has kidnapped one of our comrades and is now holding her captive and torturing her." He winched at the mention of the torture, but he regained his emotionless complexion. "We believe he is holding her in the Yellow Box warehouse near Excalibur wharf. One of my assistance here has already placed multiple explosives around the building. You will report to him for orders and any other questions you may have about the procedure." He signaled Mello to remove his helmet. Mello complied and flipped out his hair. The SWAT team members stared disbelievingly. Were they really going to take orders from a seventeen year old kid? Mello smirked at the men, his eyes beaming with pride. He pulled put a chocolate bar from his armor and took a bite. "Mello, please go over the plan."
"Okay guys…here's the deal." He spoke loudly making sure his voice sounded dangerous and angry. The men stared in shock. For a seventeen year old kid he was pretty frightening. "I have set up a lot of explosives around the building so if the occasion arises, we will obviously blow that building to the ground." He smirked happily. "If you have any questions regarding the layout of the place or pretty much how we are gonna attack this place, ask Matt." He signaled the redhead to remove his helmet. The gamer removed his helmet to reveal bright emerald eyes under orange tinted goggles. He shook out his russet hair and smirked proudly at the men. The men were astonished. This boy couldn't be older than nineteen. They were taking orders from punk kinds! "Matt please show the layout of the warehouse on the monitor." Matt nodded and began to hook up multiple routers. When it was all hooked up, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"The basic structure is a single large room, although we believe that since it was abandoned fifteen years ago it has most likely been altered by Beyond. Squad A will do through the first door, Squad B will enter through the second door, and so on and so on…eventually all the Squads will be in the building aligned the perimeter. Squads A through M will be given orders to search the interior of the building. Now I ask that everyone wear these hyper-sensitive microphones and earpieces. If you wish to contact another Squad, simply identify which Squad into the microphone and they will be contacted. Any questions?" he blew his smoke into the air and smirked at the astonished men. "Okay good. Now my colleague will instruct you on how to approach Beyond when we find him." Near took off his helmet to expose a head of ivory hair.
Now the men had just about enough of all these kids. "Ok if are supposed to take orders from this kid I'm gonna be pissed. He looks like he's twelve! Barely fifteen maybe!" one of the men whispered hoarsely to another, both nodding in agreement. Near noticed this and spoke up, unusually loud and strong for him.
"Gentlemen. I am aware that you are becoming quite uncomfortable with the fact of taking orders from us so-called "kids" but believe me we are much more intelligent than you think we are. We are all well trained in what we do and we have no problem with it. So please keep your judgments to yourselves for the sake of this mission." He stared emotionlessly into the crowd, the men immediately quit talking and looked forward, avoiding Near's hard onyx gaze.
"Now Beyond Birthday is mo doubt one of the most dangerous men I have encountered besides the well-known Kira, who was captured and killed by the nineteen year old kid, the seventeen year old kid, and myself who is the fifteen year old kid." He glanced at the men. They were in complete awe and regretted judging these "kids". Near looked proudly at Matt and Mello, earning nods of approval.
"After searching through the security tapes of when he captured…the victim," he stopped talking and looked at L. He didn't react at all. "I came across the fact that Beyond has straight forward and close-contact attacks. Long distance attacks are simply not at his disposal, however we have the upper hand. I am highly certain that we are well equipped to execute long distance attacks. I do, however, ask you men not to aim to kill the target, but to just immobilize his ability to move any further. Once the target is acquired, please contact either L, Mello, Matt, or myself." He looked into the crowd and back to L. thankfully, his expressionless complex was very in-tact. "Any questions?"
A single SWAT team member raised his hand shyly. Near quickly glanced at the man, immediately recognizing him. His name was Touta Matsuda. This shy and cheery man was the one who actually shot light Yagami, or Kira, to death. He was quite skilled with guns. Near signaled Mello and Matt to look at Matsuda, all three of them smiling warmly to him. Matsuda waved happily, but then shrunk into his seat as the surrounding members stared at him.
"Ah Matsuda! It's been a while since we last saw each other!" Matt piped up happily, excited to see his videogame partner again. "What's your question?"
Matsuda shuffled awkwardly in his chair, but then spoke up nervously. "Um…well….don't get mad but… what if we don't manage to save the…victim?" he looked quickly at the boys and then to L. L clenched his jaw and bite his thumb harder.
"Uh…well..." Matt stuttered a bit, not knowing what exactly to say. He looked at his comrades for any reassurance, but they both wore sorrowful looks. It was then that L stood up, his pale and prominent jaw clenched tightly.
"If we somehow, for whatever reason, fail in retrieving the target. We will have no option but to continue the hunt. The victim must be acquired at all costs." His frail body became to shake in the armor. "Besides the victim being a crucial part of the group that makes up my investigation team, she has personal importance." His midnight black eyes flamed with anger and a hint of sorrow. "She must be captured. I am willing to risk my own life to ensure that and I ask all of you to do the same." He looked at his young successors, smiles lightly painted on their faces. The men stirred in their seats, multiple whispers echoing in the room. Matsuda looked nervously around him and stood up cautiously.
"Well….what are we dong here still? Let's go retrieve the target!" he shouted enthusiastically, his bright eyes glancing at L and the successors. They all gave him smiles and nods of approval. The men simply nodded and sat up.
"Now that we are all in agreement, please look to Watari for your designated Squad helicopters. Make sure to recognize your Squad members and to attach the microphone and earpiece. So move it!" Mello shouted loudly at the crowd of men.
In a matter of minutes, all of the men were in their assigned helicopters. L, Mello, Matt, and Near were in their own Squads leading the men. Mello glared at Matsuda angrily. He was on Matt's squad for one, and he had been put in charge of the sniper. Matsuda noticed someone staring daggers at him and turned his head, only to be greeted by Mello's hateful glare. He jumped and turned around rapidly. Matt glanced over at the enraged blonde and laughed loudly. He picked up his microphone.
"Awww! Is Mells angry? Does he need a hug? Or would he rather have…this?" he playfully pulled out a chocolate bar from his armor, his eyes filled with mischief and a smirk clearly visible on his face. Mello's blue eyes widened at the sight. He immediately began to search through his own armor, only to find nothing. Matt laughed at the sight of the panic-stricken blonde. He waved the chocolate bar teasingly between his fingers.
"I hate you Matt! You better give that back or I swear I will personally place a bullet in every single one of you precious videogames!" he shouted angrily at the blonde. Matt simply unfolded the chocolate and took a small bite out of it, sending Mello over the edge. He flicked out his gun and expertly shot Matt's DS out of his other hand. Matsudsa stared in shock and fear, dodging behind the chair. Matt simply sighed and pulled out another DS exactly to the one Mello had just shot. He smirked back at the blonde and threw the bitten chocolate across the helicopters. Mello snatched it rapidly and glared coldly at the redhead. Matt simply laughed as the helicopter began to take off.
Near noticed Matt's Squad taking off. He installed his microphone and contacted L. "L. Matt's squad has just taken off. Over."
L looked out the window of his own helicopter, holding his gun tightly against his armor. "Roger. Instruct the others to take off as well." He signaled Watari to start the helicopters. Soon all of the squads were heading out. L glanced out the window, thoughts of Sora running through his head. He thought of how he would find her there, broken, cut up, and listless. The grasps on his gun tightened harder as his thoughts lead him to Beyond, a sick smile plastered on the criminal's face.
"Sora…Don't worry love. I'm on my way." He closed his eyes as the helicopter flew off.