-Author's Notes: Here's another chapter up. This and the next chapter will heavily emphasize on Yori's end so sorry if you dont like it. Tj=he final chapters will have our hero and heroine 8D as a purely dedicated chapters. Anyway, since I havent received any feedback regarding a triology I've decided to go ahead with it and start. I left a hint in this chapter as to what the crossover will be. I even made my own lyrics for this chapter which some of you may have read from the teaser. I hope you will enjoy the read and review. Damn it hurts typing here in a coffin box of a crane.
Chapter 17: Lock and Load
5.00P.M GMT+2
This is CNN
Breaking news, a church in Italy has suddenly exploded due to unknown circumstances. There are no known casualties so far. Fire fighters are attempting to prevent the fire from spreading into the nearby complexes. Police officials claim that there is no evidence of any terrorist activities.
"I would say that is cutting it close." Nigel Deandre gave his thoughts. The powerful engines of Rolls Royce hummed with power outside the cool cabin at twelve thousand feet. The luxury plane of the Cessna Citation X is on its way to their next point of destination.
Anthony Hugh agreed from his comfy leather seat. The stewardess came over and asked if they'd like any refreshments. He gestured his hand as a no. "It certainly is Nigel. God doesn't want us to fail. It was rather unprecedented for such an offensive. What is our ETA?"
"We are due to arrive in 15 hours provided there are no problems in transit." Nigel then ordered a martini. The stewardess left to prepare the drink.
Anthony relaxed as he closed his eyes to rest for the remaining rest of the trip. "It shouldn't be. They after all should believe we are dead for now. How are the retrofits?"
"Retrofitting is currently 20% prior to completion. We'll have six facilities ready to begin production in three months."
"If things pull through, even the Church will have weapons of the science side. That will strongly tip the influence towards us. It is unorthodox and some elements of the church will certainly object to it but it works. After all, all's fair in love and war."
6.01 A.M GMT +9
Kuroko,
I swear upon my life
I will hunt them down
I will return justice for you
When I get back, I want to see you
With a smile on your face so that
We all can be together forever
So, you must wake up
Wake up
Excerpt in a discovered letter in ICU Unit 126 caring for patient Kuroko Shirai.
7.00 A.M.
Tactical leader Romeo took the helm of the Anti-Skill briefing. Today will be a very important mission. "You know the plan but I'll go through it one more time. Team A will strike from the main entrance while team B will assault from the rear. On entry, team A will secure all manufacturing areas including staff, portable equipment and any dangerous materials. Team B will attack the control rooms to shut down all factory systems and gain control of surveillance."
A team member wanted clarification. "Sir, rules of engagement?"
"Standard rules. Enforce surrender unless attacked upon. If there are unarmed attackers attempt nonlethal disabling techniques."
Another member asked. "What is team C supposed to do again?"
"They will be going in with team A to clear the northern end of the factory. They'll also act as an emergency heavy support team."
Eyes go about the small room. "Where are they then? I only see team A and B here."
"We'll be picking them up on route. Double check your equipment and let's move out!"
7.10A.M.
Knock Knock
Kamijou Touma opened the door to his apartment. He is dressed in an orange shirt with black pants. He also wore a black pleated jacket and white shoes. He is all prepared for what comes today. Index can be seen sleeping cosily in the background.
Yori likewise is ready as well, being dressed in all black. He wore a jacket with fingerless gloves and a magnet earring finish.. He asked as he offered a hand. "You ready?"
Touma accepted it. "I'm ready. Let's take him down."
Yori lightly warned as the door closed. "Don't try to stop me when I go all out." Dawn is midway to rising fully.
"I doubt I'll even try to stop you."
7.20 A.M.
Misaka Mikoto flexed her wrists. Her pouch of arcade coins is supplied sufficiently. She is well rested and focused. She had been cleared to skip school for today with some official intervention. Today, they will bring down the menace that has hurt Kuroko. She stood outside her dorm, awaiting the necessary transport. An Anti-Skill truck rolled its way into view. It stopped before her and the rear door opened
Yori said from one of the seats. "Are you ready to kick Kihara's butt?"
Misaka grinned. "I'm always ready to protect whatever precious to us."
Touma offered a hand. "Then get in my princess. We will end it all today."
8.00 A. +9
"Good morning Mr Kihara."
"Good morning Mr Anthony. I presume you just arrived?"
"Yes, I'll be on my way to the place."
"Good, you'll be able to witness our first deployment of the HK project."
8.15 AM GMT +9
The sun is up with its radiant shine. Uiharu flexed her stiff fingers in the air above her. Like Misaka, she had been cleared and they will bring down the one who had hurt Kuroko. Uiharu may not be able to fight directly. She however will fight in her own way. She secured the simple headphone neckband onto her ears. The slender microphone was put next to her left cheek. She placed her fingers onto the laptop. She started the triumphant program.
EYE OF JUDGMENT
PRESENT YOUR PASSWORD
"Serving Justice." Uiharu recited the password.
SERVING JUSTICE
VOCAL AUTHENTICATION: 100% MATCH
TEXT PASSWORD AUTHENTICATED
ACCESS GRANTED
INTERFACING JUDGMENT NETWORK
CONNECTION RECEIVED, PING: 3MS
LOADING…..
JUDGMENT MEMBER NAME: UIHARU KAZARI
JUDGMENT ACCESS LEVEL: CLASS A
ACADEMY CITY MILITARY ACCESS LEVEL: CLASS C
ALL NON LETHAL TOOLS ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL
FOR WE ARE JUDGMENT
Kurozuma Wataru asked from his Mazda Speed 3 driver seat. "Is everything ok?" Uiharu in the passenger seat gave an affirmative. Uiharu smiled as she requisitioned the main course of the Eye of Judgment for her use.
SATELITE CSR-01 IS REDIRECTING ORBIT
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL TO POSITION: 10 MINUTES
PREPARING VISUAL FEED AT 300X MAGNIFICATION
PREPARING PARAMETERS FOR SIGNAL NETWORK INDEXING
8.35 A.M.
Undisclosed Location in Suginami, Japan
"Team A is in position."
"Roger that. Standby and wait for Team B and C to be in position."
"Team C is in place." Yori informed using the Anti-Skill provided walkie talkie.
The Anti-Skill management team stationed in a nearby building monitored the progress of the preparations. Each team member has a camera attached to their helmet to provide critical vision of operations. All of them except for team C. One of the controllers was sceptical. "Are you sure Team C will be up to the job?"
Another agreed. "I doubt it. They may be espers or some sorts but they are just kids. I mean, why are we bothering to have these kids coming along for a high risk operation?"
"Its cause that Wataru Kurozuma decided so since they've been on the case for some time."
"Kids really should stay at school instead of playing detectives."
They decided with that. "You're right on that. Let's not depend on them."
The radio barked. "Team A is in position."
"Everything is prepared and ready to go." The Anti-Skill tactical leader responded.
Tactical leader Romeo received the order. "Execute the operation." The three teams made their entry into the factory. Security is just a single guard which is easily taken care of. Touma chided at the lack of a defence.
Are they that confident in their secrecy? Or is it their efforts to cut back on costs? They can't be this foolish. Or is it again another defence like the one in Australia? It pays dividends to be very cautious.
"Team B reporting. We're in." The point man of team A pulled open a large warehouse door.
"Team A and C are in. We're moving to the objectives."
Inside, there are a lot of automated machines. They moved along a production line, apparently manufacturing every part for assembly at one end of the factory. No one else is around, so far that is. The Anti-Skill team moved in formation deeper into the building.
Yori scanned around with his little eye. "I got nothing." Touma and Misaka too saw nothing of interest. The Anti-Skill team progressed on to clear out the final assembly line area.
"Team B here. We've secured the control room. Five captured unharmed. No casualties. We're moving to disable the systems."
Yori gestured. "Come on, let's clear out the place." The trio of team C moved quickly throughout the large maze towards the main assembly lines. They found no one. The place has power with the lights as the hint but the heavy machines are idle. Even so, the place is bright enough with natural sunlight for them to move around without the lights.
The place is eerily quiet. There isn't anyone to be found at all. It's like the entire place has become a ghost factory. Misaka shook her head in disappointment. "There's nothing here." Touma replied with similar results from his side.
Yori was satisfied to radio it in. "Team A, we've cleared our sector. Place is secure."
"Good work team, let's collect everything from their databanks." The mission is brought to a boring close.
Touma looked around when he noticed something. He pinpointed his eyes at the wall across him. There is a small speck of light from the wall. He called as he took a closer look. "Yori, get over here."
They followed Touma to the wall. Touma squat and observed the small hole at the bottom of the floor. He observed the hue of the little bit of light there. "This isn't sunlight. Break this down."
Misaka reached for a coin in midst of charging up. "I'm on it."
Touma added. "Do it nicely. There could be important things inside."
Misaka replied sheepishly. "Fine." She throttled down and broke the wall down relatively with minor damage. The dust quickly cleared to reveal a white lit room. Rows of computers are inside. "This must be a server room."
Yori agreed. "This is quite a catch. Everything should be in here."
"I'm afraid what you're looking for is not here." A voice caught their attention. It came from a monitor to their right. It showed the face of an aged man. It is the face of their opponent.
"Kihara Jiro." Misaka said out loud.
Kihara Jiro greeted. "Hello there Railgun, Machine and Kamijou Touma. You know me and I know you."
"And your point is?" Touma cut to the chase.
Kihara Jiro explained. "The information you are looking for is not there. With it, I'm sure I can make profits for my next phase of research."
"That will be?" Yori made the next step.
Jiro shrugged. "I suppose there's no harm in revealing it. It will be remote biological controllers for mechanical machines. I'm already collecting the test subjects."
"What test subjects?" Misaka demanded angrily. She knew of that man's brother, Kihara Gensei's vile actions. Young children under Kiyama Harumi's care were turned comatose because of the desire of research and development. Brother to brother, they are just the same!
"A number of child errors from Cypress Park orphanage. It wouldn't hurt Academy City or anyone else." The tone was casual, as though the kids have no value at all.
"DAMN YOU KIHARA! LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Yori smacked against the screen with his living hand.
"You can try to stop it. They are on a maglev train at the District 14th Mishinima Station. That is…after you deal with them of course." The screen turned to a camera view at the other end of the factory. Whir of powerful motors could be heard from the cameras and also outside the small secret room. The floor split open mechanically and a platform carrying thirty Hunter Killers locked in place. "You have an hour. I bid farewell to you." The monitor went black.
"We have to save those kids!" Touma said in frustration.
"Anti-Skill can't take on those robots alone!" Misaka said as her cell phone rang. "What is it Uiharu?"
"I've traced that transmission to a moving car along the highway. It's heading along the Highway 20 at 90 kilometres an hour."
"He's making his escape!" Yori retrieved his guns. "We can't let him get away. This might be our only chance!"
"We'll split three ways then." Touma suggested. "I'll stop Jiro while Misaka handle the robots and Yori will save the kids." He shuddered at a quick recall of the unreal death of Misaka. Can she handle them?
Yori shook his head. "Jiro will definitely have backup. You can't go alone!"
Touma shot back. "Then who will save the kids? We can't let them be!" It is a difficult choice indeed.
Yori made up his mind. "I'll take care of things here and then I'll save the kids."
"Are you nuts? Academy City's a great distance away! There won't be enough time!" Misaka replied sharply.
"Except Kuroko, I'm the only one who can move fast enough to cover both. It has to be this way. Time's wasting!"
The shortage of time is pressing. Lives are at stake. Seconds count. Touma accepted the time esper's choice. "If you fail, I'll kick your ass!"
"Make it two!" Misaka added as the pair made haste for the factory exit.
Yori grinned to that as he too prepared to leave. He then caught notice of something at the far end of the wall. It is a small metal cabinet. Outside, it has the plastic sheet titled PROJECT DEMON. Yori opened it and could not believe his eyes.
The Anti-Skill management team was in an uproar. Shit has hit the fan with new arrivals. The entire team is confused as to what's going on. "Team A! What's the situation in there?"
Tactical leader Romeo replied with some static on the line. "We're taking heavy fire from these mechas! We need immediate heavy weapons support!"
"Team B is coming in! Hold your position!"
"Negative! Our guns are hardly killing them! We have to back off now!" The team A captain ducked under a piece of machinery being utilized as cover. Gatling cannons roared in the small compound, threatening to burst their ear drums. The captain sprayed blindly from cover, hitting a few of them to almost no effect. It would take sustained bursts from the entire squad to knock just one out of commission.
One of the Hunter Killers peppered his cover with bullets. Seeing the failing integrity of the large plate of metal, he swore and ran. A crane to his right was shot off its hinges and fell into his path. It blocked all exit for the man as gunfire from Anti-Skill dropped to nil. He turned around to stare at the glowing red eyes before firing his submachine gun on full automatic. Ninety nine percent of it hit but there is no use. The gun went click in empty futility. The Anti-Skill plopped to the floor in defeat as he awaited death.
DAM! DAM!
Two bright azures of light struck the head robot in the head. The head shattered to tiny bits of reinforced glass, ceramics and metal. In the background, the man could hear something. Is that…music?
Lock and Load. Get set to go. Set up the roll and start the show
Drums: Dum Dum Ta Dum Dum Da Ta Ta
Bass and guitar joined the mix into a rhythmic score of rocking techno. The perpetrator leapt from the shadows onto the toppled crane. "Stand back and watch the show." Yori's weapons have a tune up. Black horizontal add on the size of a small cell phone affixed around to the rear end of his pistol's barrels.
NETWORK INTERFACE COMPLETE
RAILGUN CHARGE 1: 100%
RAILGUN CHARGE 2: 100%
"Take this!" Yori leapt into the air and into the battle. He peppered a barrage of magnetically accelerated ammunition. Four fell in pieces.
Have you heard the midnight scream?
In the land of Burning Asunder.
Yori landed onto a foot, pulling himself into a forward roll under a haze of bullets. Yori reloaded in mid roll.
Lock your doors and pray to God
For the Demon is here tonight
Yori recovered, firing on a knee. Another three was destroyed. Sensing bullets from his right, Yori kick-flip himself into a midair roll. He fire his last two bullets at the shooter into ruins of junk
Raise your shutters Pray to God
Hope Satan doesn't get in or see you in Hell
Landing on a foot, Yori released a pistol in time induced motion. His blade extended as his free hand grabbed another magazine. The blade held off a sword attack from behind as the magazine slid into place. A pull of the arm and the mechanical brain is shot.
I may be one man
I may be one machine
But it doesn't matter
For I'm the Demon!
Yori pointed his guns both sides and fired. Two went down before Yori shifted his aim 45 degrees left and right. He fired twice before shifting again. One pistol is empty, the other having three shots left. He tapped the empty pistol against his pants, unlocking a magazine fitted there by clips. He dropped onto three of his limbs, the fourth firing. The magazine slid free of his pants to and his ankle. He kicked his leg, sending the ammunition up. He released the empty mag and pushed himself up. He slammed the gun over the falling magazine and felt the click.
For your sake
For my sake
For the sake of everything…
Yori tapped another pants magazine free, swinging the leg to throw it at a Hunter Killer. He finished the magazine and let the new one slip in from its bounce back. Fully reloaded, he fired constantly at the tightest pack.
Dam! Dam! Dam! Dam! Dam!
Dam! Dam! Dam! Dam! Dam!
Another four was blown to bits. Twelve more!
Get out of my way!
Get out of my way!
Or face the might!
Of my blade!
RAILGUN CHARGE 1: 20%
RAILGUN CHARGE 2: 20%
Yori did the limbo, tossing his pistols up into the air over the midst of bullets. He switched to his wakizashi and embedded blade and attacked. In its reverse grip, he slashed the wakizashi along a spine to a scratch effect. He turned around with the heavy cutting ZING!, dismembering the top and bottom.
I dance to my beat
You dance to my beat
Or end up in bits
To the rhythm of my beat
Yori tapped another pair of magazines from his pants, letting them drop to a standstill on the floor. Yori crouched, grabbing his guns in progress and reloaded with a slam of the floor. As soon as it came down, he went straight up, firing back in a spin. Another four down!
I may be one man
I may be one machine
But I am more than just that
FOR I AM THE DEMON!
The gunslinger twisted his body left, avoiding another set of counter fire. A bullet singed by his face in a very close call. He landed on a machine and went running. Missiles this time went his way. Yori swore and leapt forward. The explosion blasted him forward into a skid along the skin of a conveyer system. He felt his grip on Speagle lost as it fell into the floor below. Yori picked himself up, firing Devil's Trigger blindly. He jumped towards one of the eight Hunter Killers remaining and decapitated it. Head in midair, Yori trained his gun as his free hand reached for Speagle. The midair target was blasted to pieces.
Lock and Load. Set up the Reload
Yori threw himself into a skid under the decapitated mech, reloading the same time. Using his feet, he kicked himself up to full height.
Chain those guns to the rain of metal
Fast as lightning
Hot as Fire
Hurt as Hell
Three left and Yori received ill news.
RAILGUN CHARGE 1: 0%
RAILGUN CHARGE 2: 0%
Yori hit the release at the side of the Rail gun add-ons'. It snapped free, releasing a good amount of steamy heat with it.
I pray to God
For your mercy
Because I can't
Give you my mercy
Yori crouched under a barrage before sidestepping with return fire. Under the power of two full magazines did only one drop in system failure.
Why is it just that?
The answer's just so simple
For I am the Demon!
For I am the Demon!
Yori shot forward, his blade stabbing into the Hunter Killer's chest. He aimed his gun beyond the point of stab through the exposed armour into the softer circuitry.
FOR I AM THE DEEEEEEMOONNNNN!
DAM!
Yori pulled free and turned around to repel a sword attack. Using brute strength, he pushed back a ton of force and stabbed into the metal chest. He used his leverage to toss the entire body to the air. Yori followed up with a sixteen slash salute as the music ended. Bits of parts clatter to the floor.
The Anti-Skill man had his mouth gaping full open. "Hot damn…" The mess left weeks of effort and lots of money spent down the drain for the enemy that is.
Yori reloaded as he marvelled at his handiwork. "Now that's settled, time to save those kids." He leapt over the downed crane to the exit. "Handle the rest here ok?"
Outside, Yori checked the time on his cell phone. Fifty minutes. This will be tight. He got the direction he needed and rushed his way. In mid run, he dialled a number on his cell.
Beep Beep
"What is it Yori?" Misaka answered the call. Yori could hear an engine running at full power in the background.
Yori asked for information. "Give me a sitrep."
Misaka chastised him. "We're still after him! Don't worry about us. Save those kids no matter what!" The call ended.
"I'll do just that." Yori saw a beautiful item he could use. Moments later, he triggered his time flow and accelerated the black Bugatti Veyron into a flying bullet.