Because when I arrive I-I'll bring the fire
Make you come alive I can take you higher
What this is forgot? I must now remind you|
Let it rock let it rock let it rock
Now the son's disgraced he who knew his father
When he cursed his name turned and chased the dollar
But it broke his heart so he stuck his middle finger to the world
To the world to the world
Riku had to admit, when Shade was in this type of mindset, she could be intimidating. But that was something she probably picked up over the years from being a mercenary, so it must have come as naturally as it looked. Currently she was in smokey gray cargo pants with a black sleeveless shirt, her dog tags resting around her neck. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her army boots lightly thudded against the ground as she walked. "I made trackers for each of you guys, different designs so they blend with your outfits that you already wear." She explained. Roxas received an armband exactly identical to his own, for Sora it was his crown neck piece, Kairi and Namine both had their necklaces from her, and he actually had his gloves that he wore. "There's tracking devices in here?" Sora almost asked, looking at his necklace.
"Yeah, the techs are pretty good at their jobs. Next I'm going to give you each a speaker that will allow us to hear what's going on around you. We're just going to have to go off of that, can't risk sending you in with cameras as well because you can only sneak so much technology in, and I'm not sure if these guys have scanners." They each took the small devices while she continued on.
"Simple plan. You guys are going to head to the park where the kidnappings are most common and have some food, screw around, nothing big. We'll be in touch and be watching until you're approached. After the kidnapping takes place we'll follow you guys to their base. Once we find the place then we'll be able to look up the layout of the building. Around the time you guys are introduced to the drug lord that's when we'll take things from there. When we show up, back yourselves into the nearest available wall and stay out of the way. Got it?" She received nods of acknowledgment and bit back a sigh. "Alright, Riku you'll be taking Carter's truck and drive everyone there, food is already waiting to be picked up, just got you guys some pizza and a couple of sodas."
Please don't screw up.
XXXXXX
"This is Shade 001 in position." she said into her mouthpiece as she rested in a tree a couple hundred yards from where the teenagers were, a rifle slung across her back and a pair of binoculars in her hand. Even for a park this place was pretty dull, just to go with the rest of the city. "Zack, you got visual?"
"Yeah. Carter, how are the systems?"
Typing could be heard over their earpieces. "Ready to go, everything is up and running. Tifa, you in position?"
"Yep." Shadow glanced and could see the raven haired girl disappearing in between trees as she jogged the path most runners used. "Time?"
"It's close to hitting seven." Carter replied. "So in the next fifteen minutes or so." Shade nodded unconsciously to herself, reaching up and pressing a small button so she could switch channels. "It's Shade, how you guys holding up?"
"Full of pizza awesomeness." Sora said, and the group laughed. On any other mission she would have chewed him out, however they were supposed to be acting like this so she ignored it.
"Sounds good. Expect approach in fifteen minutes or so." she said, and could see through the lenses a few nods. "Good luck guys. And for the sake of living don't do anything stupid." This earned her laughter once again as she switched over.
Ten minutes later is when the operation was officially running. A group of six, dressed in all black to match their surroundings, approached the twins and their friends, who were currently just lounging somewhat close to one of the lamp post lights that dimly lit the dark park they were in. Shadow watched as they put up a fight, as would any teenagers would, before she saw the guns pulled out and their struggles ceased. No one was around to witness as they were roughly shoved into the large dark blue van. "Carter, track them now."
"Got it." She pulled out a small device that was almost the size of her hand and maybe only a centimeter thick and the top a complete screen. A few seconds later a map came up on it and she watched as the trackers did their job and the red dot moved in sync with the van, the coordinates quickly changing in the top right corner. "Zack, grab the truck, Tifa go with him." She dropped from the trees and started her quick run to the clearing, also towards her motorcycle. "We got an approximate location?"
"Looks like they're heading to the southern part of town, maybe in the second district, that's as far as I've narrowed it so far." Cart continued to quickly work the computers while Sephiroth watched from behind him, mostly the maps of where the current agents were.
Shadow had opted for her motorcycle, and she didn't regret this decision since the southern part of town was quite busy at this time of night, so another loud vehicle among the rest wouldn't draw to much attention. "How's their status?"
"They're a little freaked out, but for a couple of kids they're holding up well." Sephiroth said coldly. "They're six miles ahead of you, might want to pick up the speed a bit."
"Guys, I got the location of their destination." Carter said into the speaker.
"Where." Zack said, looking at the GPS in his truck.
"13500 Frozen River." He groaned and shook his head.
"They're taking them to a club?" Tifa almost asked.
XXXXXX
The bright lights were almost blinding as the music blasted in the building. Kairi winced when a couple of the dancers roughly bumped into her and stumbled, feeling hands catch her and gave a thankful look to Riku, who nodded as they continued to be led by their captors. This part of town had been more beat up than what they had seen, and this seemed like one of those underground clubs. You had the obvious pole dancers, the DJ on his private stage, and the open floor that was surrounded by booths for the people who were drinking alcohol from the bar spaced out across the far wall. The colors were darker but still kept the steady rhythm with the music as it played.
"Move it." Namine flinched when one of them shoved her forward, not liking even the slightest contact from these men. Sora and Roxas each took up a side of her and she felt more comforted after this act, giving a small smile to them. Kairi was between Roxas and Riku took up the end, so the girls weren't clear on any side.
Glancing around the redhead looked, then saw a head of long black hair with red highlighting the ends before it disappeared in the crowed, not giving her a look at her face. Since their capture no one had contacted them through the earpieces, and she wasn't sure if that was part of the plan or not but she did know that she had no control now.
Suddenly the lights disappeared and they were in a darkened hallway but still could hear the music on the other side. She could see Riku frown slightly as they moved to one of the open rooms in the hallway, no door to block them. This maze continued only for a few turns before they found themselves in a large chamber. The walls were a never ending circle of a velvet red booth chairs while a few small tables were scattered in front of it filling the space but leaving a small gap in the center. There was one more exit, the only one that broke the chain of seating, located in the corner. Various people, men and women, were seated here, wearing the normal party outfits that were proudly revealing. Namine shrunk back slightly, her hands clutching Roxas' arm as a few men winked at her and Riku growled when he could see a few girls, no doubt drunk, giggling and flashing him smiles.
But what really mattered to them was the man who sat in the center of this. He had gelled bright blond hair that was slightly spiked and a lean body, dressed in black pants and a button up white shirt that had the final few toward the top undone, giving it a more laid back look. He was smirking, and the group had a hard time looking at him as a drug lord. "Nice catch boys." He said, taking a drink of the glass of scotch in his hands. "They rough?"
"Nothing we couldn't handle." One said, and Sora grinned as he winced when he said this, his jaw still sore from the punch the brunette had landed.
"Riku. Can you hear me?" He kept his face carefully composed and didn't answer, instead opting to strike up conversation and hope that she would take it. "So what do you want?" He asked the man, watching as his smirk widened.
"Simply keeping a business going. You'll be surprised how many people would 'adopt' children to help keep their houses clean."
"Keep doing exactly that, we need a couple more minutes." "You don't seriously expect us to be adopted when we actually have parents." Sora argued.
"Kid, almost anything is possible if it's illegal." This got him a laugh from the room and Roxas growled.
"That's sick."
"That's business." He said with a nod, and grin, before finishing his drink. "Been getting away with it for twelve years now and don't expect to stop any time soon."
All five of their earpieces went off at once. "Get down."
They dropped to the floor as the door suddenly crashed in and the room filled with smoke from the mini explosion. Riku felt something grab his arm and pull him, briefly resisting until he saw the faint outline of Tifa and grabbing the person closest to him, which was Kairi.
Screams erupted around them and when they got out Roxas was there as well, all four of them looking inside the room before Tifa motioned for them to stay put and moved back into the haze. The two bodies of the guards were slumped against the ground and unresponsive, but they didn't dwell on the uncomfortable thought to long.
Gunshots rang throughout the area and then the smoke started to slowly clear. Kairi saw Shade and Tifa there, surrounded by a few bodies while it looked like the people who had been partying had been left living, unless they had fought back, then they were just dead. Shade quickly looked around, noticing how Sora and Namine weren't there, as was their target. "Tifa, escort them out now." She held the mouthpiece close to her ear. "Zack, need you in here now. Sephiroth, I need directions on where the two are heading."
"Second exit, third door on the right and straight from there." Shadow kicked into a run while Tifa started to lead the three teenagers away with the intent of getting them out of the club as soon as possible.
"You need the end of the hallway before taking the left turn." Sephiroth's toneless voice came over the earpiece.
"How quickly are they moving?"
"They must be putting up a fight because it's slowed slightly from when they began."
"Surprise must have warn off and survival instincts kicked in." She said, more to herself as she made the turn, and saw a flash of brown disappear behind a door. She walked up to it just as she heard someone behind her, and spun around, gun ready, only to see Zack jogging up to her. "They in there?"
She just nodded before turning around and shoving the door open, being met with the right wall continuing down a hallway while their was a gap for another room a little down and to the left. She quickly walked in and just as a bullet flew in front of her, causing her to quickly step back to the safety behind the wall. "We want to negotiate!" This was a voice she didn't recognize, must have been one of his lackeys.
Zack smirked and shook his head as Shadow calmly stepped behind the wall and took a few steps in before two gunshots rang throughout the room. The bodies of the two men who had been holding guns to Sora and Namines heads dropped to the ground, leaving two shaken up teenagers as Shadow's gun roamed over the rest of the crowed in the room, which included their leader. "Anyone else want to negotiate?"
XXXXXX
Cloud decided that for his lunch break he'd rather have the entertainment of watching either Sephiroth or Shade interrogate the drug lord they had found. No doubt the small crowd that would be watching would have some food there as well. Once someone had even brought popcorn. So as the blond made his way to the designated room he didn't worry to much about starvation.
"Hiya Cloud!" Yuffie said with a grin. "You here to watch the interrogation?
"Yeah, who's doing it?"
"Sephiroth and Shade are double teaming it." She said excitedly. "This is going to be awesome!"
"Food?"
"Pizza and beer." She replied. "Now come on!" She proceeded to drag him into the room that had Carter, Tifa, Axel, Zack, and, to his surprise, Riku and Sora were there too, watching the man on the large wall-sized TV screen. "What are you two doing here?" Yuffie asked.
Riku shrugged. "Just thought we'd watch." Sora nodded in agreement.
"Guys, they're here." Tifa said, and they watched as the door to the room opened up. Sephiroth stepped in first, his face an emotionless mask as he stepped inside, his eyes never leaving their captive.
"A-are you the one questioning me?" He asked hesitantly.
"No. I'm the one to make sure she doesn't kill you." His eyes turned questioning but when Shade came in he paled a few shades.
"I'm the one you should be worried about." She said, walking in with a water bottle in hand. She went up to the metal table he was in front of and jumped on top, sitting Indian style in front of him with her arms resting on her legs. She studied him for a moment before looking over to Sephiroth. "How long do you think it'll take?"
Sephiroth studied the man. "Two minutes."
"No faith in him, huh?"
"None at all." Shade turned back to him and smirked. "It ain't looking good for you."
"Twenty bucks says Sephiroth's right." Carter said.
"I'll say he has three." Zack said. Everyone started pulling out money and Sora glanced over at Cloud. "Is that all you guys do is make bets?"
"It just makes things a little more interesting. After seeing a routine so many times you do wonder if you can beat your records. It's just entertainment, no one ever takes it to seriously."
He nodded in understanding and saw Yuffie start a timer just as Shade started talking. "What do you know about the Devil's Harvesters?"
"Nothing! I swear I've never heard of them." He said quickly. Her foot came up and struck his chest, kicking his chair back and causing him to cry out when his hands were smashed between his weight. Shadow was suddenly looming over him, crouched down next to him as her hair fell over one shoulder.
"Let's try this again. Devil's Harvesters, what do you know about them?"
"Y-you're not supposed to hurt me." He stuttered, then winced when she rested a heavy boot on his chest. "Hey! Tall guy! You're supposed to make sure she doesn't hurt me!"
"No." He replied coldly. "I'm supposed to make sure she doesn't kill you." Shadow unsheathed a knife and looked at it fondly, now leaning on the table above him.
It flew through the air and his eyes widened as it embedded itself into the ground just a few scant centimeters from his head. "OK! OK! They're a full time customers, been doing business with them for years now. I swear!"
"What else." she said.
"Nothing else, they've bought slaves from us before but nothing more than that."
"How do they receive your products?"
"We deliver them straight to their base, after the first couple years they started to get tired of just meeting up, it made things easier."
"So you have codes, passwords, maps, the basics." She summed up. He gulped.
"Yeah, but I can't tell you that or else they'd-"
"Listen up." She said, waving another knife in front of her. "I can promise you, anything they'd do will be considered merciful to what I have in mind. So spill, I want that information, and if any of it is false, trust me, we'd know, then I'll gladly introduce you to pain the devil himself will envy."
The room filled with silence before he started blabbering out all sorts of information, what they needed to be able to break in to the base. Tifa stopped the timer and looked. "Two minutes, fourteen seconds."