Please read the author's note at the end, thank you!

The Long Road Ahead

Act II

Episode V

Streets of Chicago

"You sure this is the right place, Mr. Sagara?" Tessa murmured loudly into her cellphone. Her small stature made it difficult for her not to be swept up in the river of bodies that moved down one of the sidewalks of downtown Chicago. Scrambling toward a corner of an adjacent building, Tessa rounded sidewalk onto one of the less busy back streets off the main road. Peeking her head around the wall Tessa gazed up at a tall glass and steel skyscraper across the way. "This place is crazy!"

"Affirmative." Sousuke drone into his phone with his usual monotone military voice. "This street was the last place Mithril picked up any sign of David before we left." He looked down from a window and out onto the bustling avenue. The man brought a pair of binoculars up to this eye and started scanning the crowd. "Are you in position, Madam Captain?"

"Rog…Er, I mean…Y-Yes…Affirmative, Sergeant." Tessa sputtered back into her mobile device. Being out in the field was a lot different than being in the confines of her submarine. Even so, Teletha Testarossa was rusty after years of Mithril dormancy. She was still getting used to being active in such a way again. "I'm where I should be. If David passes by here I won't miss him."

Sousuke's head and binoculars pivoted toward a new portion of the street. "Kaname, are you where I told you to-." He couldn't finish before a voice blasted through his earpiece.

"Yeah-Yeah-Yeah!" Kaname bellowed back at Sousuke Sagara. "I'm not dumb. I'm right where you told me to be." The blue haired woman traipsed up and down a few blocks up from where Tessa was standing. Phone held up to her ear, Kaname's eyes wandered from shop to shop as she walked by each of them. She used her free hand and index finger to push her large sunglasses up on her nose. "After all this is said and done you better let me at least get some shopping in. You lied to me about that vacation so at least I can get something while we are here!"

"Ehem…Er…Right, of course." Sousuke mumbled back somewhat frantically. A little drop of sweat rolled down the side of his head. He knew that everyone else was on the same phone call and listening in.

"Hey, Kaname…!" Another voice rang out through the cellphone speaker. "…If you got shopping on the brain, count me in!" It was Mao. She was speaking from Sousuke's side of the street farther down on one of the corners. Leaning up against a light pole her eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of David Reed. She pulled her black hat a bit lower on her head and spoke up again. "It sounds like they have some pretty fancy shops in this area, and hey, if Mithril is after us now, why not enjoy our time being AWOL!"

Kaname started talking once more, conversation springing up on the idea of shopping. "I know! I've walked by some pretty nice stores. They had one with a bunch of formal dresses that I think, You, Tessa, and I might…"

Tessa didn't bother to say anything. She pressed her body up against the side of the building she was next to. Shopping did sound rather fun, even at a time like this. Teletha could go for a change of pace. Yet, Mao did bring up a point. Teletha Testarossa knew not when or where Mithril was going to show up looking for them. The group wasn't exactly going to be in the organizations good grace's anymore after this stunt. All of that also was then added onto the fact that they still had picked up no traces of David…

Sousuke coughed into his microphone, trying to get everyone's attention. He stopped Kaname cold. His eyes still peered through the binoculars into the crowd. Head shifting up the street, opposite direction of Mao, Sagara attempted to regain control of their stake-out. "Kurz, are you in position?"

There was a long silence followed by Kaname grumbling something about how Sousuke was always thick headed and didn't know how to enjoy things. Kurz had yet to respond.

Kurz finally spoke up sounding out of breath. "Uh…Yeah…I'm here…" He mumbled slowly, sounding like his cheeks were stuff with bread. "Yeah…totally in position, Sousuke."

"Uhm…Mr. Weber are you alright?" Tessa chirped cautiously, head peering farther around the building to where Kurz should've been. "Is something wrong?"

Sounding like he was swallowing something, Weber spoke up again, his voice quick. "Nope, nothing is wrong at all!"

"He is eating pizza." Sousuke drone again. This time he sounded rather annoyed. "I can see him through the window." The sergeant was still looking through his binoculars, locked onto Weber who was seated next to a window in the pizza-joint he had gone in.

"Mr. Weber!" Tessa immediately scolded through her phone. Face winkling and turning red the young woman glared down the street toward Weber's building.

"H-Hey now, I still can see everything!" He protested back. "You guy were already talking about shopping…I-I mean at least I can get something to. What better cover is there than eating pizza?"

"Wow, Kurz." Mao groaned on the other end of the conversation. "You'll say anything to cover your ass won't you."

"Shut up, Melissa!" Kurz barked into his phone as he stuffed another piece of pizza into his mouth. His words became slow and muffled and the sound of chewing came after every word. "There…ain't…no…reason…I…can't…enjoy…myself!"

Sousuke let out a long breath. He had been gone from Mithril for years and even now it still seemed like he was the most down to business out of the bunch. Pulling the binoculars away from his eyes he used the back of his wrist to wipe away a few beads of sweat. Quickly he brought the eye-pieces up again. This time he continued to spy on the pulsing crowd. "Just keep your eyes open, Kurz." Sousuke stated simply into his cell. "With you and Mao on the ends and Kaname and Madam Captain in the middle, we should be covering enough ground to catch a glimpse of David if he emerges again in this area."

Tessa let Sousuke speak. Catching her breath she dove into the crowd again and moved with the current down the block. She still had the cell pressed against her ear, listening in on the plan. It was odd not being in charge for once. Sousuke and Mao took control early on. Given they had much more experience in the field, the Mithril Captain still outranked them. But Teletha let rank slid, especially with her friends. And at this point it really didn't matter. Mithril was soon to be breathing down their necks given the time…Tessa's eyes darted from person to person; dearly hoping that David would show himself.

Kaname spoke up once again. "About that, how are we supposed to know where David is in this place? This city is huge! What makes you think he will still be in this area now? For all we know he could've bolted!"

"Doubtful…"Mao said, regaining a bit of composure after her little mental scuffle she was having in her head with Kurz die off. "…I mean, assuming our theory about him wanting us to find him is right, he should be here." The woman paused for a long moment. "Given, that is if our assumption is correct. Hell, I hate being the devil's advocate here, but we could be walking into one big trap if David was hoping to set us up."

"You know, Melissa does have a point." Kurz began through his chewing. "Not saying that I don't trust David or anything…" He paused knowing Tessa was still on the line. "…Actually, I still don't trust the guy. Not saying I don't want to. But it is difficult after what he pulled…And here we are sticking our neck out for someone who may or may not be leading us into a trap."

The young Mithril Captain slouched down a little as she walked. What she was hearing on the cellphone wasn't exactly something she wanted to hear, but yet she couldn't deny that her friends had a point. For all she knew this entire thing could be another big ruse. In the end, the group knew that they had to pull the trigger blindly. Something was going to happen between them and David sometime, perhaps not soon, but Tessa knew that heads were going to collide. Thinking about saying something as a retort to Kurz and Mao's comments, Sousuke got to the talking first.

"Even so, if it does turn out that David still is amongst the organization known as The Collective, we will follow our original mission. We will apprehend David Reed and bring him back to Mithril…" Sousuke's attention turned down the street and he pulled his phone away from his head. Both hands immediately went to his binoculars.

Teletha knew that the other option in that mission was to kill David is necessary. Under her breath she prayed to god that such a thing wouldn't occur. "I'm sure David wouldn't do such a thing to us." She protested.

Kurz snapped back quickly. "And look where that got us, Tessa…Not saying that I don't want to believe you, I seriously do. David seriously seems like a nice fella. But I don't want us to be sent home in bags if you get me, right?"

"U-Understood, Mr. Weber." Tessa peeped, having the realization that she wasn't exactly in the safe confines of her submarine with plates of steel to protect her. Having no plans on dying just yet Tess gave a small gulp of courage.

"Aren't we just a group of positive people?" Kaname droned sarcastically. Her eyes were drawn to one particular shop. It was full of expensive formal attire for men and women, things that high class folk would wear to nice night clubs and to fancy dinner parties. "I still plan on shopping a bit before we leave though. It's one way to stay positive." Kaname seemed to be the only one who didn't doubt Tessa's hunch on David.

Tessa was about to say something about how she would join her when Sousuke reappeared on the phone.

"Two black SUV's driving up from the south." The sergeant snapped swiftly. "Dark window tint and they are driving slower than the rest of the traffic." Sousuke always was able to pick out even the slightest clue of something amiss even in the most normal of situations.

"And?" Kurz mumbled into his mouthpiece as he down another slice of pizza.

"N-Nothing yet." Sousuke murmured back. "I'm going to keep my eye on them just in case." He continued to watch both vehicles as they slowly start to roll up to where Tessa and Kaname were located.

"I'm with you, Sousuke." Mao purred, eyes following both SUV's. "I'll keep an eye on them from down here. They just rolled right by me."

The crowd started to move again. This time Tessa was stuck right in the middle of the mob of people. She started getting pulled along by the pedestrian traffic. Yet she thought that sticking with the crowd might be a good idea at this moment. Short in stature, Teletha Testarossa couldn't tell which direction she began heading. Walking on her tiptoes she tried to look over the heads of the much taller people around her. "I-I'm heading toward the crosswalk." Tessa said into her cell. "I'll be crossing over to Kaname's side of the street." She began to inch her way toward the edge of the mass of people.

"Roger that." Sousuke replied with a nod. He glanced toward Tessa's crowd and then back at the large cars. "You'll be crossing the street two blocks ahead of the suspicious vehicles. Needless to say, I would not advise staying in the street."

Everyone seemed to wonder if that was actual advice or Sousuke's attempt at a joke.

As Tessa moved she began to get the feeling that someone within her crowd of people had their eyes set on the back of her head. It was a small tingle in the back of her brain. There was something around her that just seemed out of place. Her group started to cross the crosswalk as the lights changed and halted oncoming traffic. Tessa wanted to turn around and look, but such an action might give her away…Out of the corner of her eye a body walked beside her. Tessa could've sworn that she saw a very familiar face and a blue cap…

Both black SUV's began to pick up a little speed. They inched one block closer. Something must've caught their eye.

"The SUV's are moving." Mao mentioned somewhat frantically. "Tessa, they are heading right for you. I can't keep up with them."

Still having the phone pressed against her ear and listening in on Mao's warning, Tessa finally pivoted to the side. Nobody. Her body halted and the group began to leave her behind. Something was still amiss around her. "D-David?"

One of the black cars jolted forward. The tires briefly squealed out peeled out against the pavement. A wild horn of the SUV blared as the car barreled forward toward the crowd.

A single hand tugged on Tessa's bag…

Everyone immediately dashed out of the way. The crowd scattered into the street to avoid being hit by the black mass of metal, glass, and paint. Some cursed as the vehicle flu by on the street.

Tessa herself had to jump back a little. She felt her body slam into someone as she dodged the oncoming SUV. Bouncing off the body and onto the pavement, the young woman watched as her cellphone screen cracked as it hit the cement. Her bag skidded to a halt a few feet away. Immediately people started to rush by her to see what the commotion was about. No a single soul offered to pick her up off her rear.

As soon as the SUV moved, it vanished. It took off down the street while its partner stuck around for a few moments longer before rolling away in the same direction yet on a different road.

Scrambling, Tessa reached out for her phone. Wasting no time she pressed it up against the side of her head and started to talk, still praying that it hopefully might still be working. "H-Hello?" Tessa began, sounding frazzled. "D-Did you guys see that?" She was still sitting in the middle of the street as the crowd started to dissipate….A pair of hands grasped her under her shoulders and yanked her to her feet…

Mao chuckled a bit as she brushed her hands against Tessa's dress to dust her off. "Sure did, Tessa. Although I wouldn't suggest sitting in the road again anytime soon." The woman scooped up Tessa's bag as she led her captain away and back onto the sidewalk.

"Everything, good over there?" Kaname's voice crackled through Tessa's damaged phone. "I'm working my way over to you."

Sousuke spoke up next. "Both SUV's are gone. I can't see them. I'm heading down toward Kurz. Will meet up with you three soon. Don't go anywhere."

Placing her own cell against her head, Mao spoke up, still brushing Tessa's off. "Yeah-Yeah, we are all good here. Looks like this town has a bit of road rage." Mao slung the bag she picked up around Tessa's shoulder.

Out of breath from the event, Tessa's eyes glanced about furiously. She didn't respond or even thank Mao for her actions.

Mao's brain perked. "You a little jumpy there, Tessa?" She joked, meaning nothing by it.

"Mao?!" Tessa panted, eyes wide, slightly confused. "I think David is around here. I-I mean I saw him. At least I think I did before the car almost hit me."

"David?!" Mao's head turned in every direction it could on her shoulders. Nothing. No sign of David anywhere. "You sure you ain't seeing things."

Tessa was still looking around like a frightened child who had just heard its first crack of thunder. "Er…I think…Maybe…I might have…I don't know."

The pair strode toward a building bordering the sidewalk. Immediately Mao leaned Tessa up against a glass window. Kaname wasn't far behind. In no time at all, the blue haired woman had joined her other female companions.

"Well that was sure interesting!" Kaname stated, looking down at the still frazzled captain. "At least you didn't become a racetrack, eh Tessa?" The joke went right over Tessa's head. No body laughed.

Still convince she had seen a glimpse of David, Tessa's eyes still tried to scan the crowd for their distance. "I could've sworn that I saw…"

"Uh, Tessa?" Kaname purred inquisitively, head coming down to Tessa's level. Her eyes were locked onto the Mithril Captain's bag.

"Huh, yes Ms. Kaname?" Tessa chirped back, finally returning to reality. "What is it?"

Kaname reached forward and plucked a small white envelope from a pocket on the outside of Tessa's bag. "I think you might have picked up something…David might be around here after all." One slender hand held the envelope out to the captain. On its surface was black ink and cursive words reading: "To Tess."

Wasting not a single moment, Tessa plucked the paper container out of Kaname's hands. "David!" Tessa yelped. "I knew it!" She blurted with glee. "I knew I saw him, I just knew it!"

Mao and Kaname glanced toward each other. By Tessa's reaction they both were thinking the same thing.

Slowly, Tessa pulled back the main flap of the envelope. Her hand plunged inside. As her slender fingers remerged and the trio was greeted with a strange sight.

"Invitations?!" Tessa huffed, sounding confused. In her hand she gripped five pieces of paper with directions and pictures of a very formal looking nightclub. They were passes to get them inside for a single night, that night. "Uh…I'm not sure what exactly this means. Is it code for something?"

Mao kneeled down in front of Tessa and plucked one of the invites out of her captain's fingers. She flipped it over a few times before saying anything. "Anything else in the envelope?"

Tessa looked inside. "Nothing." She replied simply. "It's empty."

Kaname grabbed one of the invitations for herself and began to scan it. "Er…This place looks pretty fancy. Just look at those pictures!" Her finger pointed from image to image. Everyone in each photo was dressed in their finest clothing. "Looks like it's a pretty high class nightclub."

"Assuming these are from David…" Tessa mumbled as she herself looked over the colorful pieces of paper. "…what does it mean?"

First to speak, Mao had a sly grin cross her face. "It means we might get to go shopping sooner than expected."

Kaname's ear's perked. "Oh? I like the sound of this." By the way she looked from Mao back to the card Kaname had already figured it out.

Mao stood up and stretched. Her eyes glanced up at the blue sky. The sun was slowly on its downward track toward the horizon. Sunset was soon approaching "And soon too!"

"Melissa, what are you getting at? Tell me?" Teletha huffed eagerly. Her posture straightened a bit. Perhaps now they were finally getting somewhere.

Laughing, Melissa held her invitation in front of Tessa's face and wiggled it around. Her words were almost a yell. "Looks like David has given us a meeting spot, ladies!"

Tessa's heart lit up. Finally!

"And by the looks of it, we may need to get ourselves some disguises…And by disguises, I mean formal-wear." Mao was purring slyly at the thought. "We won't get into any place like that looking like this." She waved down toward their casual clothing.

Mental engine stalling, Tessa's thought train skidded to a halt. "What?" While this wasn't as complex as commanding a submarine, it certainly was new to her. Being in the field like this really took her out of her element.

Mao leaned in closer and gave Tessa's a suggestive mocking wink and a playful poke in the waist. "And maybe if you show a little skin, David might just come find you instead!"

Author's Note:

So here is the next chapter!

(The second half of what would've been the last chapter)!

Anyway, I won't waste a lot of time here. But I will say that at this point, Act II is now (give or take) halfway completed! Things are going to be picking up in pace as the action starts moving. Prepare yourself! This rollercoaster is about to start! And yes, I'm being serious. Strap in, it's going to be a wild ride!

Seriously, you have no idea what you're in for…

Please leave a review if you've liked the story. They mean a ton to me!

Thanks,

MrWatch

P.S – If you find and error, please PM me and I'll fix it ASAP!