A/N: Longer chapter this time around~
Do enjoy~
Halo
Chapter 4: Infiltration
The forests north of Shanhaijing were eerily quiet at night.
Green bushes became almost black in the dark, the overhanging canopy thick and leaving only some mottled moonlight to spill through the trees overhead. Dense shrubbery rustled from the slightest of breezes, the lush grass was untrimmed underfoot beyond some vague footpaths made by the occasional camper – but this far out from Shanhaijing proper even that was scarce.
Sensei walked through the dark forest silently, shoulders stiff despite the quiet. Gone was his usual white business suit he wore on the daily, and instead in its place was a form-fitting black top, cargo pants and with a matching face-hood. By his side Looker walked alongside him with the same attire – the closest thing to regulation attire he was meant to wear – whilst a good distance behind them, armed with their guns, was the combined force of Problem Solver 68 and the Abydos girls... sans Mutsuki, of course.
And in front of them, wheels slowly squeaking, was a pair of wheelbarrows.
It shouldn't be as surprising as it was, in hindsight. Looker and his 'allies' – insofar as masked colleagues could be called that – had to carry their kidnapped students from a long way away, but couldn't afford to use things like cars or even horses without making some noise that could catch them out. Thus, they opted to use simple wheelbarrows to ferry the captured and unconscious students back to their hideout. Simple, reasonably efficient and easy to ditch in the event they had to make a break for it. Nobody would think twice about seeing an abandoned wheelbarrow in the middle of a forest, after all.
''We're nearing the outpost.'' Looker suddenly spoke, the man's blasé voice muffled somewhat by his face-mask. ''Stop here for a minute.''
Obligingly Sensei did so, grunting as he hefted the heavy wheelbarrow to the side – diverging from the vague dirt road and stopping next to a tree. Looker did the same and glanced behind them, beckoning the students over.
Only when they were within hearing range did he speak. ''Alright. Outpost is about four minutes ahead of us at this point. Me and my partner usually wheel the girls inside in a black bag; so two of you are gonna have to get inside to make it convincing.''
''It'd also allow us to sneak inside.'' Kayoko added with a musing hum.
''Urk...'' Serika though looked uneasy about the idea. ''I'd... rather not.''
Sensei looked between his students, making a decision in just a moment. ''Kayoko, Hoshino. You two up for it?''
''Sure.'' Kayoko agreed without complaint, her usual disinterested expression becoming almost sharp.
''Eh? Why me~'' Hoshino languidly asked, though pointedly didn't protest.
''Because if things go south, we could use someone with a shield until the others can regroup up with us.'' Sensei explained seriously, casting a glance at Looker.
The blonde man grunted an agreement. ''Interior looks tight. Corridors, from what I could see. Shield would be handy.''
Hoshino sighed at that, the sleepiness in her expression masking the seriousness he could see in her eyes. Thus with no further protests both Kayoko and Hoshino stepped forth, climbing into the wheelbarrows and sliding into the pair of black trash bags within – leaving it up to him and Looker to pull the bags up and tie them tightly above their heads, hiding their figures completely
''Not exactly comfy in here.'' Hoshino's muffled voice came from one bag, the material rustling lightly.
''Yeah well it won't be a long trip.'' Looker banged on the side of the wheelbarrow. ''Be quiet. If they know you're conscious then we're busted, and I don't think we can just charge this place. Got steel doors on the front.''
''How will we get in then?'' Shiroko frowned at the blonde man. Her gaze was sharp, untrusting.
If Looker minded he didn't say so. ''Try and bust it open with explosives or something, I don't know.''
Shiroko looked displeased by his answer but didn't bother asking further questions, merely nodding her assent. At that Sensei spared a glance at his students, wondering in the back of his mind if they'd be alright. They were up against an unknown enemy, and it wasn't like Looker knew much about them either; he was just a snatch-and-grab operative, nothing more. He knew only as much as they let him know.
As if sensing his thoughts Ayane smiled softly at him. ''We'll be alright, Sensei. Be careful in there alright?''
''I will.'' With a slight smile he petted her shoulder. ''Alright, let's get this show on the road.''
A firm chorus of affirmatives came from his students, and with a single nod at Looker they were off – the blond man leading them further down the vague dirt path, leaving his students behind.
…
The walk was done mostly in silence, taking several long minutes that seemed to drag on forever.
Until soon Looker spoke. ''We're here.''
The words were said lowly, and for a moment Sensei thought the man must be joking – there was nothing around them. That was until the masked man wheeled the bagged-up Hoshino through some thin, withering shrubbery, revealing a slight decline in the ground. Drawing a fortifying breath Sensei followed after his ally, his grip on his own wheelbarrow tight as he too descended down the subtle slope, the ground forming something almost like a trench, one masked by the plentiful foliage above it.
Little light spilled down as a result, what faint light that did gloomy and mottled. That faint light didn't stop Sensei from seeing the metal door ahead of him, and he forced himself to relax lest he come off as suspicious; his eyes scanning the door for any cameras or anything. He found none, but one could never be too careful when up against an unknown enemy.
Looker slowed in front of the metal door, before banging his knuckles on it. ''Open up.''
Silence answered him – until a low, static-laden buzz came from somewhere by the door. ''State your purpose.''
''Delivery. Two bags of it.'' Looker responded to the male voice flatly. ''Now hurry up so I can go grab something to eat.''
Sensei raised a brow at the boldness of his words, but sure enough the door clicked, and then with a hydraulic hiss slid open. The door slid aside to reveal a rather unimposing small room, the concrete interior dull and illuminated by several lights around the rim of the ceiling, the artificial white light seeming so harsh compared to the moonlight outside. Two guards clad in white uniforms stood within the room, one to the right and the other over to the left by a console – a large, curved steel door situated between the two guards.
The guard on the right stepped forth, hand held. ''That's far enough.''
Sensei nodded, purposefully inching a little further closed and pushing the wheelbarrow adjacent to Looker's. The aforementioned man was the one to do the talking, chatting up the guards about 'not getting his last payment' – giving Sensei time to examine the men in greater detail. Clad in white suit tops with matching cargo pants and boots they looked professional, as did the way they held their guns – a pair of assault rifles held in firm grips. Full-face white masks hid their identities and had it not been for their human mannerisms, he could've easily been forgiven for thinking they weren't just automatic sentry robots.
'They're not like Looker.' Sensei concluded privately, eyes narrowing. 'They're professional. But what would professional soldiers be doing here...?'
''...right, so I'll take it you'll pass the message along?''
''Yeah yeah, now buzz off. You're wasting our time.'' The guard on the right complained aggressively, finally losing his patience.
Looker held his hands up – 'unintentionally' nudging Sensei with it. ''That's all I ask. Anyway, we'll get off your backs. Isn't that right, partner?''
Sensei nodded, lifting his hands too and backing up a step – and, by sheer, totally innocent coincidence, let his foot get caught in one of the wheelbarrow's wheels. Causing the heavy thing to tip had he not suddenly lunged in and caught it.
''Mn!'' With an exaggerated grunt Sensei held onto the side, barely stopping it from falling. ''H-Hey, give me a hand with this thing, quick.''
The guard muttered an agreement and let his rifle hang by its sling, hurriedly stepping forth and grabbing the other end of the wheelbarrow-
''H-Hey- urk!''
-only for his head to snap to his right as Looker suddenly closed the short few feet of distance, shoulder-tackling the left guard into the wall and disarming him. Sensei didn't waste a second and suddenly shoved the wheelbarrow down, purposefully slamming it down onto the right guard's foot – the shout of pain barely escaping before a fist connected with his face, sending him tumbling back into the wall before sliding down it, limp.
''Phew.'' Looker exhaled, crouching down. ''Roll them out of the way of the door and fix that wheelbarrow. I'll get the key-card.''
''Right.'' Sensei didn't complain, crouching down next to the wheelbarrow and grasping the bagged form of Kayoko. ''Sorry about that. Had to think on the fly.''
''It's fine.'' Came Kayoko's quiet response. ''Are you alright Sensei?''
''Yeah. Just some sore knuckles.'' Sensei cracked a tight smile; grunting as he lifted her back into the wheelbarrow and steadied it.
''Not bad I'd say.'' Looker lightly called out, yanking a card out of the left guard's pockets. ''Get changed ASAP. If we take too long whoever's inside will get suspicious.''
Sensei eyed the unconscious body of the guard dubiously, but with only minor reluctance obliged – stripping off his black outfit as fast as he could and taking the white uniform off the unconscious guard, Looker doing the same. Cargo pants, suit top and undershirt, boots and mask; one by one he slid it on, leaving the guard left in just his boxers, making a mental note of his face. Grizzled and on the older side. Far from someone who was too young to know what they were involved in.
Pushing the thought from his mind Sensei adjusted his mask one more time, turning his gaze over to Looker. The man looked almost indistinguishable to how the guards themselves had looked, something Looker clearly felt about him too – giving him a nod and pushing the unconscious guard aside. Sensei did the same, hurriedly getting behind Kayoko's wheelbarrow at Looker's gesture, looking as casual as he could as the converted-informant swiped the guard's card through the scanner.
And with a beep, the curved metal door began to turn – opening up to reveal the cylindrical interior, and the pristine, white-walled hallway beyond.
Voices could be immediately heard from inside, and before the door had even fully opened Sensei was pushing the wheelbarrow through, only a slight bump of the wheel when it passed over the door's raised edge before passing through it, Looker only a step behind.
'What is this place?' Sensei thought in bewilderment, subtly tilting his head left and right, gazing at frosted-over windows.
Windows that had people behind them. People in white outfits moved here and there, murmuring to one another or working in silence. Squinting he could make out what looked to be white work-surfaces, the style almost like that of a laboratory. He got a much better look when a frosted-glass door opened up, allowing a scientist with dark black hair and a surgeon's mask to step out; the man mindfully keeping to the side and allowing them to pass without a word, unknowingly letting Sensei peer in through the gap in the door as he passed it.
'This isn't a small operation is it?' Sensei realised it only then, catching a glimpse of easily a dozen scientists professionally ferry tubes of brightly-coloured liquids between work stations. 'The amount of money that has to have been spent...'
Was this really the work of a group of mysterious individuals? Or perhaps... was someone much bigger behind this?
Sensei chased away the thought, however, as he neared an intersection. One hallway went right and another straight ahead, and with just a quick glance back at Looker – earning a shrug – he continued to wheel straight ahead.
Until another guard stepped into his path. ''Where do you think you're going?''
Sensei cursed in his head, but did his best to play it cool. ''Where they always go, obviously.''
Silence. Painful, scrutinising silence. He resisted the urge to grip the wheelbarrow handles tighter, keeping his shoulders relaxed and doing his best to look like a regular old guard who was bored out of his mind after a long shift-
-when the masked guard scoffed. ''Then you're going the wrong way.''
''Ah.'' Sensei sounded, reversing slightly. ''Right. Sorry.''
That was apparently enough for the guard and he returned to his spot by the wall, his gaze nigh-physical as Sensei awkwardly manoeuvred the wheelbarrow around and went back to the intersection, hearing more than seeing Looker follow him from behind. His heart thumped in his chest but he forced himself to look nonchalant as possible, consciously keeping his pace slow as he travelled back to the intersection and took the other route, traversing down another polished hallway lined with laboratories or doors marked with various signs.
One of which thankfully pointed in the direction of the 'Containment Chamber'. Guessing that was where they were meant to go Sensei subtly picked up the pace, head down as he followed the hallway down to another intersection, and took a left – finding himself confronted with a short corridor ending in a thick steel door with a key-pad reader... with two identical guards on either side.
'This is it...'
''Halt.'' One of the guards raised a hand, prompting Sensei to stop just a few feet away. ''These the next two to go in?''
''Yeah.'' Sensei answered stiffly.
''Lucky you. Was only expecting one more tonight, but guess you bagged both your targets huh.'' The other guard, the one on the left, remarked with an upbeat voice. ''Alright, take them out of the bags and hook 'em up. The eggheads upstairs will probably start shortly.''
Sensei waited a second, giving him for Looker to roll up next to him. ''You want us to unbag them right here?''
''Yeah, just here.'' There was a note of confusion to the man's voice. ''Like usual?''
''Alright, I'm taking them out now.'' Slowly Sensei said the words; grasping the bin bag and ripping it open-
-and allowing a silenced pistol to poke out.
Kss-!
Kss-!
Two pops and the guards fell to the floor, knocked out cold by shots to the head.
''Fat lot of good those masks do.'' Looker muttered to him, hurriedly ripping open Hoshino's bag. ''Get their card.''
Sensei didn't need to be told twice. Crouching down next to one of the guards he felt him up, hands sliding over his uniform for the slightest bump – and after a second felt something in his jacket pocket. Withdrawing a blue translucent card from it he rose to his feet, waiting until Kayoko had clambered out of the wheelbarrow and stood with both hands on her pistol, eyes hard as she gave him a nod. Sensei complied, and swept the card through the reader.
With a hydraulic hiss the metal door slid apart. On the other side laid a startlingly large room; easily two and a half storeys tall and cylindrical in shape. The walls were made of a dark steel, stained and scorched, as was the rusted floor underfoot. A glass window high up held a control room of sorts, but that was far less eye-catching than what laid in the centre of the room.
Chairs. A dozen, all in a single neat line, spaced about four feet apart and no more. Hovering above them laid a macabre set of mechanical arms equipped with metre-long needles, casting long shadows across the metal floor underfoot.
Sensei's gaze needed to sweep over the room only once before she spotted what they came for, however.
'Mutsuki!'
Tied down by wrist and ankle straps the white-haired student laid limp in her seat, head resting to the side. Without thinking Sensei rushed over to her side, his boots clanking loudly against the metal and soon joined by those of his comrades.
''Mutsuki!'' Sensei called out as he reached her, cupping her cheek. ''Hey, wake up. Come on, come on.''
A light tap to her cheek made her stir, mumbling, but she didn't fully wake – eyes opening slightly for a brief second before she drifted off again. Grimacing at that he went for the straps holding her down, freeing her wrists and leaving her ankles up to Hoshino, both of them getting her unshackled at the same time, allowing Sensei to slip his arms under her knees and lower back; picking her up into a bridal carry.
''Let's get her out of here.'' Sensei declared, turning to his allies.
Looker, however, was looking up. ''Shit, we've been spotted!''
All eyes turned to the control room, and Sensei cursed as he saw various individuals in lab coats frantically running about, one of them on what looked like a radio. Their cover was blown.
''Let's go!'' Sensei shouted. ''Hoshino, you in front!''
''Got it!'' The short student barked back.
Thunderous footsteps carried them across the metal floor and out through the door, Hoshino leading with Kayoko only a step behind, guns drawn. A wise decision Sensei soon realised as two guards turned the corner just as Hoshino was about to do so. Hoshino was faster on the draw.
BOOM!
The blast of her shotgun was almost deafening in the narrow corridor, but the point-blank blast succeeded in blowing one of the guards into the wall behind him and through the window, the loud shattering of glass distracting the other guard for a split-second. That was all the time it took for Kayoko to raise her gun and open fire; three quick cracks of her silenced pistol downing the man, his unconscious body hitting the floor with a thud.
''Shit, this ain't a good place to be.'' Looker cursed, bending down and snatching up one of the guard's rifle's. ''Keep up Suit.''
Sensei didn't oppose the nickname, merely grunting his agreement and holding Mutsuki close so he didn't lose his grip on her. Any conversation was made that much more difficult though as an alarm broke out; a shrill, screaming alarm that rose in pitch and then fell back down again like a siren, the sound echoing through the polished corridors as Sensei ran after his allies.
They didn't even make it to the next intersection however before a guard stepped out and opened fire; assault rifle rounds pinging and bouncing off the hard walls. Hoshino reacted swiftly and raised her shield, taking the fire and continuing to march towards the man; giving Kayoko the space to take several quick pot-shots, forcing the man back behind the corner. Step by step Hoshino kept approaching-
-only to be forced back when another two guards poked out from the left side as well, bullets spraying across Hoshino's shield and pinging just past her face. Grunting the short girl retreated several steps while the guards were forced back by quickly-fired bursts from Kayoko and Looker, biding them the time to fall back towards the Containment Chamber hallway.
''This isn't working!'' Hoshino yelled as Sensei ducked back into the hallway. ''You wouldn't happen to have any explosives on you?''
''Nada!'' Looker barked back – glaring at the row of frosted windows opposite their hallway, one window shattered from where the guard had been knocked through. ''Keep an eye on there, they might try and sneak through there!''
''On it.'' Kayoko uttered, glancing back at Sensei. ''Keep Mutsuki safe.''
''I will.'' He promised.
Nodding sharply Kayoko darted across the hallway; a quick burst of assault rifle rounds spraying past in her wake. Looker took the opportunity to poke out and return fire, forcing their opponents back into cover whilst Kayoko threw herself through the shattered window, rolling behind a desk and using it as cover. Fresh bursts of gunfire emerged from across the lab, bullets cracking and blowing out glass windows as the guards took pot-shots, but Sensei trusted Kayoko enough to take his eyes off the battle and onto Mutsuki, sensing her stirring.
''Mn...'' The devilish machine-gunner's eyes fluttered weakly open. ''Mm... Sensei... am I dreaming...?''
''I wish you were, but unfortunately not.'' Sensei offered a tight smile. ''How do you feel?''
''Tired.'' Mutsuki's voice was almost inaudible over the shrill siren wail. ''Mm... y'know, kinda a girl's dream to be in the arms of a Prince Charming, ehe...''
''Not the time.'' Sensei merely replied, wincing as a bullet cracked off the wall nearby. ''Hold on, I'm gonna move you a little.''
Mutsuki groggily groaned as she was jostled; resting against his left arm as his right went behind him, fishing out his phone – and a few taps later called Ayane.
Only for it immediately to cut to a beep. ''No signal reception detected.''
''Great.'' Sensei groaned, shoving it back into his pocket. ''We're on our own!''
''Thought about as much!'' Looker barked back, leaning into cover and taking the magazine out, grimacing at apparently how few bullets were left. ''Grab me some more magazines from the guards!''
Sensei complied, spending a moment to carefully lay Mutsuki down by the wall before rushing over to the unconscious guards. A small satchel hung by the man's side, and with haste he unfastened it; one hand shoving itself inside and fishing about. His haste cost him a few seconds before his hand managed to grasp one and toss it, the magazine hissing as it slid across the polished floor – slowing enough that Looker could bend down and pick it up just in time, wasting no time in jamming it into his gun and poking back out of cover, spraying another flurry of bullets down the hallway to keep the enemy at bay.
'We need a way of contacting the outside.' Sensei grimaced. 'The main doors should still be open; hopefully that means Aru and the others will have heard, if nothing els- ghk?!'
Sensei's thoughts took a sharp turn, however, as the guard under him suddenly lunged up – having stirred from his unconscious state. With both hands he grabbed onto him and tried to pull him down, unyielding even as Sensei pushed back against him, fighting in a contest of strength.
He lost. With a snarl of exertion the guard yanked him down and landed a solid punch to his chest, winding Sensei – allowing the masked guard to straddle him and bring a fist down. Sensei caught it just in time, catching the other fist that went for his face and holding the guard back; and rapidly losing.
Until three quick shots from a rifle struck the side of the masked man's head, knocking him out once more.
''Hah...!'' Sensei exhaled in relief, shoving the guard off. ''Thanks!''
''No problem.'' Looker grunted back, reloading his stolen rifle.
Just then fresh gunfire broke out further in the facility; assault rifles joined by the emphatic boom of a sniper rifle. Taking solace in that Sensei ripped the ammunition bag off the unconscious guard and hurriedly dragged it over to Looker, leaving it by the man's foot before returning to Mutsuki, snaking his arms around her and picking her up. Mutsuki didn't drop a teasing quip this time, merely pushing herself into his chest and holding on tight.
''Movin' up~'' Hoshino called out in warning, cocking her shotgun once before mounting it atop her shield – once more starting to march forwards, blasting it several times to keep her opponents in cover.
Sensei lingered behind, pressing himself against the wall and letting Looker take the lead. Gunfire echoed off the tight corridor walls and rung in his ears, but the more he focused the more he could make out the differences; the low booms of Hoshino's shotgun, the quiet puffs of Kayoko's silenced pistol, the rattles of Looker's plundered rifle; alongside the distant but deafening bangs of a sniper rifle, supported by shotgun blasts and assault rifle fire. Reinforcements, he thought with a smile.
''They're falling back!'' Looker called out – more for his benefit than Hoshino's. ''Midget, take the lead.''
''Yeah yeah, whatever ya say~'' Hoshino brushed off the nickname without protest; focused solely on the mission.
Movement made Sensei glance to the side; spotting Kayoko hurriedly making her way back towards him. Without a word she beckoned him close, pistol still raised towards where the enemies previously were. Clutching Mutsuki to his chest the raven-haired man crossed the corridor and climbed over the shattered glass, grunting as one caught his leg but paying it no mind for now; ducking into cover behind a desk. Keeping a hand on his back Kayoko kept him there, sweeping the room with her iron sights before nudging him onwards, moving with him like a personal bodyguard whilst Hoshino and Looker kept shooting their way deeper into the facility.
A doorway laid at the end of the room, one Kayoko led him through. Another laboratory setting, but one difference was the person within, making their way towards them when they noticed them – Haruka.
''E-Eh?!'' The skittish girl managed to stop herself before she pulled the trigger on reflex. ''S-Sensei?! Kayoko?!''
''Hey.'' Cracking a slight smile Kayoko lowered her gun. ''Room's clear behind us. Hoshino went further inside. I'm guessing the others are here too?''
''Y-Yes. Aru-sama's by the door...''
Nodding her thanks Kayoko grasped Sensei by the back of his shirt, nudging him forth. ''Come, Sensei. I'll escort you outside.''
Sensei didn't protest given the circumstances, a quiet grunt all Kayoko needed before she swept past Haruka, he himself only a step behind. The main door laid no more than a dozen or so feet away, yet with gunfire loudly rattling in the background and the risk of being ended by a single ricocheting bullet... he'd be lying if he said he wasn't stressed, hiding it behind a stern mask only for the benefit of his students. No need for them to worry about him; they had bad guys to beat first and foremost.
The sound of a door thudding open distracted him from his thoughts; watching Kayoko poke out and sweep the hallway before jerking her head, gesturing for him to move on. Sensei didn't hesitate to agree, clutching the still-weak Mutsuki to his chest and rushing out into the hall, the open entrance way host to Ayane and Aru, the latter aiming her sniper rifle down the hallway and prepared to shoot anyone who attempted to make a break for it.
''Sensei...!'' Aru's relief was audible as he neared; lowering her gun and hurrying over to him. ''M-Mutsuki?''
''Hey~'' Even partially out of it the machine gunner had enough strength to smirk, weakly wiggling her fingers. ''What's that look for...? I was... just fine, till you dropped by~''
Everyone present knew that was a lie, but none bothered to correct her playful words.
''I'll contact Rin.'' Sensei said, drawing Aru's attention. ''Make sure nobody but us leaves.''
''R-Right!'' Jumping to attention the sniper got down onto one knee again, letting him pass her by.
Ayane on the other hand followed him up the ramp, both of them breaking out into the cold night air once more – the air so much fresher than the sterilised air below. Carefully handing Mutsuki over to Ayane and letting the medic check her for more surface-layer injuries Sensei whipped his phone out, several lightning-quick taps of his thumb bringing up Rin's number and ringing her.
Two rings was all it took. ''Sensei, report.''
''We found their base, and Mutsuki.'' The raven-haired man responded curtly, keeping it short. ''She looks alright, but have someone check her out to be doubly sure. The girls are busy clearing the base out as we speak so we'll need proper back-up.''
''Armed, or supportive?''
''Supportive. We're not exactly equipped to tie them all up.''
''Understood.'' He could hear computer keys be tapped. ''I'll have police sent your way. Stay outdoors until they arrive so the signal isn't disrupted. I'll remain at Schale until your return.''
''Got it.'' Sensei grunted, a single press of the button ending the call. ''How is she?''
By his side Ayane shifted, frowning slightly before looking up at him. ''I'd like to have a second opinion to be safe, but from what I can see she's alright, just suffering from the effects of a sedative.''
Sensei hummed and nodded. ''How are you feeling now, Mutsuki? Fresh air help?''
In response the student gave him a thumbs-up, snickering weakly when he rolled his eyes.
X-x-X
It took only about twenty minutes for the police back-up to arrive – by the time which most the shooting inside had stopped.
The moment the medics arrived to take care of Mutsuki Sensei returned to the underground laboratory – leading several officers inside and informing of what he knew, pointedly excluding the finer details they might not need to know such as Looker's involvement. Within the underground base he found numerous unconscious guards and terrified or equally-unconscious scientists, watched cautiously by the combined force of both Problem Solver 68 and the five Abydos students.
Which led to his current situation with one of the scientists.
''What were you doing here?''
The question was firm, but the scientist flinched like he'd shouted it. ''I-I... well, we uh, we... i-it wasn't my decision see, but, uh...''
Behind him Kayoko twitched, getting annoyed with the scientist's stuttering. ''Spit it out already.''
Shiroko stood next to the gothic girl, frowning with equal impatience. It hadn't been easy to convince the police to let them handle the scientist in one of the empty lab rooms for questioning, obviously wanting to whisk said scientist back to a more secure location to do that. However time was of the essence – every minute the man had was another minute he could come up with a forgery or a lie. At least now, with him rattled by the battle, he was less likely to formulate a smartly-woven lie to cover his own ass.
Sighing Sensei got down on one knee. The man across from him wasn't much older than he himself, probably only a decade older at most, but with his glasses cracked and hands shaking he looked like he'd aged ten years on top of that. Forcing an answer out of him wouldn't do anything; he had to pry it out.
''Listen.'' Sensei said in a softer, but still firm tone. ''Things are only going to get worse for you if you resist. Tell us what we need to know. What. Happened. Here?''
The scientist opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again – only to close it after mumbling out something barely intelligible. Kayoko twitched again and raised her pistol, clearly half-tempted to shoot the gun and knock him out cold.
But the movement did the trick. ''W-We used students!''
Kayoko paused in her motion, and Sensei swiftly spoke. ''What do you mean 'used' students?''
The scientist wrung his clammy hands together, frantic almost as he looked between the three of them. ''T-The Mystic Energy, i-in their halos! W-We extract it!''
Sensei took a moment to absorb that. ''Why?''
''I-I don't know, I-I was just doing what I was told! T-T-The energy concentration is highest in the halo, a-and the latest generation of students seem to p-possess higher amounts of it, so we extract it!'' The scientist hurriedly explained. ''W-When there's nothing more to extract they're disposed of in the d-dumping room, then we-''
''Kayoko.''
''Right.'' Kayoko pulled the trigger; a single, silenced shot of her pistol striking the man's forehead and knocking him out cold with the shot – leaving a nasty bruise, but not killing him.
Shiroko didn't need orders; a troubled expression on her face as she pushed the door open with her shoulder, letting Sensei take the lead. The raven-haired man said nothing, lips pursed as he tried to banish the thought; the dangerous, insidious thought... but it lingered, hastening his steps. Behind him Shiroko and Kayoko hurried to match his pace, the three of them passing by investigators and police, the shouts of arrested guards echoing down the halls.
Sensei paid it no mind. Following the signs and markings he went down back towards the Containment Chamber. Passing it by the hallway continued on for only a short while; a short, stubby end with little in the way of attention-grabbing details. Aside from a singular door, off in the corner. Small, innocuous even, shelved away like it could be just for a supply closet or something. Minimalist not to hide what laid inside, but because that was all the consideration the designers gave it.
A swipe of the Containment Chamber guard's card made it open with a beep.
He almost wished he hadn't.
''...that's...''
Shiroko's soft word came out in a stiff inhale; breath cutting the syllables short. For a moment neither of the three said a word, and it was the rancid scent of decay that forced them all back; gasps and gags escaping them as they stumbled back. But even as he stumbled, Sensei couldn't take his eyes off what laid insides.
Bodies. Stacked atop each other like sardines in a tight, confined hole in the floor, their skin deathly pale and dry. Halos were absent from their heads and instead laid limp not far from their owner, no life left to keep them hovering above their heads. In the dim light of the room the slack, motionless eyes almost seemed to move, shadows flickering across their glassy eyes as if the countless bodies looked up at them, judging.
Judging them for being too late.
''Sensei! Any luck with the scientist~?''
Sensei swiped the card through the reader, closing the door once more. Next to him Kayoko put her back to the wall and pulled her hoodie over her nose, as if to mask the rancid air with her own scent, whilst Shiroko shook her head and almost-dazedly stumbled away. Sensei however focused on the student that approached him – Aru.
''Sensei? Are you alright?'' The sniper questioned with evident worry.
''I... yeah.'' He swallowed, forcing a smile. ''Yeah. Just uh... just startled, is all.''
''By something in the room I presume? Might we see what-''
''No.'' The firmness to his voice made her jump in surprise, glancing back at him. ''No, sorry, you... just no. Round up the others and wait for me at the front. I'll be with you shortly; just need to talk with the officers.''
Aru blinked at him, still startled by his sudden firmness, but she didn't protest... though, he sensed she suspected something was up. ''Understood, Sensei... Kayoko, come on. You too, fox.''
''It's Shiroko.'' The grey-haired fox murmured, but didn't sound very energetic about it.
Kayoko was even less so, movements stiff as she marched past Aru towards the front, Shiroko just a step behind. Shooting one last confused look at him Aru hurried after her allies, leaving him alone in the quiet corner of the hallway, his eyes straying to the handle of the door. To what laid behind such a simple bit of metal.
And to whom he saw laying atop the pile of student corpses, head lolled back and glassy eyes wide with unfathomable terror.
'...I'm sorry, Airi... I was too late.'
[END]
A/N: Oh dear, poor Airi~
See you next time in Chapter 5: Onwards~
(No sneak peek this time.)