In two separate unknown locations, two polar opposite figures contemplated the event in a mix of business and personal views.
For one, it not only sent a message to the enemy and continued to establish the rightful dominance of the city's owners, but also personal karmic justice after what those bastards did to his beautiful and profitable club.
For another, it meant a great lose of profit and retribution was needed to restore the Oyobun's honor as well as his own, but also it angered him how the enemy attacked and violated his 'family's' favorite hangout.
For those who took an oath to protect and serve, it wasn't just another stressful day on the job, but also meant another escalating threat in the continuing violent gang war within the city. For one detective, it felt like an irritating inconvenience to his real case, while for his colleagues it was a deeply worrying situation that things will only get worse if something wasn't done soon.
****Just before sunset
Elisa's mind just raced at lightspeed, so to speak, as she made her way to the castle and didn't even stop to politely greet Xanatos, his family, or even Owen and just focused on getting to the clan before dark.
Instead of heading for the highest tower as usual, she made a beeline for the statues of Othello and Desdemona, not having to wait long as the last slivers of sunlight faded over the horizon where moments later deep cracks spidered across the stone shells of the clan and their visitors.
Mighty roars echoed throughout the castle walls to lead to brief murmured conversations and greetings, while Othello looked ready to soar off the moment Elisa stopped him in his tracks as she called out adamantly, "Othello, we have to talk, now!"
"There's nothing to discuss," he dismissed apathetically.
"Kowalski suspects me!" she yelled quickly as his wings snapped open, making him momentarily freeze as though a stone statue again.
He gave an annoyed deflated sigh as he turned to face her, "What do you mean, who's this Kowalski? Why should I care about what one human thinks of you?"
"It isn't just me, Matt and Captain Chavez, too," she said as the rest of the clan, Griff, Yin, Li Shen, and even Aurora gathered closer.
"What does Kowalski suspect of you, My Love? If he means you harm, I'll deal with him swiftly," Goliath growled protectively as he landed beside her, wrapping a wing around her.
"Kowalski's Matt's replacement as leader of the GTF, remember?" she said as she gently pushed the wing aside, "Only more ambitious and ruthless with an alleged reputation as a crooked cop, which makes him all the more dangerous to you. And you should care because a street kid was brought in last night that he and Matt questioned, and he claims he was assaulted by monsters, one of whose description matches yours, Othello."
Various eyes widened as Desdemona just glared at Othello to hiss at him, "What exactly were you up to last night, Othello?"
While he remained stone faced, her glare still cut him deeper than a steel sword. He remained silent for only a moment longer as he finally jumped down from his perch to cross his brawny sinewy arms as he answered hard, "Protecting, as is the Gargoyle Way, as the human way has failed."
"It sounds to me like you were just out causing trouble because your pride was embarrassed by what Elisa told us last night," Desdemona said rock hard, tapping hard on his armored chest, "Whatever is compelling you to such an idiotic mindset must cease now, and consider the consequences before someone gets hurt."
"Which may be a whole lot of people if we don't act fast," Elisa stated quickly in a dead serious tone, making all the Gargoyles pay close attention.
"What do you mean, Sister? What more trouble has my foolish pebbles for brains lifemate caused?"
"Not him," she shook her head, "But I wanted to come to you about Kowalski first because it couldn't wait as he's got the whole GTF out for any and all Gargoyles and anyone who helps them. But since you're upset about Neilson and Kimura's release yesterday, there may be a chance to change that and perhaps even redeem the police to you. Earlier this morning there was a blackout in Little Tokyo and the surrounding neighborhoods, the source isn't yet known but the Dracon syndicate has claimed responsibility as police stations all over the city and all the news networks got recorded demands, and as far as I know it's still broadcasting."
The Gargoyles all seemed to disappear in a wave as they all hurried inside to the nearest TV to see what she spoke of, leaving her momentarily flabbergasted at the sudden movement, save for Goliath who still wrapped his wing over her protectively, as well as Othello and Desdemona; arms crossed with a stone faced frown and an ice cold stare, respectively.
Goliath and Elisa followed the crowd, Desdemona trailing close behind, glancing at her lifemate only to say hard, "Coming?"
His frown deepened a bit, even deepening his furrowed brow, but he finally just grunted a sigh as he gradually followed them.
Everyone crowded into the TV room, some still trying to maneuver their way in and look over each other as Hudson flipped to WVRN News.
"…back to you, Travis," finished one reporter as the face of a familiar one appeared to say,
"Thank you, Chris. Once more we bring you the mysterious demands allegedly made by the Dracon Syndicate, currently the largest crime organization in New York City;
"This is a message for the Yakuza, the Triads, the Cartels, and all other foreign gangs occupying the New York metropolitan area; by the authority of the Dracon Syndicate, these organizations are ordered to leave within the next 48 hours and surrender all business operations to the city's rightful owners. The first blackout caused earlier today was merely a warning, and if our demands aren't met within the specified time there will be another more powerful EMP and a bigger blackout and only 12 hours to withdraw. If our demands are still not met, well…we're prepared to take any and all necessary actions to destroy our rivals. You've been warned."
"As heard in the message all non-Dracon organized crime syndicates were given only 48 hours to withdraw from the city, but since this morning that leaves about less than 36 hours from now with the next blackout expected to occur the morning after tomorrow," Travis reported as a countdown appeared in the lower right corner of the screen.
"While the cause of the blackout so far is unknown, authorities such as the FBI have so far traced the possible source to somewhere in the East Village, centering around the Little Tokyo neighborhood, and while some power has been restored to a few surrounding blocks, repair and power crews are still struggling to restore power to the rest of the affected areas.
"Investigations are still ongoing, but fear has gripped the citizens of New York, especially for those living in and around the area, and if the threats of the Dracon Syndicate are to be taken seriously, something more disastrous than a blackout could be on the horizon for the city.
"We will bring more updates as this story emerges…"
Murmurs arose among the small crowd as Othello gave a frustrated loud growl and he stomped out of the TV room, prepared to once more take on the city's criminal element on his terms as a voice boomed, "Brother, where do you think you're going?"
"Where do you think?" he boomed back, "To deal with those degenerate scumbags!"
"Not alone, you won't," Goliath warned, "We don't know where to begin, and we need a plan first. Your impulsiveness to handle the situation alone will only escalate the danger."
Othello frowned in a deep glower as he crossed his brawny arms again, grumbling, "And maybe that's why we should withdraw from this city."
"What?!" Goliath barked as the crowd gathered in the hallway.
"Should our clan not find a more suitable home, safe from the petty antics of corrupt humans and the dangerous chaos they create?"
"There is always danger, and it's the coward's way to hide from it!" Goliath yelled, "I can't believe one of my clan, let along my own brother would consider something so asinine!"
Othello's eyes lit like white suns as a threatening snarl nearly became a roar, but as he glanced at his lifemate as she shielded Elisa, something in him suddenly deflated as he just gave a dejected sigh.
"I just want my clan to be safe," he admitted begrudgingly, "I just don't want my efforts to be for nothing, like I'm a failure. Forget it, you wouldn't understand."
Goliath also deflated, a stoic calmness coming over him as he gently held his rookery brother's armored shoulders to say, "Brother, I may understand better than most. But failure doesn't mean weakness, and despite inconvenient frustrations your efforts are never for nothing when it's for your clan and home. But you also can't and shouldn't have to do it alone; you're part of this clan and we are part of this city even with all its flaws. To be alone means emptiness and devoid of purpose, Brother."
Desdemona slowly came to him, gently cupping his face as she said patiently, "Besides, you remember what it was like when our souls were trapped in the Coldstone shell, we were together but there was also the fear of what our evil brother would do were one of us not in control. To live in fear, whether human or Gargoyle, is let it win, and I've never known you to let fear win."
His face softened a bit, touching her hand on his cheek.
"But, what would you have me do?" he questioned, "We can't just stand around as those fiends threaten the city, but I also remain leery about the humans accepting any of our help or if they deserve our protection."
"Everyone, human and Gargoyle alike in Manhattan, deserves protection," Goliath said, "even if they reject it. It won't change things in one night, but to be indifferent and allow suffering to continue is even worse. If that were our way, we may as well not be Gargoyles and stop breathing."
"May I speak?" asked Aurora as she stepped from the small crowd, "I have to agree with your brother, Goliath, or at least I understand a bit of what he says. I know we've had this discussion before, especially at the council, but as a member of a once isolated clan I have wondered why yours isn't but once was, and is it not best to consider being so again?"
Goliath was momentarily silently stoic, but Lexington spoke up, "I can answer that, Aurora. It's like Desdemona said, we'd just be living in fear, and I remember when we first thought we were the last Gargoyles and alone in the world, it was the worst feeling. I've learned to be a little more cautious since then, but the friends we've made and the good of it far outweighs the bad. Besides, we never would've found other clans in the world or new friends if we didn't look to the outside world. Otherwise, we would've remained alone and just dumped our problems onto someone else and we'd have become complacent."
"And to be so means not adapting when needed," she said slowly and thoughtfully, "It's like the changing seasons; slow but inevitable, and must be adapted to in order to survive. Something my clan understands well, given the extremes of my icy home."
"And perhaps something like justice is the same way," Othello said low, partly to himself, as he slowly gazed at Elisa, who gave a small understanding smile.
"Human justice is far from perfect," she said, "Hell, we're still trying to get it right to work for everyone, even the most oppressed people, but we're trying and I'll make sure it's a world my kids will be proud of."
Othello gave a small nod, but remained silently skeptical as he glanced to Goliath to say, "What would you have us do, my leader?"
"We will head for the perimeter of the blackout in teams, while some of us stay here to guard the castle. Those teams will observe and stay close to police units and their FBI allies to see what they know, but do not let them see you. Our guests are welcomed to stay or join us if they so choose."
While Li Shen stayed behind with Hudson and Nudnik to guard the castle, even with the high tech Xanatos security system to keep it safe, everyone else divided into teams and headed for the perimeter of the Little Tokyo neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Elisa could only return to work at the 23rd, though she much rather wanted to be where the action was, but had to think of the wellbeing of her unborn child.
****Somewhere on FDR Drive
"Why are we doing this?" asked Officer O'Malley as he and Officer Morgan drove through the city, their thoughts occupied with more than the demands of their jobs.
"Because every available officer is needed at the blackout site for safety until whatever caused it is found," Morgan answered.
"No, I mean this whole crazy thing with the GTF," O'Malley said soberly, "I just want to do my job right, but I'm torn between what both Bluestone and Kowalski said. Bluestone may believe in things like UFOs and Bigfoot, but he's a good officer, and Kowalski may be right about those creatures being dangerous but he seemed unhinged about it. Dealing with such things isn't exactly what I signed up for back at the academy, and things like the gang war or bank robbers I can handle. So, I wonder why we're doing this when maybe it should be left to professionals like animal control or even self-proclaimed monster hunters."
Morgan could only be silent, trying to focus on driving and not glancing at the rooftops every so often.
"I suppose it just goes to show things aren't always as simple in this world as we want them to be," he sighed.
"Do you think we should tell Kowalski about our patrol of St. Damien's?"
Though they weren't on assignment like other GTF officers tonight, Morgan and O'Malley were called into help investigate suspicious activity just before they were called away to neighborhoods around Little Tokyo.
"I still think you were just jumping at shadows, given the place is a veritable tourist attraction since that video aired a few years ago." Morgan chuckled low, but couldn't help feeling like something or someone not human was watching him inside the cathedral.
He quickly glanced at the rooftops again, shadowy figures barely visible seemed to fly across his field of vision as though just figments of his imagination.
"No, for now we concentrate on doing our job and stopping a real threat to the city. We only have feelings and speculations on the St. Damien situation when what we need is hard evidence, which we are sorely lacking right now. So, let's never forget, it's evidence that could mean the difference between guilt and innocence."
O'Malley nodded stoically as Morgan turned on the overhead lights on the way to the Little Tokyo neighborhood.