SailorStar9: Figured it was about time I updated this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Pairings: Established!Furuya Rei (Amuro Tooru)/Mizuno Ami
Disclaimers: I own absolutely nothing, except this plot and pairing.
Movie 22: Zero the Enforcer
At Professor Agasa's house...
The scene opens with a close-up of Professor Agasa's drone which the Professor was remote controlling.
"Amazing." Ayumi gushed as the drone flew up high into the air.
"It took off in no time." Genta was astonished.
"And it flies awfully high." Mitsuhiko marveled.
"This can fly at a height of 1000 meters for 30 minutes." Professor Agasa bragged.
"That's got be a Guinness World Record." Fumio remarked.
"Even so, how do you control it at that attitude?" Conan wondered.
"Good question." Fumio agreed.
"It utilizes satellite communication." Haibara supplied. "That's why we can even control it from a great distance."
"I'm relying on the video being sent from the drone as well as the latitude and longitude data to pilot it." Professor Agada explained. "But, between its direction, speed, and the camera, I have to operate three things simultaneously, so it's quite difficult.
"Is there a reason you modified this drone?" Fumio asked.
"Because it's every man's dream." Professor Agasa winked. "With this, you can feel as if you've climbed Mt. Everest, even if you haven't."
"Just for that!?" Fumio twitched.
"Coming up after this commercial break, we'll bring you the latest information on the upcoming Tokyo Summit." the noon news anchor announced on TV.
Near the newly built 'Edge of Ocean'...
"I'm here at the location of the summit." the onsite reporter introduced the new building. "On this reclaimed land near Tokyo Bay, the event will be held next week, at the 'Edge of Ocean' integrated resort's international convention center. Scheduled to open next month, 'Edge of Ocean' was designed to take in plenty of water, which is appropriate for a seaside city and is composed of a wide variety of facilities. Casino Tower, which is constructed in the motif of a shell, also acts as a lighthouse to keep the ocean safe; in which you can look out over the 'Edge of Ocean'. And in the shopping mall located close to Casino Tower, a large waterfall and an indoor park are in place, allowing visitors to have a moment of peace and tranquility. And one other concept it's comprised is: 'Japan'. The interior of the International Convention Center borrows the beauty and form from Japanese gardens. There is also a classy restaurant on the first floor. In addition to that, please take a look at this." she played the introductory clip of the new monorail. "This is a two-layer monorail that runs around the perimeter of the area. Through its fusion of traditional culture with future advancement, it certainly brings about the feeling of a smart city. As you can see," she pointed to the digital map. "'Edge of Ocean' is connected by two bridges. The Metropolitan Police Department, which will be in charge of security for the summit when it's held on May 1, announced that they will be placing as many as 22,000 officers on security duty throughout the metropolitan area. Coming up next, we'll bring you news on the 'Swan' unmanned space probe."
Inside the 'Edge of Ocean' building...
Kazami was leading his team out of the building after finishing up the inspection when, all of a sudden, an explosion erupted from the first story restaurant, the shockwave throwing the just exiting Ami into a nearby tree.
A bruised Furuya Rei looked on in shock at the burning and wrecked building before pulling back.
In the distance, the wailing of a fleet of ambulances were heard.
At Professor Agasa's house...
"Having finished collecting samples from Mars, the unmanned space probe, 'Swan', will return to Earth on May 1, Japan Standard Time." the news anchor related. "During its return, the main body of the probe would burn up in the atmosphere. So, only the return capsule, measuring approximately four meters in diameter, will be sent through the atmosphere for reentry. Afterwards, it will descend via parachute and is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean in the coastal waters of Japan. A precision-guided system with an attached GPS unit is on board the sample's capsule, so that the place it touches down can be determined to within a 200-meter radius."
"We interrupt this program with some breaking news." an urgent news bulletin cut in. "This is just in... moments ago, a large explosion took place at the international convention center where the Tokyo Summit will be held next week. Here's the security footage from when it took place. As for the 'Edge of Ocean' integrated resort which has become the scene of the crime, due to the fact that it has not yet opened to the public, the grounds were mostly vacant. Reports are coming in regarding casualties among several police officers who had been performing security checks for the summit."
"Professor!" Conan pulled Professor Agasa into the house. "This could be a terrorist attack."
"Isn't the summit next week?" Professor Agasa reminded. "It might have been an accident."
"The number of police officers who suffered casualties as well as whether this was an accident or an intentional act reminds unclear due to ongoing investigations." the newscaster concluded.
"Come to think of it, a terrorist attack happening before the summit would only make the security tighter for the real thing." Conan pondered after Professor Agasa was called out by Mitsuhiko. "What's wrong?" he noticed Haibara's pale face.
"The security camera footage from right after the explosion..." Haibara muttered. "I may have seen wrong, since it was only there for a moment, but that man was on it; Fumio's father."
"Amuro-san was in it?" Conan gasped.
The next day, in the Police HQ meeting hall...
"The forensic investigation ended with no explosives found on the scene." Sato reported.
"There's a traditional Japanese restaurant on the first floor of the international convention center." Takagi added. "And a kitchen area, which became the site of the explosion, is located underground. A large quantity of gas was located there."
"Therefore, we believe it's safe to conclude that this was a gas explosion." Sato declared.
"Hold it." Kuroda cut in. "Construction on that building has just been completed. It's very unlikely that there would be a gas leak."
"it's true that the gas main was the latest model available." Takagi agreed. "It was also possible to open and close the gas line via the Internet."
"In that case, how did a gas leak occur?" Megure wondered.
"It's possible the system was defective to begin with." Sato suggested.
"Had it not been inspected?" Kuroda asked.
"The inspection was scheduled for today." Sato responded.
"The Internet connection for 'Edge of Ocean' had just been set up for today." Takagi explained.
"After a security inspection by MPD's Public Security Bureau this morning., it was also scheduled to be inspected." Sato stated.
"In that case, it seems highly likely that this was an accident." Shiratori noted.
"Because if this was an act of terrorism aimed at the summit, it would be meaningless unless it was carried out next week, on May 1, when important people from various countries would be gathered there." Megure nodded.
"Regarding the venue for the summit, we've been informed that it will be changed as a result of this incident." Sato informed.
"I have information to report." Kazami burst into the meeting hall.
"State your name and affiliation." Kuroda instructed.
"I'm Kazami Yuya, of the MPD's Public Security Bureau." Kazami related. "Have you located an object that ignited and caused the gas to explode?"
"The Criminal Investigation Division is looking into the electrical equipment." Sato pointed out.
"The point of ignition may have been a high-voltage power cable." Kazami suggested.
"Don't tell me you found a fault in its construction?" Megure gasped.
"No," Kazami refuted. "However, we did find fingerprints that were burned onto the door of the high-voltage cable's storage unit. The only ones who entered the scene were those involved with its construction and Mizuno-fukubuchou's team who were performing the final checks yesterday. Consequently, when we compared the fingerprints with those of the construction workers, as well as the fingerprints of police officers in our database, we found that the former member of MPD's Criminal Investigation Division One, Mouri Kogoro's fingerprints were a perfect match."
Later that evening...
"We, the Criminal Investigation Division, along with the Security Bureau and the Public Security Bureau ended up inspecting the scene before the summit." Takagi explained to Conan under a bridge after his team confiscated Mouri's case files. "And the Public Security Bureau was in charge at the time of the explosion."
"So, that's why Detective Kazami was injured." Conan noted."
"He was outside of the building, so he received only minor injuries." Takagi stated. "On the other hand, Mizuno-senpai wasn't that lucky; her team was the last group out of the 'Edge of Ocean' and she got caught the blunt of the shockwave."
"Is Mizuno-fukubuchō alright?" Conan pressed.
"She's brought to hospital shortly afterwards and treated for second-degree burns and a severe concussion." Takagi revealed. "She still hasn't regained consciousness yet. I'm sure I shouldn't be saying this, but the fact that only us police were injured, not regular civilians may be a blessing in disguise."
"If the explosion had occurred during the summit, the whole world would be thrown into an uproar." Conan concluded.
"No," Takagi corrected. "The MPD and the Public Security Bureau is receiving the blunt of it. Though it's only natural, what with an accidental explosion occurring before the summit."
"'Accidental'?" Conan echoed.
"I meant that based on the conditions on the scene, it should have been treated like an accident at first." Takagi explained.
"Were Korogo-oji-san's fingerprints really at the scene?" Conan inquired.
"Kazami-san found them and immediately brought it up as a criminal act." Takagi confirmed.
"Thanks, Detective Takagi." Conan nodded. "Bye." he took off to answer the incoming call.
After Mouri was arrested by Kazami...
Conan hurried downstairs just as Mouri was taken away in a police car when he noticed Amuro exit Cafe Poirot to sweep the street. "This man is a Public Security officer, isn't he?" he showed the older man the photo he took of Kazami.
"Who knows?" Amuro shrugged. "I sure don't."
"Both you and Detective Kazami are injured." Conan pressed on. "That means you were at the scene of the explosion, too."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Amuro still feigned ignorance.
"Weren't you on a preliminary inspection of the venue for the summit?" Conan insisted. "At that time, I'm sure you sensed the likelihood it was a terrorist attack. At this rate, the explosion will be treated as an accident. So, you invented a false suspect. Amuro-san, if you're a policeman like he is, isn't it possible for you to tamper with his computer and leave his fingerprints at the scene of the explosion?"
"The police don't follow leads without any sort of proof." Amuro reminded.
"Why are you doing this?" Conan demanded.
"Because there is something I have to protect, even if it costs me my life." Amuro declared and shut the café door.
Later that night...
"It's unfortunate." Kazami gave his superior a call. "This turned out just as you and Mizuno-fukubuchō said it would, Furuya-san. If we had only figured it out sooner, our fellow comrades in Public Security wouldn't have died."
"Who would've thought it would be bombed before the summit?" Amuro was taking the call in a phone booth.
"We're currently looking into the national extremists on the Public Security's list as well as international terrorists." Kazami related. "What about your end, Furuya-san?"
"We're looking into the transmission that accessed the location's gas line." Amuro replied. "It looks like a slightly peculiar system is being used. As soon as the investigation is complete, I'll convey that to the MPD's Public Security Bureau. What's happening with what we talked about?"
"It's programmed so that you enter 2-2-9-1." Kazami replied.
"Got it." Amuro ended the call. "Fumio-kun?" he took the incoming call. "She's awake?"
The next morning...
"We received a report from the Anti-Cybercrime Division stating so." Shiratori reported in the meeting.
"That settles it, then." Kazami insisted. "Mouri Kogoro broke in here, opened this door, and tampered with the high-voltage power cable."
"If that was true, Mouri-kun should have been shown on the security cameras." Megure protested.
"Internet access at the location only began yesterday." Sato revealed.
"What is he saying in the interrogation?" Kuroda asked.
"Mouri Kogoro continues to deny it all." Kazami replied. "We can send the case to the prosecution even if he continues to deny it, but..."
"You intend to prosecute him even when you don't know any motive?" Megure snapped.
"Sending a case to prosecution once all the evidence has been gathered is the natural thing to do as a member of the police." Kazami stated.
At Professor Agasa's house...
"Professor, you said you found it?" Conan hurried to the house's basement.
"Here, look." Professor Agasa had Haibara pull out the photos the drone had taken. "Remember how we filmed the scattered debris because you asked us to? We reconstructed this by taking these images and piecing them together like a puzzle. In order to determine the specific type of bomb, Ai-kun is currently comparing it to every image on the Internet."
"I found an object that matches." Haibara located the item. "I'll bring up the details."
"An IoT pressure cooker?" Conan blinked when Haibara pulled out the image.
"It's an extraordinary high-pressure vessel made into the shape of a pot." Haibara clarified. "'Simply by setting the pressure, temperature and time from one's smartphone, one can prepare soup and other such meals.'" she read off the online advertisement. "Beside the pressure cooker, there was also a frying pan, a kettle and various kinds of tableware scattered about. Which means the location of the explosion was the kitchen area of the on-site restaurant."
"What the?" Conan sneered. "You mean it wasn't a bomb?"
"What's wrong?" Haibara asked. "Did something happen?"
"Kogoro-oji-san was sent to prosecution." Conan growled.
At the Police Headquarters...
"You're looking into the possibility that someone manipulated Kogoro-oji-san's computer, aren't you?" Conan asked, Megure had requested for a meeting.
"It's true that Prosecutor Kusakabe requested that we do an additional investigation." Megure confirmed.
"What's this about Mouri-sensei?" Amuro cut in.
"You were listening?" Conan noted.
"I was just worried about Mouri-sensei and brought some refreshments from Poirot for him." Amuro refuted.
"Mouri-kun's no longer here." Megure stated.
"It's a general rule that when one is sent to prosecution, they're moved to the detention house." Conan reminded. "You couldn't possibly not know that, Amuro-san."
"Is that so?" Amuro mused and took his leave.
Later that evening...
"Kaa-san's favorite ice cream isn't here." Fumio whined, father and son were doing some shopping for dinner.
"That's true." Amuro agreed. "How about we get the flour and eggs first?"
"Furuya-san." Kazami started, Amuro walked down an aisle after sending Fumio off to get some clear plastic bags for the packed shrimp. "Why are you so fixated on making this into a case?"
"If this gets processed as an accident, we won't be able to get a single warrant." Amuro stated, grabbing a bag of flour.
"For Public Security, you should even be able to perform an illegal search without a warrant." Kazami pointed out.
"It's for that very reason that we need to leave legal means open." Amuro reminded. "Or we'd be digging our own grave. 'Bear the weight of your illegal work on your own.'" he quoted. "That's how the Public Security operates."
"And it's also the reason Mizuno-fukubuchō refuses to use collaborators." Kazami mused. "But deciding whether to legally announce the incident or illegally cover it up is also what we do at Public Security."
"Of course it is." Amuro agreed. "But only after considering which of those two will best protect Japan." he ended the conversation and went off to meet up with Fumio, all the while recalling the conversation he had with Ami by her hospital bed.
The next day...
"As a result of the investigation that we, the Public Security Bureau, carried out, it has been discovered that Nor was used to hack into the scene of the explosion." Kazami reported. "It's a browsing software that encrypts one's IP address through multiple computers so it can't be traced."
"And it isn't possible to break through Nor's anonymity?" Kuroda asked.
"Generally speaking, it's not." Kazami confirmed. "But if the Nor browser is misconfigured or has a bug, it appears to be possible to identify a specific user. Conversely, if we create a vulnerability in the perpetrator's Nor's browser from here, the possibility of tracing them will arise. We at the Public Security Bureau are currently searching for the possibility that we can trace the server and identify the user. They've called a meeting." he informed, taking a look at the new notification on his smartphone. "I will be leaving my seat temporarily."
In the park outside the Police Headquarters...
"Eavesdropping on the investigation meeting?" Amuro noted amusedly, catching Conan in the act.
"Why are you here?" Conan gasped.
"You sure give it your all when it comes to Mouri Kogoro." Amuro teased. "Or is it you're doing this for Ran-nee-chan? It's not a problem." he assured. "Come on out."
"Why did you call for me?" Kazami stepped out.
Amuro gave his subordinate a death glare and stormed over to the older man. Grabbing his wrist, he flipped over Kazami's right arm and removed the transmitter Conan had planted on Kazami beforehand. "You sure did well to operate in Public Security like this." he chided.
"My apologies..." Kazami muttered.
"Wait." Conan chased after Amuro.
"Were you the one who put the listening device on me?" Kazami caught up with Conan.
"Amuro-san directs all Public Security officers nationwide." Conan commented. "He's the National Police Agency's 'Zero'. Those who can be in contact with Amuro-san are limited to select police detectives, even among those of Public Security. You were one of them, aren't you, Kazami-san?"
"The man known as 'Amuro' that you speak of is a killer." Kazami revealed. "Last year, he pushed someone we were examining at the detention house into committing suicide."
In the Police Headquarters' meeting hall...
"As soon as the Public Security Bureau determines the point of access through Nor, Mouri Kogoro will be..." Kuroda was concluding the meeting.
"Pardon my interruption." Chiba burst in. "Something serious is happening right now."
Around Tokyo...
Electronic devices started short-circuiting.
In the police hospital...
Ami was already signing out her discharge papers.
On the streets...
"What's the attacker's trying to accomplish by doing this?" Conan wondered. "Electronic appliances... so that's it." he recalled what Haibara told him about the IoT cooker pot. "This terrorism began with the explosion at the venue of the summit." he took off on his Turbo Engine Skateboard.
At the Police Headquarters...
"Conan-kun." Megure received an incoming call from Conan. "I'm sorry, but there's no time to talk with you right now."
"Inspector Megure, I'm sure that this is all IoT terrorism." Conan informed. "The terrorist is indiscriminately attacking electronic appliances that can connect to the Internet. So, these attacks can be stopped by disconnecting them from the Internet."
Near a bridge...
"IoT terrorism, huh?" Amuro mused, having installed a hidden app on Conan's smartphone to eavesdrop on his conversations. "What a kid..."
On the road...
"The pressure cooker found at the scene of the explosion is also an IoT appliance." Conan added. "Once the terrorist controlled the gas main over the Internet and filled the scene with gas, they used the IoT pressure cooker as the ignition to blow up the venue of the summit. Kogoro-oji-san couldn't have done it."
Elsewhere...
"I certainly didn't think this was IoT terrorism." Amuro met up with Kazami.
"I should have expected you to see through such an elaborate trick." Kazami noted.
"I'm not the one who saw through it." Amuro refuted. "But thanks to this, we succeeded in having it processed as a crime. As such, I have to bear the weight of the illegal work we do. It's time to release our 'cooperator'."
"Before we do, please tell me what information you've found so far." Kazami requested. "NAZU?" he gaped.
"We'll release this info to the Anti-Cybercrime Division and have the Criminal Investigation Division report it at the investigative meeting." Amuro instructed. "This is a reward: it's thanks to the Criminal Investigation Division that the terrorist bombings were processed as a crime. Besides, the fact that this info came from 'Zero' has already been conveyed to the attaché behind the scenes."
"You're frightening, Furuya-san." Kazami was awed by his superior.
At the investigative meeting...
"We've received a report that traces showing Mouri-san's computer has been hacked were found." Sato reported. "It was used as a relay point, after all."
"Where do those traces lead?" Kuroda asked.
"Because it was accessed from an unknown smartphone connected to public Wi-fi, we were unable to determine that." Shiratori took over. "But at that time, Mouri-san was being held at the detention house by the prosecution and it was not possible for him to be near an access point. Furthermore, the hacking in the current IoT terrorist attacks also used Nor, the same method as this previous attack."
"How is the investigation into the server progressing?" Kuroda inquired.
"According to Mizuno-fukubuchō's most recent report, they've found that the system is located in NAZU." Shiratori replied.
In Eri's office...
After Shiratori informed the group that after NAZU's hacking incident from the previous year which had also used Nor, it had been Ami who developed a Nor tracing system for NAZU.
It was then Conan began to connect the dots.
After requesting Kuriyama to send the detailed documents about the NAZU hacking incident to his Shinichi smartphone, he headed out.
On the road...
Amuro drove out from the side road after he noticed Conan speed by on his skateboard. "It looks like you knew I was coming." he stated.
"I first realized something felt off back then." Conan admitted. "When I had the Professor look into it, there was a remote-control app installed in it; the type that doesn't place an icon."
"What proof do you have that the Public Security installed it?" Amuro asked.
"There wasn't any." Conan shrugged. "But I expected as much."
"Why didn't you remove the app, even though you knew it was there?" Amuro inquired.
"Because I'm going to meet the one behind all of it now." Conan replied.
"Don't tell me you figured out who the terrorist is?" Amuro gaped.
"And their motive, too." Conan added. "Their motive is, all of you guys, Amuro-san. It all started with the NAZU hacking incident."
"That took place last year..." Amuro frowned. "Haba Fumikazu?" he realized.
"Didn't Haba-san commit suicide at the detention house last year?" Conan reminded.
"It was last year, on this very day." Amuro recalled. "So, that's it. How could this be happening?"
"I'm sure the terrorist still hasn't finished taking out their revenge." Conan realized, horrified and he sped down the road on his skateboard, Amuro following closely behind. "Less than an hour left?" he exclaimed, giving Professor Agasa a call to confirm the unmanned space probe's landing time.
"Conan-kun, is the terrorist doing what I think they are?" Amuro pressed.
"They plan on hacking into NAZU and making it crash." Conan affirmed.
"I never would have thought this would come from the sky." Amuro growled.
In the police headquarters...
"A blackout?" everyone in the meeting hall was stunned as the lights went out.
"Inspector." Chiba ran in. "It seems the emergency generator has been destroyed."
"What in the world is going on here?" Megure demanded.
"I have a report from NAZU." Shiratori came in. "They confirmed that their unmanned space probe has been hacked into. With things as they are, they said they can't separate the capsule."
On the road...
"The main body of 'Swan' will burn up in the atmosphere." Kazami was making his report to Amuro. "But once they found out that the landing point of the capsule is off course, it seems that all of NAZU are in a frenzy. I'm sending you the latest data on the estimated landing point."
In the police headquarters...
"139 degrees, 45 minutes, 8.405 seconds east longitude." Ami reported NAZU's newest report to the gathered officers. "According to NAZU, its predicted landing point will be here."
"If a capsule that's over four meters wide strikes here, there will be unimaginable damage and harm." Megure exclaimed in horror.
"Arrange for large personnel carriers as quickly as possible." Kuroda instructed. "Order an immediate evacuation within one kilometer radius from the MPD headquarters. Mizuno..."
"I understand." Ami nodded. "I'll remain in contact with NAZU."
On the road...
"How can this be happening?" Amuro gasped. "Conan-kun." he showed the shrunken detective the map.
"The capsule that separated from the probe will only come crashing down like a meteorite." Kazami continued his report as he hurried into the police headquarters. "The trajectory can only be controlled in a short time before it enters the atmosphere. It seems they can't overwrite its memory if that encryption code doesn't match."
"Are you saying that the terrorist changed the code?" Conan realized.
"When they hacked into NAZU and changed the probe's trajectory." Amuro nodded.
"We have to have them tell us what they changed the code to." Conan insisted.
"I'd like you to be my cooperator in order to do that." Amuro requested. "Along with the Professor who made something as incredible as this." he flashed the transmitter he took off from Kazami.
"What're you going to do?" Conan gasped.
"I'm going to bring the dead back to life." Amuro grinned.
On the rooftop of Professor Agasa's house...
"For him to come up with a plan like this, i can see why he's Fumio-kun's father." Professor Agasa remarked, having his drone fly.
"It'll be great if we can get the code through this." Haibara noted, setting up her laptop. "You guys are here?" she noticed the others running up the staircase.
"The 'Swan' isn't on TV." Ayumi complained.
"Then, can I ask for your help?" Haibara asked. "Let's let them handle this while we continue to get everything ready."
In the police headquarters...
"NAZU is continuing to send the code." Amuro stated as he and Conan ran into the building. "But, just as we thought, it seems they can't access the probe."
Both males' attention was caught when their ears picked up a familiar tone.
Conan reached up and grabbed Kusakabe's sleeve, making him drop his phone. "Isn't that the data they can see at NAZU's mission control center, Terrorist-san?" he asked, Amuro picking up the dropped phone and showing the NAZU error screen.
"Prosecutor Kusakabe, I never would have thought it was you." Amuro admitted.
"I should have realized this sooner." Conan sighed. "Back when I saw the summary of evidence you submitted; those glass shards were a part of the true point of ignition of which only the one behind the explosion would know. But you submitted that as evidence when everyone still believed the point of ignition was a high voltage cable. Nice timing." he received a new email from Kuriyama. "These are the documents pertaining to the trial on last year's NAZU hacking incident in which you headed the incident."
"The method used in that incident also involved hacking in using Nor." Amuro realized.
"You used the same method as the case you headed in order to commit act of cyber terrorism." Conan added. "But that's where you made your error."
"NAZU had already completed a system that could track hackers." Amuro revealed.
"Knowing that, you used a version of Nor that had a bug to access your superior's phone and make it explode while having it appear to be an act of IoT terrorism." Conan stated. "You did so in order to have the police identify that dummy. That's why the timing of that IoT terrorism attack was strange."
"Don't touch my belongings." Kusakabe snatched his phone back from Amuro and fled through the side door to the carpark.
In the carpark...
"There are traces of having used Nor on that smartphone." Conan informed Amuro.
"Seriously." Amuro cursed and sped up.
"You're not getting away!" grabbing an empty drink can by a nearby planter, Conan activated his Power-Enhancing Kick Shoes and sent the can flying towards Kusakabe. "It didn't work?" he hissed, Kusakabe was sent tumbling down the pavement.
"Not a problem." Amuro took off after Kusakabe, cutting off his escape path. Dodging Kusakabe's fist, he took the older prosecutor down with an Akido move. "Prosecutor Kusakabe." he put the lawyer under arrest. "Was the Public Security really your motive for engaging in these acts of terror?"
"If the venue of the summit was blown up and the United States' space probe crashed into Tokyo, the Public Security would lose every scrap of prestige and dignity it has." Kusakabe declared.
"Why do you detest the Public Security to the point you'd go that far?" Amuro was puzzled.
"As long as all of you have power, our own Public Security Department can't carry out complete justice." Kusakabe snapped.
"So, you're saying that it's okay for people to die for the sake of justice?" Conan glared.
"I didn't intend to kill any civilians." Kusakabe admitted. "That's why I only blew it up when only the Public Security officers were there. I chose IoT terrorism because fatalities are unlikely to arise. I even chose that spot over there for the capsule's crashing spot."
"So, the reason you made the MPD headquarters have a blackout was to have the civilians inside evacuate?" Conan realized.
"And you committed IoT terrorist attacks on all the roads leading here was to stop anyone from entering this area." Amuro added.
"Even so, you should know there was a fair chance that someone could fall victim to it." Conan argued.
"For the sake of justice, a few sacrifices are unavoidable." Kusakabe barked.
"That's not justice." Conan retorted.
"Even the man who was my cooperator became a victim." Kusakabe broke down.
"You mean Haba-san?" Conan asked. "I knew it; he was your cooperator."
"How do you know that?" Kusakabe was shocked.
"It was the PIN number set for your passcode." Conan replied. "It caught my attention because it was so unusual. The reason you didn't turn off the input sound was so you wouldn't forget about Haba Fumikazu."
"No," Kusakabe growled. "It was to burn my desire to exact revenge on these guys into my mind."
"All cooperators of the Public Security officers report to Zero and are managed by number." Amuro stated. "But Public Security officers don't know about each other's cooperators. Up until last year, we didn't even know about a Public Security prosecutor having a cooperator."
"That's why you so easily discarded the man who was my cooperator back then?" Kusakabe snapped.
"You had an ulterior motive." Conan noted. "The act of larceny Haba-san committed last year."
"It was me who asked Haba to do that; in order to investigate the NAZU hacking incident," Kusakabe confessed. "Haba who knew that the access data was at the game company where our suspect had been seen coming and going, tried to make off with it. Those cooperating with the Public Security are illegally forced to undergo risky examinations. It's for that very reason that the relationship between the Public Security and their cooperators is stronger than that of blood relatives."
"Because of that, you came up with this plan to crash the probe into the MPD headquarters." Amuro concluded.
"Even since I found out that 'Swan' was returning to Earth on the anniversary of Haba's death." Kusakabe stated.
"And the IoT terrorism?" Conan pressed.
"That wasn't in my plan." Kusakabe defended. "As a prosecutor, I couldn't allow an innocent man to get indicted. It was in the spur of the moment. So, the number of victims far surpassed my expectations."
"You must not commit any further crimes." Conan insisted. "Tell me what you changed the code to when you hacked in."
"Public Security officers are professionals at defending justice." Kusakabe steadfastly refused. "Justice mustn't be lost, like what happened with Haba. You can just go ahead arrest me." he turned to Amuro. "Even in the examination, I will remain silent about everything."
"Prosecutor Kusakabe." Conan showed Kusakabe the live stream on his phone, the camera closing in on Haba who was standing at the heliport of the MPD headquarters' building.
"That's impossible." Kusakabe gasped in shock. "How is Haba..."
"This is a live video from the heliport at the MPD headquarters." Conan stated.
"The Public Security officer who examined him at the detention house made it as though he had committed suicide, allowing him to renounce the life he had led to that point." Amuro explained. "That was done in order to suppress the fact that he had been the Public Security prosecutor's cooperator. And also in order to make sure Public Security prosecutors could never again have someone as their cooperator. That fact was hidden, even from you. 'Bear the weight of your illegal work on your own.' You don't have the power to do that; that's what the Public Security has decided."
"When I hacked into NAZU, I changed to code to..." Kusakabe relented.
With the new code received, Ami passed the information to the NAZU operators.
"A communications blackout?" Amuro exclaimed.
"For a brief moment for five minutes, after it reenters the atmosphere." Ami confirmed.
"Apparently, because of a layer of plasma forms around it during that time, they're unable to maintain contact with it and they won't know for sure whether its trajectory was corrected." Amuro surmised. "Not to mention, there's also a chance the parachute won't open."
"Let me get Haba away from there and find shelter quickly." Kusakabe snapped and dashed back to the MPD headquarters.
On the MPD headquarters heliport...
"What's going on here?" Kusakabe was stunned to find the heliport empty.
"He isn't here." Amuro supplied. "What you were seeing was a superimposed video. Using video filmed with a drone, we edited it to make it appear as if he was on the heliport of the MPD headquarters. He's currently at a safe place."
"Amuro-san, if by some chance, they weren't able to correct its trajectory, is the place it'll strike really be..." Conan breathed.
"The over four-meter-wide capsule will come crashing down here at a speed of over 10km/s." Amuro confirmed.
"Since it's you, Amuro-san, are you able to immediately get your hands on an explosive?" Conan requested. "The explosive just needs to be able to change its trajectory so it lands into the Pacific Ocean."
"Kazami, carry this out immediately." Amuro instructed.
At Professor Agasa's house...
With Genta and the other kids at the drone controls, they transported the explosive to the designated spot.
On the MPD headquarters heliport...
"Amuro-san, can you get the timing down with this?" Conan handed a replicate of the drone's camera over, Amuro then had the number of the phone on the drone ready on his call screen.
At the exact moment, Amuro pressed the call button, igniting the bomb and sending the capsule off its projected course. "It was a success." he informed Conan.
"Furuya-san." Kazami greeted his superior. "We will now arrest him and turn over to the police."
"Fumikazu." Tachibana had also arrived on the scene. "I never imagined you were still alive. To think you were one of their cooperators too and with the Public Security prosecutor, no less."
"Kyoko-sensei." Conan started. "You were also a cooperator; one of Detective Kazami's."
"Everything began with the NAZU hacking incident, didn't it?" Conan realized.
"Since the Public Security told me to make their suspect be found guilty, I had been moving forward with the examination." Tachibana related. "That was when he was caught at the gaming company where their suspect had been coming and going. I didn't know why he did something like that. I desperately asked the Public Security to help him, but he committed suicide. I resented the Public Security. So, I closed my law office and aimed for a chance to exact my revenge as one of their cooperators."
"That's when you were appointed to defend Kogoro-oji-san, so he'd be found not guilty." Conan concluded.
"I didn't know why the Public Security wanted him not to be found guilty, but if that's what they wanted, I thought I'd make him be found guilty." Tachibana declared.
"So, you dragged people into this who weren't even involved?" Conan glared.
"What else could I have done?" Tachibana snapped. "I never would have thought that he was alive and under the Public Security's protection. If I had only known, I never would have done this. What number is Fumikazu? The Public Security always referred to us by number."
"Tachibana Kyoko." Amuro stated. "I release you from being one of the Public Security's cooperators."
"'You must bear the weight of illegal work on your own.'" Kazami quoted. "Now I know why Mizuno-fukubuchō refuses to use any cooperators. This is where Haba is." he tore off an address he wrote in his notebook and handed it to Tachibana. "If you want to see him, we won't stop you."
"Don't act so conceited." Tachibana slapped Kazami's hand off. "I'm the one who decided to be your cooperator. I'm the one who decided to betray you. I'm the one who decided to love him. Don't ever think you all were in control of every part of my life." with that, she stormed off.
"Thanks to you, we managed to arrest a terrorist who showed contempt to Japan." Amuro turned to his young helper.
"When you did first believe it was terrorism?" Conan asked.
"It was just as you inferred." Amuro admitted. "While I was inspecting the international convention center that day, I found that the gas main could be accessed via the Internet. Right when I considered the possibility of a terrorist bombing that used that and issued orders to the Public Security's forensics experts... but based on the scene of the explosion, it was also possible that it could be processed as an accident."
"And so, you created a suspect." Conan noted.
"And why, as quickly as possible, we wanted to transfer that suspect from the police to the Public Security prosecutor who would do everything the Public Security said." Amuro added.
"There's still one thing I haven't figured out yet." Conan pointed out.
"Your phone." Amuro spoke. "It's been lit up for a while now."
"Rei, we've got a problem." Ami contacted her lover.
"The capsule's going where?" Amuro exclaimed, after Ami informed him the capsule's changed trajectory had it headed towards the 'Edge of Ocean'. "What should we do?" he turned to Conan, the pair were rushing back down. "There's no more time."
"Amuro-san, this time I'm going to have you as my cooperator." Conan requested.
On the expressway...
"There's a traffic jam up ahead." Conan reported, referring to the traffic news on his phone as Amuro sped down the road.
"Aren't they giving proper evacuation instructions?" Amuro snapped, drifting past the trucks blocking them. Pushing his Mazda RX-7 past 180km/hr, he drove up a towing truck ramp and landed on the top of the train running on the monorail of the International Convention Center, before changing route to land on the other monorail.
On the monorail...
"Rei, the parachute just released from the capsule and is now gaining speed." Ami informed. "I've just received its estimated landing point from NAZU; it's going to hit Casino Tower in less than five minutes."
"Amuro-san!" Conan shouted, spotting the incoming train.
"Hold on tight." Amuro warned. Pushing his white convertible past its max speed, he drove along the side of the train. "Here." he swerved, landing on the lower monorail. "What do we do?" he asked, stabilizing the car.
"Head towards this building that is still under construction." Conan showed Amuro the building.
Inside the building...
"Can we make it?" Amuro asked.
"Considering the height of this building and its distance to the Casino Tower, we should, if we speed up from here in about a minute." Conan confirmed.
"The power of love sure is great." Amuro teased. Reaching the appropriate floor, he stepped on the accelerator. "Can we move it even a millimeter?"
"That's what I'm planning on." Conan declared. "It's no use." he exclaimed as the battered car accelerated. "We're not high enough."
"Bring it on." Amuro climbed up the next floor.
Conan then activated his Power-Enhancing Kick Shoes, unbuckled himself from his seat just as Amuro shot through the building wall. Ejecting a soccer ball from his Anywhere Ball Dispensing Belt, he sent the ball straight towards the incoming capsule, Amuro reaching out to grab the falling boy.
In mid-air...
Pulling out his service pistol with his right hand, Amuro fired at the glass window in front of them, emptying his pistol in the process, shards of the flying glass cutting his check.
The deflected capsule shot past several of the anchoring cables of the Casino Tower and crash-landed into the water.
In the first level of the International Trade Center...
"I'll handle the rest." Amuro assured. "You need to go right now."
"There's still one thing I haven't figured out." Conan pressed. "Why did you drag Kogoro-oji-san into this?"
"I can't publicly investigate things due to my position." Amuro admitted. "But if he got caught up in the incident, you'll naturally become my cooperator. And if that happened, doesn't that mean I could borrow some of your true strength?"
"You really overestimate me." Conan chided and the two went their own ways.
~FIN~
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted, by the way. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Read and review.