Catch-22: The New Player
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu does what he does best…be a pain in the ass.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Yu looked at the courthouse.
Casino?
Sae-san thought this place was a casino.
Hmm….
That would explain a lot about her mindset.
"So, this is the courthouse…You can tell it's a revolting building just by looking at it. Let's hurry up and get started. Akechi, what did you find out?" Morgana said with distaste.
"I rarely get to see Sae-san directly, but I've figured out her course of action. On the 20th, an investigation will likely be done at Shujin Academy as well as Sakure's residence." Akechi said.
"For…real…?" Futuba said nervously.
"…Then that means, our time limit is November 20th." Yusuke added.
"But this should be a substantially forced operation. I doubt it'll take place before the 20th," Akechi said.
"We'll take your word. For now, we need to focus on infiltrating her Palace," Makoto said.
"I concur. We should probably get going soon. After all, people like us standing around here is quite unnatural. Well then…"
Futaba grasped and made a run for Akechi's phone.
"Huh? What about my smartphone?"
She grabbed it out of Akechi's hands and started her part of the plan.
"This is the model I wanted! You're so lucky!" Futaba mumbled.
Ann and Haru laughed.
"I'm so sorry. Until recently, Futaba was actually a…well…" Ann said.
"It's ok. Sae-san told me the gist." Akechi said.
"Oh, right. Akechi-kun, it may be best if you exchange contact info with everyone too, not just me and Sensei," Makoto said.
"That's true."
Futaba made noises at the phone. Someone is eager.
"I'll send everyone's contracts to you later…"
"Thanks. Well then, I hope we get along. I'll do my best."
"You've got a good personality and good looks? Talk about cheating," Futaba said as she handed him back his phone.
Poor Goro had a confused look on his face.
"She's praising you…I believe," Yusuke said.
Goro sighed.
"Well…let's get started." He said.
"We need to figure out what Makoto's sis thinks this courthouse is, right?" Ryuji said.
"I often here her call it a "place of competition in which she must always win," Makoto said.
"A casino," He said as he took a receipt out of his pocket and started folding it into a paper crane.
There was a moment of silence when the app said "Candidate found."
"Of course, Sensei would get it," Ann said with a chuckle.
He hummed softly.
"Did I…miss something?" Goro asked the group.
"You will see. It's part of the reveal," He said as he finished his little paper crane. He walked over, picked up Goro's hand, and set the paper crane in his hand.
"Well, it is time to head in then," Ryuji said.
"Beginning navigation," The app's voice said as the world around them changed.
The group ended up in road. Instantly, they move to hide behind the walls that seem to act as barriers.
"Head right past there and keep a low profile," Morgana said.
The group ran toward the bright lights until they stood in front of a casino. Not as large as the ones that he has been to in Las Vegas but it was still a good size one.
Urgh.
There is a story, laddie.
Some shadows got into the prop room at one of the casinos in Vegas. I had fun trying to clear it out.
That doesn't sound too bad.
There was glitter.
He felt his other personas shiver at the word.
Enough said, laddie. Enough said.
"That's it, huh?" Makoto said.
"What's going on here?" Ann said in awe.
"We are looking at the courthouse, aren't we…" Futaba said.
"Seems like it," Makoto answered.
"Let's go," Akechi said before Ren nodded his head in agreement.
"Right."
Slowly, the group worked their way to the casino before they reached the wall surrounding the casino. It was definitely bigger up close. He tilted his head slightly as he listened to his students talk.
"The courthouse is a casino…" Ann said.
"Everywhere else seems to be a normal cityscape," Akechi noted.
"Isn't that…" Yusuke said as he turned around to another building.
"The police station, yes," Makoto answered.
"I didn't know that the station and the courthouse were next to each other," Haru pointed out.
"Our attire hasn't changed…that must mean we aren't considered threats or hostiles yet," Akechi said.
"Right…Areas outside her courthouse Palace must not be worthy of her attention. Wait, I always look like this! I'm special! Besides, I can't do anything in my cat form," Morgana answered him in a panic.
"The police station's also part of her work area though, whenever arrests are made for her cases. I've brought her food and belongings when she was sent on loan to the police," Makoto said curiously.
"We got no business with the cops, right? This might be the Metaverse, but I don't wanna go in a station," Ryuji said as he shook his head.
"That reminds me, he'll need a code name, too." Makoto said.
"Code name?" Akechi said in confusion.
"Phantom thieves can't go around usin' their real names, right? It ain't cool either," Ryuji said.
"Just for reference, what is everyone else's?"
"Skull."
"Mine's Fox."
"We pretty much decided on them with how we look, didn't we?" Ann said.
"Expect Sensei. His name was a pain," Futaba said.
"It wasn't my fault," He said amusedly.
"What's it, Haru?" Makoto asked.
"Oh…Oh…nothing," She said nervously.
He is going to ask later.
"Then…perhaps "Karasu" will be best for me. You know, like a raven," Akechi suggested.
"…Are your clothes all black or something?" Ryuji said to Akechi.
He almost choked when he heard his personas' voices ring out in his head.
YES!
"The reverse, actually. If our code names are to hide our identities, wouldn't that be better?" Akechi said.
Hmm…interesting.
"Karasu…He'd be the only Japanese-sounding one…" Futaba said.
"Why not go with "Crow" instead?" Ann suggested.
"All right, from here on out, you're Crow," Morgana said.
"Got it," Akechi said with a smile.
"Now then, let's head into the courthouse!"
It did take the group a bit of time to make it to the front steps of the casino.
"This is business as usual. First off, we'll need to find an infiltration route," Morgana said.
Slowly, the group made its way outside of the building to one of the open doors.
"So, this means we're acknowledged as a threat, correct?" Akechi said as he looked at his clothes.
He heard High Pixie grasped.
Well…that new outfit is ugly as hell. His mask kind of looks like Igor. Pointy.
…
Laddie?
Wait and see.
"Dude, you plannin' on stealin' stuff in that getup?" Ryuji said with a sigh.
"It just means that's what he thinks a rebel looks like," Morgana said to Ryuji.
"No, this is my mental image of a person who sticks to their justice," Goro said then he glanced around at the others.
"Your outfits…."
"Pretty much match our names, huh? Panther is my code name. You know, Yusuke is Fox and Ryuji is Skull. Sensei is Gambler. Haru is Noir. Well…Joker and Oracle really don't match their outfits but still…," Ann said.
Goro stared at him. He grinned then took a bow.
"That is what Skull meant that this would be your element."
"I promise to be good and not empty too many pockets."
He heard a snort behind him. Goro looked unsure for a moment before Haru spoke.
"Well, I think your mask is more apt for piercing rather than sticking. That aside, the people here look completely normal."
"But we're in a flashy casino. There's no doubt this is a Palace." Futaba said.
"..Oh right. Crow doesn't know much about cognitive beings, does he?' Ann said.
"Ah, yes. In addition to similar topography, cognitive people exist based on the ruler's perceptions," Yusuke said.
"This is a casino. I don't believe her view carries onto the people. That is why they appear normal," He noted.
"In essence, Sae-san's view of others is surprisingly undistorted," Akechi noted.
"Correct."
"Not all cognitions are normal. In other palaces, we had to battle them. People may look normal, but we should be careful…particularly of those in positions of power."
"That is where Oracle and I come in. Very little can escape our sights," He said with the tip of his hat.
"Yup…I can sense shadows…where they are, their strengths and weaknesses. Support Buddy here, can drag weaker shadows into the depths of hell. He often goes ahead of us to take them out," Futaba said with a grin.
Akechi stared at them.
"That's…"
"Scary, huh?" Ann added.
"Just a bit. So, it is like this every time?" Akechi asked Ren.
"That's right." Ren answered back.
"Hm, this is a first for me…I'm somewhat nervous."
"Just don't slow us down, Crow," Morgana said.
"I will not allow that to happen."
"Ok. It's time we head inside. Our deadline for infiltration is November 20th. Any later, and we'll get caught in reality. Of course, we'll need to secure an infiltration route before we send out the calling card. As always."
"So the calling card wasn't merely for show? It's a necessary step?" Goro said excitedly.
"Will you please stop interrupting," Makoto snapped.
"My…my apologies," Goro said nervously.
"All right. Let's go."
The group made its way over the light platforms and into a vent shaft which all of his students complained about.
Technically, he could cheat but…
He would never hear the end of it from Futaba.
"Welcome. Come on out, you petty thieves," Sai's voice said as they came out of the vents.
"She can see us!?" Ryuji said in surprise.
Probably, cameras.
Probably…I can sense a lot of things going on in this palace.
"You're after the Treasure, are you not? Come on down and I will tell you where it is," Sai-san said.
"Wh-What?! We're not going to fall for a trick like that…" Morgana shouted down at her shadow.
"It's not a lie. I only wish to do this fair and square. You aren't going to run, are you?" She said with a chuckle.
"We should do as she says. There is no point in hiding any longer," Goro said.
Everyone jumped down from the platforms until they made it to the shadow.
"So you've came…The treasure is located on the Manager's Floor, at the highest point of this building."
"…Why are you telling us this?" Makoto asked.
"It's as I said before…I wish to go about this in the fairest manner possible. First, I ask that you come up to my location. We will continue this there…" The shadow said as she snapped her fingers. In a flash of light, she was gone. Ryuji ran ahead from the group before looking over the railing.
"Dammit, over there!" Ryuji shouted as he ran to the railing. The group moved toward the railing to watch the shadow enter the elevator and headed upward.
"It seems we'll be able to use that elevator to reach higher floors. Come Joker, let us pursue her," Goro suggested.
The group started to move down the stairs toward the elevator.
"Authentication required. Please insert your member's card," A voice said from the machine.
"Member's card…?" Haru asked.
"That would make sense. In a typical casino, there are membership levels. The most basic being a member," He said.
His students turned toward him.
"I may have done some research."
"Gambler is correct. Most likely, we need a membership card to go farther into the casino."
"So, how do we get one?" Haru asked.
"Probably have to beat up a shadow," Futaba said as a shadow appeared behind them.
"As I expected. Registration will be such a simple matter," Goro said.
"She must be daring us to challenge the security of this place to make it to her," Yusuke said.
"Well bring it!" Ryuji shouted.
"No need to worry. I'll handle this. I need to prove my worth to you, after all," Goro said to everyone.
"I have high expectations," Ren said.
"I promise to surpass even such lofty hopes as those," Goro said.
He watched as Goro touched his mask and a totally different persona appeared.
Laddie?
…..
"Well then, let us begin. Don't worry. You can leave this one to me. Take them down, Robin Hood!," Goro said.
He watched the fight with interest. It was interesting to see the difference between this persona and his other one.
Laddie?
…..
Lad?
You don't seem surprised at all.
….
The heathen isn't the only one to use this trick.
…
Iris is right. How do you think I came to waken to my persona?
Oh…
I was a part of her game for her enjoyment, Veles. One here…one there…always newcomers. Like I said before, he is following her rulebook at some points. He just did a little groundwork with Shido and Goro.
Then how do you explain the wild card thing?
….
Veles? Remember what you told me that he stole your moves?
Not quite, laddie…you see..
"Support Buddy?" Futaba's voice broke from his thoughts.
"I sense at least two rooms on this level has "eyes" on us," He said.
"I sense a bunch of audio feeds in this room alone. She got this place bugged."
"That is probably how she figured out that we arrived," Makoto said.
"So much for a fair game," Ryuji mumbled.
He tilted his hat slightly.
"Don't worry. They won't be for long," He said.
"Yup! We are going to have so much fun!" Futaba said gleefully behind him.
"Wouldn't disabling her surveillance warn her about our movements?" Goro pointed out.
"Don't worry. I have it handled," He said.
He could hear Futaba start to cackle. Slowly, Goro and the others stepped back.
"They are mildly terrifying, aren't they?" Haru noted.
"Very," Goro said in awe.
"I will be in touch," He said as he tapped his cane on the ground. Quickly, he disappeared into the shadows. Seconds later, he appeared outside of the casino. He looked around carefully for two familiar faces.
"Sensei! Is it our turn?" Ivy said as he popped up from the bushes.
"I can't wait for him to die for me," Mint giggled as she popped behind Ivy.
"Soon. After Akechi gets a little more comfortable with the group…"
"BAM!" Ivy said excitedly.
"Off with his head!" Mint said with another giggle.
"Not killing, Mint. Only slightly terrifying," He said mildly.
"I could work with that," Ivy said.
Mint pouted.
This will prove to be interesting. Goro doesn't know what is going to hit him.
Or kill him if Mint had her way.
End of The New Player
Next Chapter: The Hole In The World
A/N: And….lets the games begin. :D First off, happy 4th anniversary, Catch-22. Thank you everyone for sticking with it. I am not sure how long much longer this fic is going to be. At this point, I'm just going with the flow. Thank you guys….really for your kudos, reviews, favorites, bookmarks, etc. Your support is wonderful. :D