Chapter 39: The Hero's Traumatic Past Comes to Light!
It was with a low rumble that the Airship approached Konoe's castle. The sounds echoed from the engine as it glided to a halt. A boarding ram extends from the tower, connecting itself to the side of the Airship as clamps extend to hold it in place while a resting boom extends underneath to support it.
As the Airship comes to a still and the engines turn off, a door on the side opens up. Revealing the Thieves as they exit in a calm manner. Some avoided the urge to look down at how high they were as they reached the landing spot. Although two of their members were still bust trying to absorb the information they were told on the ride over.
"So, when the hell were you going to tell us you Time Travelled!?" Wolf shouts in utter shock at the Thieves. Ace, standing beside him, was looking at the Thieves with a new sense of wonder and amazement. As if her heroes couldn't get any more amazing than they already were, but to learn they cheated death? That's another thing.
"It's not like we were hiding it from you, Wolf." Mona replies as the team presses on. "We just didn't think it was important to tell you. And besides, would you have even believed us?" Wolf opens his mouth to argue before clamping it shut as he shakes his head. It was true. All he wanted to do was ask about Doc's history with them, only to find out about Time Travel, branching timelines, and malevolent gods who played with their lives like toys? It's a miracle his brain didn't short circuit from all of this.
"No… I probably wouldn't have. At least, until hearing Doc's story that is." Wolf, looks over to Joker as his gaze was locked at the top of Konoe's castle. "Thinking back, it does explain why you guys always seemed to be one step ahead, and how you seemed to understand how things went."
"It's not something we like to remember." Joker replies, his left hand in a grip. "And I certainly didn't want to see those SWAT members again…"
"We saw you looking at them before, Joker. Did you see them before?" Shadow asks with concern in her voice. At that, Joker lets out a large sigh as he focuses on walking forward.
"Those SWAT members, they were the same ones who captured me in the original Timeline at Athena's Palace. And the same ones who 'interrogated' me."
"You mean, the same ones who tortured you almost to death?" Violet asks before her eyes narrow and her arms shake. "Now I know why you guys are so angry…"
"Oh, I think I know what they did." Wolf suddenly remarks, all eyes going to him. "While I was being interrogated, I saw a table filled with syringes. Something tells me that was what they did to you, right?" Joker blinks at him in surprise before nodding his head briefly.
"Kind of… I can't really remember what happened back then. It's all a blur, but I do know I was injected a lot."
"I saw around four discarded needles when I went to help him." Athena confirms, shaking her head. "It was disgusting, seeing what they did to him. I still can't get the injuries out of my head…"
"And suddenly, I feel more than glad I took the bullet for you back then." Wolf remarks, shaking his head. His gut was right back then. They would have been tortured to death had they been caught. Probably also forced to sign a false confession. Before, a large roar of a crowd caught his attention. "Hey, anyone else hear that?"
"Is that, the cheering of a crowd?" Edel asks as the team approaches the corner. A few of them peered around to get a look, where they saw a giant crowd of Personal Shadows cheering at the gates leading into the castle. An entrance that was guarded by shadow cops and SWAT members. While the crowd chanted Konoe's name over and over again.
"What's going on? There's so many people here…" Queen asks as the team pulls themselves back. None of them wanted to grab the attention of the SWAT members outside.
"Is that all the people that Konoe changed without knowing?" Noir asks, just as an announcement echoes over them.
"The great Akira's hero show will begin momentarily. Please gather in front of the stage and show your support!"
"Hero show?" Ace asks, looking at Oracle.
"By Konoe?" Oracle asks in turn, tilting her head.
"That sounds interesting. Let's go see." Sophie says with a youthful bounce on her steps. Only for Joker and Queen to place their hands on her shoulder.
"Sorry, Sophie. But I don't think those SWAT members will be happy to see us." Joker tells her gently.
"Plus, it may be a trap to capture us." Queen asks, but seeing the sad look on Sophie's face, she quickly comes up with an excuse. "Besides, once we're done here, we're planning to go see a firework's festival in Yokohama. All of us. It is that time of year, after all." She sends a discreet glare at the others, who quickly get the message as they all quickly agree with Queen, brightening up Sophie's face considerably.
"Didn't something like this happen in Sapporo?" Noir asks, grabbing the team's attention.
"Oh yeah, with the horde of Jack Frosts. Does that mean that Konoe is doing a live broadcast right now, then?" Edel asks, glancing at the crowd.
"If it does, then that means we need to come back after he's done." Mona agrees, "We need to rest up anyway. Luckily, we've got a Checkpoint not far from us, we can use."
"Right. Let's pull back for now and come back later." Joker tells the team, taking one more glance at the crowd before heading back to the Checkpoint. "We're close now… Just need to wait a bit longer…"
"Mr Konoe, the EMMA app developed by your company, Madicce, has become immensely popular worldwide. With Japan's creative industries starting to reach their limit, it's wonderful to hear about such a remarkable breakthrough in A.I. technology." Konoe smiles weakly at the interviewer, casting his gaze at the crowd before him.
"Well, it was not just me or the others at Madicce who deserve all the credit. I was introduced to the original creator of EMMA, who allowed us to take it and expand upon it. It is only thanks to her that EMMA has become what it is." Konoe reminds, making himself more comfortable on the chair.
"Well, besides that, I hear many have high expectations for you as a leading figure in this country, Mr Konoe." The interview adds, earning a chuckle out of Konoe as he shakes his head.
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm all that. And I certainly couldn't compare to our Prime minister, Yoshida-sensei. But, I do plan to do all that I can, though." Konoe remarks, sitting back in the chair. "This world is about to undergo a remarkable transformation one day. I'm hoping that I can help those who will come to steer it in the right direction." At that, people in the crowds cheer him on, grabbing Konoe's attention.
"Sounds like you've got their support." The interviewer remarks. "That reminds me, I've heard EMMA's servers are kept at the Tokyo Radio Tower. Way back when the Tokyo Radio Tower was used to usher Japan into a new era of communication. Perhaps this time around, EMMA will play a similar role and bring us into the age of A.I."
"Yes… That's certainly the idea…" Konoe replies, although there was some slight hesitation in his voice, but it went under the audience's radar. "As of now, A.I. is still a fledgling technology. But I've got no doubt that it's going to make all of our lives that much easier."
"And as a testament to that, it is worth nothing that there were several areas that openly lamented the half of EMMA's service the other day. Why do you think the Phantom Thieves would target EMMA, of all things?" Konoe's eyes shifted, as though he was trying to come up with soothing as he felt all eyes fall on him.
"I cannot say. Naturally, EMMA holds a lot of personal data that bands of crooks would just love to get their hands on. Of course, with how complicated things are going on, it is hard to say what is even real these days. For all we know, these could be just a group of thugs who posed as the Thieves, but we won't know until they are caught."
"Mr Konoe, yesterday you held a press conference the other day and mentioned your deep, distinct hatred for the evils in our world. Might that stem from personal experience?" Konoe's eyes widen at the question, seemingly caught off guard as he clears his throat.
"…Yes, you might say that. As a child, my sister and I were caught up in a rather unfortunate circumstance that I'd rather not talk about. It is… difficult to remember, after all. But I'd wager it was that incident that drove me to become who I am. And as for the Thieves themselves, well, I'm keeping my options about them open."
"That is surprising to hear, considering how they may have attacked EMMA. However, personally, I think I say for all of us that I would like to see this Phantom Thief case be solved as soon as possible."
"…That explains the whole hero show we saw…" Futaba comments as the group puts their phones away, except her. Rumi had just rejoined them after doing some shopping before catching them up on the interview with Konoe.
"Did you guys see how he acted? It's like he wanted to say somethin' else yet had to stay quiet about it." Ryuji asks the others.
"He was clearly conflicted. The emotions were clear on his face." Yusuke comments.
"Yeah, but he's still got a crap load of people following him online." Futaba replies, showing a screenshot of all the people upvoting him on her phone.
"Crazy… did all of them have their Desires stolen as well?" Ann asks with a frown. Ren internally grimaces at the thought, yet Futaba shakes her head.
"Nope… These are just your run-of-the-mill everyday fans. They are just supporting him like any fan would. Your Uncle has quite the Charm stat, Ren."
"Well, did get a few things from his side of the family." He says with a grin, earning some chuckles out of the team as Makoto lightly bumps him.
"He's also got a very good track record with Madicce." Zenkichi adds, folding his arms. "Honestly, this whole Jail business is his only black mark, and it's not even his fault."
"I think I can understand why he hasn't spoken out against Owada yet, and it's not only because he has a Jail." Kawakami suddenly adds, rubbing her arm. "He's stuck taking the easy road, like how so many people would do."
"Is that true?" Sophia asks from Ren's phone, earning Maruki's gaze.
"In a life full of decisions, there's almost always a fear of not knowing what comes next, Sophia." Maruki tells her, pushing his glasses up. "When you have no idea what life has in store for you, some people end up taking the easy path for comfort instead of sticking to the harder path. Even if going down the harder path leads to a better life, people will still choose the easy one, even if they live a life of misery. And it's true when there are strong leaders who make promises to ease everyone's burdens. They would rather live in ignorance than search for the truth."
"It was like that with Shido and Yaldabaoth, then Nyarlathotep tried to make you do that, Maruki. We then had to contend with Salmael and his ill-fated crusade against all forms of rebellion. And now we have Owada using Konoe…" Morgana remarks with a hiss. "Actually, thus might be even worse. EMMA is a lot more close and personal to people than Shido ever was."
"And we already know that it is inappropriate to live like that. Letting someone else decide everything for you and remove your freedom of choice…" Hifumi remarks before casting a sorry glance at Maruki, who shakes his head.
"Kami… that sounds like just what I was trying to do in February… I really was an idiot back then, huh?"
"I'd say you're half idiot and half victim." Akane remarks, shrugging her shoulders. "At least you didn't reach as far as Kyoto. But we're not here to talk about the past. We have a future to save."
"Right. I refuse to let Owada have his way any more." Ren replies, nodding with fire behind his eyes. Before a grumble from everyone's stomachs put that fire out everywhere. "And we'll start that… tomorrow…"
"Talk about a tension killer…" Isara remarks from Futaba's bag.
"Either way, Ren is right. And it is rather late at night as well." Sae remarks, brushing some hair back before looking at Maruki and Rumi. "Do you two know a good place to eat?"
"We do." Rumi replies as the two smile. "Follow us, we know the best restaurant around here. If you're here in Osaka, there is one food item you need to have." The couple glance at each other with grins as they turn back to the Thieves with sparkles in their eyes.
"Takoyaki!"
August 25th, 2017.
It was early in the morning after having a light breakfast did the Thieves return to the Jail. The sun hadn't even risen yet, with the hope that they managed to beat the SWAT members who were guarding the entrance. A hope that was fulfilled, as when they reached the castle entrance, there were no SWAT members on guard, only shadow cops.
"Looks like we managed to beat them here before they arrived." Athena comments, looking at Joker. "We should strike now while the opportunity presents itself."
"Right." Joker replies, tightening his glove before grabbing a smoke bomb. "It's Showtime!" At that, he tosses it forward, landing right at the shadow cop's feet before exploding into a thick red and black cloud. In response, three of the shadows transformed into a Ganesha, Raja Naga and a Norn. Before they were suddenly blasted by a Abyssal Wing from Joker, stunning them as the Thieves leap out from the billowing smoke cloud and unleash an All-Out Attack on the three. Taken aback by the surprise attack, all three shadows were swiftly defeated, just as a second Norn appears alongside reinforcements.
"High Energy!" Panther shouts, boosting the team's magic as Queen unleashes an Atomic Flare on the Norn. Wiping it out in one shot as Wolf used his great sword to cleave vast holes into the foes around them. Teach leaps off his shoulders, firing a rocket down at the foes under her before stashing her RPG away and ripping her mask off.
"Agidyne!" She shouts, incinerating several shadow cops at once and leaving very little left as the Thieves switch to their guns and start blasting away. While in Doc's case, he fired beams of light from his staff. Before they knew it, the last of the shadows had been dealt with, leaving the path open to Konoe's castle.
"The path is clear! Let's get inside before the SWAT team shows up!" Queen shouts to the others as they rush over the bridge. Quickly slinking their way inside the castle, just as a SWAT team is teleported to the entrance. Just missing them as they took up positions at the bridge entrance.
Meanwhile, inside, the Thieve found themselves in a large empty room. Almost as though they were expected to be here, seeing how easy it was they could enter.
"This is too easy…" Spring remarks, looking around the place.
"This is a trap, isn't it?" Ace asks, looking around hands resting on her swords.
"It certainly screams like one…" Noir agrees, changing her grip on her axe. At that moment, a blue light surrounded the Thieves as they went on guard. Hands grabbing weapons as they readied themselves for a fight.
"What's going on?" Fox asks, glancing around wearily.
"It's so pretty." Sophie comments, seeing the blue sparkles pass them. Before EMMA's voice echoed above them.
"Intruders detected. Executing forced removal."
"It's a trap!" Oracle shouts in alarm as the Thieves collectively paled. But it was too late to do anything, as they were soon forcefully teleported away. When the blinding light finally passed, the team found themselves in the last place they wanted to be in.
"Did we just get teleported into a prison cell?" Outlaw asks, looking out from the cell they were all thrown into.
"Not again…" Skull moans, bashing his mace against the neon lit jail cells.
"Urgh… I don't feel so good…" Oracle groans from on the floor as Edel pats her back. "I think I'm warp-sick…"
"Why can't we have ONE infiltration where we DON'T get caught!?" Panther asks in annoyance as everyone lets out a long sigh of annoyance.
"Well, how do we get out?" Ace asks, trying to poke her head through the jail bars. "There's an open room ahead of us, but we can't reach it."
"First thing you do Ace, is stay calm." Wolf calmly tells her from the back of the cell. "In cases like this, the best thing you have to do is stay calm and observe your surroundings. There is always something you can use."
"How about it, Joker? See anything?" Crow asks, watching Joker calmly glance around the cell they were in. Before he glances up and lets out a smirk at a certain object.
"I do. We have a vent." He remarks, leaping up the wall to the barely seeable outcrop and ripping the vent off. Doc, seeing how dark it was, lights up his staff to help with visibility, allowing the Thieves to see the vent that was hidden by the shadows.
"Good eyes Joker!" Mona praises, following him into the vent alongside the others. The vent itself was longer than the last vents they used, almost as long as the ones they used back in the Palaces, but eventually, they found the exit and entered into a large room. Unfortunately, both doors leading out were locked, but thankfully, there was a glass window they could use to bust into the next room. Although this room had an interesting addition to it.
"A seat and computer screens?" Doc asks, seeing the strange set up before them. "Why is this here?" Oracle eyed the contraption with narrow eyes before walking up to it and glancing over the controls.
"I wonder…" She presses a few buttons before all five screens come to life. Each one showing locations that they all could recognise.
"Hey! Isn't that Akira's Jail?!" Spring asks, pointing at the right screen in shock. The lava scape clearly seeable through the screen.
"And that one if Alice's Jail!" Panther adds, pointing to the top right. The decorative style instantly recognisable.
"Natsume's Jail is here as well." Fox remarks, his head glued to the top left screen. The dark orange sky a foreboding background.
"And the centre screen is showing Mari-san's Jail." Noir ads, holding a hand up to the winter wonderland.
"And… that's my Jail." Ace comments, seeing the feudal style village on the other side of the left screen.
"So, this is what Mariko's shadow meant when she said they were in contact with each other." Crow remarks, rubbing his chin. "I wouldn't be surprised if similar setups were in the other Jails as well."
"This is just like what Shido had in the Palace's." Mona remarks. "We saw a similar thing in the SIU Directors' Palace."
"Kusumoto, right? Hard to believe he was the one who solved a horrific murder case." Wolf remarks, shaking his head.
"Either way, we now know how they were staying on contact." Joker comments, moving to a nearby vent. "But for now, let's keep moving. We need to find out where my Uncle's Trauma Cell is." No one bothered to argue with that as they left the screens behind. Moving through the vent, they found themselves in the room with the open door, the jail cell holding them directly across from them. But they weren't concerned about that.
"Ah! Freedom!" Edel shouts as they reach the hallway leading back to the entrance hall.
"We should get a degree in jail busting at this point." Outlaw remarks, earning a chuckle out of Teach.
"Even if there was such a thing, I wouldn't give you one anyway." She tells him, folding her arms with a grin as they enter the main hall. Where they soon found it was no longer empty from before.
"How did you escape!? Quit resisting and come quietly!" The leading shadow cop shouts before changing its form in a Norn alongside another Ganesha and Raja Naga.
"We don't have time for this. Outlaw, let's show them a magic trick!" Ace suddenly shouts, catching Outlaw's attention as the star in Joker's pocket glows once more.
"If you're fine being the assistant!" Outlaw replies as the two leap into the air.
"It's Showtime!"
Once again, the red curtains descend onto the field before parting away. Turning the area into an old-fashioned theatre with the shadow ops and free Persona sitting in the seats. Soon, the curtains part, revealing Outlaw and Ace standing on the stage. Ace had her hands tied to her chest in a cross as Outlaw snaps his fingers. A box descends from above, encasing Ace before raising it into the air as Outlaw draws his blades.
"Watch and learn!" Outlaw shouts, throwing his two blades into the box and skewering it in an x pattern. Then he grabs more blades and drives them into the box, until the box resembled more of a pin cushion than a box.
Once he was finished with the blades, Outlaw then opened the box lid to reveal not a kebab Ace as the shadows thought, but instead, a minigun that started unloading into the shadows without a care.
As for Ace herself, she was behind the shadow in the upper level, drawing both of her blades and infusing them with Nuke energy before diving down at the shadows. Just as the mini gun runs out of ammo, Ace charges in, slashing away at the shadows while Outlaw lights a fuse at his feet.
After giving a shadow one last slice, Ace kicks herself off the downed Norn and lands next to Outlaw. Just as the fuse reaches a barrel of TNT under the audience and blows up. Taking the shadows with them as the two cross their arms with smirks.
"Now THAT is how you do a magic trick!" Ace shouts with a grin, just as the curtains close on the two of them.
"Nice one guys! That saves us some time." Oracle shouts with a grin as she brings her screens up to find the route. Only to let out a groan at what she has found. "Okay, so good news is the elevator will take us all the way to the top. Bad news, it's on lockdown. We can't use it until I hack—huh?"
"Oracle?" Violet asks, seeing the visible confusion on her face. "What's wrong?" Oracle glances at her, before looking back at her screen, removing her mask and giving her eyes a rub before blinking again.
"Well… the elevator WAS on lockdown, but now it's not…"
"Wait… are you saying that the security was deactivated?" Panther asks, narrowing her eyes. "Doesn't that sound too convenient?"
"Either way, it's an opportunity we can't afford to miss." Athena remarks, folding her arms. "If it is a trap, we can easily fight our way out of it."
"That is true." Shadow remarks, brushing some hair back. "Still, why would the security be deactivated like that?" While the team scratched their heads, Joker's mind went somewhere else. This place was under his Uncle's influence, so that would me he could control the security. But, why would he deactivate it?
"Lord Konoe, why are you letting these villains proceed? We should be stopping them!" A shadow cop asks Shadow Konoe as he steps away from a consol. He looks at the shadow, shaking his head as he folds his arms.
"I'm no fool. The Thieves are much stronger than any of us realise. You would all be throwing your lives away in a futile attempt to stop them." Shadow Konoe shakes his head, looking at the screen as the Thieves ride the lift without challenge. "At this point, I might be the only one who has any chance of stopping them, and I would rather not throw away anyone else to stop them."
"But we are legion! We are an unending supply of warriors!" The shadow cop tries to argue, but Shadow Konoe shakes his head.
"No. I've made my choice. It will only be inevitable that they will find my Trauma Cell. This fight will be decided by me, and me alone. I will not throw away more in a futile attempt to stop them." Shadow Konoe turns his back to the cop, his eyes looking out from the castle. "Yes… In the end, it will all be decided in one final showdown. Nothing more, and nothing less…"
"Okay, can someone explain why we haven't fought anything after the entrance?" Skull asks, rubbing the back of his head. "This is the second lift we're on now, yet nothing has tried to stop us."
"It is strange… usually they would be tripping over themselves to stop us." Teach agrees, tapping her foot before looking over at Joker. "Do you think your Uncle's Shadow has something to do with this?"
"I don't know." Joker replies, shaking his head as he could feel the lift come to a stop. "But, we're going to find out sooner or later." At that, the door opens, allowing the team to exit the lift and exit onto the roof. While avoiding the view down below, seeing how damn high they were up in the air. But there was something else that had caught their eyes.
"Look! It's a Birdcage!" Edel calls out, pointing at the chains wrapping around the cage. "Just like we thought!"
"This only hammers the point that he's not the Mastermind. Why would he create a Jail for himself if he was?" Crow asks, glancing at the structure. "Regardless, we need to find his Trauma Cell to open the lock."
"You guys mentioned this before on the ride down to Osaka, but how do you 'find' the Cell?" Wolf asks slightly hesitantly.
"Well, when we found Alice's Cell, we had to place our hand on the Birdcage to listen to the Trauma." Joker reveals. "And, it hurts a lot when you do it as well."
"I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad. Doc, Athena, let's do this. Ace, you stay back." Wolf commands as he, Doc and Athena walk to the cage while Ace stands back with a pout.
"Aww, come on, Wolf! I'm sure it won't be that—"
"GYAAAAAAH!" All three shout as one, interrupting Ace as she blinks for a moment before taking a few steps back.
"Oookay… I'm glad I didn't…"
"Ouf… never gets easy hearing that. But dang, that was a good wolf howl." Oracle remarks as Fox rubs his chin.
I've heard stories of cries that could shake the heavens. Could these be some of them? It's almost operatic."
"Did you forget how sore it was when we first did it in Alice's Jail? My arm felt numb for hours after that." Violet moans, rubbing her left arm before Queen raises a hand.
"Quiet! I can hear something…" The moment she said that, everyone's vision when white as an intimidating voice echoed around them.
Abuse…? Please, that is ridiculous. We do have a dog/ Maybe that's what they heard? Right, Akira? You and your sister love that dog.
Whether it was your dog or not, Konoe-san, we got a tip that you have been physically abusing your son and daughter. Apparently, Akira-kin has a scar on his arm that can prove it.
Look, he fell over, how many times do I have to say it? Are we done here? I'd like to be left alone.
Just then, following the sound of a door closing, the sound of a person's fist smashing into another's face echoed around them.
…You little shit! You see all this trouble you're causing me!? Keep your god-damn mouth shut and do as I say! The both of you!
At that, the vision ends as Wolf, Doc, and Athena back away from the Birdcage, rubbing their arms from the shock travelling up their arms.
"That… was more painful than I imagined…" Athena remarks, rolling her arm.
"My Uncle and ex-mother… were abused?" Joker asks in a quiet voice, eyes locked on the ground. "That would explain why my ex-mother is the way she is…"
"Such a trauma from a young age could do irreparable damage to one's psyche." Doc comments with a sad frown. "Children after all are like sponges. They absorb everything they are given. Both the good and bad."
"So, if Konoe's trauma was from the abuse he suffered as a child, where would it be located?" Mona asks, looking at Joker, who had his eyes locked on the Birdcage. "Joker?" Mona's voice snaps him out of it as he looks around for a moment before shaking his head.
"Sorry about that, I was just remembering about my Uncle's old home."
"His old home?" Noir asks, tilting her head. Joker nods at her before rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah… It's best if I tell you in reality. Don't want to risk us getting caught by SWAT." He nods at Shadow who takes out a smoke bomb and tosses it to the ground. Teleporting them back to the entrance as everyone got ready to head back to reality. But Sophie had a question she wanted to ask.
"…Hey, Dad?" She asks, catching his attention just as they were about to leave. "Was Uncle Konoe, really treated badly by his father? Wolf and Ace were on bad terms, but nothing like that ever happened to them. Why did that happen to Uncle Konoe? Aren't they family?"
"You would think so, Sophie." Joker tells her, kneeling to her height. "The one thing my Uncle always told me and my brother, was that family was always the most important thing to cherish. It's why he would always spend time with us whenever he could. But, there are those who don't see the value that family brings. They only see opportunity and long-term plans."
"So, some humans are like that, then?" Sophie asks sadly. "But, you all believe that family is important. Regardless if its blood or not."
"That's right." Joker says with a smile. "When we first formed, we all joined because we were all similar. Outcasts of society. And it was through that struggle that we became a family in our own right. People will always say that blood-ties would be stronger than found families, but the opposite is just as true." Sophie glances at Joker, before unexpectedly hugging him out of the blue.
"I'm glad I met all of you. You are all my friends, my family. And you and Queen are my parents. And I don't want anyone else to replace you." Joker smiles at her, returning the hug as he catches the glimpse of the ninth star hovering above Sophie.
"And we're glad to have you too." Joker tells her before letting go and standing. "Now come on. We have a Cell to beat." Rubbing her on the head and eliciting a giggle from Sophie.
"Right!"
When they left the Jail, the team were waiting for Ren to tell them more about Konoe's old home. Yet, he remained silent as he took them to a part of Osaka neither Maruki and Rumi had visited. A residential area with some very good-looking houses. But the one that Ren brought them too looked to be abandoned. The iron gates shut, and curtains covering the windows. A place that made Zenkichi's eyes widen in realisation.
"Hold up… this place is his house? You've gotta be kidding me." He remarks, drawing the team's eyes.
"You know about this house, Zenkichi?" Sae asks, placing a hand over her mouth. Zenkichi lets out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his head as he turns to look at her.
"Yeah, I do. But only in police reports." He reveals, sending the team's eyes, apart from Ren's wide. "Twenty years ago, there was a burglary that happened at this house. During the invasion, the intruder stabbed Konoe's father to death."
"He was murdered?" Akechi asks, with narrow eyes. "Did the autopsy list anything else?"
"Yeah, it did." Zenkichi reveals, folding his arms as he recited from memory. "There was a bruise on his left arm around the elbow. His hands were caked in dried blood, but DNA testing at the time was contradicting itself. In fact, his hands showed a lot of contradicting evidence by themselves. There was also a bruise on his left leg, as well as a punch to his right eye. Whoever did it was wearing gloves at the time, since nothing was lifted. Same with the knife."
"So, did that mean he tried to fight back? Or was it something else?" Rumi asks, earning a sigh from Wolf.
"Well, funny thing is that they also found hair in his mouth as well. But they got two separate pings from what they found, muddling things even more. As for items, most things of value were gone, so it was ruled as both a robbery and a homicide. As for the culprit, they never found them."
"A unsolved case from twenty years ago… the stature of limitations has probably passed by now…" Sae remarks, before shaking her head.
"W-What happened to Konoe and his sister? They both lived here, right?" Futaba asks, looking at Ren who lets out a sigh.
"At the time, they were only eight years old. They managed to survive by hiding in a closet upstairs." Ren reveals, shaking his head. "But, he never told me or Akira anything more than that. And you can sure our ex-mom never said anything either. Know I know where she got her abusive side from…"
"If this is the birth of his trauma, we may find out the truth of what happened as well." Maruki replies, hands in his pockets. "And… whatever it is, it won't be pretty."
"Then let's not waste any more time." Makoto comments, brushing some hair to the side. "Let's do this, Ren." Ren nods at her, bringing his phone out and taking a deep breath once more, while Rumi took several steps away to avoid getting dragged in. It was time to face whatever demons were plaguing his Uncle.
"Keyword: Zephyrman."
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Once again, the area around them changes as they enter the Trauma Cell. Setting them right in to the main hall of the house, with a door leading to a living room slightly open to the side. But around them held in countless picture frames was a sicking sight. Picture depicting nothing but enclosed fists, open hands and feet.
"That's… certainly some artwork…" Outlaw comments with a wince as they look around the house.
"So this is twenty years into the past, huh? Time to see what was going on." Mona remarks with narrow eyes before the sound of a punch echoed from the stairs.
"What the—"? Skull asks, before another punch is heard as a man suddenly appears before them. Hunched over with balled up fists.
"You little shits… who do you think feeds you every day, huh!? I swear, you are both just a bill. All you do is eat up MY hard-earned money!"
"Ngh… father… stop…."
"Don't talk back to me!" the man shout, slamming his hand out in a wide arc as a girl's scream echoes from his left. Followed by something hitting the stairs before he grabs the air in front of him and punching the air three times.
"Somebody… please…" Child Konoe's voice echoes around them, causing the Thieves to either look away in disgust, or clench their hands in anger. As for Joker, he could only growl in anger, even as Queen entwined her hand with his.
"Keeping you both around is a real pain in the ass… Maybe I should just kill you both as well." The sent the team's eyes wide as some of them took steps back. "If she had just handed over the money when I told her… Nobody ever takes me seriously! Not even your dead beat of a mother!"
"You… killed Mom… why?"
"That monster…" Shadow whispers, tightening the grip on her kunai, before a cheery commercial cuts through the gloom.
Here he comes! Enemy of evil! Champion of those in need! Listen up, viewers! It's time to band together and call for Zephyrman, protector of justice! Zephyrmaaan!
"Huh? Guess I left the TV on…"
"Okay… I get it now… There are no heroes… No one is coming to save me or my sister… I have to get stronger… for us both… I won't let him kill my sister…"
"What the hell are you mumbling about, you freak? Not that it matters, you'll both be joining your mother soon enough!" At that, the cognition of Konoe's father turns around to glare at the Thieves before it tears itself apart into a Lock Keeper. A Lock Keeper armed with bazookas. "I'LL KILL YOU BOTH! It's like some sort of twisted joke to people! You want to die!? Well, I'll be glad to get rid of both of you!"
"This guy is sick… he really killed his own wife over some money!?" Panther screams, whipping her whip as reinforcements arrive to support the Lock Keeper.
"Unbelievable… that Monster! Just what made him think he could do that!" Spring shouts, shaking her head in dismay.
"Oracle! What's it weak too?!" Mona shouts as the team resides for battle.
"Just like the last ones, it's weak to Bless and Curse. But this one is also weak to Elect and Nuke!" Oracle calls out as she gets enough altitude in Al Azif.
"Then that makes this easy…" Joker says quietly, eyes burning with rage. "Queen! Sophie! Skull! Edel! Ace! Wolf! Spring! Crow! Violet! Athena! Doc! With me! Everyone else, keep the small fry off our backs!"
"Atomic Flare!" Queen shouts, starting the fight off as she blasts the Lock Keeper with the powerful nuke spell, as Ace follows up with her own Cosmic Flare. The Lock Keeper backs away, taken aback by the attack before firing its rockets at the Thieves. Cracks already lining its shield from the initial attack.
"Would the two of you just die already!? Your mother knew when to quit, why don't either of you!?" The Lock Keeper jumps to the side, firing its rockets at the Thieves and causing them to scatter.
"Watch out! It can still attack while moving!" Noir shouts, clearing a cop in two with her axe As Joker leaps into the air.
"Zeus!" He shouts, summoning the ruler of the Eclipse Arcana to his side, his new Elect Specialist. A giant of a man, with his body split down the middle into two colours. One was pure white, while blue lightning streamed from his right arm. While the other half was pure black, with a giant scythe growing from his left arm. "Thunder Reign!" The lightning courses over the Lock Keeper, the lighting slipping through the gaps as they slam into its dark body.
"Ziodyne!" Skull and Edel shout, blasting the back of the Lock Keeper with their own lightning and sending it stumbling. Shattering its shield and Joker leads the team into an All-Out Attack. But much to their annoyance, the Lock Keeper still stood tall as it aimed it four rockets at Joker.
"Let's see you keep up that mopey little face when you're dead! In fact, why don't I kill your sister first!? Hahahahaha!" The Lock Keeper fires four rockets at Joker, forcing him to dodge as Doc, Spring and Violet blast the Lock Keeper with Makougaon. As it turned to face them, Crow blasts the side of it with Eigaon, while Athena and Wolf hit it from the other side with Megidolaon.
"You call yourself a protector of justice? Hahahahaha! Did one of those stupid programs save you?!" The Lock Keeper gloats before unleashing a storm of magic from its four bazookas. Forcing the Thieves to duck and dodge, even as the magic slammed into the shadow cops around him. Not a care was shown at where he aimed.
"So this is why my Uncle was always trying to be a hero to us? Because no one was there to save him or my ex-mother?" Joker asks, landing next to Queen as he growls. "He always told us how Grandfather was filth, but to hear this…"
"It's heartbreaking…" Queen tells him, her own anger in her eyes. "How about we show him how made we are. Dual Nuke attack?"
"With pleasure." Joker replies, hand on his mask as he mentally switches to his Nuke specialist. "Anahita! Atomic Flare!" Forming behind him, was a lady with skin white as snow, while water coursed over her like rivers before framing her head like long wavy hair. Eight individual gold panels floated behind her, while her right hand was resting on her right breast.
"Atomic Flare, Agnes!" Queen joins in as the couple sends the powerful atomic blasts into the Lock Keeper. Cracking its shield even more before Sophie followed up on them with a Makougaon.
"Wipe that stupid look off your face! I call the shots, you little shit! And I decided that your sister is going to die today!"
"This makes me sick…" Wolf says with a snarl, leaping away from an Agidyne as Teach ducks under a Bufudyne.
"If he thinks we're just going to sit here and listen to this, he's got another thing coming!" Ace shouts as she dashes forward. Cosette forming behind her as she leaps around the Lock Keeper. Slashing out with her two blades while Cosette takes aim with her rifle. Charing up Nuke energy in the barrel before Ace leaps backwards. Grabbing her crossbow before landing next to Cosette, both of them aiming right at the Lock Keeper with fury in their eyes. "Eat this!" As one, the two fire at the Lock Keeper, shattering its shield and sending it flying into the cell walls around them. Leaving it behind in a daze, Joker give the call.
"ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Without mercy, the Thieves lash into the Lock Keeper, leaving it no option to counter as the Thieves slice apart its weapons before Joker lands right on its chest and drags his knife, Paradise Lost R, right into its chest. The Lock Keeper freezes, stunned that this had happened to it before disintegrating into dust as a large earthquake shakes the Trauma Cell. Before abruptly coming to a stop, with the Cell reverts back into its house form as the team took a moment to breathe.
"Is everyone all right?" Athena asks as they all pause for a moment.
"Better than all right! It felt great takin' that asswipe down!" Skull shouts, slamming a foot onto the floor.
"Still… if what we saw was what happened in the past, then that means Konoe's father tried to kill both him and his sister…" Shadow comments sadly. Crow hums to himself, glancing at Wolf before letting out a sigh.
"Wolf… about that autopsy report, did it say who the blood and hair belonged to?" Wolf lowers his head, covering his face as he places his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah, it did. The blood and hair belonged to Konoe and his sister. And the guys managed to pinpoint that they were on him a few minutes before he was stabbed." Wolf looks at Joker, who was standing in silence at the end. "Which means that…"
"…either my Uncle or ex-mother killed him in self-defence…" Joker says quietly, his eyes distant. The Thieves stand in silence, watching Joker as he keeps his back to them. "Don't worry about me… this isn't the time to be thinking about this. And…" He turns around to look at the team, with a lone tear dripping from his eyes, yet face set and determined. "I'll find out the truth from his Shadow."
"We ALL will find out the truth." Queen tells him, walking up to grasp his hand. "You're not alone in this, Joker. Just like when we confronted your brother's Shadow."
"Queen's right! We'll head back to reality, write up the card and set him free!" Oracle adds with a grin as, one by one, the Thieves all voice their agreement to help. While Wolf stood at the back in deep contemplation, catching Athena's eyes.
"What are you thinking, Wolf?"
"Just thinking on two possible outcomes that we will learn…" He replies quietly, looking back at Joker with an unreadable expression. "I just hope my preferred outcome is true…"
