Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"Pleased to meet you, doctor!" Mike shook hands with Terry as the chopper blades were moving. "We need to move in to Koto ward at once! Follow me! I got credible info that the VIP's in danger!"
Mike showed Terry the open cabin door to the Airbus EC155 B1. "By the way, your speech sounds unnatural at the end! Not that I'm trying to be offensive or anything!"
The pilots inside the chopper gave the thumbs up, indicating that it's ready for takeoff.
Luvina would have a clear way back to the original path she used to get in. But she would start to hear footsteps coming her way.
As Duo drove in the underwater tunnel towards Koto, there wasn't much traffic since much of the people were evacuating away from the ward. While a few cars were heading towards it, police officers were on the road to make sure order was maintained.
As such, they assumed that the cars heading towards the ward were trying to evacuate via another route.
edited 18th Mar '15 9:42:02 PM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Luvina narrowed her eyes as she caught this sound.
Having been working her away from the periphery of the Hell's Gate, she would have figured that she would be beyond where the regular patrols passed. Shifting her shoes to one hand, she unholstered her firearm, before again using her power to sink through a nearby wall.
It could be a far-ranging patrol, or someone more interesting.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
A few minutes after Luvina hid herself, the footsteps became louder to the point where a couple of men in their 20s were sneaking around the corridor.
"Guess the info was right that this path should led to Chiyoda, but the path's sealed up by PANDORA." A man wearing a track suit looked at his map.
"Let's call this a day for now. We need to get ready to head for classes in the afternoon. Don't want to be the cause for an international incident." The other man with a track suit added. They went to the nearest ladder and climbed out once the manhole was opened up.
When the coast was clear, they closed it before the two urban explorers left the area to avoid being caught.
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Stepping clear of the wall once more, Luvina holstered her sidearm, before casting her gaze after the two men. It was curious, that they would never know how close they could have come to lying dead and forgotten, in this sewer. She briefly wondered which school they went to, and wondered if she should look into it further. But, no, there wasn't much point. Unless they were exceptionally paranoid, and thus putting on an act even when they thought they were alone, they were probably nothing more than a couple of civilians.
She'd mention it to her superiors, when she got back to the embassy. It could be a useful idea for a cover, for future excursions down here.
Slipping her shoes back on, she made her way back to her own exit, ready to recover her I Ds.
Then she could head back to the embassy.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Sandwich Summoner
"Unnatural..." Terry droned for a moment. Too forced. He thought mentally as he blinked a couple of times, and vigorously put a hand in front of his face, an eye closed and displaying a wide, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I was trying to act out of the line. I really don't know how to act with action types like you! I thought being assertive would do it.!" He said, lying without a heartbeat.
He waited a while after the pilot gave its signal. Now, how to ask more information: Please tell me? No, that sounds way too formal?. He paused. "So this time is a VIP in danger? What happened really?" He finally settled for a more hurried formula, befitting the situation.
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"That's fine. But don't be like that ya know. You can talk to me normally without acting tough." Mike sighed and patted him on the shoulder before the former got inside the cabin. He wore the Guarder LAPD SWAT vest and a UTG leg holster on his right leg, placed in one of the seats inside.
He noted the folder next to him.
"Get the folder next to me when you sit down." Mike pointed to the folder on the seat next to him. "We got news Mai Kashiwagi
's gone missing. It's a high level case filed by some of the relatives of Dr. Tahara after she didn't come home last night. Word is that it's got something to do with Meyer & Hilton since they made threats to the family. From here on out, we're going to support the National Police Agency in the search. She's last seen somewhere in Koto ward."
"Take off after the doctor is inside!" Mike told the pilot before he wore the headset so that he communicate with the pilots once the chopper can take off. He handed the doctor the headset too so that they can talk due to the noise of the rotors.
At the American Embassy's situation room, an analyst told a Eurasian man with a suit that Lady Blue was still inside PANDORA jurisdiction after she infiltrated the wall.
"Tell her to return back when she makes contact." The man told the analyst. "We need her to speak to the station chief and he wants to speak to her right away."
edited 19th Mar '15 12:43:38 AM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Sandwich Summoner
"Ah, alright then!" The doctor added, carefully rushing the end of the sentence to answer the sentiment the other human had. After sitting and carefully putting his headset on, he began to intently read the dossier. Without missing a heartbeat, he added.
"My educated assessment is that this event is related to the father's past allegiances. Hell's Gate is mentioned. Everything related to the Gate is no trivial event." He pondered.
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"Indeed it is." The ex-VPD officer replied via headset.
The chopper took off from the helipad, now flying towards Koto.
"Meyer & Hilton may have been able to dig up on what Dr. Tahara found in Hell's Gate when it first showed up. After all, he was one of the few people who survived from whatever killed his team."
Mike secured the radio by wearing the mike around his neck after he turned on the radio extender placed at the back of his vest. He got his G36C from the empty seat in front of him, except that it has Saudi markings from the Military Industries Corporation.
"Public Security should have cleared us in before we go in and see if we can secure the girl since east Koto is a no-fly zone. Rumor is that they got a hired Contractor to kidnap her."
Mike did a brass check on the subcarbine and examined the ZF 3x4° dual optical sight mounted on the upper receiver.
"I just hope that you got a weapon with you, doctor. M&H may start to send in their goon squads to stall us."
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Pocketing her identification, as she finished straightening out her clothes, Luvina paused as she felt her phone begin to buzz.
Pulling it out and glancing the message over, she began to quickly type back a response, even as she began walking from the alley.
-Confirmed. Leaving the Restricted Zone now. Have obtained intel on facilities and activities in the area.-
The Contractor had to pause for a moment, shifting her feet around to get them more comfortably situated in her shoes. Partially satisfied, she began a brisk pace down the streets, that would lead her back to the embassy.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
The two Marine Security Guards in the guard house of the embassy received word from the main building to expect someone from the CIA to arrive, namely Luvina. They confirmed the instructions and got a MSG standing behind the gate to be on the lookout for her at once.
edited 19th Mar '15 6:18:22 AM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Soon enough, Luvina was walking up to the embassy.
Familiar enough with the procedures of entering the building, she already had her CIA-phone and I Ds out, ready to show them to the guards at the entrance. She gave a nod here, and shake of her head there, when appropriate, and basically let them do their jobs. Presumably, she would be required to turn-in her sidearm, while she was there.
As soon as she was allowed to, she got the appropriate directions to where she was expected to go, and began making her way to her meeting.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
The lone MSG escorted Luvina to the office of the CIA station chief in the main building of the American embassy. He was told to keep her weapon after the police officers stationed outside the embassy cleared her for admission.
"The agent is here, sir." The MSG spoke to the man working on his computer in the office.
"Thanks a lot." The man thanked the MSG. "Leave us for now."
"Agent Almaraz, right?" He introduced himself to the Contractor. "Daniel Takagi. New station chief for Tokyo. I just arrived yesterday." The chief extended his right arm out to shake hands. "I assume you were done with your previous assignment?"
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Sporting the same neutral expression that most Contractors sported, she politely shook the man's hand, before slowly pulling out her CIA phone. After a few seconds of quick typing, she turned the phone towards the man.
-Yes, Chief Takagi. Welcome. And, yes, I've scouted the periphery of the Hell's Gate, using the sewer system.-
Taking a moment to clear the text, after the man had been given a chance to read it, she typed in the next part.
-PANDORA Security is being increased across all fronts, but the tunnels below are relatively lightly guarded.-
Again, like clockwork, she cleared this text before typing in another message.
-PANDORA chatter suggests that DSGE agents have been operating in the area. Also, encountered two civilians in the area.-
She made a point of holding up the phone where the text could be easily read, letting the Chief take-in the details of her succinct report. Luvina kind of assumed that the man had been informed of her Contract before this meeting.
edited 19th Mar '15 6:56:14 AM by dungeonguy88
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"Hmmm..." Chief Takagi pondered on her report. "I'm not surprised that PANDORA stepped up security on all fronts, especially with Ms. Shinoda's death staged by a DGSE cell to lure out someone from The Syndicate. Word we got from our Paris embassy is that the agency's being scrutinized for the screw up they did. We just don't know whether the cell acted under orders to kill her or if they went rogue."
The Japanese-American continued. "If what you said regarding the civilians is true, then it looks like urban explorers are trying to get access to the restricted areas despite orders from the Security Council to curtail their efforts. Regardless, I want you to be careful when you encounter them. Any encounter with you will be troublesome for us if we need to use ME to erase their memories."
He then looked at his papers before he looked at Luvina. "At any case, I'll try and see if the CIA can reach out to someone from one of their agents inside the facility just in case. But for now, we'll need to stand down until we can get the green light again."
Takagi looked at her again before he read her dossier. "I understand that you have Huntington's disease from the time the CIA employed you as a Contractor agent, yes?"
edited 19th Mar '15 8:44:43 PM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Duo took note of the traffic fleeing, "Anything of certain note?" he asked Yon, "Any majorly identifying features?"
Discordian Agent
Luvina had to tilt her head, at the abrupt shift of topic, from work to herself. Considering the question for a moment, she used her thumb to type in her response.
Holding the phone up for him to see, once she was done -Diagnosed when I was young. The onset of symptoms has not yet begun, and my mental faculties have not degraded.-
She chose not to comment, on the way he referred to her employment with the CIA in the past-tense.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"It's bad enough that my predecessor wants to treat Contractor agents as tools and they're originally human to begin with."
He handed her a calling card for the University of Tokyo hospital.
"Since no orders are given yet, I suggest that you visit the hospital's neurology center to have yourself checked out." Takagi gave her the card. "They have the best doctors who can check you out and give you the needed medication. Don't make me it an order. That's the last thing I want to do."
Yon's spectres would be able to locate signs nearby that mention "Tomioka Playground" in Japanese and English. It is the last place where Mai was last reported. "Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Sandwich Summoner
"Mmmh" The doctor hummed in agreement through the communicator, neatly putting out his handgun and checking the load and safety. So, he does know about contractors? Well, at least I won't have to worry about being punished for disclosing more information than I should. The medic pondered before looking at the gesticulation the other man did back and forth with his gun. He was getting concentrated and ready to fight.
"Contractors are my specialty. I've been studying how their brains work." He added, being vague yet assertive enough to support his teammate. He was walking through thin ice, here. Even though he used to do these things naturally before, nowadays as a contractor it was a careful pantomime between body language and formulaic expressions.
edited 19th Mar '15 7:39:35 AM by AtomicNut
Discordian Agent
Luvina blinked in apparent surprise, showing more emotion than was her norm. Granted, this still wasn't a lot of emotion, when compared to normal humans. But on a Contractor it was noticeable.
She took the card without much fuss, even as she openly scrutinized Chief Takagi.
He was right to say that his predecessor had not looked fondly upon Contractors, and for a non-Contractor it wasn't impossible that this was him simply showing empathy for her. It seemed far more likely to her, that he recognized that her loyalties were waning, and was trying to secure them before she acted out.
Not that it mattered to her.
If the man was willing to provide her the treatments she desired, whether they were derived from ME tech or not, she didn't really care what he wanted her to do. Threaten her, bribe her, blackmail her, try to befriend her, or even if he wanted her to be more loyal to him than the agency, she didn't care. If they provided her what she needed, it was all the same to her.
She gave a brief nod to the Chief, acknowledging his orders. Pausing a moment, she took to texting in another couple of line of text, before turning the phone towards the man.
-Two more things of note. The PANDORA chatter, mentioned that the DSGE agents were attempting to contact a scientist from inside the facilities. And the tunnels entering the Hell's Gate have been sealed, but are otherwise lightly guarded.-
Clearing that text, as it filled her phone's screen, she typed in the next bit.
-I could likely enter through these sealed routes, without detection.-
Give and take. Worst case scenario, the Chief was pointedly reminding her that he was her best shot at getting her treatments, and this would remind him that her abilities were one of his best shots at them infiltrating the Hell's Gate.
...She never had to put this much thought into interacting with other Contractors or Dolls. It always seemed so much simpler than dealing with regular humans.
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
The Fantabulous
Yon assumed Duo meant the playground and let a brief moment of silence hang in the air as she observed. It was fortunate that the two officers' bloody demise happened close enough to the entrance - the Doll's medium was a sometimes restrictive one, albeit useful in these violent times. "Tomioka Playground." She told Duo, head turned to her side's passenger window as if watching the passing environs. It was an unconscious habit and even after ME a few such husks of personality persisted.
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"That must be Ms. Shinoda then. The embassy mentions that she worked with them to steal classified information from the archives of the National Institute of Technology, though she also has legal access to PANDORA." Takagi assessed her report. "That's probably the reason why PANDORA's stepping up security. I probably will have more word if DGSE did have further plans for their facility or it's just rumor mongering."
The Japanese-American heard further info regarding sealed areas. "Don't let your guard down. Those are probably done to seal up the restricted areas from urban explorers and terrorists alike. I don't know if the embassy's given you diplomatic immunity since I haven't been told yet, which is why I need to check in."
"That said," The station chief waited to see if Luvina had anything else to report. "Is there anything else you need to add?"
"Good to hear. Least I can count on you when things are about to get hot." Mike spoke to Terry when the pilot informed that they were almost approaching the eastern part of Koto.
"What's our destination?" Mike asked the pilot.
"Just a small playground in the area, sir." The pilot replied. "Tomioka Playground, if I recall right."
"We're almost there, doc."
A few minutes later, the chopper made its approach towards the playground.
Duo would be able to see the Airbus EC155 B1 make its approach towards east Koto if and when the van would emerge out of the underwater tunnel.
The Syndicate, meanwhile, would sent an information update to its field agents that the Almighty Support Enterprises has intervened alongside the police in the situation.
edited 19th Mar '15 5:02:04 PM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Discordian Agent
Luvina shook her head before typing in her response, and turning the phone his way.
-Nothing else of note.-
"It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -C.G. Jung
The Fantabulous
Yon opened her palm a inspected the almost dried blood there scabbing over yet another wound. She gently rubbed her palms together to remove the red stain and with this her observer spirit's vanished. She did not know if Duo wanted her to be armed in case the ASE were hostile, placing her duffel bag under her seat as they arrived at Tomioka Playground. The Doll exited the van and walked to the entrance, standing between the two mutilated police officers as her spectres reappeared.
Yon turned her head upwards, impassively watching the Airbus EC 155 B1 approach.
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
"All right." Takagi noted Luvina's answer. "Until we get word from the CIA, you're free to do what you need to do."
He then told the Contractor. "Just make sure you get checked out when you have time, agent Almaraz."
From the sound of things, the CIA station chief was really putting an effort to recognize her efforts for her services to the agency.
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Yon cocked her head slightly as Duo asked her which location was the best course of action, momentarily perplexed. She hadn't yet confirmed the whereabouts of their targets and Doll's did not decide much of anything, "I don't know." She replied softly, but the wounds in the officers seemed to fit Luco's contract description. Fortunately their contact provided directions to the main explosion, Yon adding a rough indication of the playground's location moments later. "The wounded man is in an alley, in front of the playground. Still bleeding out, maybe alive." She relayed, the continued bleeding suggested there may still be something to pump the blood out but it was hard for her spectre to tell.
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”