As the Fates would have it, as soon as I switched over to the new Wednesday update format, life decides to hit me with an emergency, and I have to drop everything I'm doing to handle the situation. I can't say that emergency has been all been handled just yet, but it's in a better spot than it was some days ago. So rest assured, we're now back to our regularly scheduled program!
To make up for the lost week and the abrupt radio silence from my end, I'll be hosting an art commission giveaway to those that vote in this week's poll!
Week 12
Mr. Takami and Talon pull into the underground parking garage and park in a green-painted lot near the entranceway to the Kubozaki Police Department Headquarters. A visitor’s tag swings from the van’s dashboard mirror as Mr. Takami shuts off the engine. The two get out and Talon stares around at the black spheres dotting the walls and hanging from the ceiling.
“There are cameras everywhere,” notes Talon.
“It’s a police station,” Mr. Takami plainly says.
“Not just. We don’t know who’s really watching.”
“If it’s the people you’re worried about, I can assure you the Minami family has more eyes and ears around here than they ever will.”
Just then, Mr. Takami’s cell rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and looks at the number.
“Who is it?” Talon asks.
“It’s the Commissioner.” Mr. Takami taps the phone and greets Dobashi with a joyous welcome. “Ah, Dobashi! We’re just outside…”
Mr. Takami’s warm face suddenly drops as he listens to the Commissioner’s next words.
“Where’s this question coming from?”
Talon takes notice. He and Mr. Takami share stern looks before the old man continues his conversation.
“The men in suits… was one of them a blonde man? 180? Yankee accent?” Mr. Takami asks.
A small pause.
“Yes… he was intruding on my property some days ago, trying to pick the locks on a door. Not an ethical Interpol agent you have there.”
“It’s them,” Talon says.
Mr. Takami listens to Dobashi’s next words, but his expression only grows darker as the conversation carries on.
“Listen Dobashi. We’ve been pals for ages. You know I’d never go as far as working with… what? No, that’s… That’s a conversation for another time!”
Talon darts his eyes between Mr. Takami and the sliding doors leading into the station. They can’t afford to waste anymore time.
“We need to hurry. Leah could be in trouble.”
The old man nods. “Look, you’ll just have to trust me. We don’t have much time. Where’s Leah?”
A brief moment passes as the phone whispers.
“She’s heading to Room 1G. That’s on the other side of the building,” Mr. Takami says, shutting the phone off. “Go. I’ll radio the crew for backup.”
“But where’s 1G?” he asks.
“Just follow the maps! They’re all over the place.”
Behind a glass panel wall, Leah and Daiji observe the rows of trainees practicing their martial arts under the watchful eyes of their masters. Some toss their fists in steady rhythm, while others demonstrate techniques to neutralize and subdue their targets, practicing kicks and tosses upon foam mats.
“I’ve never seen those kinds of moves before,” says Leah.
“What kind of martial arts do you do Ms. Takami?” Kichiro asks.
“I’m not sure, actually,” she admits. “I’ve only been taught a few moves, but I was never told what they were called.”
“Really now?” he says, seemingly taken aback by Leah’s words. Leah shakes her head.
“The classes teach a mix of martial arts,” Daiji mentions. “Perhaps if you can demonstrate those moves, we can figure out which one’s for you.”
Leah’s eyes light up. “That sounds like fun! Let’s do it!”
“You’ll need a sparring partner then,” Kichiro explains. “I hope you’re up to the task, Mr. Sasamoto.”
“Don’t you have someone else for her to demonstrate on?” Daiji says.
“What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll be too hard on you?” Leah teases.
“More the opposite, really.”
Kichiro chuckles. “In that case, let’s have Mr. Sasamoto take the lead here. Ms. Hinohara and I will get a mat set up for you two, and you can go change out into your uniforms.”
Leah grips her fists in excitement. “Alright! I can’t wait to show off what I can do.”
“Don’t get too cocky. Mr. Sasamoto here is a black belt,” says Kichiro.
“You didn’t need to mention that…” Daiji utters.
“Then I look forward to learning more from you, Teacher,” Leah says, bowing to Daiji.
“...sure,” he mutters, as he turns away toward the changing rooms.
“I’ll get you a uniform you can use, Ms. Takami,” Eiko says.
As the group departs, Kichiro’s phone rings. He rustles through his pocket, and sees it’s the Commissioner’s number.
“Commissioner?” he answers. “What can I do for you?”
Talon is fuming. Standing at the front desk, he raises his voice upon hearing the woman’s next words.
“What do you mean I have to wait!?” he cries out. Heads turn toward the racket at the reception.
“All visitors must have an authorized escort before entering the premises. You must wait until one becomes available.”
“There’s no time to wait! This is urgent!”
“What kind of visit is this again?”
“I’m not visiting, I’m here to get someone.”
“Do you have a name? I can get someone to fetch her for you.”
“No, I need to get her myself.”
“Then you’ll need to wait, Sir.”
As Talon continues to argue with the receptionist, the elevators open to the sight of two foreign men in black suits. A blonde man with combed-back hair and sunglasses steps out with his partner following behind.
“Are we in?” Joe asks.
“Feeds are live,” Nathan replies. “We should have surveillance access now.” Just then, the man suddenly stops. He blinks a few times, adjusting his shades.
“What’s wrong?”
“Must be a glitch or something. It says the targets are in this building.”
Their attention soon turns to the argument happening at the desk. The heads-up display locks in on Talon’s face, and sounds the alert on a positive match.
“It’s Him!” Nathan yells, pointing at the young man.
Talon turns and locks eyes with the two men as they immediately bolt towards him. With no time to lose, Talon kicks into high gear and vaults over security turnstiles, knocking over the guards and sounding the alarm across the building.
“Stop that man!” Joe screams as he and Nathan vault over the turnstiles as well. The police, though dazed by the sudden chaos, join in on the pursuit and begin radioing in on the situation.
“Damn it, Leah!” Talon curses. “This was a bad idea!”
He spots two officers up ahead in the corridor. They immediately take positions to block his path, arms outstretched and ready to pounce. With a crowd closing in from behind, he has to improvise. He spots a wastebasket off to their side. He makes a mad sprint towards them, but as they get ready to jump, he veers off to the side and delivers a solid kick that sends the wastebasket flying into the face of the nearest officer, knocking him down clean. The other officer tries to tackle him, but with a burst of speed, Talon flies right past just before the officer could nab his legs, sending the officer tumbling over and face planting on the cold, hard floor.
With his heart racing and his sweat gleaming off the side of his face, Talon swerves past suits and badges, the commotion of his pursuers following just behind. He sneaks a quick glimpse at one of the large maps of the building posted along the walls,
“1G… that’s on the other side alright. But how can I get there with the whole building after me?”
Talon’s cell rings. He hastily plucks it out from his pocket and answers.
“Mr. Takami?” he says.
But a woman’s voice instead replies. “Where are you now?”
It sounds familiar. “Ms. Yoshida?”
“Where are you now?” she repeats.
Talon hesitates. He looks around and sees the corridor marking. “1C,” he shouts.
“Take a right. There’s maintenance stairs not far ahead. It’ll be marked by a blue door.”
Following her instructions, Talon makes the turn and sees the blue door. But there’s a problem.
“There’s a key swipe on the door!” he shouts as he’s running up to it.
“Just open it. You’ll be fine.”
As Talon approaches the door, the key swipe’s red light suddenly turns green and there’s a click. He yanks the door handle and shuts the maintenance door behind him. He can hear officers on the other side yelling and banging on the door.
“I’m in,” Talon says.
“Good. Now head downstairs.”
“Will that get me to Leah?” he asks.
“No, but I need you to check on the mainframe that’s on that level. I can’t access the cameras, so I don’t know where your sister is right now.”
Talon let out an aggravated groan. “We’re wasting time! She could already be captured, or worse, killed!”
“Which is why I need you to get me connected back into surveillance.”
Talon paces around the floor, his breath wheezing from the adrenaline, then looks ahead towards the dimly-lit concrete corridors of pipes and shafts.
“Okay. What do I need to do?”
Topic: Project Serentedia - Week 13 (Read 3432 times)
