[Bakiri Retsu]

It was forty five past nine and a veritable horde of reporters, journalists and concerned citizens had gathered in front of the stage where the local precinct's police chief was going to be holding a press conference. While the conference itself was only set to occur at ten it hadn't stopped any of them from trying to squeeze info out of staff and security, forcing the latter to set up a cordon to allow the former to finish the preparations. Ironically it was making Retsu's job so a lot easier. She had no idea how Loki had managed to infiltrate some of his subordinates into the conference's organization but it was much easier for them to sneak explosives into the stage and surroundings when they were quite literally both supposed to be there and putting things down in the right spots already.

"Make sure they stay on." Retsu muttered to a passing stagehand she recognized as she made her way out of the waiting crowd. Her presence wasn't noted by anyone. She almost chuckled at that. An entire day of causing destruction on a scale that hadn't been seen in quite a while and none of them recognized her. Well, that'd change soon enough. She absently checked her phone as she leaned against a planter. A full dozen of them had been brought in to give an air of normality and control to the conference. Which was a really fancy way of saying the trees were supposed to hide the surrounding damage enough the cops could get a decent angle for their PR.

The irony that several of them would instead be adding to it wasn't lost on Retsu as she stifled a yawn. She'd been on her feet for almost twenty four hours now and could really use some sleep. When Loki had let her know of this particular opportunity however she'd pushed her rest back a bit. There was no way she could miss this.

Who knows, with some luck nothing would go wrong and she'd get to relax. She snorted at that as she scrolled through a news feed. As if anything had gone that smoothly today.

Her shoulder was sore from the heavy duffel bag she'd been carrying around for most of it and she felt decidedly underarmed now that she was here without any weapons whatsoever. Except the combat knife hidden on her lower back of course. She didn't count that one. It never managed to do what she needed it to. Oh well. She wasn't exactly in any state to be fighting anyway. Her injuries were healed but the bone-deep fatigue from being on her feet all day wasn't so easy to be rid of. It had been worth it though. There were still a little over two hours left in ENKI's grand debut but Retsu was going home after this one, she'd more than gotten her share out of it.

Her gaze was briefly drawn to a rather nervous looking staff member dropping a box, hurriedly shoving its contents back in and looking around to see if anyone had spotted him. The man quickly ran off after that. Retsu scowled. Clearly not all of Loki's minions were the brightest bunch.

------

Tags: CHIRP ♪♪ Bakiri Retsu

[CHIRP ♪♪]

FADE IN:

EXT. TOKYO — MORNING

GABRIEL perused the crowd. With sunglasses covering his eyes and a camera around his neck, he blended in with the paparazzi. Unlike the rest of them, however, he opted for polaroids. After a recent interaction with a low-level, street thug, he learned of something happening. There were no finer details available to him. Gabriel couldn’t trace his memories far enough and the one hint available to him was voice-gated through the man’s phone — the same phone that seemed to permeate through Japan’s underbelly.

If it weren’t for his sunglasses and careful positioning, he’d expose his glowing red eyes to the crowd as he took his photos and scanned their pasts. It was ineffective. And he was wasting time.

Then, the shoe dropped.

A box, actually. But their body language betrayed them. It was a long shot but Gabriel snapped a photo from a distance before…

GABRIEL (V.O)
Explosives…

Gabriel made his way around the crowd, taking a detour of sorts to find a suitable place to don his mask. Then, he had a target to chase.

GABRIEL (V.O)

Now where are you headed…

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

9:23 am - Past:
Miyagawa Shichiro



"A-are you sure? This doesn't look like w-what I was supposed to put there?"

"Don't worry about it man, it's just some firecrackers. Chief wants to look all bad ass making a witty comment, having something blow up and then not flinching in the slightest. You know how the man is."

Shichiro did not, in fact, know how the chief of this precinct was. He'd only been hired to the small, family-ran handymen group as a temp two days ago and was fairly sure no one in the entire group had gotten any jobs inside of Tokyo itself so far. He shook his head. It wasn't his right to question such things. He was just here to assemble the stage and put the props in place. Peering into the rather large box he was holding Shichiro couldn't help but think that firecrackers did not look that way. This thing looked far too large and had way too many wires sticking out of it. He swallowed. Maybe it was just meant to look imposing for some stunt where the chief pulled it out after the firecrackers had gone off?

"Uhm, can't someone else put i-"

"Look kid, I brought it all the way to you even though it's not my job. Don't bother me further about it, alright? Just get it done and stay out of the way of the cops. With the shit that went down yesterday they're all kinds of prickly." The other man replied while scratching at the blue ball cap atop his head. It had the logo of some kind of landscaping company Shichiro had never heard of on top. "I've gotta make sure these planters are all lined up perfectly or it'll be my ass on the line. Get moving!"

---

9:47 am - Present
Bakiri Retsu


Letting out a yawn Retsu regretted that she hadn't stopped to get some coffee or energy drinks on the way. Ah well, it was too late now and there was no point crying over spilled milk. While she could maybe make it to the coffee shop and back in the thirteen or so minutes she had that'd hardly leave her with time to down the cup before she had to take the stage and well, doing so with cup in hand wouldn't be good for her image now would it?

Actually...

"Ah fook it, why naut?"

Showing them all up while giving so few fucks she showed up armed with nothing more than half a cup of coffee seemed like exactly the kinda vibe she wanted to put forth. Nothing said you were scary as fuck like beating your opponents plans without any effort after all. Hells, if Loki could do it so could she. Pushing off the non-explosive planter she'd been leaning against she grumbled about how loose the side was and sauntered over to the nearest cafe, sidestepping an awkwardly parked van with a group of loitering workers seated next to it on the way there. 

---

9:42 am - Past
Kamiya Tsutomu



"Chief, are you sure this is a good idea?" Kamiya said as he grabbed his clipboard to run the final check on the venue.

"We've been pushed around long enough, we need to make a stand now. Make sure no one fucked the preparations up. If we don't do this right it'll all be for nothing. Everything needs to go perfectly."

------

Tagss: CHIRP ♪♪ Bakiri Retsu

[CHIRP ♪♪]

INT. BUILDING — MORNING

Gabe finds somewhere hidden enough. No cameras, no people. Yet. He dons the mask and makes his move.

CHIRP ♪♪
Miyagawa Shichiro.

The target is cornered. Alone. And they don’t seem the type to make a ruckus. A single finger rests over Chirp’s beak. The universal sign for “stay quiet or I’ll keep you quiet”.

CHIRP ♪♪
Is it true you handled “fireworks” earlier? Where are those fireworks now?

There were too many moving pieces for Chirp to handle at once. Gazing into the past gave him perspective but nothing more. He wasn’t any stronger or faster. And he still only had two arms and legs to help him.

If this man was of sound enough morals, he might have found himself a messenger.

CHIRP ♪♪
And where is the man with the blue cap?

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

9:48 am - Present:
Miyagawa Shichiro


"W-who are you?" Shichiro stuttered before clamping his mouth shut as the masked man signaled him to. He'd known the bomb would be trouble! Firecrackers. How could he have been so stupid as to believe it!

"Y-yeah. Bu-but they're not supposed to be dangerous. It's just firecrackers in a fancy cover, I swear!" Shichiro hissed through panicked breaths. "T-they're under the stage. Right behind the podium, where the police chief's gonna stand. He- he was gonna do this tough thing with not flinching and then pulling the bomb out, I swear!"

Shichiro made sure to stay as still as possible and keep his hands where the man could see them. He didn't want to risk any trouble. Even though the man was most likely to be a villain given the events of the past day there was a chance he might get away scot-free, right? He didn't have a choice but to gamble on that.

"Th- the blue cap? I- I don't- Oh, do you mean the one that passed me the firecrackers?" He asked, very insistent on calling them firecrackers. "I don't know. Honestly, I promise. He was with that landscaping company that has their van parked further down the road, I think. I don't know. Please let me go, I've told you everything, I swear! I won't tell anyone you're here."

---

9:43 am - Past:
Miura Kunio


"Everything handled, Miura-san?"

"Yes boss, all done. Won't know what hit 'em." Kunio replied -the last sentence a bit quieter- as he readjusted his blue ball cap, the very same one the four other people sitting next to the van were wearing. Of the five however only he and his boss -a somewhat fat, balding man- knew about the plan. "You sure he'll go for it?"

The balding man leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Rumour has it he lost a guy in a bombing yesterday. He ain't backing out, no way."

"Good." Kunio nodded while cracking open a can of beer. "To our upcoming bonus!"

---

9:50 am - Present:
Bakiri Retsu


If there was one thing you could always count on it was that whatever poor sob was on the bottom rungs of capitalism was supposed to toil come hell or high water. As Retsu entered the cafe she wasn't surprised in the slightest to see the underpaid employee behind the counter in exactly that position. Twenty-one hours into the worst day Tokyo's had in a while and still he'd get the boot if he didn't show up. It disgusted her.

"Triple espresso, ah'm in a rush so make it quick." She said brusquely before she even made it to the counter, tapping away at her phone all the while. Had to make sure everything didn't catch fire the moment she looked away after all. That was only supposed to happen once she got back.

"Would you like-"

"Did ah fookin' ask?"

She only had 10 minutes left to get ready for everything and desperately needed that coffee. She'd seen a bunch of people die over the past twenty four hours and unlike them she couldn't just lay down and relax, no, she had stuff to do. Swiping through the files she had on her hired subordinates she tried to match a name and face to the incompetent one she'd seen drop a box earlier. Nerdy look with spikes on his lower jaw? No, that one was over by the cameras. Woman with inverted knees and chicken feet? Not that one either, saw her in the middle of the crowd. Duck beak? Nah, she'd have remembered if that one turned out to be a quack. Medium length bright red hair? Fairly confident she saw that one at the very front of the crowd. She looked through several more and got increasingly exasperated when she couldn't find him. Clicking her tongue she supposed even ENKI had its flaws at times.

When she finally received her coffee she slid her phone up against the machine to pay and left, completely unworried about leaving traces of her passage. She'd be too well known soon to hide her presence anyway. 


------ 


Tags: CHIRP ♪♪  Bakiri Retsu

[CHIRP ♪♪]

“No, you’re gonna tell exactly one person I’m here. And you’re gonna tell that same person about the explosives on the stage. We aren’t risking anyone getting hurt.” Intimidation wasn’t his forte but that wouldn’t stop him from being firm. The plan was to hit him with the ‘good cop bad cop’, except he was playing both roles.

“Look,” He let out a sigh. It was all a ploy. “Right now you were set up. Framed. You’re not responsible for this. But if you run away, if you let this happen? You’re an accomplice. You will be away for the rest of your life. I can show people what you did.” It was a lie but he did what he needed to do to get the job done. This shit was so messy. “So help me help you. Help me help everyone here. Tell the officer what happened.”

Chirp started walking away. He waved with his back turned.

There isn’t much time left. Not unless they can either deactivate the bombs or evacuate everyone from the vicinity. I’ll get to the root of this. And then I’ll leave them on the cops’ doorsteps.

“I’m heading to that van now. If I die let everyone know I was the handsomest bird you ever met.”

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

9:48 am - Present:

Miyagawa Shichiro


Shichiro's face lost more and more color the further Gabriel got into his explanation. Realizing just how badly he'd messed up he quickly nodded along.

"I- I'll do it. I promise."

Seeing him walk away Shichiro couldn't help but think this man, whether he was a hero or a vigilante, looked cool. He puffed up his chest, gathering courage from Chirp's actions. 

"I- I'll make sure they remember you, sir." He muttered under his breath. "I just hope I won't need to."

---

9:52 am - Present:
Kamiya Tsutomu


Kamiya was just finishing the final checks on the whole venue. A task that as the one closest to becoming the next police chief whenever the current one got promoted was perhaps a bit below him but they couldn't risk anything going wrong. That was of course when one of the hired helpers, a lad barely in his late teens or maybe early twenties, came up to him looking incredibly twitchy.

"U-uhm, sir?"

"Lad, I'm in a hurry, what is it?"

"B- below the stage sir. I was supposed to put this thing there but I think it mi-"

"Firecrackers, don't worry about it." Kamiya said, his expression tightening as he fixed Shichiro with an intense look.

"B- but sir. It looks way bigger and has all these exposed wi-"

"Firecrackers, lad. Chief wanted something that looked impressive. Insides aren't anything special. Don't go saying anything too loudly now, you'll ruin the chief's surprise." He patted Shichiro on the shoulder. "You're a good kid, lad. If you ever want a job with the police I'll put in a good word for ya. Go take a break. You wouldn't wanna end up missing the grand speech, would you."

Turning away from Shichiro he smiled, glad to see there was still some good in this world and people willing to stand up for it, even if his efforts were misplaced at the moment. As he bent down to adjust a loose side panel on a planter he failed to see the look of determination on Shichiro's face. Even though the police may not be taking him seriously Shichiro felt, no, knew something was wrong. He had to go find Chirp again.

---

9:11 am - Past:
Kono Takumi


Running a towel over his balding head Takumi put his blue cap back on and adjusted the bag he was carrying over his shoulder.

"You sure I shouldn't be carrying that, boss?"

"I've got it, Miura. Can't look weak in front of the big man." Takumi added while stifling a cough. "Welcome, Kamiya, it's good to see you again. Is the chief not with you?"

"He's busy, spare me the small talk Kono. Do you have the thing?" 

"I do." He said while pulling a remote detonator out of his bag. The moment Tsutomu grabbed it however he tightened his grip and looked him right in the eye. "You promise that the moment this is over you'll get my brother out of jail?"

"Of course. I'm a man of my word."

Takumi spat in reply.

"And pigs can fly."

"Maybe they will, Kono. Maybe they will."

------

Tags: CHIRP ♪♪

[CHIRP ♪♪]

Did he want to be remembered? He wasn’t sure.

It was an interesting thought. And the scene that played out was what he had envisioned, but that was the mind of a film maker at work. With how woefully unprepared he was for the future, would being remembered as Chirp be worth the risk? Would he want that to overshadow Gabriel, the direct? Or Gabriel, the artist? He pushed the thoughts aside, he didn’t have time.

Click. Click. Click.

Gabriel scrolled through some of the photos he had taken while standing outside. Now that he had more insight into what was happening, he searched through various faces to see what needed to be done.

“If there are bombs, then there’s a detonator.” Something clicked. He knew who had it, he just needed to know where they were. “There.”

Kono Takumi.

Gabriel looks into the past and sees it. He finds the detonator. But do they still have it? He can’t be sure. And he can’t keep scrolling through photos. It was almost time… he had to make a choice.

____

A gun presses against Kamiya’s back.

“Don’t move,” Chirp said. “Give me the detonator and you might see tomorrow.”

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

9:53 am - Past
Miyagawa Shichiro


As the policeman turned his away and continued with the checks Shichiro wondered whether he truly should go look for the masked stranger once more. He'd left to go take care of things and given Shichiro a job to do. There wasn't much time left before the speech, could he even afford to be distracted right now? Shichiro didn't want to take the risk. Looking at the policeman's broad back as he reliably finished everything on his list Shichiro was reminded of a scene from mere minutes ago.

Like both Tsutomu and Gabriel before him Shichiro too squared his shoulders. He had to do this himself, there was no time. He'd put the bomb in there, he could get it out. Without any further delay he speed walked back to where he'd put down his toolbox. He had no idea what he'd do with the bomb once he'd gotten it out but that was fine, right? The important thing was getting it out of the stage. The masked hero could take care of it, right? Surely relying on him a little more was fine.

---

9:54 am - Present
Kamiya Tsutomu


It was a very familiar feeling. One that instantly brought him back to the past. To a time where he was still much less successful. A time before he'd joined the police when he'd been but a misguided youth doing petty crimes, long before Chief Tamotsu had put him back on the right path. Yes, this was not the first time Kamiya had felt the press of iron against his back. Yet it didn't feel any less terrifying for it.

"Tch, you're with them aren't you?" Kamiya more said than asked with a definite edge to his tone. "I don't know how you found out but things won't go your way. The detonator's inside the station with the chief and there's no way anyone can get to him before the speech."

His next breath came out lighter, as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders. It was as if he hadn't truly believed his own words until he'd spoken them. He knew though. Even if he died here, someone else would continue his mission. He wasn't alone in this and he wouldn't yield to this stranger. If it cost him his life then so be it, this was much bigger than just him.

"It's over for you. Do as you must. I am prepared to die for what I believe in. Can you say the same?"

---

9:56 am - Present
Miyagawa Shichiro


He'd done it. His heart was still beating a mile a minute but no one had caught on to the fact that he'd removed the bomb. If he'd taken a moment to think it through he'd have realized it was only normal. He was the one responsible for assembling the stage after all, doing a final check and removing some planks to reassemble them more strongly wasn't all that out of the question. Even so these had been the most stressful few minutes of his life. Now all he had to do was find Chirp again. He'd been running around for who knows how long -perhaps a minute, perhaps 10- with no way of keeping track of time, desperately hoping no one would set it off before it was out of his hands.

There.

"Sir, sir. I've got it. I took it out of the stage. Please, you have to take it. I don't know what to do."

Maybe the masked man could throw it into the nearby river. Maybe he had a special way of getting rid of it like a bomb proof box or perhaps he could bury it. Shichiro didn't know and he was panicking too hard to think of any of these things. His hands shook as he held the box containing the bomb, his breathing so rapid it was clear he was mere moments away from hyperventilating.


------

Tags: CHIRP ♪♪

[CHIRP ♪♪]

“Perfect,” Gabriel bluffed. “I already have people on the way.”

If people were going to die, then there was nothing he could do at this point. He could only attempt to find out the rest of their plans. What was the point of this? What were they ultimately after?

“What the hell are you all really after?” Gabriel had no idea who he was allegedly with. He hoped the ‘really’ would give him enough plausible deniability to give him wiggle room. This was risky enough as is. Gabriel ignored the man’s question. He was in control here, not this self-sacrificial lamb. I’m too pretty to die.

That’s when Shichiro arrived.

“Good job,” Gabe said, quick on his feet. “Just as planned.”

Oh, shit. They’re safe. My bluff worked out. OH, SHIT! THE BOMB IS HERE? IS IT STILL ACTIVE? OH GOD!

“You’re willing to die for what you believe in, but are you willing to die for nothing?” Another gambit. Please for the love of god work. “Disable the bomb and I’ll let you live. It’s the one chance you’ve got. Take it before I squeeze the damn trigger.”

Those acting lessons were paying off… hopefully!

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

9:56 am - Present
Kamiya Tsutomu


For a moment Kamiya's breath caught in his throat. Only when he thought things through did he regain a little bit of his composure.

"What we are after?! I should be asking that of you! Do you have any idea how many lives that monster has ruined?" Kamiya hissed. "If we don't put an end to it now who knows how many more will die? You want to know what we're really after? Revenge. To make sure no one else has to suffer the way Hideo did."

His brow set and his shoulders squared. Clenching his jaw he was considering whether to continue speaking. He wanted nothing more than to shout insults at the man standing behind him, to throw the facts in his face and confront him with the reality of the matter. He knew he shouldn't though. They'd come too far and crossed too many lines to risk it all for the sake of his ego or some recognition. He didn't want anything to ruin their plans.

That's when Shichiro arrived.

The iron pressed up against Kamiya suddenly felt colder and heavier as if it were the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

"There's no way to disable it," Someone said. It took several moments for Kamiya to realize it was he himself that had spoken. As if a dam had broken words spilled out while he collapsed to his knees with lifeless eyes. "It can't be stopped. Couldn't risk that, not with the chance of that monster figuring it out. No matter which wire is cut the bomb'll go off instead of being defused. You've ruined it. You've ruined it all. I'm sorry, Hideo. I'm so sorry. I've failed you."

As his words lost volume and slowly devolved into repetitive mutters it was clear there was nothing else that could be gained from the man. Not without some way to calm him down and a serious attempt at persuasion. 

"W-what do we do now?" Shichiro said with shaking hands while eyeing the bomb he was holding as if it were a venomous snake. "I-I can't keep holding this, please, you have to do something!"

Whatever choice was to be made it would have to be made fast. With minutes left until the chief's speech there was little time until it went off.

---

9:57 am - Present
Bakiri Retsu


They'd gotten her order wrong. How hard could it be? Really, a triple espresso. Press the same button three times and you'd have it but no, apparently that was too complicated for the idiot behind the counter.

It was only by coincidence that she'd checked her bill on the way back and noticed she'd been charged for a Doppio and an Espresso instead of three espressos. Normally she wouldn't have cared but today absolutely everything had been a massive pain and she wasn't willing to take any more of the shit life threw at her. So she'd marched back in there, demanded the minimum wage worker made her a new one and kept a close eye on the machine each of the three times the flustered teen pressed the button.

Sure, it'd taken her quite a bit of time she really shouldn't have wasted but it was the principle of the matter.

Either way she'd finally made it back to the venue, gaze briefly scanning the scene to see if anything was out of place. She stifled a yawn and took a sip of her coffee as the brisk morning air caused the hair on her arms to stand up. That probably didn't mean anything. One suppressed groan later she made sure to stand a bit further away from the crowd just in case.

------

Tags: CHIRP ♪♪

[CHIRP ♪♪]

“So, it’s booby-trapped.” Gabriel grabbed the bomb from Shichiro. “You two can leave. I’m interested in saving lives, not taking them.” He turned to Kamiya. “But if you stop to take out your grievances on my friend here, then you’re gonna get caught in the explosion.”

It’s not a real threat — there isn’t anything he can do if they killed Shichiro on the way out. If he was successful he could only try to catch up and turn him in to the police. But with his life at risk, would he even risk taking out another? It seemed like he had something to live for, after all.

The man runs. Shichiro hesitates.

“Go,” Gabriel needs to be alone. “I can’t cut a wire because it’s a trap. But I can cut the signal so it never gets detonated. And considering the fact things could go wrong, there probably isn’t a timer on this. If there is, then its one that disables the bomb after not having a signal for whatever amount of time. It’s a gamble. One in my favor. But if it’s not, then we need someone to warn everyone else, got it?” A heavy sigh. “You’re still on the job… now go.”

When left alone, he’d get to work. To make a signal jammer he’d have to take apart his Polaroid gun and the electronics in his mask. It’d be a hodgepodge of equipment that might give him the result he wanted. Still, even though he was confident in his skillset — this was just like a movie, after all — being under real, tangible pressure was killer.

His hands shook. His mouth was dry. He could hear his heart in his ears. He didn’t realize how hard he slammed the device into the bomb when he finished. Hell, it might have blown up on contact alone.

Gabe winced.

It didn’t blow. He put his warped, mask back on, and shoved the rest of the gadgets and gizmos in his pockets, and started running in the opposite direction. If the jammer doesn’t work, then maybe there’s a range limit, too.

Desperate times…

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Bakiri Retsu]

10:00 am - Present
Bakiri Retsu


As the clock ticked to the hour and the police chief walked out of the building surrounded by his escort it was finally go time. Seeing the camera crew give the signs that they were rolling followed by a more familiar part of the camera crew pulling out firearms to ensure they'd keep rolling Retsu started sauntering her way towards the stage. It was just a local broadcast but it'd suffice for what she had in mind.

Oh yeah, she almost forgot.

Pulling a cylindrical device not unlike a pez dispenser out of her pocket Retsu popped open the cartoonish looking cap at the top and pressed the button beneath setting off a cascade of explosions. Her brow furrowed. Not all of them were in the planters the plan had meant for them to be and more importantly, one of them was in the very planter she'd been leaning against less than fifteen minutes ago. Someone would be losing their head for this, she'd make sure of it.

Wasn't it that group with the white van that was in charge of putting the bombs in the right planters? Casting a glance over her shoulder she found they'd already left. Retsu supposed it didn't matter. She didn't have the time to deal with them right now anyway.

Already her subordinates were drawing their weapons and corralling the frightened crowd into the center of the venue, held hostage and only safe so long as the police didn't get in her way. Retsu took a sip of her coffee. Her bombs had done most of the work 'scaring' the crowd away from the sides anyway, it was long overdue that the others earned their pay. But she digressed. Moving up the stairs at the side of the stage flanked by two armed goons she smiled maliciously at the police chief that was about to begin his speech.

"Yo, gon' be crashin' this party. Move or get moved."


---

9:21 am - Past
Chief Tamotsu


It was small. So very small. If he closed his hand around it only the red button at the top would peek out. Yet it had the power to decide life and death. Tamotsu's jaw clenched. It had decided life and death in several places throughout the city during the past day.

"Are we sure this isn't just another of that monster's sick games, Chief?" His second-in-command and only other person he'd let in on the plan, Kamiya, asked with barely suppressed anger.

"It isn't." Tamotsu said in a tone that brooked no argument. "Bakuretsu is not one for subtlety or political maneuvering. She got too ambitious and antagonised too much of her fellow scum along the way. Now she'll pay the price for everything she did."

He saw Kamiya's eyes lose focus, his mind clearly replaying the phone call. The one where they got the news that Hideo had perished in a bombing while trying to escort civilians out of a mall.

"That monster has to go down, Chief." Kamiya almost spat before taking a deep breath. "But are we sure we want to bring them to justice like this? Would we not be the same as-"

"There is no other choice." Tamotsu stated. "See the scale of today's events. Such a thing cannot be done without backing. Who knows how long an arrest would keep her behind bars? No, Kamiya, if we do not end her now there'll be more victims like Hideo. We cannot hesitate. We must make a stand before civilization collapses into anarchy. If we cannot safely take her down otherwise the bomb will be our last hope."

---

10:01 am - Present
Bakiri Retsu


It was a good thing that the chief had a flair for the theatrical. Getting the fire spouts she wanted for her own speech installed into the back of the stage would've been much harder without it. How the hells Loki's people had sold shaping the remote activator for it like one of the detonators she tended to use she had no idea but she sure wouldn't complain either.

"Ah, 'fore you go hand that thing over will ya."

"You-"

"Shut up. Easy way or the hard way, fooker. How many people d'ya reckon we've gotta shoot 'fore y'll listen? Choose quick, ah ain't in the mood fer delays."

She took another sip of her coffee as she snatched the 'detonator' from his reluctant hands before gesturing for him to leave the stage. He could glare hatefully at her all he wanted, the man wasn't in a position to do anything about it. Not unless he was willing to get blood on his hands and in Retsu's experience the cops never were when it came down to it.

Placing her cup down on the lectern Retsu cleared her throat as she angled the mic to suit her height. She wasn't exactly in a rush -captive audience and all that- nor did she need to get out before the cops arrived -already present- but there was no point in taking her sweet time either so without further ado she leaned close to the mic and began.

"Here ah thought stage fright was s'pposed ta affect the people on the stage." She chuckled. "Good on y'all fer givin' expectations the finger. Ah ken relate ta that, dis ain't what y'all are here for is it?"

Snapping her fingers in realization -and to see the crowd jump- Retsu shrugged theatrically.

"Or ah guess it is? Ah mean, y'r here for answers ain't ya?" Leaning in even closer her grin turned decidedly manic. "Y'll be getting them."

Yeah, this was worth staying awake for. Casting a glance to the side she found that the police chief didn't seem to be very appreciative of her efforts. Can't please them all, she supposed.

"As ah'm sure even the densest of ya have noticed, and ah ain't lookin' at anyone here Nobu, today's been a bit of a shake up of the status quo. Dun' worry tho, that's only temporary."

She snorted.

"Soon, shite like this is gonna be the status quo." Retsu added before pausing for a moment. Just long enough to let her words sink in and for her to take in the ambience. If it hadn't been for the fearful muttering you could've heard a pin drop. Just the way Retsu liked other people, not fooking bothering her or getting in her way.

It pleased her so much in fact that she didn't even bother to signal for her people to shoot the officer rushing towards the chief. One that Chirp would've recognized as a certain Kamiya Tsutomu, albeit looking a lot more bruised and battered since they parted a few minutes ago.

"Fer ya see, all this here? This is just the beginning. Soon, everyone that so much as tries ta go against us..." Retsu said ominously while raising the detonator to head height, utterly oblivious to the look in the police chief's eyes as she pressed the button activating the two fire spouts behind her. "...is gonna go down in flames!"

The crowd shrieked as her henchmen added to the scene by firing their weapons into the air. With a smug grin Retsu pointed finger guns at the camera and mouthed 'boom' just as the broadcast was ended. Satisfied and completely ignorant to how close she'd come to dying she stared straight into the chief's confused eyes -eyes that widened and were accompanied by a shudder as Kamiya whispered into his ear- and gave him a wide grin. 

With a snap of her fingers she signaled her subordinates to pack up and head out. As much as any threats to them would be delayed both by the nearest responders being unavailable and the day behind them having stretched everyone to the point of breaking Retsu had no doubt that some hero or the other would soon show up. She had no intention of being here when they did.

It was high time she got some rest. Going after whichever group had fumbled the placements of the bombs could wait until tomorrow. For now, Retsu was going home and if anyone bothered her for the next twelve hours there'd be hell to pay.


------


Tags: CHIRP ♪♪

[CHIRP ♪♪]

Explosions went off.

All this damn running and the explosions still went off. If there was any solace in Gabriel’s failure, it was the fact he saved a few lives. He reached a stand still as he looked back at the smoke in the air. The screams made their way to him and even if he had the power to, would he go back? He looked at the bomb in his arms. Was it worth the risk?

Gabriel pulled out his phone. The event was to be broadcast. Maybe he could find it online and catch a glimpse of what happened. Maybe he could see the bastards responsible for this. But as he pulled up the stream all he saw was a woman mouth the word ‘boom’ as the broadcast came to an abrupt halt.

He rewinded it. Paused on her face. Took a screenshot. And put the bomb back on the ground. It was a moment — a brief dip into the past, to see what had happened. And as the seance began…

Gabriel stopped.

He couldn’t do this. Not here.

Tears formed in his eyes and he ran off, holding himself together as best he could. All of this work. And for what? What the hell did he actually accomplish?

Nothing.

Not a goddammned thing.

---

Bakiri Retsu

[Sol]

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Man, you can really feel the hopelessness in the situation.
You really did try Chirp.

CHIRP ♪♪ - 7500 EXP + 50 tokens converted to 5000 EXP = 12500 EXP
Bakiri Retsu - 25500 EXP + 50 tokens converted to 5000 EXP = 30500 EXP

PHARAOH LEAP.

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