Monday1.13: Something has happened!

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Kritiker has sent Weiss an

Mr. Tsukiyono,

I hope I find you on better terms than our meeting last night.

I have attached your homework.

Your friend,

Yutaro Sato






Inside the attachment is:

A picture of a disk. Underneath is written: Return without opening.

A picture of three men.

Text:

A terrorist cell has been found inside the Gold Corp. Research Inc. compound, address below. Targets (above) suspected to be in building at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. These men have tested their research on humans for mercenary and hostile purposes and must be eliminated for the good of mankind. A stolen disk is in their possession. Important to retrieve without viewing.

Security of compound: unknown.

Comments

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Following Aya’s departure, Omi straightened his room, cleared it of all signs anything unusual had taken place, took a mournful glance at his homework, and scooped it up and moved it to the bed with his laptop. He was halfway through it when his e mail alert sounded.

Omi started and flung the homework away to the floor, where it spilled and covered the wood like a paper carpet. His Pavlov’s bell, the e mail alert-- that account’s alert anyway-- captured Omi’s undivided attention at once, and suddenly, simple as that, homework no longer mattered. Adrenaline filled his blood, mounting higher as he decrypted the attachment and its meaning. As he’d thought: they had a mission.

Omi was almost happy.

The language of the introductory text Omi paid little attention to, though he did rather miss the use of the code names and wished for their reinstatement. It also did not escape his notice that their assignment now included not just assassination, but item retrieval. Omi couldn’t remember ever being asked to do more than take out the target.

He pushed aside such thoughts. Gold Corp. Research Inc. Omi went straight to work on what really mattered now: his investigations. Sato didn’t need to tell him the security was unknown-- he researched that aspect of building infiltration every time. It was just brazenly stupid to go breaking and entering without any knowledge of what you were trying to sneak past, and just because Kritiker didn’t tell him didn’t mean it wasn’t findable. It would not have been the first time they had omitted critical information. However, Omi didn’t give heed to that; it was his job to protect his team-- not Kritiker’s.

The disk though... Omi had never been trained to hunt down items, only people. How did he even begin to narrow down the location of the disk? Did someone keep it on them? Was it stored somewhere in the building?

Feeling slightly frustrated, Omi felt it best to reply and hope for more thorough information. Only now did he examine the e mail’s wording more carefully so as to craft a convincing reply.

Sato-sensei,

I appreciate your concern and visit; it helped immensely, and I feel more confident with my assignments. But I still have a few questions about the homework-- if you could call me tonight, I think I’ll be able to finish the homework on time. I’m worried about only being able to hand it in partially completed, so please get back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Satisfied that sounded like a more normal studious pupil than he, Omi sent off the e mail and looked back at his real homework, still scattered across the floor-- and likely doomed for an incomplete grade.

For not the first time in his life, he concluded that what he really needed more than anything else was a human clone.

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

An hour later, a beep comes from Omi's cell, restricted number. A quiet voice comes over the line. "Bombay, this is Sato."

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi had been keeping alert for the phone, and swiped it up on the first ring. He smiled at the use of the code name-- what could he say? He'd grown rather fond of it in his years of using it.

"Thank you for the prompt response. It's concerning the disk. Ideally, missions are executed in minimal time without delays to scavenge the building and risk exposure. From the information given, I'm not sure where to even begin looking for the stolen disk. Does Kritiker have any leads on its location?"

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

"Target three should know, or have it on him," the voice crackled over the phone, "Look for high security areas if he becomes unavailable. I'm sorry that I can't help you more than that. It's very important that you don't leave the building without it."

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi nodded, even though Sato wouldn't be able to see it. "We'll do our best. We've never received professional training in that department. If this is going to become relevant to my performance in the future, please consider this my official request for some training in the field. Bombay out."