(1) Sunday1.20: Something has happened!

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

The sun has set and the flickering glow of streetlights reflects off the Koneko's doors, alleys shadowed in the night.

A blond Japanese man with a pleasant face framed by square glasses, medium frame clothed in a crisp beige suit, walks purposefully down the deserted sidewalk. He has a suitcase in one hand, he carries a can of coffee in the other. When he reaches the flower shop, he places the suitcase on the ground, bends over and opens it. With precise ease, he enters a series of commands. Within a matter of minutes, the building's security programs, Weiss' and Kritiker's both, are disarmed.

He picks up the suitcase and slips inside the back door, placing the suitcase on the kitchen table and repeating his motions. The alarms are reset. He dumps the rest of his drink down the sink and throws out the can before taking a seat facing the door, hands folded neatly in front of him on the table, waiting for Weiss to return.

Comments

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

When his teeth started grinding of their own accord and the taste of copper began to crrep into the edges of his awareness, Ken knew that his temper was hitting a rising point.

This self-rightious ass had no right...well if he was Kritiker he did have a right but...playing mind games was not a good way of handling people who live their lives wearing a thin shield of paranoia at all times. If this was a test, it was a horrible way to set up good liason relations.

~He must be expendable,~ Ken mused dangerously. ~They must have known there was at least a 75% chance that we would have killed him first, then asked questions.~

He ignored the quiet whisper that said it wasn't too late to do just that. He didn't like Sato one bit, or what he brought back into their lives.

Before he did something like make a hole in the wall (or in Sato's head) he shifted on his feet trying to catch Omi's eye. He didn't know if he still wanted him to make that sweep, or stay in case something else went wrong. He was having trouble staying still; head games simply weren't something he was comfortable playing.

The only reason he wasn't already out the door was because of the re-instatement bombshell that got dropped on him, and most of the shock from that had worn off into a seething anger.

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi watched Yohji, only mildly gratified to see him at least take responsibility for his actions. At the same time, part of Omi couldn't help agreeing with Sato. He was the leader. He was responsible for keeping his team in line. He was responsible for being a strong enough figure of command that they wouldn't even -think- to disobey. Clearly, he wasn't.

He was still angry about it, but this wasn't the time to criticize or reprimand. So long as they stood before Sato, he wanted them to be the team that they were, supporting one another, acting as one and not four. They'd shown enough division amongst themselves.

Not willing to completely take his eyes off Sato-- who still owed him an answer-- Omi slighted his head towards one side, glancing over his shoulder at Ken, still not sure just what was going on with him. Except that he looked restless.

"Ok?" He asked in a whisper.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

Ken nodded once, leaning in a bit to breath a reply. Hardly moving his lips at all, he muttered "Fine. Sweep?" and tilted his head a bit toward the door.

He could make the run in ten minutes or less, but he wasn't going to leave unless Omi still wanted him to.

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi had already put his eyes back on Sato waiting for an answer when Ken asked his question. Omi quickly filed through the information they had, decided it was at this point unlikely that Ken would find anyone or anything (and he honestly didn't expect him to), but it was better to not assume anything, and three on one was still easily enough to handle Sato. Besides which, if Sato was indeed telling the truth, no evaluation of procedures in a security breach should be complete without a check of the rest of the building.

He inclined his head just so in a nod, muttering back, "Be careful. Take a weapon and look for tampering or traps, too."

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Sato observed Weiss coordinating and bit back a smile diplomatically. "Kritiker does think you're a strong team," he agreed, and spread his hands in a somewhat conciliatory gesture. "But I'm afraid I have no proof for you. Kritiker does not like things that can be tracked, as I'm sure you know."

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi didn't think any sort of evaluation should be necessary if Kritiker truly still believed in them. Sato's claim that he was there to test them and his assertion that Kritiker still thought them strong... just didn't add up for him.

"Then, I think you should make yourself comfortable while I confirm your position myself." Omi gently suggested. "You shouldn't find it unreasonable that I want to be absolutely certain of it before accepting any missions from you."

[skyrat13.livejournal.com]

Yohji watched Ken leave the room to complete Omi's failed commands. He almost offered to join him, but remained silent. It seemed to him like it would only make the team look weaker if he acquiesced now; he should stick to his convictions, even if they were poor ones....

"I suppose you are going to tell us that Birman is permanently indisposed as well," he commented grimly, not knowing what else to contribute at this point.

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Sato inclined his head. "I'm sorry, their projects are of a classified nature."

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi always had his cell phone with him. Pulling it from its clip at his waist, he flipped it open and dialed Manx’s number. No answer. He fought to keep a composed expression, more worried for her safety. Reassignment was such a vague and unjustified explanation. Had something happened to her?

He tried Birman. Same result. Frustration grew in his stomach. Right. Headquarters themselves.

Frustration evaporated into relief when the voice of a familiar secretary answered. Contact at last. Though it was still worrisome and discouraging to receive no further information on Manx’s whereabouts despite asking again, there was little choice but to accept it now.

The conversation stayed brief and polite otherwise, with Omi returning the phone to its holster. The secretary had confirmed Sato’s employment, leaving no lingering doubts in Omi’s mind. He felt no embarrassment for his stubbornness in eliminating them, nor any grudge or hostility towards Sato now that he had eliminated them. He could trust him now.

He picked up Sato’s briefcase, carried it over, and offered it to him with no attempt to pry inside. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I’ll keep an eye out for your e mail.”