004 - Undercover

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Misaki shows up on the Plane, next to where she left her kitchen table during her first visit. There’s a stack of files and a large, crumpled-up map under her arm; once again, she looks very, very pissed.
She slams the files down and spreads the map across the table; it’s an overview of Tokyo, marked with red and blue dots in eight locations (four of each), and outlined in a grid. She weighs the corners down with a few polished rocks from her pockets and sits, dragging the files toward herself.]

Comments

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[standing behind her, looking over her shoulder and studying the map] Your murderer?

[contract_star]

[Watching from a distance before he approaches, carefully.]

Anything yet?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

My murderer. [She glares at the map.] We finally IDed the last victim. A friend of the governor's daughter. The Superintendent General is on my department for results--though of course he can offer no more support than is already available.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Nothing new. [Gives the stack of files a disgusted look.] There's a call for measures I don't agree with, however.

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[Dino has a cautious respect for Misaki. He figures as long as he doesn't mention anything illegal, things are fine. So he wanders over to peek over her shoulder] Working on a case?

[contract_star]

[Suspicious now.] What kind of measures?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Ones I dislike. [It's sharp this time.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

A particularly nasty one, yes. [Flips one of the files open and considers its contents.] A child-killer.

[contract_star]

I gathered as much. [Looks from her to the map and files and back.] They're stepping up the investigation. Which means more risks. Which means more people at risk.

Which people, Ms. Kirihara?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[GODDAMNIT HEI. She knew she was attracted to him for a reason.]

Having anyone more than is strictly necessary at risk is something I would rather not deal with.

[contract_star]

[He's not the most feared Contracter EVER for no reason :D]

Hm. [Looks away.] I'm having a similar dilemma.

[Looks at her sidelong.] What are they asking you to do?

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[That causes Dino to tense. He does not like those who go after innocences] Any leads on him?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and rubs her face with both hands. Without speaking, she tosses one of the files to Hei.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

None that have led anywhere. [Rubs her forehead.] I don't think I've slept through the night in a month.

[contract_star]

[Hei catches it, vaguely surprised. He flips it open and reads the contents. Inside is a picture of a young boy, next to a Messier code and a list of abilities. Hei frowns.]

This is a Contractor.

[He skims over the rest of the file, and slowly his eyes widen.]

Since when does Section Four use Contractors?

[He snaps the file closed and sets it back on the desk, keeping his hand on it as he mulls things over. He isn't looking at her. Eventually his expression goes cold.]

Bait. Of course. Just tools, after all.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Does the ID give you any links between victims or is it still random?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She grits her teeth. When she speaks, it comes out as a snarl.] Don't start.

The government has been employing contractors since the Hell's Gate incident--everyone who didn't want to be executed was drafted into service. They've continued the practice since. The number of child contractors has been rising as well. They consider this an opportunity to test them.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head.] Still random, though I find it hard to believe that picking up a friend of the governor's daughter was an accident. He's laughing at us.

[contract_star]

[Is silent for awhile, since he knows that she feels the same way as he does, and he doesn't want to start a fight.]

That incident must have been truly...[Trails off, unable to find the words.]

If they're proper Contractors, some of them will betray you. Run to a syndicate for protection.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[At that, she's silent.] Maybe. We have enough other contractors on hand to kill them if that should happen.

[There's a definite tang of sarcasm in her words.]

[contract_star]

[Frowns at her, sensing that something is off.]

I'm surprised actually that the Syndicate allowed the Japanese government to start utilizing Contractors at all...it would indicate that the public is starting to become aware of their existence. The Syndicate doesn't want that, unless their goals change a year from now...

[Yes, he's fishing.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Totally expected it and ignores the hook.] The fact that the Syndicate doesn't want to move publicly at all is an advantage on our part. The public is still largely unaware of the existence of Contractors--and if they wanted to stop us, the Syndicate would need a very public display of power.

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[Dino glances at the map. He can figure out what it means easily enough] I hate people like this, the ones who go after those who can't fight back. [He reaches for a file. He wants to help, would be helping hunt this guy down if something like this happened in his turf.]

[contract_star]

[Not letting up,] But they have their hooks in every branch of the Japanese government. There's no way they would have allowed this in the first place. Too many loose ends, too many people going home to blab to husbands, wives, children, friends, about people with superpowers.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She rests her hand on the files.] Please don't, Dino-san. I appreciate it, but... [She shrugs, looking very tired.]