Aiko wiped her head as she finished tapping down the perimeter wall, adjusting the SMG she had taken from the ADOTF’s van as she came around the bend to where her and Seiko’s truck and the van were parked; only to see Seiko standing with two of the spare guns in each hand standing guard at the gate with as serious expression she could muster.
Giving an annoyed huff she walked behind her and gave Seiko a thump to the head who yelped and started rubbing the small bump forming on her head.
“Ow, what's the big idea? Ya said to watch the front gate and I’m watchin’.”
“And looking like a clown while doing it, this is why we get set up with the work no one else wants.” Aiko admonished as she went into the back of the van where the ADOTF’s communication gear was set up and slid on the headset, clicking the line open.
“Captain Musashi, this is Officer Murakawa, we've finished setting up the containment tape and sending out the message to HQ. What’s your current status?” The line crackled to life.
“Murakawa, me and Wolf Seven are climbing down the lattice on the east wing, you should see us touch down in a bit. Two is somewhere in the west wing on his way out, and Three and Five should be making their way out now. The Hunter’s somewhere in the basement, I don’t know what he’s up to, but he seems to have a plan.”
“Wait he’s what?!” Aiko said with a start. Suddenly worried she’s gonna lose her charge on the first day and part of her was ashamed she was more worried about how it’d look on her record more than someone younger than her dying before his time.
“Oi Aiko, I see three of ‘em!” Seiko poked her head in the back of the van. Seeing her partner’s mortified expression. “Uh, what’s wrong, Aiko? You look like someone just pissed in yer beer.”
“That idiot is going to get himself killed on the first day!” Aiko fumed, pulling her hat down over her head as much as it could, only stopping when the line crackled again.
“Officer Murakawa, we’ve touched down and making way to you” Musashi’s voice came in as the other lines opened.
“Sir! Thank goodness thought you were trapped up there---Hey what’s with this bird! Shoo, get away!” A feminine voice came through as Aiko leaned out to peek down the driveway of the property to see three of the squad waving their hands over their heads as a small bird buzzed their heads. Chirping wildly in what she could only interpret as annoyance as it did a final swoop, pooping on the lone male of the group’s helmet and flying in. The one male of the three cursing loudly. Two more joined from the side, one being supported by the other, favoring their left leg. The one being supported gesturing furiously making the three stand ramrod straight and salute before making their way to the gate.
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Wolf Seven guided his injured commander to the rear of the van, taking the first aid kit Aiko was offering from the back. Musashi continued to bark orders as he leaned against the bench seat in the back of the van, allowing Seven to do his work before turning back to Aiko.
“Any update from HQ on reinforcements? As it currently stands, we’re two men down, three if the Hunter doesn’t make it out before that thing gets him.” He winced slightly as Seven started to ice and wrap his sprain.
Aiko double-checked the communication equipment on the pending request and gritted her teeth as she bit down a curse at what she saw. “Denied until further notice, all the other squads and most of the police force are still at the Castle. Every time they take a daemon down another one pops up in or around the area, but it's all low-level daemons.” She looked over the live-streamed map of the Central Ward as numerous sighting reports continued to pop up. She noted that there was only the occasional sighting in the area between them and the Castle, but they were also low-level, level three at most. Which begged the question.
“Captain Musashi,” She started, “That daemon inside, what level was it?”
Musashi grimaced as he took his helmet off and ran a gloved hand through his hair. “The Hunter reported it was a level six. By all accounts, we have absolutely nothing that can phase it. Our rounds just sparked off its hide when we encountered it.” Musashi pinched his nose, replaying the skirmish with the daemon in his head. Kicking himself for every perceived error that led to the death of one of his men.
Wolf Three, the youngest of the squad, noticed her captain taking that self-critical look and spoke up. “It’s not your fault, Captain. Six pushed me out of the way when it threw that table at us.” Saying as she had a hitch, she and Six were close. Musashi noticed how much she was trying to contain her grief by her body language alone.
“Focus!” He barked, pushing his own doubts to the back of his mind. “Six’s death will mean nothing if you and anyone else gets killed for not having their head in the game.”
Wolf Three snapped to attention and gave a shaky salute. “Yes Sir!” She sounded off before returning to Wolf Five’s side. Two, an ornery and somewhat burly man that struck almost as imposing figure as Musashi, had to put his two cents in.
“You think that kid knows what he’s doing? He’s all bluster if you ask me.” Two grumbled as he checked his gun and moved fresher magazines to easily assessable spots on his tactical rig.
“Takes a blowhard to know one, huh, Two?” Wolf Five chimed in. A more jovial woman was patting Wolf Three on the back. “I don’t like the idea of relying on a high schooler either, but we don’t got much choice. Unless you wanna run in there and find his mags, we can’t do shit against that thing.”
“Cut the chatter you lot!” Wolf Seven barked as he continued to tend to their Captain’s wounded leg. Seven was the typical stick-in-the-mud type, but he kept his head on the task at hand. “Captain, you're going to have to keep your weight off of your foot. Mild to severe sprain of your ankle. Officer Tani, can you assist me in putting him in the back fully? The Captain will take over communications.”
Aiko nodded and proceeded to assist the older man into the seat at the communication equipment. She couldn’t help but shoot a look at the receiver and had to fight the urge to try and communicate with the Hunter.
Seiko could see the look on Aiko’s face and could only sigh to herself. She felt for her partner. She was always obsessed with having a good record, and having someone they’re in charge of getting killed on his first day in the country would just be another mark against them. Seiko wasn’t overly worried about the kid. She knew poker faces, and that kid held cards to his chest like his life depended on it. She was fairly certain only she and Musashi picked up on the Hunter not ever sounding panicked in any of his communications. It was wishful thinking, she was fully aware of that, but she wanted to have faith in the kid. She could tell he was someone who was constantly underestimated. She played with the charging handle of the SMG, making sure there was a round chambered. She hoped that she could take him and Aiko to her favorite food stand when this was all over.