News Report: [12 November 2121 5:59]
“Welcome back everyone and as we start the new hour we will head right into STAM news-”
“That’s right Ulrich, STAM has just released reports stating that the dangerous mazoku drug “Free” has been completely eradicated from the source. A statement from the Head Director confirms the reports where he claims that the dealing mazoku were contained and confessed to the existence of a mazoku terrorist organization having a headquarters in the dead sector.”
“In wake of this, the latest reports show a drastic decline in mazoku captured through testing for the drug and an increase in rampant mazoku activity,” Amelia added.
“Local reports show first sightings of the rampants in the high sectors, near the dead zone where they then make their way to less radiation-dense zones. STAM went on record to say these rampants are the work of the terrorist mazoku organization.”
“Current Stand-in Bridge Party head, Judge Tao Smith, has commented that he doesn’t believe that these rampant mazoku are working for the mazoku organization and has spread a message of peace between mazoku and humans. While his approval ratings had plummeted over the past 10 weeks, slowly they have begun to increase again-”
Sector 1: Tenno Academy [ 15:00] (WED)
The end-of-school bell rang and all the classroom's began to buzz with students gathering their belongings and putting on their Academy coats. Arisa let out a soft sigh as she put her things in her bag slowly. Things had changed so much so quickly. The end of the school day used to mean her Keiko and Aku all walked together…but now-
“Arisa,” Keiko tapped her shoulder, “I’ll see you at the apartment tonight ok?”
Arisa nodded, “Curry for dinner?”
Keiko grinned, “Don’t wait for me this time ok?”
“Hey, intern are you coming?” Seiji called from the back of the class, Keiko rolled her eyes before turning around and smiling, “I’m coming Seiji….”
He grinned, ”Did you finish my capture report from yesterday?”
Keiko held a thin smile but clenched her jaw, “Of course I did.”
STAM HQ [15:49]
Keiko let out a lungful of air as she leaned back in her desk. She was the new intern for the STAM agents, which had come as a shock to her since Hong never mentioned that she was part of the selection pool. But to infiltrate STAM’s inner workings could only benefit MRPA, so she had followed the orders. She had many responsibilities in this positions, but mostly she was a middle man between the agents and Shizune. And she was responsible for completing their mission reports.
At first she had been paranoid and stiff, but now she just felt loathing at her position.
She was at the beck and call of all the agents. She had to keep up appearances and pretend not to be a mazoku. And for every day she spent working here it meant she couldn’t do as much at MRPA. But there were reasons for her work here.
She had access to STAM’s database. Now she could cross reference STAM’s database with MRPA’s. She had already updated the MRPA system on hundreds of mazoku that had not been entered before.
“Keiko-”
She jumped in surprise at her name, “Shoutarou you scared me!”
He was leaning against the far side of her desk with a grin on his face, “My bad. We’ve got a meeting in a few minutes, remember?”
Keiko looked at the time, “Oh you’re right,” she stood from her desk and pulled the skirt of her uniform, that seemed to always ride up when she sat, down, “Let’s go!”
“Your display?”
She turned back around and grabbed the small display off the desk, “Got it!”
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The two walked into the briefing room. Shou took his place in line beside Seiji, while Keiko stood off to the side to observe.
Shizune gave Keiko a disapproving glance for being the last to arrive before she began, “I think you all are aware of the growing problem,” she clicked the display to show the charts and data, “we’ve been seeing more and more rampants pop up in the clean sectors-”
“Just in the past week there have been 2 rampant sightings in Sector 4 and 7-” Keiko interjected.
“Judging from their movements it seems like they are trying to escape the clean sectors and head for a more radiation dense environment. The problem is they attack everything in sight on the way. Naturally we suspect this to be another plot of the mazoku organization.”
Seiji nodded, “We haven’t been running into the black agents when a rampant arrive-”
Keiko bit her tongue. In truth, MRPA didn’t want to risk the resources on rampants. If STAM agents were always going to dispose of a rampant, then in most circumstances, extra mazoku would worsen the problem.
“Given the data, your patrols of the clean Sectors will increase. If a rampant is spotted, the closest team will be given priority-” Shizune looked over at Keiko, “You can finish giving them their orders.” with that she walked toward the door stopping just before to turn and look back at them, “Just as a warning, there are talks of curfew being placed on the citizens. If that happens, STAM's image will suffer.”
Keiko looked down at her display, “Rank 1 will take the northern clean sectors, Rank 2 the west, and Rank 3 the south. You are tasked with disposing of any rampant immediately to avoid damage to the surrounding area and human life. If you are in an area where no human life is in danger, you are to contain the rampant for further testing.”
Sector 7: Our Home Orphanage back entrance [16:02]
The back entrance of the orphanage was dimly lit and covered by a large awning. The bundled up old woman that ran the orphanage pushed the young girl gently down the stairs toward the cloaked figure. “Off you go now Jane.”
The young girl was shivering under her thin jacket. She was thin- very thin, with snow white skin and bright gray hair.
The cloaked figure bowed quickly at the old woman, “Thank you for saving her.”
The woman shook her head, “Take her quick. They’ll be here any minute.”
The cloaked figure nodded, taking the young girl by the hand and pulling her off down the alley. The young girl struggled to keep pace, “Where are we going?” her voice was high pitched and traveled far down the alley. The figure pulled her against the wall and covered her mouth as two officers passed over the opening of the alley.
After a moment she released the girl and knelt down to her, pulling her hood down, “We’re going someplace safe Jane.” Arisa gave her a soft smile.
“You!” a voice shouted just ahead at the opening of the alley, “You’re under arrest!!” The man was an officer. He held a stunner pointed at her.
Arisa put her arm around the girl protectively and took a step toward the officer, bringing her face into the light.
The officer’s arm shook slightly, “Y-y-you-”
Arisa took a small step forward.
The officer gulped, “Shapeshifter-”
He barely made it through the word before Arisa had shifted her arm longer, grabbing the officer by the collar and punching him in the gut with her other arm. The officer gasped and dropped his stunner. Arisa quickly slammed his head into the wall, knocking him out.
She brushed off her hands quickly before turning to the young girl, “Let’s go.”
The girl was holding something in her hand, “Look!”
Arisa took the page from the girl’s hand. At first her face was confused- but then it turned into a big smile.
Sector 3: Main Street [17:03]
At this time of day the roads were filled with people getting off work. Most people passed Hiro and Ryu without a second glance, but some of them recognized them and waved. Ryu was the only one who would wave back. They were on patrol for rampant mazoku, but Ryu doubted they would find any- he hoped they wouldn’t find any.
“Mama it’s the Hero of 14!!!”
Ryu jerked his head at his title and saw a little girl tugging on her mother's dress. When the little girl saw that he was looking at her she ran right up to him with a big smile, “It is you isn’t it?”
Ryu leaned down to her level and gave her a smile, “That’s right I’m Ryuichi,” he lit up his display from his dog tags, “What’s your name?”
Her mouth hung open for a second before stretching her hand out to shake his hand, “I’m Sammi!”
He shook her hand, “Nice to meet you Sam-”
“One day I’m going to be a STAM agent just like you!” the words bubbled out from her and she started throwing little punches, “I’m a black belt you know?”
Ryu gasped playfully, “A black belt?! The mazoku don’t stand a chance when you join!!!”
She grinned proudly.
“Who’s this?”
The sound of Hiro’s voice behind him sent shivers up Ryu’s spine. The last time he was with a young child like this Hiro murdered her. Ryu shifted to guard her instinctually but the little girl started bouncing happily.
“You’re Moru Hiroto!!!!”
Hiro nodded.
Ryu felt a cold sweat on his neck. His shoulder started to tingle and his vision blurred. The little mazoku girl….the little girl...Hiro don’t-
“Sammi!!” the child’s mother ran up and grabbed her hand, “I’m so sorry for the trouble...”
Hiro shook his head, “It’s no trouble,”
Ryu shook his head and stood to smile at the mother, “She’s a great kid,”