Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. Sailor Sirius is the property of Sharon Williams. Any references to Vulcan are the province of Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Studios. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Six: Recovering Girls
Rating: PG-13
Okada silently seethed as he sat hunched over the control panel. He was furious over the android having been destroyed by the Scouts. Worse, he felt like he failed to avenge Ramsey's murder at the hands of Hunsacker's operatives. Bagwell and Hawthorne stood a few feet away, both men silent.
"Masaharu, we have continue on," Bagwell said softly. "Time is not on our side. We have to prepare to carry out the operation tonight."
Okada straightened up and nodded. "Yes. You're right, Cletus. We owe it to Scott to finish the experiment."
Hawthorne, a sour look on his face considered making a snide remark about Ramsey whom he detested, but thought better of it. "I agree. Let's get to work preparing the machines. We have much work to do and precious little time to do it in."
For the last hour, Inspector Haneda, furiously chewing on a stick of gum questioned the Sailor Scouts for all the information they had about the battle against the androids on the campus of the University of Tokyo.
During the course of the questioning, Sailor Moon and Sailor Vulcan were calm and cooperative while revealing their suspcions behind Professor Masaharu Okada's involvement with the robot. Moon in particular was having trouble staying awake as she was worn out from using the Imperium Silver Crystal. However, Sailor Sirius was becoming increasingly irate, feeling like she was a prisoner. Okada noticed that intently.
"Excuse me, Inspector! But in case it slipped your mind, we saved hundreds of people from getting killed by that robot!" growled Sirius. "Why are we being grilled like common crooks? Isn't someone questioning that white haired bimbo that overgrown tinker toy was chasing?"
"We've tried to, Sailor Sirius. But she won't talk," Haneda replied.
Sirius got us from her chair and cracked her knuckles. "Is that a fact? Give me a few minutes with that hussy and I'll get you some answers!"
Haneda shook his head emphatically. "Sorry. I can't allow that. I won't break laws for you."
"Screw this! I've had enough!" Enraged, Sirius moved like greased lightning, grabbed Haneda by the lapels and, hoisting him off his feet, slammed him against the wall. "Listen, you flatfooted moron! We've spent the afternoon being chased after, shot at and getting the unholy crap beat out of us! I'm in no mood to hear any b.s. about laws when there's monsters on the loose!"
"Sirius! Stop!" yelled Moon as she and Vulcan bolted from their chairs and pulled the incensed Sirius away from Haneda. Moon, equally furious stood nose to nose with the Star Scout. "For God's sake! Where's your brain, you idiot? We do NOT do this sort of thing! Understand?"
Sirius, scowling, refused to respond.
"Dammit, Sirius, I asked you a question! Do you understand?"
"Yeah! Yeah! I understand! Get out of my face, fearless leader!" snarled Sirius, tromping off to the far end of the room to stew.
With a sigh, Moon turned to Haneda who was straightening his tie. "I'm really sorry about that, sir. Sailor Sirius tends to be, uh, temperamental."
"Obviously. But I'm afraid that little outburst didn't improve your image in my eyes," Haneda said brusquely. He was inwardly surprised that someone as small as Sirius could be so strong.
Moon, looking exhausted, and ashamed, dropped her head. "I don't blame you for feeling that way, sir. To most of the public, we're nothing more than costumed vigilantes who work outside the law. And I'm sure there's lots more people who think we're every bit as much a danger to Tokyo as the monsters we fight. Maybe you think that way too, and I wouldn't blame you for it. Please believe me, all we want is to protect this city we love."
Haneda paused to dwell on what Moon had said. He felt the sincerity in her words and, reluctantly, began to see the Scouts in a much different light than before. "What do you want from me, Sailor Moon?"
"Your help. There's a terrible menace out there. One we've fought before and thought was destroyed. Those robots we tangled with may only be the tip of the iceberg," Moon explained. "That woman you brought in with us may know something about it. We need to question her."
"Sailor Moon is correct. Lives may well depend gaining as much information from her as we can," said Vulcan.
Before Haneda could respond, there was a knock at the door. "Come."
The door opened and Officer Shidou entered, holding a sheet of paper in her right hand. She saluted to her superior. "Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we've just gotten an ID on the man who was killed on the U of T campus."
Haneda and the Scouts looked on in interest. "Let's have it," said the detective.
"His name was Scott Ramsey, age 24 from Seattle, Washington," said Shidou, reading from the sheet. "He was a child prodigy with an IQ of 300 who graduated from MIT at 16. He was one of the leading experts in the U.S. in robotics and engineering."
The Sailors glanced at each other. "So he's the guy who made those robots for Okada," said Sirius. "And that bimbo shot him right before the tin can fried her partners, then tried to kill her. That spells 'connection' to me, Inspector. We have got to get answers out of that woman!"
"But she hasn't uttered a sound since she was brought in," said Shidou.
Moon and Sirius glanced at each other, then at Vulcan. "I believe I can rectify that problem," said the Scout of Order.
"How?" the veteran cop asked.
"I possess telepathic powers. I can directly probe the woman's mind and directly obtain the answers we need."
Haneda was horrified. "You're talking about invading that woman's privacy! Violating her very mind!"
"You are correct, Inspector. I do not deny that. However, cold-blooded murder, which that woman committed is an even worse offense than what I plan to do. And, like Sailor Moon had said, there may well be more horrors to come unless we can prevent them."
Haneda frowned. Feeling pressed into a corner, he turned to Shidou. "Any word on Okada's whereabouts?"
The female officer shook her head. "Nothing, sir. According to university officials, Okada went on an extended sabbatical to Europe eight months ago. He left a forwarding address at a seashore resort in France. It's being checked."
Moon snorted. "Yeah, right! If he's in France, then I'm Britney Spears. I'll bet my tiara he lied to his bosses and never left the country."
"I'll buy that. Shidou, what about a home address?" Haneda asked.
"He lives on campus, sir," Shidou replied. "We searched the place but came up empty."
"Well?" Vulcan asked, a slight hint of impatience in her voice.
Haneda's frown turned into a scowl and he stopped chewing. Even though the black clad woman had murdered Ramsey, she was still entitled to the same rights and protection as regular, law abiding people were. The idea of letting a super powered vigilante invade his prisoner's mind went against every principle Haneda had as a police officer. But if the Scouts were right about a greater menace waiting to be unleashed, if the woman had information that could prevent it from happening, Haneda was duty bound to do whatever was neccesary to protect the public. Regardless of if he hated it.
"Sailor Vulcan, can you get the info we need from that woman without hurting her?" he asked, pinioning Vulcan with a harsh stare.
Vulcan, her face stony, didn't flinch under the cop's glare. If anything, it was Haneda who felt slightly uncomfortable. "That depends on if she offers any resistance. Under normal circumstances, the procedure is painless."
The veteran cop nodded. "All right. I don't at all like this, but I don't see where I have much of a choice. Let's go."
The woman named Silver stewed while she waited in the holding room. Sitting on a cold metal folding chair, sans her shoes and hosiery, Silver, ignoring the two policewomen standing behind her was mortified from having to endure the indignity of a cavity search by a redheaded female officer who looked like she was a high school student instead of an adult.
For a solid forty-five minutes, Silver had been questioned by two detectives over her involvement in the chaos at the campus, but she refused to utter so much as a word. She would not betray her employer at any cost, even her own life. Silver didn't fear dying and had her contingency in place if she needed it. Alone with her thoughts, Silver thought about Agents 3 and 4, horribly murdered by Okada's robot. Tears filled Silver's eyes because she had worked with Jenny and Patricia for two years and had thought of the women as her friends. Already she was missing them.
When Silver saw the doorknob tum, she quickly pulled a sleeve across her eyes. Above all else, she would not show weakness before her enemies. The door opened and Haneda entered, followed by the Scouts and Shidou. Silver's eyes narrowed. She had a bad feeling about this. Haneda pointed at the policewomen then jerked his thumb behind him. They lefi the room, closing the door behind them.
"Good aftemoon, Miss," said Haneda. "I understand you've been less than cooperative with us regarding the incident you were involved in."
Silver, glaring at Haneda remained silent as before.
"I'm giving you one last chance to talk before we resort to a less....conventional method of questioning you. One I really don't want to use. Cooperate with me, Miss. Please."
Again, silence.
Haneda sighed from resignation. "I was afraid of that. She's all yours, Sailor Vulcan."
Vulcan nodded slightly. "Thank you. Sailor Moon, Sailor Sirius. I will need you to restrain the woman so I can perform the mind meld."
As Moon and Sirius quickly moved in and held Silver in place, the woman experienced fear for the first time since she was brought into the headquarters building. Something she saw in Vulcan's deeply piercing eyes disturbed, if not frightened her. Silver squirmed and struggled to free herself, but was held tight by the Scouts who surprised her with their strength. Her eyes widened as Vulcan came closer and held out her hands.
"Calm yourself, madam," she said solemnly. "I promise you this will not take long."
"You're right about that, cherie," growled Silver. She then bit down hard on something in the back of her mouth that crunched loudly and she went into violent convulsions while foam bubbled out from between her lips and her eyes rolled back in her head.
"Yikes! Gross!" cried a horrified Sirius, letting go of Silver as if she were diseased. Moon quickly followed suit. "What's happening to her!"
Vulcan, scowling, moved quickly as Silver, still convulsing fell to the floor. Her eyes bulged while she put her hands to her throat and gasped horribly. The Scout of Order, skilled in first aid immediately checked the woman's vital signs. Haneda standing over Vulcan's shoulder felt his guts chum from dread.
"Shidou! Call a medic! Now!" he shouted to the policewoman.
"That will not be neccessary, Inspector," Vulcan said with an eerie calmness as Silver went still. She placed two fingers behind the woman's left ear and, as she anticipated, felt nothing. "The woman is dead."
"Dead? How?" a puzzled Moon asked. All this death she had witnessed over the last hour had become too much for her to deal with.
Vulcan carefully opened Silver's mouth and detected the odor of bitter almonds. "Poison. To be more precise, potassium cyanide. Probably secreted inside a hollow tooth. She committed suicide."
"But why?" Shidou asked.
"She must've been under orders to kill herself rather than reveal whatever it was she knew," a scowling Haneda growled. He was angry that the false tooth went undetected during the woman's search.
Vulcan, looking over the woman spied something that caused her to raise an eyebrow from mild surprise. "It is time we left."
Moon was hopelessly confused. "But, what about....?"
Vulcan cut her off by putting an index finger to her lips. She looked at Haneda, then glanced down at the woman's corpse. The veteran cop, having gotten the hint, nodded and stood up. "I agree. Let's get out of here. Shidou, see to it that the woman's body is processed."
The policewoman, confused saluted as Haneda and the Scouts left the room. After the foursome returned to his office, Haneda glared at Vulcan. "Would you mind telling me what that was all about?" he asked.
"Gladly. While examining the woman, I noticed a small, round, wafer thin object inserted in the collar of her dress. I believe it was some sort of transmitter," Vulcan explained.
"What? She was bugged?" said a shocked Sirius.
"Yes. She was being monitored, no doubt by her superiors."
"This gets worse by the minute," grumbled Haneda, feeling a headache coming on. "What in blazes are we dealing with?"
"I do not know, Inspector. Obviously there is a third party at work here. One that seems determined to find Okada and eliminate him. The murder of Ramsey was proof of that," said Vulcan.
"And it ties in with the heartsnatchers, Inspector. That menace I mentioned earlier," Moon added.
Haneda arched an eyebrow. "Would this have anything to do with seven people on life support in Tokyo General Hospital? Their hearts reduced to one quarter their normal size?"
The Scouts looked at each other, then Moon nodded. "Yes, it does." She then gave the cop a condensed version of the battle the Scouts waged against the monsters while leaving out Professor Tomoe's involvement in the madness. When Moon finished, Haneda's brows knitted from deep thought.
"So, Okada's recreated these monsters that were responsible for the destruction of the Mugen School last year. Why?"
Sirius shrugged. "We don't know. Maybe that lady who offed herself had some idea. We're completely in the dark."
"What about those letters Ramsey wrote before he died?" the cop asked.
"'S-U-N is the abbreviation for Sunday. Whatever Okada is planning, I suspect it is going to happen tomorrow," said Vulcan. "As for 'F-U', that could mean anything, including the notorious four letter word for fornication."
"Uh, girlfriend, I don't think you have to explain any further," said an embarrassed Sirius. Moon couldn't help but giggle while Vulcan looked perplexed.
"Haneda shook his head rueflilly. "After two decades on the job, I've never experienced anything like this before. Pardon me for being nosy, but how do you ladies deal with all this madness?"
"Practice. Lots and lots of practice," said Sirius with a grin. But it quickly faded and a look of shame colored her face. "Inspector, I'm really sorry about the crappy way I behaved a few minutes ago. There was no excuse for manhandling you the way I did. I hope you can find it in you to forgive me."
Haneda grinned and put a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "I most definitely can, Sailor Sirius. We all have bad days, and I guess today was yours. So, where do we go from here?"
Moon shrugged. She was tired and heartsick, and it was becoming harder by the minute to keep up her brave front. She could feel her psyche crumbling. "Your guess is as good as ours, Inspector. One thing's for certain, tomorrow's gonna be a mondo crazy day."
Inside a black Ford Aerostar a block away from Police Headquarters, a handsome African-American woman with a shoulder length, braided brown hair, gleaming hazel eyes and a bronze stripe on the high collar of her black spandex dress smirked as she removed a set of headphones from her ears.
"So much for Little Miss Frenchie," she said with a chuckle. "Addy's with the angels now."
Agent 5, a small boned Vietnamese woman with long, jet black hair sitting next to the black woman in the driver's seat gasped from shock. "Are you saying Agent Silver is....dead?" The black woman nodded.
"As the proverbial doornail, honey. No big loss."
"Gott in Himmel! What do we do now?" asked Agent 6, a willowy blonde with a German accent.
"We check in with the boss dyke. See what she has to say." Bronze opened the glove box and removed a cell phone from it. She punched four numbers on the keypad, and it was answered on the second ring.
"Go," said Midnight on the other end.
"Bronze here. Silver's history," said the black woman.
"I feared as much when her team hadn't returned. What happened?"
"Silver was busted on the campus after a fracas with Okada's tin can. She didn't say squat to the cops, but when the Scouts showed up, they spooked her enough to crack her poison tooth."
"A pity. Adrienne was a good soldier. Lovely, too. What about 3 and 4?"
"They were toasted, literally. According to the cops, Okada's robot fried them like bacon. What's the call? You want us to tail the Scouts? Find out what they know?"
"Negative. You don't have the firepower to tangle with them. Come on home. Mrs. H. will be here by nightfall. We'll plot our next move then."
Bronze was slightly disappointed. She then shrugged. "Okay, you're the boss. One more thing."
"What?"
"Do I move up in rank now that there's a vacancy?"
There was a short, sardonic chuckle on the other end. "Ambitious, aren't you, darling?"
"You betcha, sugar. After growing up in the worst ghettos of Chicago, I'm never going back to that life again. Well?"
"All right, Darlene, you're promoted. Congratulations, my dear. Be sure to change your uniform when you return....Agent Silver."
The black woman smiled at the sound of her new title. "You got it, boss. We're on our way back." With a smile lighting up her face, the new Agent Silver put away the phone. Already, plans were forming in her mind regarding her future. She knew that Midnight and Agent Gold, the unit's second in command were secretlt planning to quit after this mission, leaving her in position to take over the top spot. The thought of becoming the leader of Hunsacker's private strike force excited Silver greatly.
"Fire up this buggy, Xian. Take us home."
When Moon was a few blocks from her house, she burst into tears on a rooftop and couldn't stop crying.
"Hey! Sere! What is it? What's wrong, baby?" asked a concerned Sirius who took the sobbing Scout leader into her arms.
"I've had it, Ti! I can't take it anymore!" Moon wailed. "All I wanted to do was have some fun with you and Tal but wound up fighting robots and watching people die all around me! It's driving me crazy!"
Sirius gulped. "I don't know what to say."
"I do. Serena, I can fully sympathize with your suffering, but it is important that you remain strong There is still a ereat deal of work for us to do," said Vulcan.
"Why? Why us?" Moon demanded, her voice filled with anguish.
"Because there is no one else who can combat this menace. As you yourself said to Inspector Haneda, we fight to safeguard this city. Okada's machines have threatened Tokyo, therefore, he must be found and dealt with before he can unleash whatever horror he has created."
"We know that, Tal, but does it have to be right now'?" Sirius asked. "I don't know about you, but I'm beat. We need some sleep or we won't be worth crap when it's time to fight Okada's robots again."
Vulcan mulled that over for several moments, then nodded. "You are correct, Tanya. We will need to be in peak condition for our next engagement with Okada. We can resume our investigation tomorrow."
"Sounds good to me. I'm worn out from using the Crystal," said Moon. She then yawned. "I'm sorry for bawling like a baby, guys. We're supposed to protect life, yet so many people died before our eyes today. It's just been too much for me to handle."
"You're not alone. I feel just as bad," said a downcast Sirius. "Sometimes I can't help but wonder if we're really making a difference."
"We are, Tanya. Of that I am certain beyond any doubt," said Vulcan, her voice unwavering. "Even though we cannot save everyone, our efforts have kept this city, and this world safe from the forces of evil. Once you have gotten a proper amount of rest, you will realize that as well."
Sirius grinned at Vulcan. "You're never doubtful about anything, are you?"
The alien Scout cocked an eyebrow. "Why should I be. To express uncertainty would be illogical." Sirius and Moon chuckled.
Minutes later, the Scouts, having returned to human guise stood at the front door of Serena's house.
"You sure you're gonna be okay, Sere?" a worried Tanya asked.
Serena nodded, a yawn escaping her lips. "Yeah, I'll be fine. All I need are 40 winks and I'll be right as snow."
Tanya giggled. "That's 'right as rain', meatball head. I swear, Mina's goofiness is rubbing off on you."
Serena winked. "It's all part of my charm. Sorry for chewing you out at the police station earlier."
"Don't sweat it. I had that coming for being cranky. Now you march right into that house and get some sleep. That's an order!"
Serena smiled and gave Tanya a salute. "Yes, ma'am! Call me if anything happens. See you, guys."
"Rest well, Serena," said Talia.
After Serena went inside, Tanya turned to Talia. "So, what about you? Going home to crash?"
"Crash?" asked the Vulcan girl, cocking an eyebrow from puzzlement.
Tanya rolled her eyes. She again forgot Talia's lack of knowledge regarding slang. "Sleep."
Talia shook her head. "No. My endurance level is greater than that of a human. I have decided that I am going to find the campus address of Professor Okada and search his residence."
"But, Tal, the cops already went through his place," Tanya pointed out.
"I am aware of that, Tanya. But police officers are not Vulcans. I am certain I can find a clue that the authorities overlooked."
Now it was Tanya who went silent as she thought over what Talia had said. After a few moments, she nodded. "Okay, count me in. Let's go."
"I thought you said you needed to rest."
"I do, but I'm not letting you out of my sight. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you." Tanya then grinned and winked. "And without you around, who will I have to make fun of?"
Talia shook her head and smiled slightly. "Tanya Cambridge, you are the most perplexing and exasperating person I have ever known. I am proud to call you my friend."
"Same here, Talia. I'm so happy that you're part of my life," said Tanya, giving Talia a loving smile. She then linked her arm with the Vulcan girl's. "C'mon, partner. Time's a wastin'. We've got investigating to do!"
Evelyn Hunsacker, one of the richest women in the world was someone who commanded, and demanded attention.
A tall, altractive 60-year-old with shoulder length silver hair and slate gray eyes set into an overly made up face, Hunsacker was not in a good mood. Dressed in a tailored Armani suit with a short skirt that matched her eyes and spike heeled, black patent pumps. Hunsacker glared at Midnight and her agents. Ten additional, hardfaced women, wearing short black dresses and black berets stood behind Hunsacker.
"Ladies, I'm not impressed with your performance so far," she said in a heavy southern drawl, a tumbler filled with bourbon and ice in her right hand. She sipped from the glass before continuing. "So far, you've lost three agents, had three others whomped by a bunch of schoolgirls, and you still haven't found Okada! Would someone mind telling me what I'm payin' you tramps for?"
Midnight. flanked by Gold on her right and the new Silver to her left bit her lip. She didn t like having her people insulted. "We haven't completely fallen down on the job, ma'am. We have some ideas as to what Okada may be up to."
Hunsacker walked up to Midnight and glared at her. The black haired woman fought hard to keep her face impassive as she smelled alcohol on Hunsacker's breath. "Impress me, darlin'."
"Okada's first victims this afternoon were homeless people waiting for admission into a new shelter," Midnight explained. "From what you told me about his experiments, Okada's making value judgements on who should have their hearts sucked out and who shouldn't. If he's planningto do this on a large scale, I'm guessing he'll go after people society won't miss."
"Like who?" Gold asked.
"Homeless people. Inmates."
"Meaning shelters and prisons. Makes sense. But which one?" Hunsacker wondered. She finished the rest of her drink in one long swallow then, despite how elegant she looked, the woman belched loudly as she walked over to the bar to refresh her drink.
"My vote's for the latter," said Silver. Like Midnight, Hunsacker disgusted her. "There's lots more people in jails and prisons. I should know, having done time myself. I think that's his target."
"But where?" Gold asked. "There's dozens of jails and prisons in Tokyo proper, not counting the surrounding prefectures. What if his target isn't even on the main island?"
"I'm sure Okada's in the city. If his target is a prison, all we have to do is figure out which one," said Midnight, her brows knitted from thought. She then turned to Silver. "Silver, take your team to the campus and find Okada's residence. If there's a clue to what the he's up to, it'll be there. Maybe you'll succeed where your predecessor failed."
"You bet your fishnets I'll succeed," Silver said with a smirk.
Hunsacker, sipping from her drink walked up to the black woman. Silver could tell she was borderline drunk. "I'm counting on you, honeybunch. I can't let Okada complete his experiments. If he wins, we all lose. Understand?"
"Perfectly, ma'am. Don't worry, I'll get the job done," Silver replied.
Nightfall. As street lamps lit up on the University of Tokyo campus, a great deal quieter now than it was a few hours ago. Talia and Tanya, having changed into dark colored clothing casually approached the three-floor apartment complex where Okada lived.
"So, how are we gonna get inside?" asked Tanya, eyeing the building.
"Gaining entrance through the front door will not be possible. We will use the emergency exit instead," Talia replied.
Walking around to the rear of the building, the girls crept up to the fire escape door and examined it carefully.
"I don't see any alarms. But I'm sure that door only opens from the inside," said Talia. "How do we get in?"
"The hard way." Talia grasped the handle, propped one foot against the doorframe and pulled. Tanya looked on as Talia's face tightened and she gritted her teeth from the strain while the muscles in her arms corded like cables. After about a minute of highly concentrated effort, Tanya heard metal groan, then, a moment later, the frame where the latch was gave way with a loud wrenching sound and the door opened. Talia dropped to one knee from the exertion.
"Whoa! Incredible!" said Tanya who knelt by Talia. "Are you okay?"
Talia nodded. She then took a deep breath and rose to her feet. "Yes, I am fine. Come, we must enter before we are seen."
The girls quickly entered and closed the door behind them. With a cat like stealth, Talia and Tanya climbed the stairs to the second floor where Okada's apartment was. Talia cracked the door open and looked to her left down the hall, then to her right. Satisfied that the coast was clear, Talia took Tanya's hand and they quietly crept to their left down the hall until they arrived at room 222. Tanya pulled her ATM card from the breast pocket of her shirt, insetied it in the jamb and furiously worked it for several seconds before the door opened and the girls went inside.
"That's twice today that I've broken into someone's home," said Tanya, closing the door behind her. The expression on her face was dour, almost grim. "Suddenly, I don't feel good about doing this sort of thing, Tal. I hope it doesn't become a habit."
"I concur. Let us search," said Talia.
"Exactly what are we looking for?"
"Something the police will have overlooked," said Talia, looking around the living room. Her eyes then locked on something hanging on a wall over a small rollup desk. Talia walked up to the item and saw that it was a map of Tokyo with an intricate series of red lines, not unlike a spider's web drawn on it. The Vulcan girl cocked an eyebrow from curiosity. "And I believe I have found that evidence. Come look at this, Tanya."
Tanya walked over and stared at the map for a few seconds before she scratched her head. "A map of the subway system. So? What's that got to do with the price of tea in China?"
"We are not concerned with beverages. And this is not a subway map. Unless I am mistaken, this is a map of the city's underground personnel tunnel system from World War Two."
"Huh? What? You're gonna have to explain that one to me."
"Gladly. In early 1943, months after the surprise bombing raid on Tokyo by General James Doolittle, the Japanese Army, effectively ruling the country during the war ordered the construction of a sprawling system of underground tunnels to protect the populace from future attacks."
Tanya was amazed. "Wow! How'd you know about stuff like that?"
"I am a fervent student of history. I made a point to learn all I could about Tokyo before I moved here. If we were not pressed for time, I could give you a fascinating disseration on Tokyo's shogunate system from the 16th century," Tanya explained. "To continue, after the war ended, most of those tunnels were integrated into the city's subway system. But others, some complete with offices, workspaces, generator rooms and sleeping quarters were abandoned since records of their locations were lost."
"And you think Okada's hiding out in those tunnels?"
"That is a distinct possibility." Talia consulted the map, running a long, perfectly manicured fingernail along one such line until it bisected with the university. "And one of those tunnels comes close to this campus. I would say within two kilometers east of here. The Engineering building, where we were ambushed this afternoon is in that direction."
Tanya gasped. "Holy cow! That would explain how those robots got the drop on us without being spotted by anyone! This is way too screwy to be a coincidence! How come the cops didn't figure this out? They had to have seen this map!"
"Yes, but I would imagine they, like you thought it was a map of the subway and would not have arrived at the conclusion that I had."
"If you're right, then we gotta tell Haneda about this!"
Talia shook her head. "That would be unwise. For one, we would not be believed. Two, even if we were, the police would want to know how we came across this information, and the level of our interest in Okada. That would jeopardize our secret identities. Worse, the police would insist on searching those tunnels for Okada. That would expose them to dangers they would not be able to survive. I suggest that we investigate this ourselves."
"Right now? Oh, man! Serena won't like us going off on our own," said a worried Tanya.
"Perhaps. But now that we have an idea as to where Okada is hiding, it is imperative that this clue be investigated." Talia then gave Tanya a hard look. "Tanya, I have to do this. I cannot rest until I have verified my hypothesis. But you do not have to accompany me. It would grossly unfair for me to put your life at risk should my suspicions be correct."
"Forget it. I'm coming. Like I said earlier, you're my friend, and I'm sticking to you like glue," said Tanya, her voice strong and filled with conviction. "It's my life, Tal. If I want to risk it, that's my choice. But you're not doing this alone! Are we clear on that?"
Talia nodded. She was glad to have Tanya at her side. The pretty black girl had, in a very short time, become as close to her as Serena. And to Talia, that feeling warmed her heart. "Perfectly. Let us go. We have quite a long night ahead of us."
NEXT: Hunting Girls