Female Shadow: Can we finish now?
Male Shadow: Are you tired yet? It's only Monday. - The images on the screen on her face shifted between familiar shapes altered to the point of indecipherability and constantly changing and moving.
Female Shadow: Yes, can you take care of him? I think I have enough to get through the week without asking you for anything.
From the darkness emerged a man as tall as a demon and armored as a tank, with a metallic girth on his chest, like a rough logo. His mask was a rectangular, oval-shaped screen that folded down the middle of his face and extended back past his head. The rest of the mask was a full-face, non-matte black helmet. He seemed to be able to see with his screen. The shadowy form of the male, illuminated by the streetlights, entered the scene, accompanied by intermittent high-pitched sounds and rippling noises.
The man in the skull mask collapsed only at the appearance of the entity, yet he seemed eager to give it a go. He tried to plunge the knife into that thing's neck, and I don't know if it was due to weakness on one side or excessive strength on the other. It only took one movement for the masked shadow to redirect the attack to the side of the creature's neck, over the left shoulder, and slip his hand under the attacker's mask. He grabbed the upper row of teeth and bent the creature down, leaning against that spot. His trembling feet, even in this delicate position, almost stabbed the creature's holding arm, and he had to let go. He landed a blow with his right fist on a carefully chosen spot, pinning the creature to the ground and still, but still conscious. Throughout the "fight," the creature's bones constantly creaked with every movement.
After giving the show, he turned to his companion.
Male Shadow: Someday you could do it yourself, you won't learn that way.
The woman didn't seem to pay attention, swaying to a steady beat and singing in a low voice.
Male Shadow: Are you listening to me?
Female Shadow: Yes, but you always complain when I do things my way... (...) We can still go back to continue watching the movie.
Male Shadow: First, call the store guy to tell us what he wants us to do with it... and also tell him to contact headquarters, talk to Julie, and leave a positive review. I think we did pretty well.
Female Shadow: Right now, boss. - Cell phone in hand, she waited for the receiver to pick up. - Hello, this is Team 7, codes VO and OO. (...) Yes, the same ones, we've already taken care of your problem. What do we have to give you back? (...) One hundred and ten dollars and a... Really? (...) Whatever you say... And what do we do with it? (...) That doesn't fit in your package... (...) I already told you, I'll do what I can. (...) Goodbye.
She hung up. Her partner had already recovered the money from the robber's pocket. Using spray paint, she outlined the silhouette of the dead man on the ground and signed with a "V" and an "O." After that, she removed his mask and took some photos of his face. I can't say he was someone whose appearance was particularly striking.
Male Shadow: What's the other thing we need to recover?
Female Shadow: A half-finished pack of cigarettes.
Male Shadow: And what do we do with it?
Female Shadow: He has the basic contract, but he still wanted a full investigation. It seems a bit excessive for such a small thing to me.
Male Shadow: That's what anger does... - He stretched, creaking metallically. - Let's give it to the police, and then we'll get back to our business.
They headed out of the alley, the shadow-man pulling the detainee's arms like someone pulling a shopping cart or a sack of straw. The detainee tried to resist, but was unsuccessful.
Male Shadow: Okay, we need to buy something to eat... You're buying.
Female Shadow: Don't mess with me, I only have money for myself.
Male Shadow: I paid the last three times, it wouldn't hurt to spend a little now and then.
He stroked his partner's hair.
Female Shadow: We should accept some sponsors.
Male Shadow: Listen to me, that's going to go against our image.
Female Shadow: Well, just let me do it.
Male Shadow: When you work alone... and when you just work.
Female Shadow: When you let me.
[-.-. .- .-. - .- .-.-.]
Shadows and light. A complicated silhouette. Sitting in front of several screens surrounding him was The General, waiting patiently. One of the screens belongs to the Red Dragon's camera, his point of view, which communicated with Central Base.
🐲Red Dragon (female voice): I've arrived.
Dragon is just a codename; don't imagine it's a dragon. Its name comes from the shape of its suit, whose cape resembles wings. The outfit was made of red-dyed rags, sweatpants ripped at the ends following the shinbones, thick cloth armor to protect the shoulders and collarbones, boots that were once yellow, and various types of bandages to remedy flaws such as the protection on the forearms and the lack of fabric on the torso. It had no sleeves or gloves; everything was dirty, and it was clear that none of it could stop a bullet. She tied her light black hair back into a braid, parts of her bangs not allowing this, so they were swept away from both halves of her face.
I was on one of the rooftops of Komaki's mid-rise buildings, the least splendid in the collection.
I'm going to pause the narration for a moment because I need to describe Komaki to give you a mental image for the rest of the story. Komaki was a city comparable in size to the island of Cyprus, formed by the merger of several nearby towns. It was divided into sectors roughly the size of New York City (twelve in total), named with numbers in sequence, forming a sort of snail-like shape with sector twelve in the center. It had excellent public transportation, designed to handle the flow of tourists, but they may have been the only ones who used it. Its technology was very advanced even for a time long before our own, although you should keep in mind that the designs didn't improve, they only expanded. Some buildings in Komaki were designed in a style similar to Nara's Tōdai-ji Temple, emerging from a cultural fusion. Although our Komaki isn't in Japan, it was born from a fusion of urban counterfeits, and this is reflected in its buildings. I tell you this because the Dragon was in one of those buildings with a McDonald's neon sign written in English in the background.
General (unidentifiable voice): Go to the OFPC building (Official File Protection Center in Sector 10) and take the stairs to the seventh floor.
🐲Red Dragon: Roger.
She ran between the tiles to reach the building with the company lettering, launched a motorized zip line to one of the windows on the thirteenth floor. She carefully peered through the window to make sure she didn't find any witnesses and then cut through the glass layer by layer. The task was made more difficult by the spikes placed to scare away birds - we're talking a task 37 meters high - but it hardly matters when the entire building explodes and sends her tumbling into the void, the sharp shards of glass digging into her exposed skin. He immediately used the motorized zip line to reach a window of another nearby building, thanks to his reflexes, roughly passing through it and waking the tenant, who had to be put to sleep in the clumsiness of pain before he could see his face. He removed the pieces he could from there, next to the old man he had just rendered unconscious. He breathed slowly to recover from the shock.
🐲Red Dragon: Ah... I need help.
General: Did you get it?
🐲Red Dragon: What am I going to get? The building exploded, I don't think there's anything left to recover.
Noise on the line, probably a chair creaking or something similar.
General: What?!
🐲Red Dragon: As you heard.
General: (...) Give me a few minutes, I'll send the Suicide Eagle to get you.
🐲Red Dragon: What? A new rookie?
General: He's been on the team for two weeks, he's also from Team L2. Treat him well.
There he waited, controlling his breathing and trying to uncover the most serious wounds. He even had to stab himself with some pieces to better stop the bleeding.
In almost exactly three minutes, a man appeared, covering part of his body with a cloak. He crashed through the window, breaking the fragments that remained in the frame with just contact with his skin. He wasn't exactly muscular, which was why he wore loose clothing. He was dressed entirely in a soft beige, except for fresh maroon stains. A helmet shaped like a bird's skull with a mane of feathers covered his face to his mouth, revealing strands of soft-colored hair.
🦅Suicidal Eagle: Red Dragon?
🐲Red Dragon: E... eagle? - Covering his face, he had to vomit out the words.
🦅Suicide Eagle: Code A. You should wear a mask, your face is covered in wounds... at least from what I can see. Come with me, will you?
🐲Red Dragon: No... I can barely... walk.
After inspecting the rooms, he picked her up and jumped out the window, damaging the concrete floor. Keep in mind that even if crossing through a window isn't easy, it's even worse if you have to carry someone; they had to slide through it like a loaf of bread entering the oven with a shovel. From this point, he left her on the floor to help her walk.
🦅Suicide Eagle: Do you know what exploded?
🐲Red Dragon: The building.
🦅Suicide Eagle: Holy shit, don't fuck with me! (Ironic).
🐲Red Dragon: I don't know what happened... I barely... I just got here.
Police sirens were heard, red and blue lights illuminating the dog drawings on the walls.
🦅Suicide Eagle: Can you run?
🐲Red Dragon: What do you think?
🦅Suicide Eagle: I don't think so.
🐲Red Dragon: Well, don't ask me... to run... Asshole.
He fell as he spoke, his wounds bleeding.
🦅Suicide Eagle: Well, this asshole can leave you here. (Threatens.)
🐲Red Dragon: No!
🦅Suicide Eagle: Don't scream!
🐲Red Dragon: Don't leave me. (Pleading).
The Dragon clung to the Eagle's cape to keep from falling and gasped for air from the effort it took to take each step. Her legs were giving out. Plus, there was the extra effort of constantly covering her face to avoid recognition. A police car pulled up, and two officers got out. One stayed inside to call for backup.
👮🏻Police Officer 1: Dragon! (Warning shout.) Don't move!
🦅Suicide Eagle: What about me? Hello, I'm here, another guy in disguise.
👮🏻Police Officer 1: You're priceless, I'm sure you're just another bounty hunter. The Dragon gives a guaranteed promotion to whoever catches him. If you hand him over, I'll reward you.
The Eagle carefully placed the Dragon on the ground, ensuring his safety and comfort.
🦅Suicide Eagle: You don't have enough money to pay me.
👮🏻Police Officer 1: Maybe not now, but with the promotion I can. His price tag will rise after blowing up the OFPC building.
🐲Red Dragon: I didn't do it...
👮🏻Police Officer 1: And I don't believe it.
The Eagle approached the lawman and grabbed him by the neck, strangling him to the bone. His partner tried to shoot the bounty hunter, but the bullet ricocheted off his skin. The second was hit, his jaw shifting into an unnatural position. He wept as The Eagle pummeled him like a crazed chimpanzees, with a certain passion.
🐲Red Dragon: Are you going to help me?
🦅Suicidal Eagle: Oh, sorry. I got excited.
He left the corpse alone (the remains) and helped the Dragon get into the car to drive away.
🦅Suicidal Eagle: Hang in there, we'll be there in a moment.
[-.. . .-.-.]
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