I ran across the city's skyline.
My metallic boots pattered across the snow-covered roofs. Every leap from a ledge I opened my cape, gliding powerfully to another.
Every obstacle, I vaulted over without losing momentum.
BANG-
ZZzzzziiiiiippppp
-CLANG
Using a grapple gun, I attached my metallic rope across the wide street below me.
And free-swung towards the low-rise apartment block.
Below, people exited stores; others flooded into the subway. Vehicles, cars and vans piled along the highway that ran through the vast central Promise City.
Thud-
I landed, planting my boot and thick knee firmly into the thick ice.
My breathing was heavy. My lungs ached. The cold vapour was an enemy itself.
I struggled to stand up. The wounds wrought on me from the previous few weeks were hampering me.
But continued regardless.
This is MY city after all.
The alert was triggered by a robbery in the Kodoma Bank.
Great. I still can't escape the name.
Despite me being here, defending the city, putting my body on the line, the reality is that the Kodoma name still wields far more power than what I can match.
It wasn't far away, one or two more buildings to scale.
And, right as I was, I now stood opposite the bank.
A huge glass structure. A dome that was almost like a disco ball lit by the moonlight.
With the Kodoma Bank logo dominating the entrance.
The Kanji letter for 'Kodoma' with the outline of a swan behind it.
I scanned the scene, the entrance and perimeter. My comlink vibrated.
'Yohei, I can't see any sign of a disturbance.'
[The trigger seems to be inside the bank. Security protocols which... Yours truly.. Installed months ago are locating it to the vault.]
'Wait. You installed a tripwire within my family's bank..?'
[For moments like this. You should pay me more.]
'I don't pay you..?'
[Well, maybe you should.]
I crouched beside one of the many potential entrances of the Bank, one of the panels of glass that comprised the Bank's dome.
It was partially ajar.
I knew it was safe to enter; my HUD could see the trip wires-
Which were invisible to the naked eye.
My HUD vision would show faint red lines.
Clear enough to avoid.
Using my grapple gun, I attached myself to one of the tall gargoyle statues, giving myself a vantage point of the main hall.
Looking down, I could see the layout clearly. With a dome glass roof, a natural spotlight. Multiple rows of long desks, computer terminals glowing a faint blue, giving a faint light. Lined across the building's white walls were reels depicting the stock market movements.
Behind the rows of desks was a giant statue of a glass swan.
In the corner of the bank sat a decorated Christmas tree, with tinsel and banners hanging from the tall walls.
'Kodoma Bank is up by 3%.. Reina must be happy.' I said quietly—half joke, half truth.
I leapt to the ground, my metallic-protected knee slamming the ground with a light thud.
'Sunohara, I can't see a disturbance. Are you sure it wasn't a dud?'
[Nope. My scans are CERTAIN that something IS in there with you]
(Murmured chatter)
Then..
I heard it..
(Murmured chatter)
Talking, further down, into the vault.
'Just as Sunohara said.'
Naturally I didn't let Sunohara hear that. I'd never hear the end of it.
My metallic boots pattered along the ground as I approached the vault's long subterranean corridor.
One hundred steps downwards.
The lights were on. Activated by movement.
Someone WAS here.
These walls are made of concrete and steel beams. Sunohara won't be able to reach me, and nor I him..
The great Vault doors came into view-
Three in a row. Each inscribed with the Japanese Kanji character for "Protection". They were towering, flanked by cameras. Red laser beams scanned for infiltrators.
But..
One vault was open..
Partially.
Its terminal displayed 'Unlocked'
Got you.
I slipped in-
Inside the vault-
The walls were lined with shelves that were amassed with thousands of bricks of dollar bills. Some had mountains of gold bar ingots reaching the ceiling.
Others had USB chips of NetCoin worth $1m each, physical chips locked securely in suitcases neatly lined beside one another.
My instincts spiked, something or someone was in here with me.
My investigation was interrupted-
A voice, deep, smokers type of voice rippled within the vault.
'So.. the vigilante did come..'
Then the voice echoed from in front of me-
'I didn't make any noise so I'm genuinely surprised to see you right now..'
The voice moved again-
'But I shouldn't be surprised.. you are Near-the Promise City Guardian.'
Then a figure began to materialise; smoke congregated into forming one solid being. It hovered slightly, its arms folded behind me. Cocky. Arrogant.
'Funny.. How much money is in this vault alone.. A few million dollars? Maybe a billion..'
the deep voice mused.
I didn't turn; I didn't need to.
'I was wondering when you'd show yourself.' I grunted, vapour exhaling from my balaclava.
'Nice suit kid; was curious how you'd survive this recent storm.. Minus something or rather out there..'
He continued, slowly approaching..
'What's it called? White suit? Ski suit? Thermal suit?'
'How much did it cost?' They continued to talk.
'You talk too much.'
SHATTERRRR
Slamming a vapour pellet onto the floor-
Perhaps I can see him, even when he dematerialises. The vapour would create a pathway.. so I can track him.
'I like talking, it takes the edge off the interaction.'
Then-
Just as quickly as he appeared he disappeared. And so did two NetCoin suitcases-
Pressing my HUD, a trail immediately was revealed-
'Got you.'
'Do you?.. I could just fly above the cloud of vapour..'
they mused-
'What the hell are you anyway?' I asked while looking for any sign of the intruder.
The voice murmured-
'You can call me Embertrator.'
He reappeared as a thick, black mass of smoke. Taking the shape of a human.
'Ember, Infiltrator? Take you a long time to think of that?'
Embertrator scoffed-
'Funny-
He contemplated for a moment
-but no.. it's because I can do this-'
Slowly he backed away, towards the thick concrete wall-
And began to disappear into the air con, as if he wasn't there-
First his legs, then his arms, then his entire body was gone, dematerialised.
My eyes blew wide-
I could see him once again on the vaults terminal screen.
Embertrator stood outside the vault, waving. With one case under his arm, the others handle being held tightly in his fist.
'You're probably thinking, how could I take these-
He gestured to the cases-
-From the vault too?'
He leaned forward-
'I'll let you find out one day..'
Embertrator walked over to a nearby CCTV camera, and kicked it with his heel. Shattering the lens.
Immediately the alarm blared for the Bank.
DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDING-
The alarm was deafening, piercing throughout the bank.
The sirens rang so loud nearby police cruisers redirected immediately towards the bank, roads were very quickly blockaded-
'Good luck, hero, I think you'll need it.'
Embertrator then slowly walked down the corridor back to the entrance.
His footsteps pattered away.
With both briefcases in his hands.
'I'm sure we'll do this dance again soon..
…
-Later.'
And I do need luck! Because the Kodoma Clan is about to send everything they have to me!