BNA x LWA: Beast-Force

Chapter V: Fearful Symmetry

At Mastermind's house he sees Bounty's logo.  "Mastermind, I'm here to check up on you, I heard something around the lines of you're next to die after Witch-Hunter."  Bounty told him.  Mastermind looks at Bounty.  "Is that so?"  He asked.  Bounty yawns.  "Yes, but let's hope you die after I get my answers."  Bounty told him and leave. 

Bounty's Logs: 2038/10/21, Thursday: Left Mastermind's house at 2:35 A.M. He knows nothing about any attempt to discredit Wolf-Stride. He has simply been used. By whom? Magicals seem obvious choice, Wolf-Stride and Witch-Hunter both key military figures. But Witch-Hunter referred to an island. Artists and writers living on it. Doesn't fit.  Can't concentrate. Too tired. No sleep since Saturday. Walked home past trashcans stuffed with rumors od war, weighing factors bodies, motives, waiting for a flash of enlightenment in all this blood and thunder.

Nolan and Ursula are at an diner.  "Nolan can we do a movie night?"  Ursula asked.  "Yeah I guess so."  He replied.  The waiter brought them their food.  "What would you like to watch?"  He asked.  "Monster Hunter."  Ursula told him. 

Few Hours Later. They head home.  Nolan sees Troy with out his mask but doesn't say anything. 

Bounty's Logs: 2038/10/21, Thursday: Woken at eleven by shouting. Disturbed to find I had fallen asleep without removing the skin from my head. Tireder than I thought. Should be more careful. Across street, boy's were defacing abandoned building. Memorized their descriptions then prepared for work. First, peeled off face, folded it inside jacket. Without my face, nobody knows. Nobody knows who I am. On way out of room met landlady. Usual complaints Re: Hygiene and Rent. There were purple bite marks on her fat white neck. Fresh ones. Out in street, inspected defaced building: silhouette picture in doorway, man and woman, possibly engaging in sexual foreplay. Didn't like it. Makes doorway look haunted. On Fortieth and Seventh, saw McCarthy and Callistis leaving diner. Must investigate further. Entering diner, bought coffee, then sat watching my maildrop, immediately across the street. Passer's by made various deposits: candy wrappers, newspapers. This city is an animal, fierce and complicated. To understand it I read it's droppings, it's scents, the movement of it's parasites, I sat watching the trashcan and Magica-Anima City opened it's heart to me.

Boris is talking to his assistant.  "See we were thinking about making year two looks of the Beast-Force."  She told him.  "Kitsune had an idea of his year two suit."  He informed her. 

A few lawyers enter his office.  "Mr. Cliff we would like to talk to you."  A lawyer said.  "Alright sure let's talk."  Boris said.  He got up when his door opened a Beastmen in all black clothes pulled out a gun and shot at Boris.  Boris grabbed an umbrella and knocked the killer down.  "He has a suicide pill don't let him bite down."  Boris told them.  He put his hand I the killer's mouth.  "Who sent you?"  Boris asked.  He saw foam coming from his hand.  It was too late the killer has killed himself.  Boris got pissed.  "Danmit, I want everyone checked, and inform my Shirou, I want him to tell Kitsune, and Chariot."  Boris told his assistant.  

Bounty's Logs: 2038/10/21, Thursday: Someone tried to kill Cliff. Prove's Mask Killer theory. Murderer is closing in. Checked maildrop. Message from Master Mind. Connected, perhaps? Next, went to retrieve face from allet. Outside Utopia, police restrained a youth on KT-28's. He was screaming something about bombs. Is everyone but me going mad? Over 40th Street, and elephant was drifting. Beyond that, unseen, spy satellites. If they so much as narrow their glass eyes, we shall all be dead. This relentless world, there is only one sane response to it. The alleyway was cold and deserted. My things were where I'd left them. Waiting for me. Putting them on, I abandoned my disguise and became myself, free from fear or weakness or lust. Had three hours before calling on Master Mind. Away down alley, heard woman scream, first bubbling note of city's evening chorus. Approached disturbance. An attempted rape mugging both. The man turned and there was something rewarding in his eyes. Sometimes, the night is generous to me.

Bounty arrives and enters Mastermind's house.  "Mastermind someone tried to kill Scales, and I believe you have the answer."  Bounty sees Mastermind on the ground he shot himself in the head. 

Bounty hears police sirens.  "Bounty come out."  Tachiki yelled.  "Fuck."  Bounty looks around.  He jumps out the window and fights the police.  But they are winning.  They remove his mask revealing his face. 

Author's Note:  Hey Editor Chance here, so this has to be the easiest chapters I have written, but that's not why I'm here to say I'm here to say to start paying attention to the smallest details they are important, just keep the fact Boris knew his killer had a suicide pill on him in the back of your mind.