Beastars: A Steep Fall From Light

Chapter 37: A Monster Crawling Through the Dark Vents

"We've secured a perimeter," the officer said. "And based on the description, checked every individual inside to clear them for exit. We cleared all the herbivore's and the female carnivores. And then anyone under the height estimate the Beastar gave we released as well. Still taking statements from those who remain and trying to cross reference the alibi's. We've moved them to the lobby. We have helicopters in the air surveying the ground just in case. A guard is posted at every door and vent, there's no way he's escaping."

"What about the mayor?" Sergeant Kona asked, pulling on his armored vest. "And the retired Beastar?"

"The mayor has been taken in for processing and questioning," the kangaroo answered. "The medics are seeing the old horse's injuries. They're minor, but given his age. He's going to head back to the department to keep his head in those files."

"Hopefully he won't be staying there long," the wolf said. The sergeant moved to his men, surveying them. He had no doubt they would end Razor's reign of terror here and now. It was one versus an entire department. It would take him more than luck to escape tonight.

"Alright," he called out. "I want to sweep every floor. Check every room, every closet, every air duct. We'll start on the main floor and then split up, sending teams up each stairway as we move up. The elevator's have been shut off. Keep your eyes, and ears, open. We should be able to flush him out within the hour."

He then turned and made his way towards the building.

"You heard the sergeant!" one of the SWAT members shouted. "Let's move!"

"Lookout team we're heading in," the sergeant said into the walkie-talkie. "Keep an eye on the exits. Eye's in the sky, do you copy? Over."

"Read you loud and clear sergeant," the helicopter team said. "Watching it all from up here. Over."

"Alright. Maintain radio silence until we catch this guy. Or he makes a run for it. Over and out."

The town hall was eerily silent. Aside from the few canines being kept until their alibi's were proven, not a sound was being made. They started their sweep on the main floor, systematically splitting the SWAT team into four teams of four. They searched every room, top to bottom and rifled through every closet. Lastly they stuck their heads in the vents and sent wheeled drones down the ducts to look throughout the entire system on that level.

"Clear!" shouted one group when they arrived near their stairwell.

"Clear!" shouted another.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

"Move up," Sergeant Kona ordered over the radio. Their footsteps echoed in the empty staircases before they opened the doors to the second floor.

"Ready!" said one group.

"Ready."

"Ready."

"Ready."

"Go," Kona ordered. The second floor and ventilation was cleared and they made their way to the third. That was when the power went out.

"Lookout crew, what's going on?" Kona asked. "Over."

"No idea," an officer answered. "The power's been cut. Over."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. Over."

"Should we send someone to check the breaker? Over."

"No," he said. "The carnivores can see and the herbivores have night vision goggles. We'll finish the upward sweep and then check the basement level. Keep up your vigilance. Over and out."