Compulsion

Chapter 49: Crackling Lightning

"There has to be something we can do."

Akira shook his head. "We were too thorough with our cameras..." He waved his arms as he and Denki followed behind the group of officers. "We're passing through the only blindspot. If he doesn't see us or you on them, the Lieutenant is as good as dead."

"So, Ingenium and Bigshot won't be able to surprise the guy either," muttered Denki.

The officer looked over his shoulder. "I..." Then, he shook his head. "I don't know..."

Denki looked up, observing the wires and the camera on the distant corner of the building. "How did you power all of them?"

"What're you getting at?" asked Akira, turning and stopping.

"What if I knock out the power?" Denki offered. "He loses his eyes and then they'll have a shot at surprising them."

Akira shook his head vehemently. "You'll get Yuuki killed with that, and how would the Heroes even know if the cameras are down?"

"I..." Denki's eyes widened before digging in his jacket's pocket. "I have Bigshot's number in my phone! He gave it to me in case I got locked out of the agency."

"And he looks like he has his phone on him," countered Akira, oozing sarcasm.

Denki's eyes rolled, "Come on!" He let out an involuntary laugh. "You just said you weren't okay with leaving him."

Akira's finger jabbed his chest. "And I told you, kid, that doing anything could get him killed."

"So, could doing nothing!" he cried. "I..." His teeth grounded together before shaking his head. "I can't just walk away. Not when I can do something! Anything! We're the only other people here!" He looked Akira in the eyes. "I mean... Are you seriously okay with not even trying?"

Something in Akira's eyes cracked before he sucked at his teeth. "Tch..." His hand raked over his head. "Gah... fuck..." He shook his head before looking Denki up and down. "Take off the coat, gauntlet, and hat, quickly." Denki blinked before doing so. Akira then cried out to the goat-eyed blonde. "Amaya, don't! You're still in the blindspot – get over here." As she walked back over to them, he then pointed at two officers behind her. "You two! Act like you're about to watch Denki sprint back into the building, but don't come over here just yet."

"What's the plan?" asked Denki.

"He'll be looking for you on those feeds. If you're not walking, he'll smell something fierce." explained Akira as Denki pulled off his coat. "Amaya, get those on. Keep your hair tucked in that cap."

Amaya hesitated, looking between them. "Are we actually doing this?"

Akira's jaw tightened before saying, "Chargebolt's right..." Denki looked at him and he just nodded. "If the Lieutenant dies because I did nothing, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I have to try."

Amaya's face contorted for a moment before taking the coat. "We have to."

Once the coat was on, the gauntlet locked, and the cap fitted over Amaya's scalp, Akira stepped back. "You two, grab Amaya and drag her away." Two officers rushed over and took up Amaya by her arms, pulling her away. She kicked and struggled, but careful enough to avoid knocking the cap from her head.

Denki nodded, "Like I tried and failed."

"It should trick him for a bit," said Akira. "You see where the building ends and the fence begins?"

"Yeah?" said Denki as he followed Akira.

They stopped just below the camera above them. "This is the back of the building and where the city's powerline hooks into it. We connected directly to that and hooked up our own generator in case power got knocked out."