Case File: Pandora & The Universe

Hijacked

~~

"Hakase, we want to go skiing todayyy!!"

"Sorry, kids, Conan still needs to recover."

"Awww"

"Don't worry, your parents and guardians already agreed on a big get together soon!"

~~

Conan's just glad none of the kids are here this time. The people inside the bus were in a state of panic, though no one was brave enough to go against the person with a gun. Oh there's the two teachers at the front of the bus. They looked like they were about to sit down when the commotion started.

"Don't stop the bus!" Another hijacker commanded with his own gun pointing at the bus driver, and the bus driver started up the bus again.

The hijacker near them pushed the two of them back inside, "Do you have a phone?"

Haibara stood in front of Conan in an act of defense, pushing him further back and away from the man. Conan clung on her left arm on reflex.

From years of hiding and paranoia, he managed to be more alert of his surroundings to the point that he can sort of sense things. That included someone watching him when he wasn't looking. He tensed as there were multiple of them all at once. She's exposing herself to them.

He wasn't sure if they knew who she really was in her child form, but he knew they were here. He could smell their scent anywhere by now, and there's someone here who has the same scent. He just couldn't pinpoint them... which could indicate there's more of them boarding the same bus.

It didn't make his anxiety any better.

"I do." She replied. He squeezed her arm. She shouldn't be talking! Someone might recognize her voice! she pushed him further back by stepping back herself. Conan looked around the bus anxiously. The people were looking at them.

"Good, put it here. Then collect the rest of theirs." The man turns to the rest of the passengers, "Everyone better put all their devices in the pouch these kids will get it!"

He felt Haibara shift but comply. She took out her phone using her right hand and drops it in the bag. Conan also dropped his before being forcefully pulled away from Haibara.

"Hey!"

The hijacker pressed the muzzle of the gun on his temple, "Move, little lady."

Haibara shakes, no doubt from anger and fear. Conan knew she can feel them, though he's pretty sure it's because of her recent suicidal development that made her slightly apathetic on whether she gets discovered or not.

Conan realized it might not be a good idea to let her do it after all, "Wait--"

The pressure of the muzzle increased and he shuts his mouth quickly. She sends a glance at him to behave before taking the pouch. He heard the other hijacker giving the bus driver an instruction, "Now tell them we want the police to release Yashima Kunio or else this bus will explode."

Conan looks around, trying to find a way to communicate to all the adults capable of stopping this nonsense.

"Hey you!" The other hijacker said, gesturing to a lady with a black cap Conan didn't register sitting on one of the middle seats of the bus until now, "I said put your phone in the pouch."

Conan stared at the woman. Her black coat, covering most if not all her body. The way she's shaking minutely as she drops her phone in the pouch, her hand lingering for a few seconds before the man demanded for Haibara to move along. But the most striking thing about her was her face and hair. Behind the medical face mask is someone who he knew well. The fear in her eyes makes it more telling because it's the same fear of a girl stuck like a prey whenever there are members of the BO in the vicinity. The hair under the cap gives it all away: short, auburn hair that matches... his eyes drifts towards Haibara.

"What the f--"

The gun presses firmer on the side of his head, "Not a word from you, brat."

This doesn't make sense. Why is there both an adult version and a version of the same person that's shrunk. Granted, He was on the same situation, but he thought it was just him. A special case, like it always was back in his own timeline.

Wait, does this mean she's also... does she remember? the past life? the one where she supposedly died in the fire?

The bus doesn't stop at any point unless it's at an intersection, and the negotiations continues to be fruitless. The commotion in the bus begins to stir again as one civilian felt restless.

It took a couple seconds for Conan to estimate possibilities. Two guns active: one on his temple and one by the bus driver, bombs by the side on the floor. Unlikely to set off unless they want to fail the operatives before real progress were made. Everyone he knew was at the back of the bus. They were in the middle of no where now, with very few cars passing by as the bus's route continues at the base of the mountain.

The hijacker threatens with a gun again, but everyone's too busy complaining now that they don't care about a measly kid.

One movement, one chance.

He made eye contact with the woman in black. Her eyes widen.

Three things happened at once.

The hijacker moved to aim at the roof. Conan bit his arm to loosen its hold, making the gun go off prematurely. The woman quickly pulls him away and backed off, where he feels another presence pulling her back fully at the back of the bus as he watches the hijacker panic and aim again.

This time someone else tackles the man, simultaneously bumping into the other hijacker whose gun set off in his surprise. The bus lurched to the side, out of control and Conan strains to see if the man was killed. But before he could, the bomb beeped.