The Darkness Before Dawn

Mission

Kay made her way to the rooftop, her rifle banging against her back lightly with each step she took. Opening the door, she stepped into the dark night, the cool wind blowing her hair lightly around her face.

She moved to the edge of the rooftop and dropped her rifle and small pack on the ground. She pulled out a small blanket and spread it on the ground and lay prone on it. She pulled her rifle to her and balanced the barrel on the extendable tripod. She flipped open her scope and turned on the camera.

"In position and target sighted. Am I on your screen?" Her voice crackled through the comms set. "Acknowledge target acquired. You're onscreen and good to go" Shinju's voice said in Kay's earpiece. "Roger" she replied as she sighted down the rifle.

The target was a round, middle aged man with a terrible combover whose generous belly protruded from his robe and he was talking on a cellphone. Kay held her breath and looked through the scope. Her finger gently squeezed the trigger. Before she could make the shot, a woman appeared in her scope. She threw her arms around the man's shoulders and leaned in to kiss him. Kay released the trigger and pulled back, pressing on the comms.

"A woman is with the target. Possible collateral damage. Advise" she said. "Is it only the one person?" Shinju asked, looking at her screen in the command center back at the mansion. "Looks like it so far". "Collateral damage. Take her out". "Roger". Kay sighted down the scope at the target, held her breath and steadied the barrel, and squeezed the trigger.

The man's head exploded into pink mist, the woman screaming as his blood spattered onto her face. Kay's next bullet silenced her. "Hit hit hit. Target and collateral down. Confirm" she said as she sat up and broke down the rifle. "Hit confirmed. Get down and stand by for pickup" Shinju spoke. Placing the weapon and blanket into her bag she threw the bag over her shoulder and left the rooftop, running down the stairs as fast as she could take them.

"Move into to position for pickup" Shinju's voice said in Yukiko's ear. She revved the motorcycle's engine and sped to the pickup point. As she rounded the corner, Kay appeared out of a side door. She put on the helmet Yukiko tossed her and got on the bike, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman. "Package picked up. Heading home" Yukiko said. "Head back to base. Tenno will get his body". Yukiko opened the throttle and the bike sped away from the scene.

Arriving back at the mansion, Kay and Yukiko entered the house. "Good job! That was awesome! The way his head just pfffft gone!" Umiko crowed and made elaborate hand gestures to mimic an exploding head, as she joined them in the kitchen. Kay laughed at Umiko's storytelling and pulled a beer from the fridge. "Ah ah ah. We have something better than that" Shinju said as she walked to the fridge, pushing Kay aside.

"Hey watch it! And what's better than beer? I'm a simple gal with simple tastes" she said as she took a sip. Shinju pulled out dark green bottle that had cherry blossoms engraved on the glass. "Molto Costoso. The best money can buy" she smiled as she popped the cork, bubbly liquid spilling down her hands.

She poured the drink into glasses and gave each woman one. "To a successful infiltration and a successful first mission" she said as they all toasted.

Tenno appeared in the kitchen's doorway. "The body is ready for you, Lady Umiko, Lady Yukiko" he said bowing. "Thanks!" Umiko said. "Well! Guess it's time to start work for some of us" she said as she left the kitchen and went down to the basement with Yukiko following.

Kakuzu's radio chirped as dispatch came over the air. "Homicide to 125 4500 South Block. Please respond". He pressed the comm button, "Homicide, acknowledge, heading there now. Hidan! We've got a call" he said as he began leaving the robbery scene.

"Tch see that shrimp? Only the best team gets assigned the South Block" Hidan said to Sasori as he prepared to leave. "You do realize that when people talk about good cops, cops that are highly skilled at their jobs, they're not talking about you" Sasori said as he packed up his field kit. "Wha? FUCK YOU!" He snarled as Kakuzu grabbed him by his jacket collar and dragged him away.

South block? It has been a while since there was a murder there. Perhaps work will be interesting now, Sasori thought as he closed his car trunk and entered his car. He drove back to the Coroner's Office to work through the pending cases so he could clear some space for the new victim.

Standing in the luxurious apartment, Kakuzu scowled and placed his hands on his hips as he looked around. "Who's the bitch?" Hidan asked a beat cop. "ID says Mia Tenanashi". Hidan bent down and used his pen to move her hair off her face. A single entrance wound was above her right eye and the back of her skull was obliterated. He sighed as she stood up, rubbing his sleep deprived eyes. "Well?" Kakuzu asked.

"She's a good time girl, single entrance to right side, no contact wound so this must be an assassination. It's too bad, I had an appointment with the bitch for tomorrow". Kakuzu raised an eyebrow as he looked at his partner. "For info! She was helping me on a fucking case!" Hidan said, waving his hands as if that would convince Kakuzu that he hadn't booked some afternoon delights.

He ignored the silver haired man and turned to the CSI's on scene. "I want this gone over with a fine toothed comb. And take lots of photos before you move the body. Wait..." he muttered as something on the wall caught his eye.

It showed what looked to be a halo of blood on the wall, the spatter forming a ring around something that was once there but isn't now. "We might have a second victim" Kakuzu said while pointing the spray out to Hidan. "Ooohhh fuuuuuck meeeee" he whined. 

Kakuzu's radio crackled to life. "Patrol 11 to Homicide. I've found shell casings on the roof of the abandoned estate housing". "Good. Bag them, DON'T PHYSICALLY TOUCH THEM, and bring them to me" he instructed. The best cop obeyed his commands and brought the casings to Kakuzu.

He held them up to the light, looking at them from all angles. There appeared to be something engraved on the casings but he couldn't tell what it was. Hidan squinted, trying to decipher the etching. Sighing, Kakuzu handed the bag to a CSI, "Make sure Hoshigaki gets first dibs; I want them checked for DNA. When he's done, only then can they be released to the psycho blonde". The CSI nodded and entered the casings into the evidence log.

"Let's go,"Kakuzu said to Hidan, "there isn't much for us to do here until the beat cops finish canvassing the area. I'll drop you off; get some food, a hot shower, maybe a nap. I have a feeling this is just the beginning".