“There's a fire starting here—”

[invoking]

WHO: monica & gil.
WHERE: wherever monica is busting in on.
WHEN: let's go with midnight 3/15.
WARNINGS: violence and language. probably blood.
SUMMARY: wrong place, wrong time. maybe.
FORMAT: quick.


[ It had been months since Gil flexed his marksman abilities, so today after calling the only available shooting range he could find in the City, he went to this Westside Rifle & Pistol Range to take a look himself. They had tried to tell him to browse their webpage, but having no idea how to operate the Internet yet, Gil opted to inspect the place in person. No harm in that. It seemed... alright. It was the only place he could open fire on a target without risking charges.

On the way back, he had taken a taxi instead, not entirely familiar with the area the range was in. After some time when it had become clear the taxi driver was either new or taking a longer route to cheat money out of Gil, he had spoken up. The driver argued back and then Gil found himself growing frustrated and the driver did not take well to it. Upon realizing he was an imPort, Gil got kicked out of the cab ("You fuckin' imPorts think you can just talk however and do whatever you want! Piss off, ya alien!" the driver had yelled) and was left in another unfamiliar part of the city.

Lost and irritable (he barely has any change left), Gil now wanders down the street, debating giving Nelson or Kenzi a call to figure out where he is and where to find the subway. Just as he takes out his phone, he senses there's something-- someone-- else around and he stops, certain he's spotted a shadow moving somewhere past him. ]

Comments

[invoking]

[ Instincts kick in and he's quick to find shelter behind a dumpster. He presses his back against it, trying to peer his head around the corner to see where the shooter is located now and if Monica is alright. ]

It's nothing! Whatever is going on, we can take him! He's outnumbered! [ His arm snaps forward and he fires at the thug, but pulls himself back as soon as a bullet whizzes past him. ]

[uzi]

I liked my odds better when I was alone.

_{( She grumbles that, but it's loud enough for him to hear. She pulls a gun, now, and takes an infinitesimal breath before she turns on her heel, still crouched, and fires two precise shots towards the man. )}

[invoking]

[ He tries to time himself with her movements, prying himself from the dumpster and firing toward the other man's shoulder. He knows where exactly to hit -- where to hurt him -- so that this can end quickly.

It's been so long since he's had to use his guns. In a way, it feels like a release. ] Don't be ridiculous! What if you had been shot?

[uzi]

_{( The shots land, and the man screams in agony before crumbling. Monica's expression doesn't change, but her lips quirk for half a second, as if she'd been about to smile. )}

It's an occupational hazard. I would have been prepared for it, you know.

[invoking]

[ Gil doesn't waste another second and steps away from the dumpster again, rising to his two feet. His shoulder continues to protest, but he ignores the pain and the fabric clinging to his shoulder no thanks to the blood that's seeped through. ]

Don't move. [ He orders, the gun trained on the other man's head. He won't take a head shot, but he can scare him into thinking he might.

He tilts his head only slightly so he can ask Monica: ] Who is he?

[uzi]

_{( Monica takes a more direct approach. She holsters one of her guns and keeps the other held in one hand as she heads towards the man and places one foot deftly on his chest. He groans, a more pained sound than the low murmurs of hurt he’d been uttering moments before. Monica’s lips twitch into a smile, slow and satisfied. )}

You know what I want to know. So tell me, or things will get worse.

_{( Her eyes flick over to Gilbert and she shrugs, curtly. )} One piece of a much larger puzzle.

[invoking]

[ Gil probably shouldn't be taken aback by such actions, but he is. He's never seen a woman here do what Monica just did.

Then again, he doesn't spend his time among vigilante or hero types. He prefers to keep himself out of trouble like that. Trouble always has a way of finding him, though. ]

Shouldn't we call the authorities? [ Unless Monica has a handle on the situation. ]

[uzi]

What good would they do? They don't care.

_{( Which is more or less true. The civilian police force doesn't have any particular love for imPorts, in whatever form it exists. Monica prefers her own, more direct methods. Her foot digs in. )}

He's a threat to everyone like us. Do you disapprove?

[invoking]

You can't just take matters into your own hands! [ Even if it's for the greater good. He's sure the police will do something if they're alerted to the scene of the crime.

He looks at the other man, conflicted, then his gaze settles on Monica once more. ] You haven't told me what you mean by that. Why is he a threat? Who is he?

[uzi]

I can do whatever I want. _{( She doesn't raise her voice, but there's an intensity to it. She clearly believes very strongly what she's saying. )}

He's part of an underground ring--dedicated to taking down imPorts. I need him to take me to his--

_{( Her voice cuts off as the man, in a single instant, finds his courage and grabs his gun. In a matter of seconds he's fired off a shot. )}

[invoking]

[ He reacts quickly, his gun pointed directly back at the man. He doesn't want to kill him, but it's been made clear he's willing to do anything to get away from them.

For a few seconds, he mulls over whether or not to take the shot.

Instead he spring forth. He's no mixed martial arts master, but he knows how to kick hard when necessary. Gil's foot slams against his head. ]

Stop it!

[uzi]

_{( When he shot, Monica sprang back. She didn't have the time to look where she was going--only an instant to get away from the bullet--and the back of her head hit the opposite wall, hard. She grits her teeth against the pain blossoming at the base of her neck, even if that means she can't smile at the howl of pain the man lets out. )}

I need--his intel. Don't kill him.

[invoking]

[ Gil presses his foot down, ensuring he doesn't move anymore and keeps the gun trained on him. His eyes dart to Monica, breathing fast and heavy. ]

I won't-- are you okay?

[uzi]

_{( Monica lifts a hand to the back of her head, touching the spot gingerly. There's the wet sensation of blood, and her vision blurs for a moment before she gets it together. )}

I'm fine.

_{( A second later, she's kneeling beside the man, glaring hard into his eyes. )}

A name. Give me a name.

[invoking]

[ Gil slowly moves his foot away, but his arm remains steady. He won't kill. He can't. He's not an officer of the law or a vigilante, but if this guy pulls something he won't hesitate any longer to put a bullet in his arm. ]

[uzi]

_{( The guy, white from blood loss and pain, nevertheless is holding his tongue. Monica, irritated from pain herself, reaches out in a split second and grabs his wrist. A moment later, it snaps and he screams. )}

Name. Now.

[invoking]

[ He jumps, an unpleasant chill running down his neck and he finds himself taking a step forward, as if to intervene. ]

Wait, that's not necessary... he won't say anything if he's in too much pain!

[uzi]

He tried to kill us. Both of us. And this is wasting my time.

You have any better ideas, Mr. Hero? Or are you going to let me do what I need to?

[invoking]

He can't do anything anymore! [ This is excessive. He might be a criminal, but torturing him isn't going to get her anywhere. ] I'm sorry, I know I interfered, but it's over already!

[uzi]

No. It's not. This can't have been useless. I won't accept that.

[invoking]

He'll go into shock if you keep hurting him.

[uzi]

It would make me feel better.

But, fine. _{( She steps away from the man and rises back to her feet. )}

Would you like to try?

[invoking]

[ He freezes, not sure he heard that right. ]

What?

[uzi]

The cops will be here in five minutes, tops. I need the intel, and to get out of here, before then. If you don't like my methods, come up with some of your own.

1/2

[invoking]

Are you serious?!