Episode 7 "Crime Capital"

Photo Source: http://marvelbastard.blogspot.com/2010/09/hood-biografia.html

June 26, 101P.A.

Takeo and Shonen arrive in Takamatsu City, the Crime Capital this side of the world. They see a dirty city with two towers standing in the center of the city facing each other. They walk toward the towers until the city looks a little nicer and they get a room. While in town Takeo attempts to find out where the "Big Boss" is but everywhere the ask they get nothing. What they do learn, is that 2 major corporations run this city and they built 2 identical towers across the street from each other. They also hear rumors that the corporations fund and may even lead the street gangs and crime syndicates, but no big boss. They city is a war zone for the gangs. If there was someone in charge of it all, it sure didn't seem like it. Takeo figures that if the 2 towers is where the head of the corporations are then that's a good place to start. He prowls along the roofs of nearby buildings and keeps an eye on the front doors.  He sees a very slick looking man in a black suit enters one of the buildings and exits a couple hours later, the following day while Takeo is staked out he notices the same man in the black suit enter the other building and exits a couple hours later. When Takeo starts heading back to the hotel he sees a shadowy figure hoping along the roof tops. He decides to follow the shadowy figure. He follows the figure until they hear a scream then the figure dashes toward it and jumps down off the roofs on to a guy that was robbing a lady, guns blasting. Then begins fighting the thief's accomplices. Takeo jumps down and joins in the fight. Afterward they make sure the woman is ok and return to the roof tops, the man introduces himself as Charlie Hood. He tells Takeo that he is the resident hero in Takamatsu City, The "Hood". They go back to Charlie's hideout near the river in the sewers. Charlie tells Takeo all about the crime world in Takamatsu.

Charlie Hood says, " The city is run by two major companies, the two towers in the center of the city. One is Sony and the other is Mitsubishi. It is said that the two companies work together, but are fierce competitors. I don't know much about the nature of partnership. It is rumored that the two companies are the reason for Takamatsu's crime, that they are the ones who rule the crime syndicates. On top of that it is rumored that the head of Mitsubishi, know only as Heisenberg has been making deals with demons and his alliance with them is what has allowed for his companies foothold in Japan. And the CEO of Sony is a man named Nigiri, and Nigiri is know for being a collector. If your looking for your swords you might want to ask him, he's the only big time collector I know of. Here is a picture of the two guys." He show a picture, "The two companies constantly wage war upon each other. This city is a war zone."

Takeo goes to the towers to see Nigiri. On his way, total random encounter,  Takeo sees the man from before come walking up to him from off in the distance. He introduces himself as Crowley, he is a man is a suit with slick hair and a row of shark teeth. He charms Takeo, and they begin to talk. Takeo tells him about the swords. Crowley offers Takeo a deal. He tells Takeo, "I have heard something about someone was looking to sell a couple of swords not too long ago. I'll tell you what I will use my connections and help you acquire your swords if you do me a favor. I need someone to deliver a package for me and then pick another one up at midnight and drop it off at the same place, that's all. One of my associates will meet you out behind the tower on the north side of the street, at midnight and someone will give you your swords." Takeo is weary of the deal but his lore demon fails and he accepts the deal. With a hand shake the pact is made and Takeo feels a slight jolt electricity when he shakes Crowley's hand. Takeo takes an envelope that Crowley gave him to one of the towers and delivers it to the front desk just as he was asked. Takeo then waits for midnight and goes behind the tower and waits. At 12:01am a car rolls up in the alley and stops next to Takeo. The window rolls down and a man in the car hands Takeo a bag. The car drives off immediately. Takeo begins walking down the alley when he sees flashing lights and starts to hear sirens. Takeo stops to open the bag, he find his two swords along with a head of what looks like Heisenberg. Takeo takes his swords out all bloody and leaves the bag  with the head. Takeo evades the police making a number of prowl rolls, and escaping via the roof tops. He returns to Charlie's hidden lair, only to find it wrecked and Shonen missing. Takeo leaves the lair and upon doing so he walks right into an ambush and is forced to surrender.

Takeo is taken to the outskirts of town over to an abandoned warehouse. There a group of men surround him and ask him questions about the Hood and about the assassin know as Hagi. Takeo refuses to answer, so the bring out Shonen all tied up to a chair. And they threaten to kill him if Takeo doesn't talk. Takeo says he doesn't know anything, a man with a vibro-sword runs Shonen through the stomach. Takeo begs them to stop, at that moment the lights go out and gun fire ensues. In the chaos Takeo runs over to Shonen, frees him and carries him out of the warehouse. When he gets outside he sees a troop of mercs and a couple ATVs. The tell him to get in, and they leave. They explain to Takeo, "We were hired by the Hood to come save you. He saw you get captured, he says never return to the sewer lair. He has others he will be fine, but he wanted to make sure you were ok." The mercs make camp with a group of nomads not far from an abandoned mall. The nomads offer Shonen medical care and tell Takeo he cannot be moved for three weeks. In the night the camp is attacked by various demons and one nomad was turned to stone. in the morning the camp discovers the stone man and tracks that seem to be of a gorgon. The camp wants to move but Takeo tells them he can defeat the gorgon with a small group of guys. They follow the tracks back to the mall. Takeo tells them to keep their eyes closed when they go in. Not being able to see the party often bumps into stautes and are easily picked off and turned to stone. Takeo flees as the only survivor. When he arrives at the camp alone and unsuccessful. The mercs and nomads wish Takeo and Shonen the best of luck, then they leave them there. Takeo spends a couple weeks gathering food, water and casting protection cricles to protect Shonen at night when the demons come out. After Shonen is better the two of them continue on their journey to the millennium tree, now that Takeo has retrieved his swords. After having such a high profile debut in Takamatsu City, Takeo and Shonen decide to walk in the opposite direction, until they reach the ruins of a fishing village.