Chapter 72

(PAST EVENT)

As soon as Yoshi fastened her carabiner to the steel framework of the open skylight, her thoughts flew into hyperdrive. Battle mode. The surge of adrenaline amped it up, and she rode it out in the same way that she rode out everything else: quickly and forcefully, without remorse or apologies. She had not been aware of it either when she was removing the bolts that secured the glass panels of the warehouse skylight or when she was stealthily removing them from the metal frame that had been holding them in place. She hadn't sensed it until she was really inside the building.

As she released the belay clip on her rappel device and silently descended into the warehouse, her thoughts went through all of Thomas' techniques, from the most obvious to the most reasonable to the least logical; she was familiar with all of them. Yoshi was playing a game of fast battle chess by herself, and when it ended, she almost invariably came out on top.

She imagined herself to be a fierce warrior. Similar to an X Warrior. This is the person that I am. This is what I am involved with. As she was getting a feel for the space, her eyes darted all around the interior of the warehouse. Therefore, there are currently five criminals guarding the perimeter. Make an effort not to give the impression that they are waiting for me. Thomas, from where did you procure such an inept group?

Yoshi continued to lower herself by three feet in order to gain a better view of the target. I am certain that you heard me rolling the final few feet of the roof to the skylight. You showed me how to do the motion. What are you doing at the moment? Yoshi swung around by ninety degrees so that she could see the face of the young kid. Where does that leave the child? Appears to be experiencing true fear. Kid. Vulnerability. Check.

Yoshi continued her spin, noting the number of heads she passed as she rotated. There was a lot of thick cabling coming through the walls, along with a potent odor of ozone and a frightening amount of power. Check. Let's make an effort not to blow the building up, shall we?

It was time to conduct the actual calculations for the battle.

Thug One is staying in close proximity to Yoshi at one o'clock, but they are just on the edge of the light. It seems that he is the lone grunt who is armed with a sidearm. She cocked her head to the side.

Are you carrying a Mexican fashion? They don't seem to be concerned about the possibility of losing their balls, do they? This indicates that they have been given the order to grab me rather than shoot me. In spite of the pitch blackness, she rolled both of her eyes. Best of luck to you with that.

Not even Thug One will be the one to charge first. While I eliminate Numbers Two and Three, he will try to get away with a cheap shot from behind in the event that he needs to. As soon as I step onto the floor, they will come from the direction of six and seven o'clock. 

It appears that Four will be the quickest of the bunch. Her eyes made out the silhouettes of the other soldiers hiding in the darkness. Five appears to be slacking down; he'll probably be carrying a weapon, perhaps a knife. Without a doubt, a knife.

Once Thug One sees the other four being taken out, he'll know it's over, freak out, and run for his pistol - look at him, he's already sweating — so I'll take him out somewhere in the middle once he realizes it's finished. There is no need for me to risk being shot at if it is not necessary. She cast another look upward, this time towards the ceiling above her. The snipers are merely an added layer of protection. They would already be talking to me if they did that. It is obvious that Thomas wants to talk.

Yoshi let go of her hold on the cable and continued her descent toward the objective despite losing her grip. Now, she was getting much closer. She was able to make out the bald sheen on the very top of Thomas's head. He would shave it each day in order to maintain its glossy appearance. She was able to observe that he still did what he had been doing. She was perplexed as to why he was perspiring. Because he is aware that I am about to sneak up on him and surprise him?

Yoshi let go of her hands at that point and slid to the ground in the warehouse as stealthily as a cat, but not as stealthily as Thomas Miller expected her to be.

Thomas referred to the girl as "Kitty Yoshi" without taking his eyes off of her. "The moon is in its full phase. "If you're going to be so apparent, the next time just ring the doorbell," the man who had barbed wire wrapped around his neck said to him. He shifted his focus to gaze at her. Yoshi took in the rest of what she could see of him, which included a cheap jacket and jewelry, which, coupled with the soiled T shirt, only made him look like a weak mobster. "You're just another problem." Yoshi said to him. "You're just another trouble." something she has no interest in talking to or hearing any pleas for help from, and she has no intention of doing so. All that Yoshi wants to do is safeguard not only her allies, but also the leader of the organization that recruited her, Microsoft X.