Operation: Sighted Ghoul

This is a crazy world. Irregular events having been occurring all across the world. It was the perfect time to invest in a security firm. The New Path has been quietly expanding on this particular business venture for the better part of eight years. It's reach has spread all across this crazy, crazy world, and any reports of irregular events caused by irregular individuals always makes its way to the desk of Jonathan Javian.

Recently a new contract was struck up by the Tokyo office. As part of the new security plan state of the art surveillance cameras were installed to protect the building. The New Path believes in being thorough, so there were no blind spots left unchecked. Not even the dark and deserted looking back alley, behind the building.

Pulling up the relevant footage from the event in question, Javian watched with baited breath.

There in the alleyway, what looked like a routine mugging was already taking place. The woman was forced into the alleyway by a small group of hoodlums. Even after taking the woman's pursue, the group didn't seem like they were about to let her go. However, before things could escalate, another individual entered into the alleyway.

From the Lost's perspective, the woman seemed to suddenly grow stronger. Was her damsel in distress act just to lure these punks into the alleyway? More incredible, she seemed to duplicate herself. Odd that one of her just ran away. Maybe she was just acting tough, and was really in danger. Maybe she didn't want to reveal her powers, and was forced to just to get away.

He still didn't know anything about this irregular. It was too early to draw conclusions. He shifted in his seat as he shifted his mind from his currently half baked conclusions.

Meanwhile, the security personal at the scene were beginning to make their move. They weren't just gonna let some girl be assaulted behind the building. However, by the time they got to the alleyway, nothing seemed to be out of order.

The two men in security uniforms both wore The New Path compass insignia as pins on their lapel. They also had extendable stun batons that were fully extended and ready to stun. However, they relaxed and looked around perplexed.

"Knight 01, Knight 02, what's the problem?" the two heard over their com link.

"The alleyway is clear, Soothsayer," one of the security guards responded.

"Negative. The woman is still engaging the targets," Soothsayer quickly replied. The two security guards quickly looked to each other, than all around themselves. The quickly began running off, splitting up. One went up the street, the other down it, but both were moving away from the alleyway.

"Location of the targets?" one of the security guards asked as he ran to search.

"Back in the alley! They were right in front of you!" Soothsayer shot back. The two security guards came to a dead stop.

"Soothsayer? I think we're dealing with an irregular here," they finally put it together.

"..." there was a long pause.

"Calling in reinforcements," Soothsayer would respond.

Of course, from the irregular's perspective, everything was still going according to plan. Some security guards from one of the buildings had shown up, but they fell for his illusion and ran off. He had free reign over the alleyway, or so it seemed.

The security guards did not return to the alleyway. Instead they retreated inside the building. Calls were made. Personal was moved. Irregulars were not to be taken lightly. There were special orders regarding them as well. Among the most important of all, reports of irregulars were to be sent directly to the desk of Jonathan Javian. Just as important as that, there was a strict gag order regarding irregulars and the fact that Javian was looking for them. No one outside the organization could know.

Just as important as those two rules, extreme caution was necessary when approaching an irregular.

Beyond that, approaching witnesses was also important. Men in black suits were given the footage of the girl who had escaped. They wore The New Path compass pins on their lapels as well. They drove a town car and went to search for the girl for interview.

Of course by the time he was watching the footage of the alleyway, he already had her eyewitness account of the situation. What a strange story she had to tell.

Fear struck the security officer in charge of the building. It was just a small operation. Even with their team geared up and armed to the teeth, they weren't ready to handle such a frightening irregular. Besides, were they really being paid enough to try?

The sensible decision was to call off the strike. He ordered the men to retreat to the surveillance room, where they all cowered in fear, hoping that the irregular would just finish up his business in the alleyway and move on.

Still, the report was passed on to Javian along with the footage. What he saw in that alleyway did not frighten him away. The exact opposite, actually. Now that he had seen what was happening in Tokyo, he knew he had to make a personal appearance himself. It was time to go ghoul hunting.

The Lost began putting together yet another task force dedicated to dealing with yet another irregular. This time he had plenty of evidence just lying in his backyard. However, the more he could get, the better. The interview with the woman would be nice. It still wasn't clear or not if that was her who duplicated herself. Though the appearance of the man who ate the others made it seem like he was responsible somehow. Furthermore, he began collecting reports and rumors of similar events. Even if it was just a crime scene left with the same MO.

The more incidents he became aware of, the easier it'd be to track this guy down and arrange a meeting. However, finding him was just step one. Dealing with him would be the really difficult task. The helicopter that had transported him across the ocean finally touched down in Tokyo several days after the initial recording. It let him off on a heliport built into the roof of a skyscraper. It was the New Path Tokyo division. There waiting for him, was a crack team of elite security contractors. They were all armed with specialized weapons that adhered to Japan's strict weapon control laws. Their body armor were dyed in urban black and grays. Their helmets had visors on them, similar to the ones on swat helms. However, theirs were tinted black.

These this squad of twelve soldiers would be the ones to take down this irregular. It was time to setup the trap.

The only bait they could use, was to recreate the situation that first caught the irregular on camera. Using one of the other buildings that the New Path was also in charge of, The Lost instructed several plain clothes security contractors to perform regular staged muggings. Even the victims were security contractors in disguise. Their job was to go about the city, wander near one of three alleyways where they would get pulled in and pretend to be mugged. They'd then be let go after their wallets or purses were stolen. The security contractors playing the thugs would keep working one of the three alleyways, until the target took the bait.

All the while, Lost and his team would be watching from behind the camera lens, never too far away.

From the perspective of the security contractors acting as thugs and a victim, the young man besides the dumpster seemed to be a normal person. The camera happened to be situated behind the young boy, so the surveillance team did not notice the blood running down his face yet.

They did not yet know that the irregular had arrived.

"This doesn't involve you," one of the thugs shot a glare at the young man besides the dumpster.

"Please run away and call for help!" the scrawny looking man being mugged called out.

"Quiet you!" another mugger called out, back handing the scrawny man. There were four thugs in the alleyway this time, and it was a man in a grey business suit being mugged. As per orders, they kept up the act of a mugging until the target showed up.

The surveillance team observing the situation noticed too late that there was a the slight disconnect between where the thug team was talking to and where the young man actually was standing. Bandit 02 began to hear a screeching sound that drove him to his knees. He screamed out loud. This coupled by the disappearing illusion left the others dumbfounded. The confused behavior of team Bandit, coupled with the fact that they allowed a civilian to approach so close to them, was all the proof that the surveillance team needed.

"It's him! Ghoul sighted! I repeat Ghoul sighted," the surveillance team announced over the comm link. Of course, no one without an earpiece would be able to hear this. For further proof, they zoomed in to get a clear picture on what seemed to be blood pouring down the face of the target.

"Initiate False Salvation," a calm and collected voice ordered over the com.

Meanwhile, team Bandit were all looking around, jumping at shadows as Haneki left echoes of his touch on their backs. They began shouting and screaming in confusion.

"Come out freak!" "What's going on?" "We should get out of here!" The three men screamed over each other, while the fourth remained crumpled over himself on the floor, clutching his ears.

"It's so... loud!" he screamed for help, but no one could do anything for him.

"Bandit 05, Ghoul is headed straight for you. Turn to 3. He's on your six. He's reaching out. His hand, above your head... now!" the calm, but rushed voice gave a live play by play. Already knowing not to trust his own vision as per ordered, the one thing he listened to was that familiar voice giving orders through the ear piece he wore.

There were four security contractors disguised as thugs in the alleyway. Bandit 05, was acting as the victim. The moment that Haneki attempted to pat his hand on the helpless victim, the scrawny business man suddenly sprung into action. He had closed his eyes and performed a carefully practiced take down maneuver. He had done this over and over, among many other basic take downs for may other different situations. He had been personally tutored by Jonathan Javian himself. He didn't have much raw strength. Instead, he'd rely on the element of surprise, technique, and the basic principles of leverage.

First he had imagined an unseen assailant coming up behind him and doing as described by the familiar voice in his ear. Then he acted against that imaginary target. He attempted to grab at the wrist and pull, slamming his hip into the body of his unseen assailant, he'd perform a basic hip throw. If that was successful, he'd use his grip of the assailant's wrist to twist his arm around his back and pin him to the ground. Finally, he'd apply a stunning shock to the assailant with a taser. False Salvation, was a go.

Plans rarely go so smoothly. However, after taking down the target, everyone began to panic.

"Bandit, sitrep. Siterep, now! Bandit, respond!" The voice over the com had become decidedly less calm.

"So... much... can't..." Bandit 05 toppled off of the downed target. The Lost wracked his brain. There was so little he could do from where he was seated.

"Bandit, listen to me. Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. Just close your eyes, and listen to me,"

"I can... still see it... in my mind... these memories..." Bandit 03 tried his best to respond. Then suddenly, blood surged out from Ghoul's face and everyone seemed to suddenly get quiet.

"Stand up. It's not real. The target is down. I repeat Ghoul is down," the calm voice explained.

"..." After notable struggle, a couple members of team Bandit managed to stand. However, Bandit 01 and 02 remained on the floor, clutching their heads. 04 managed to stand up, but couldn't maintain balance and crumbled to his knees.

"05, at 11, he's on the ground. One pace away. Confirm," the calm voice dictated.

"03, at 3. Six paces. Confirm," he went on to say, as Bandit 05 and 03 turned to look and see if the target was still on the ground.