Re: Xing's Imperial Palace

by **kotaro7914** Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:24 pm

"Has anyone left since the scepter was stolen, or right before?" Kotaro needed to ask the guards as well. "If not, the thief is still here, and I want to start searching."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:09 am

"Negative," the guard replied. "The vault has been searched all over, the CCTV didn't show a thing either - the part video had a time lapse and the scepter was gone."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:12 am

"A time lapse?" The camera had been tampered with? "I don't just mean the vault. I mean the rest of the palace. I know we don't want to cause a panic, but if the thief DOES turn out to be one of the guests, then they could easily walk out with the scepter."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:16 am

The guard nodded. "Of course, lad! What do you think we have been doing since we found out the scepter's been missing? Searching!"

He shook his head. "All the guests were accounted for in the function room when the scepter was stolen. Assuming that the scepter was stolen during the time lapse - which honestly... is just a span of a 12 seconds."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:19 am

"12 Seconds!?" That was fast. Wicked fast. He didn't know many people who could pull that speed off. "What about the guards? Every guard. Not just the ones in the vault." Kotaro was growing frustrated.

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:28 am

The guard nodded. "Yes. 12 seconds. It's unbelievable. We are at our wit's end, to be honest. The emperor is furious too."

He shook his head dejectedly. "All checked, I'm afraid."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:29 am

So the scepter was either stashed somewhere, or the thief had found another way in. "How many entrances are there, this one, the one on the side, and what about the sewers?"

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:37 am

"There is only one entrance to the vault," he said. "The sewers are blocked off, and every entrance is guarded."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:39 am

"What about the roof?" Kotaro knew there were snipers, but since the sewers were blocked of, he couldnt find another way. "If the thief was an alchemist, he could have gotten in and out without a clue left."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:52 am

"The roof," he mused. "I haven't had the report yet for the roofs." He looked at him, then snapped his fingers. "Come to think of it, there were a few traces of water drops there. It can't be the rain - it's been too sunny, and rain hasn't visited since a month ago."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:54 am

Kotaro nodded. "It could be a water alchemist. The snipers were practically the front line, so if they were taken out, it would allow anyone to get in." H looked up toward the roof. He couldn't see the barrels of the rifles anymore. "We need to get some men up there."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:57 am

The guard nodded and called out some men. "To the roof!"

After the roof was inspected, a guard came back to them rushing after 20 minutes. "Si-sir!" he was out of breath.

"What is it?" the guard ask.

"The-the roof is blanketed with snow! And-and, there was a writing. It said: Kotaro, better be fast."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:00 am

Kotaro gulped, but kept his mood. Zane was here, after the scepter. After he had Kotaro try to get it. That little... "Who is Kotaro?" He asked as innocently as he could. "And if there is snow on top, then there must be traces inside."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:07 am

"No idea," the guard shook. "An accomplice of the thief?"

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:08 am

Kotaro shook his head. "Then why leave a message? And we need to check for signs of snow or water in the palace. It might lead us to him."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:22 am

"He could be giving a message to the accomplice, to hurry up - maybe this Kotaro has the scepter."

Then a different guard came. "Sir, capture him! That's not Lu Xin!"

The guard narrowed his eyes. "You're Kotaro!"

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:25 am

Kotaro cursed and took a step back, putting his hand behind his back, preparing for a quick smoke screen. He had a cube of dry ice and his canteen. Transmute it, and an dense fog is made. "What proof do you have I am not Lu Xin? And if I am Kotaro, then how come I didn't just follow the thief? if he was an accomplice."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:36 am

"Because I am Lu Xin!" another guard who looked like he just woke up, groggy and in a bad mood. "We found him tied up by the bushes, sir. And I affirm - we're in the same platoon," another vouched.

The guard shook his head and looked at Kotaro. "You," he said. "No more excuses!" And they attacked him.

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:39 am

Kotaro transmuted the dry ice with the water in his canteen. A thick explosion of fog erupted from behind him. Zane I'm going to... He took Zero out from it's hidden holster and bolted toward the palace wall. The fog was beginning to disappear. He placed his hand on the wall and transmuted multiple crevices in it. He began to climb the crevices, making his way to the top.

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:43 am

At the other side of the roof, at the very top, sat Zane, waiting for Kotaro. With the scepter.

(both resha and i will go to church for a while)

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:45 am

(Got it.)

Kotaro reached the top of the temple and saw Zane, his expression becoming one of hate. "Whats the big idea setting me up like this? True I would have got caught, but I would already be inside. Why do this?"

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:49 am

"I was testing you," he answered. "I wanted to see what you can do in situations so pressing like this."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:51 am

Kotaro raised an eyebrow. A test? "Why did you want to see how I would react."

by **Zane** Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:54 am

"Because you said you wanted to help Resha," Zane shrugged. "You were proud of what you can do but I don't trust words easily; if you really want to help, I have to see if you were capable first."

by **kotaro7914** Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:56 am

Realization dawned on Kotaro. "So you sent me on a task that would test my full abilities in a stressful situation. How I would escape if or when I was caught." The plan was ingenious. A little brash, but ingenious.

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