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<span>Spoiler: <span class="bbCodeSpoiler-button-title">Emiko Hara</span></span>
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</div>I read through the case file that was handed to me by Yamada-San, my handler. If everything went according to plan, this would be my last "wet-work" assignment. Ito-San, the director of the Field Operations department of the Cabinet Intelligence Research Office -the agency I worked for- had already approved my request of transferring to another division, one where I wouldn't be doing the killing and would instead focus more on espionage. He only had to sign it and make it official, and he promised to do that after I wrapped up this one last case.<br/><br/>There was a reason why the file in my hand had a "Top Top Secret" stamp on the cover, and my eyes widened as I read who -or what, rather- my target was: an android, but not just any automated machine. This one was built to look and act like a human female. Judging from the description, there was virtually no way to distinguish her from a human being. "Wow!" I muttered to myself when I finished reading. Apparently, the android was built by Najimuro Robotics by request of the government, despite the laws that they themselves passed to make it illegal for companies to design and build human-like robots. Now I fully understood why Yamada-san told me to use utmost discretion when working this case. If word got out that a government authorized human-like droid roamed the streets, the general population would grow angry and disappointed at the government. The Azimonians particularly would cause trouble, and rioting would for sure be a common occurrence until the dust settled down.<br/><br/>It was time to get to work. First step: examine the lab the android escaped from at the Najumuro Robotics Headquarters for clues. I made my way there by subway. The ride itself was uneventful, and the guard that stood at the front door to the building let me pass when I showed my CIRO credentials. "Here to examine the crime scene?" He asked, and then continued when I nodded, "Your buddies from the DIH are already inside. They arrived a couple hours ago." I answered with a thank you and stepped inside. Having DIH personnel here would complicate matters for sure. If the person in charge at the scene didn't want to be nice, they would for sure bar me from examining the scene until I brought papers proving I had clearance, and that could take all night the way bureaucracy goes.<br/><br/>Once inside I found myself in a large lobby with a high ceiling, with an aesthetic architecture and decoration common to tech companies. The reception desk was empty, but nearby stood a tired-looking security guard in his late forties. As I approached to ask for directions I noticed the tag on his chest that read Hiro Yamuto. "Good evening," I started as I showed my credentials once again. "Could you help me find the way to the crime scene?" He nodded and pointed at the hallway past the security room behind him. "Evening, miss. Just follow this corridor and then turn right. Should be pretty easy to spot." Before I could thank him he spoke again, fumbling a little as he tried to find the best way to put his next sentence together. "Uhm, go easy on her will you? I mean, when you find her. Andie was a nice girl and I still have a hard time believing she would do something like this." Poor man, little did he know that my mission was to terminate her as soon as I found her. "I'm afraid it's out of my control what happens once she is found, but her motives will be taken into account in her trial I'm sure." I gave him a reassuring smile and he gave me a pensive nod in return, so I left him to his thoughts and moved on.<br/><br/>At the door to the lab stood a woman with her back turned to the hallway, speaking to someone inside. "Make sure you delete those files as Command asked us to." I recognized her by her voice since I've had to work with the DIH before. It was Aoi Fujita, and she would prove to be my first obstacle in my mission. She didn't turn, so I coughed to make myself noticed. Promptly, she faced me. "Ah, Miss Hara." I gave her a half-hearted smile. "I should've guessed the CIRO would want to put their nose in this. You know the drill, if you have clearance I'll let you through. Otherwise, I'm sure you can find somewhere else to be." I took a peek behind her lean frame, and besides the heavy duty tech equipment, I could see a chair in the center of the room and quite a lot of blood, most likely from the lab assistant that had been wounded. I brought my attention back to her and said, "Well, since I've been put on this case I assume that counts as clearance enough." She sneered at that. "I'm afraid I haven't heard anything about that. As far as I know, this case is fully under DIH jurisdiction."<br/><br/>I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Do we really have to play this game again?" She smiled deviously and shrugged as if to say<i>I don't know what you're talking about</i>, but her expression soon softened a bit. "Okay, fine. I'll make you a deal." She closed the door and stepped into the corridor to join me. "I assume you've been briefed and know what we're dealing with?" I nodded. "We haven't checked her apartment yet since manpower is short and we didn't think it a priority. I won't let you in here without written clearance, but I'll let you check her apartment first if you promise me to leave everything as you've found it." My eyes widened at her proposal. If I didn't know better I would've mistaken this for generosity, but she probably just wanted to get me as far away from that lab as she could. But I guess this was better than nothing. "Yeah, fine. I guess I'll agree to that." Without delay, she said, "Great." She checked her watch for a second before adding, "It's 01:35. You have just short of an hour before we make our way there. I don't want to see you there when we arrive." I winked and said, "Gotcha." Then made my way back to the street in a speedy walk to catch the next subway train.