On the Catastrophe, Andy had made his way toward the room where Ihachigo stood, and with a sigh, he opened the final door between himself and his goal.
After it opened, he saw a large room with all kinds of tubes and machines stationed everywhere, and in the center of it all stood the machine he had been looking for all this time.
It stood there proudly surrounded by a large metal cage with tubes connected to it from all sides.
Andy had a resolute expression on his face as he approached it with confident steps. When he stood right before it, his left eye flashed for a moment as he contacted his allies.
"This is Hinomiya. I've entered the Ihachigo chamber." He reported while still keeping his guard up.
"...! Good work, I'll send the retrieval team immediately."
"Please hurry. Even though Babel may be stalling them, they're up against Hyoubu and Senzo."
Andy explained as he kept looking around to make sure none of them had followed him.
"Also..."
"What is it?"
Sweat dripped from Andy's forehead as he steeled himself for what he was about to say.
"Currently aboard the Catastrophe, there are only children and espers that are unfit for battle. I don't think military force is necessary."
"Understood."
After he heard that, Andy heaved a sigh of relief, and a slight smile appeared on his face.
"Even if it comes down to a full arrest, their rights will be regarded to the fullest extent."
"Then until later."
After he said that, Andy's eye flashed once more, and the line was cut, and he undid his limiter while carefully approaching Ihachigo.
Just as he was about to lift the metal cage surrounding it, he heard a familiar voice.
"I see... so that is the answer you have chosen."
"Undercover investigator Andy Hinomiya!" Hyoubu casually said, while leaning against the door.
Andy turned his head around in a panic, and his eyes widened upon seeing Hyoubu, who looked at him with pity.
"Hyoubu! You're already here?"
Hyoubu casually walked toward Andy, totally relaxed as if they were old friends reuniting.
But Andy, on the other hand, began walking backwards trying to keep his distance from Hyoubu.
"Ihachigo is the Catastrophe's vital point. I can't let you have it."
Andy was now glaring at Hyoubu, trying to think of a way to get out of here alive, but not much came to mind except buying time.
"You, you knew my identity all along!?" he inquired as he kept looking around trying to find a glimmer of hope in this damned situation.
"Fu... did you really think that I wouldn't notice it? That unnatural attitude is your US-influenced shooting style. I realized from the moment we met that you were no normal prisoner."
After Hyoubu said that, his whole face darkened as he looked Andy straight in the eye.
"But more than anything... it was your eyes. They reminded me of someone—of a certain foolish boy!"
"Who do you mean?" Andy managed to say as he stood with his back against the wall.
"I've got no need to answer you. Because, Hinomiya, you're going to die here. Just as I once did!"
Then, without warning, Hyoubu raised his hand into the air, and all the machines' cables and tubes started floating.
Andy was once again looking for any places where he could take cover, but it looked like Hyoubu had taken that into account, as he had torn off all the large machines and made them float in the air.
Then he slashed his hand downward in one smooth motion, and everything was launched straight at Andy.
"Shit!"
He shouted while running for his life, trying to dodge everything Hyoubu was hurling at him.
"Heh, you might be able to nullify psychic powers, but you can't nullify the kinetic motion of objects being thrown at you. In other words, this is the most surefire way to ensure victory against you."
While Hyouhbu was casually explaining his weakness, the biggest steel cable in the whole room had become an extension of his arm as he hit Andy's abdomen with full force.
"Guah!"
Andy was thrown against the wall, but he couldn't back down now; he quickly stood back up and took his gun out of the inner pocket of his jacket and aimed it straight at Hyoubu without hesitation.
Hyoubu had his hands back in his pockets on one side, and opposite to him, Andy stood holding a handgun aimed straight at Hyoubu's head.
***
A massive fleet of ships was aimlessly going around the ocean trying to find the Catastrophe and help their special investigator Hinomiya with the recovery of Ihachigo.
"Currently assessing the situation. All units presently standing by."
Inside the bridge of the largest ship, all the high-ranking officers sat looking at all kinds of screens and were discussing how they would recover the Ihachigo.
"Tell them to stay away from the Japanese government, or they'll be able to track our movements. After all our goal..."
Andy's direct superior was also seated there, and he was even giving orders to everyone else.
"What is the location of the catastrophe?" He asked, looking at the screens with all kinds of data displayed on them.
"We haven't been able to confirm that since Investigator Hinomiya's last transmission." A lower-ranked officer said with a vexed expression.
"... Is this also one of Ihachigo's powers?"
Andy's superior had an annoyed look in his eyes; this was their best shot at recovering the device. If they failed now, would they get another chance?
He had no idea and didn't want to think about that anyway; they had to succeed today!
***
"What are you doing, undercover investigator?" Hyoubu asked with a smirk; it almost looked like he had Andy exactly where he wanted him.
"Aren't you going to kill me with that gun?"
"My mission is to secure Ihachigo and ensure its recovery... And nothing else!!" Andy exclaimed, suddenly throwing the gun straight at Hyoubu and charging at him right after.
"Kuku."
Hyoubu dodged the gun with practiced ease, still sporting that grin on his face, but the moment he saw Andy following behind it, he needed to reevaluate him; it looked like he did have some guts after all.
Andy threw a punch straight at Hyoubu's face, but that wasn't nearly enough, as Hyoubu blocked it with ease.
But his expression was a serious one now.
"Hmm, mission, huh? I thought you looked like a dog, but to think you've even got the heart of one."
Hyoubu casually said, with a disgusted look in his eyes, like he was looking at vermin.
"In other words, an incomplete person like you chose to side with the normals." Hyoubu stated.
The moment Andy registered what Hyoubu had just said, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Kuh... say whatever you want!" He screamed, throwing a wild punch and pushing Hyoubu away.
Immediately after, he turned around and grabbed Ihachigo firmly.
And suddenly his left eye started glowing, disrupting all of Ihachigo's functions.
"!!"
***
Somewhere relatively close by, all the ships from the US suddenly found the catastrophe on their radar and immediately made their way toward it.
"We have a response from the Catastrophe!"
"Roger! Begin the operation!"
***
"... What did you do?" Hyoubu asked, but he had a rough idea.
Andy turned his head and glared at Hyoubu. "I nullified a portion of the device's functions. The USEI will be here soon!"
"Hinomiya, you bastard!"
But before Hyoubu could do anything, he suddenly heard an announcement from another ship's intercom.
"To all passengers of the Catastrophe. Surrender now, and hand over the device. You've had no other option from the beginning."
"Every single one of you must be supervised. Allowing you to act as you pleased until now had been a mistake... we cannot allow the monsters that threaten humanity to run amok."
But Hyoubu had long stopped listening as soon as he heard the voice that was conveying the message.
Hyoubu's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. That voice. That voice. Even after all these years, it still made his blood run cold.
Andy was saying something—shouting, maybe—but Hyoubu couldn't hear him anymore. The Ihachigo chamber faded away, replaced by another room. Another time. Another boy who'd believed in foolish things like justice and cooperation.
How naive I was, Hyoubu thought, his eyes distant. Before I learned what monsters truly looked like.
And they didn't have psychic powers.