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The engine roared as the car sped along with a caravan of SUVs and two armored cars carrying armed agents. The BPRD hadn't mustered this kind of show of force in the middle of a big city since New York in 1984 when those idiots damn near dropped a death god on Manhattan. Though, back then every rube didn't have a camera in their pocket. That made disavowals a lot easier. Now everything would be on YouTube in a few minutes, which made the speed they could set up a perimeter all the more important.

Kate Corrigan wasn't sure it would matter, though.

Something had happened. They still weren't sure what exactly. Their contracted mages and witches were working on trying to nail that down. But whatever it did changed things on planet Earth at a scale that has never been seen.

Things across the globe were waking up, and people were waking up to the reality of the world which the BPRD and other agencies had tried to hide for eons. That was dangerous. The old quote about a person being smart but "people" being a pack of panicky animals was true, in her experience.

The more people that find out about the truth of the world, the worst this will all get. They were going to end up with some kind of war. Kate was sure of it. Whether it was natural vs paranormal, or peopled rebelling against governments that had been lying to them forever was the question.

The worst of it was the BPRD wasn't ready for something like that. They had resources, sure. They had a good number of agents, some of them pretty damn special. But they weren't equipped to fight back against some sort of mass, world-wide event.

The Earth Protection Force might stand more of a chance, being a military born entity, but Kate was unsure of their methods. They tended to throw the baby out with the bathwater, which could alienate potential allies.

When the group reached the park, however, Kate got a sight she wasn't excited to find.

A perimeter of military-style vehicles had already been set up around the park. Above, a few helicopters were circling the area. All of them had the NYPD logo on them, but she knew better. This was the EPF. Well, at least the EPF that they wanted people to see. In reality, they were far more secretive.

She opened her door and slammed it behind her, racing to the line of vehicles, [color=9e005d]"Okay, who the hell is in charge here?"[/color]

[color=0076a3]"Ah, Dr. Corrigan!"[/color] a voice thick, almost too-thick, with Southern drawl announced its presence from beside her. Instantly she knew who it belonged to, and shivers went down her spine. [color=0076a3]"So good of you to finally join us."[/color]

Agent John Bishop sauntered up, his hair slicked back, stubble on his face, and sunglasses covering his eyes as they always did. If the BPRD was interested in knowledge as well as defense, the EPF were more into extermination. The two organizations had butted heads often, and Bishop was one of the most radical of their agents. He despised anything that wasn't human. He believed the war that Kate feared was the only way to ensure humanity's survival. In short, he was a fanatic, ready to instigate such a war if need be.

[color=9e0039]"Bishop,"[/color] Kate seethed at the man, who merely smirked behind his glasses. [color=9e0039]"I should have known you would beat me here."[/color]

[color=0076a3]"And it's a good thing I did, too,"[/color] he motioned to the park. [color=0076a3]"Looks like we got a monster on our hands, and a couple of freaks trying to fight it. After that red moon the other night, I think it's high time I put some trophies on the wall of headquarters."[/color]

[color=9e0039]"You sadistic bastard,"[/color] she growled at him. [color=9e0039]"Two enhanced people, or whatever, are in there defending innocent people and you want to kill them? What the hell is wrong with you?"[/color]

[color=0076a3]"What the hell is wrong with me is that your boy Serizawa told us, the DoD brass, the Joint Chiefs, and the damn president of these United States that the thing sleeping under Central Park was nowhere close to waking up,"[/color] Bishop pointed with force towards the sounds of the battle within. [color=0076a3]"Now it's awake, and we're gonna have to think of some crap excuse as to what it is. And on the same day that happens, a weirdo in a metal suit and Renaissance Fair actor with super strength show up to fight it? Uh uh. Oh no. I'm not waiting around and taking them on faith. For all I know this is the beginning of an invasion, Corrigan. And I'm not letting any soldier that isn't human escape the battlefield."[/color]

He motioned for men to move Kate away from the makeshift command post. She struggled against them, and he turned back, [color=0076a3]"Don't even think about letting your red friend out. I know he's in one of those armored cars. He steps foot on this street, I'll kill him too. Far as I'm concerned the government has already let your pets have too much leash."[/color]

Kate watched in silence as he gave an order to his troops, [color=0076a3]"Engage all hostiles. I don't want anything that isn't human to leave the park. We're ending this now."[/color]