[center][h3]Nero and Louis[/h3] [b]Location:[/b] RCPD, Dead Zone[/center] While he didn't notice Joker until he was in the midst of the assembled survivors, Howard was happy to give the kid his full attention as he replied. “Well, you are a minor by the looks of you, but since we're busting ghosts instead of heads I think it'll work out fine. Sure, welcome to the team.” The others were already peeling away. Banjo and Kazooie followed Ms. Fortune up the left-hand stairs, Louis led the chipper medabot toward the garage, and Donnie was off in search of the break room with Fox. “Got any idea where you're going?” the chief asked, wanting to make sure the youth would be paired with someone reliable, just in case. Of the other appointed searchers, Lucatiel had already wandered through the east door, and Leon was poised to go west, but had conscientiously stopped to look back and make sure the others were good. Nero stepped up to the plate. “You can come with me, kid. We'll see what's up in the chief's office and that side room of his.” Motioning for Joker to follow, Nero headed up the right-side stairs after Louis and Blazermate. The four passed down the walkway overlooking the main hall, through the waiting room, right by the Art Room Blazermate visited only a few minutes ago, and into the chief's office. At that point Louis and Blazermate continued on toward the chief's elevator, the only real option into the basement now that the stairs had been sealed off. The others, however, remained behind to have a good look around. [hr] Though his partner seemed inquisitive, Louis regretted that he had nothing to share. Their brief trip alone to the elevator after parting with the others, through a narrow and disused hall never meant for the public to see, was as quiet as the ride that followed. Only one scarlet eye peered out from his long, wavy hair, but it studied Blazermate closely. She was, put simply, marvelous technology. In his world, fighting strength with no chance of going blood-mad made for one hell of an asset. Plus, if she specialized in support as much as her appearance and actions to this point suggested, his team could have conducted its research with basically no risk of dispersal. Here, however, he would settle for a steady supply of healing. His examination lasted only a few moments, after which he began preparation. “Last I saw, the garage was completely overrun. Monsters busted through the gate to the street. Be ready.” He reached up to his back and removed the sword stowed there, carefully moving it into a ready position given the limited space. It was beautiful, an elegant curved sword of jet black with a ruby-red streak across the reverse side of the blade. He held it as familiarly as he might the hand of a lover, like the two belonged to one another. When the elevator dinged and the doors open, he rushed out in a whirlwind of steel, leather, and silk. The nearest monsters turned to look, but they did not comprehend. Louis disappeared, teleporting in a burst of red midst into the air between the beasts, and his blade flashed between them. Two strokes, one apiece, and the Lost fell apart with muted growls. Louis stood up straight. “This is better than I remember. They must have wandered back outside. Or destroyed one another.” Some fodder zombies, [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monster/images/4/4b/Kageo.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/220?cb=20170624131455]creepy things[/url], and Lost milled around, most near the stairwell door, keeping their distance from a couple more distinctive threats. Louis could see a [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monster/images/b/b4/Samson.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/220?cb=20170624131018]chainsaw zombie[/url], a [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monster/images/7/75/Rubin.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/220?cb=20170624132945]clawed zombie[/url], and a couple of trunk-nosed [url=https://codevein.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Code-Vein/sword-wielding-executioner-type-lost-enemy-code-vein-wiki-guide250px.png]creatures[/url] with weapons. There was also a lumbering, headless behemoth together with a flying imp: [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/houseofthedead/images/9/97/Judgement.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081230141257]Judgement[/url]. Not an overwhelming force, but the two would have their hands full. Louis readied his blade and charged at the freak with the chainsaw. [hr] Stepping into the chief's office took Nero momentarily by surprise. It looked like the last thing someone would expect to find in a police station. Well-fitted wood floor, posh red rug with cream patterning, expertly made cupboards, green wallpaper, and a luxurious desk with a plush black chair. Even the lights were upscale, the glass casings around the bulbs tapered like hanging flower buds. Most striking were the animals. Just about every wall featured a mounted animal head, expertly taxidermied and preserved. Deer, bear, bison. Standing on the ground was a wolf locked eternally in motion, and a raccoon frozen mid-patter lay on the chief's desk. It looked like a room straight out of a museum, save for the cardboard boxes. [center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/residentevil/images/b/bf/RE2_remake_Chief%27s_Office.png/revision/latest?cb=20181011230357[/img][/center] Not very interested, Nero started rifling through the chief's desk. Some drawers were locked, with no key in sight. The devil hunter punched straight through the wood with his mechanical arm to get at their insides. He didn't think twice about it, and didn't need to. The police captain on duty was down in the thick of it, working to get problems solved. He was a practical, reliable sort. An old-fashioned hero type. This wasn't his office. That black chair by the desk was the chair of a fat man who spent a lot of time in it, and this office was more of a show of taxidermy than policing. Whoever used this office, lording it up in an overdecorated, too-comfortable corner of the station while his subordinates did the work, was an asshole. Something among the papers caught his interest, and he stood reading them. Joker was left to his own devices.