act6d5

Officer Ch'en met up with Rhodes Island operator Amiya and are currently engaging the enemy approaching the L.G.D.!

You sure you don't need any help?;Why don't you let me give you a hand?

...Chief Wei?

Lungmen trusts the Doctor's abilities, and since Rhodes Island operators have joined the fight, the Doctor should enjoy command authority equal to that of Officer Ch'en.

We'll leave it to the Doctor.

The enemy moving outside the containment zones will harm the civilian population, we have to——

Wait, we've picked up a strong Originium reaction.... a sandstorm? This, this is——

Special transmission incoming! It- it's Inspector Lin!

Hasn't Old Lin been retired for seven or eight years?! What's he saying?

He- he said he tossed all the enemies who slipped out of containment into a dumpster...

And, he still has a message for Chief Wei....

...Officer Lin is a hero of the L.G.D. and we should respect his opinion.

Yes!

Big Wei, how are the greenhorns? Is this how they're doing things? Why not make a special dispensation, throw me and Little Wei into the ring and I promise we'll have this done in under ten minutes..

........Chief Wei?

........Heh, I miss those days, when we were all young.

But the L.G.D. hasn't fallen so far that we need to rely on those two. Contact Officer Ch'en, and let us trouble the Doctor to command the Rhodes Island operators.

Time to fight back.

I told you the New Year's couplets you wrote were inauspicious. Just now I saw several faces who should not be alive.

That's my fault now? And how many times have I told you not to use those old pet names in front of the men?

Who is it who wears the pants around here?

Right. That's why *she's* Big Wei.

Whatever. So what do we do now?

Well, I never thought I'd live to see another Nian.

Reminiscing about our days on the force?

No. And my daughter isn't even home. There's no point in heading back there.

Let's see what they've got in store this time around. No matter who we've become, our duty to protect the people hasn't changed.

...Nng... I can't feel my arms... Shit...

These things, why do I feel like they're getting stronger....?

What?

What's going on? Why are these people charging us without so much as a word?

I think you've got it a bit twisted, Waai Fu. I'm afraid these aren't quite 'people,' you know?

They're more like ghosts, or something?

G- ghosts or whatever wouldn't go down this easy, would they?

Legend has it that as the New Year approaches, all kinds of monsters will come out to plague the people. Could be something like that.

Monsters can be seen and touched! Ghosts can't!

You say that, but he vanished right as you kicked him...

Huh? Where are you pulling us all of a sudden? And you're looking kind of stiff, Waai Fu.

Take heart.

You civilians should be in your designated evacuation zone. It isn't safe here!

You're hurt, Ah Sir. Your right arm is broken and you've lost a lot of blood. It's at least an hour and a half walk from here to the L.G.D. Can you handle it?

Ugh.... I'm fine....

Aak, you better not...

If I might speak freely, I come from a long line of doctors. And since childhood I have taken it upon myself to save lives and care for the wounded. Whenever I encounter some excitement on the street, I always rush to see if I can be of aid——

W- what are you doing?

——Stopping your bleeding, dressing the wound, applying anaesthetic, giving you a whole new lease on life.

That last one sounds a bit overboard.

It's under control. Come now, Ah Sir, how often do you get a shot at free health care?

I really appreciate it, but there's something off about y——OW! Hands off! Hey!

What was that drug? Are you licensed? Show me your papers, or else——

——Ah.

Heh, heh? The pain's actually gone...?

And what's that fruity smell....?

The new stuff is watermelon flavored. Congratulations on being the first to try it!

Why would you have watermelon flavored injections?

Honestly, the pain relief is just a placebo effect. Your bleeding has stopped, and you'll certainly have no trouble returning to the L.G.D. in one piece.

Once there, do remember to get formal medical treatment, as a simple debridement will not solve the problem, and there is no way to know what substance caused the wound.

........Did you just admit you're informal?

This is an emergency!

Let's get you up, Ah Sir. You're all right.

I really do feel all right...

Thank you very much, and I'll report this assistance to my superiors when the battle is over!

No, no, no, let's not go reporting things. Safe travels, Ah Sir. Take care!

...What a weirdo.

Whew! And that's my good deed for the day!

Experimental Epinephrine Reagent No. 3.... Effective..... No short-term adverse effects.... Continuous observation.... Smells of watermelon, origin unknown.... And that's that!

Origin unknown?

Tried it, it worked, it didn't kill anyone, that's what I call good medicine!

Good thing it worked, or we'd have to knock you out and hand you over to the L.G.D. to calm things down.

Those ghosts are making trouble all over the place. Is that why Mr. Lee had us out on the street all of a sudden?

I definitely don't want to give up the streets to them, but if it's g-g-g-ghosts.... What can you do? You can't punch or kick them.

But you just——

You can't fight a ghost with your fists! It can't be done! No way! I can't do it!

You were doing that literally two minutes ago...

Well, I've been short of work lately, so why not just leave them to make some patients?

Like a bicycle repairman who leaves nails out on the street.

Keep going down the path of wickedness and you'll get what's coming to you.

I'm not worried. I know far too many happy, healthy people who've earned a comeuppance. My turn is a long way off.

By the way, Hung, aren't you curious about the 'Nian'?

I just want everyone to be safe and sound.

You're! So! Dull! What about Waai Fu? Want to sneak into the containment zone and take a look?

I won't stop you, but I'll tell Mr. Lee all about it.

Don't you want to go toe to toe with a literal legend? Bam! Pow! Bang! Uppercut! I've heard the Nian is a tough, bloodthirsty demon. One you can actually see and touch!

Ah. And if you defeat the Nian, your old man, in pursuit of the ultimate truth of martial arts, would finally be willing to fight you. And then, at long last, father and daughter communicate with their fists, reconciling once and for all! What a beautiful story....

Hey, Waai Fu, I was just kidding, don't be like that.... Wait, Waai Fu, where are you going...? Oh, no! Hung! Stop her!

——Mom?

Mister.... Have you seen my mom?

Mister?

——Mmh, hot!

Huh?

Lady, where did that man go?

It's probably not a good idea to let a guy like that, silent and armed to the teeth, around kids, huh?

But Mom told me to find a policeman if I got lost...

You don't have to do everything your mom says.

But...

No buts, little one. We've got the battle of the century going on out here. You run along and play somewhere else.

Um, okay.... Thank you, lady!

What a good kid.

Hmmm...?

Isn't a sweet little show like that supposed to make you think, 'Oh, maybe she's not so bad,' and lower the dagger?